Weihong Liu’s Bold Plan to Save Hudson’s Bay
Weihong Liu plans to revive Hudson’s Bay, preserving Canada's retail history with a bold vision to restore the iconic department store chain.
Weihong Liu
Vancouver, BC - April 7th, 2025 - Weihong Liu, a prominent British Columbia billionaire and chair of Central Walk, a retail investment company, has set her sights on rescuing the beleaguered Hudson’s Bay Company. In a recent post on the Chinese social media platform RedNote, Liu declared her ambition to “make the Bay great again,” signaling her intent to acquire dozens of department stores currently under creditor protection. Central Walk already owns notable properties like Woodgrove Mall in Nanaimo, Mayfair Mall in Victoria, and Tsawwassen Mills in Metro Vancouver, showcasing Liu’s deep ties to the retail sector.
Founded in 1670, the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) began as a fur trading enterprise under a royal charter from England, making it the oldest incorporated joint-stock company in North America. In the 1700s, it played a central role in the fur trade economy, operating trading posts along Hudson Bay and deep into the Canadian interior. These posts became key hubs for commerce between European settlers and Indigenous communities, shaping early economic development in what would later become Canada.
Liu’s motivation stems from a desire to preserve Canada’s rich retail heritage. “I don’t want to see hundreds of years of retail history in Canada collapse,” she wrote, citing the emotional outpouring from Canadians over the Bay’s potential demise as a driving force. The Hudson’s Bay Company, has struggled in recent years, prompting Liu to step in and fight for its survival.
A retail analyst praised the effort to revive the historic department store chain, noting its deep cultural and historical significance. They remarked that preserving even a portion of the enterprise would be an admirable achievement. However, the expert also cautioned that restoring the company to its former prominence would be a significant challenge. Success would likely depend on acquiring the business under favorable conditions and implementing a well-thought-out restructuring plan.
Some successful Canadian brands like Roots and Canada Goose could be used as models for a re-imagined Bay. By adopting a smaller footprint and a more curated product assortment, the department store could pivot away from its traditional model to thrive in today’s market. With a deadline of April 30 for binding bids on Hudson’s Bay assets, Liu’s bold vision could mark a turning point for this historic brand.
#Weihong Liu #Hudsons Bay Revival #Retail Legacy #Canadian Heritage #Central Walk #Retail Reinvention #Make The Bay Great Again #BC Billionaire #WBN News Vancouver #Elke Porter
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