Canada has lost many beloved businesses over the course of the pandemic, including both independent shops and chains with locations all over North America.
The province of Ontario has said goodbye to a number of these once-popular retailers, from Kiehl's to Godiva to NYX Cosmetics.
Here is a list of Ontario stores closing this year, as well as the ones that have already shut their doors for good.
Editor's Choice: Here's How Canadians Are Modifying Their Tim Hortons Orders So They Taste Better
Kiehl's
According to Retail Insider, two Kiehl's locations will close this year in the greater Toronto area.
Those are 2518 Yonge St. and the storefront at the Upper Canada Mall location in Newmarket.
They are among eight of Kiehl's 24 stores nationwide that will be shutting their doors for good this year in order to prioritize online sales.
Starbucks
In June, Starbucks announced that it plans to close around 200 stores nationwide.
In an email to Narcity, Starbucks declined to confirm which of these closures would be in Ontario.
However, Toronto resident Wilmar Kortleever shared a photo of a notice in the Leaside Community Facebook forum that the Starbucks at Laird Drive and Eglinton Avenue East was permanently closing on October 25.
Another location that has since closed was in Ottawa's beloved ByWard Market, reports CTV News.
Godiva
It was announced in January that seven Godiva stores across Ontario will be closing permanently, along with the rest of its locations in Canada.
Four of those stores are in Toronto, including CF Toronto Eaton Centre, Yorkdale Shopping Centre, CF Fairview Mall and Scarborough Town Centre.
Two of the other locations are at Ottawa's CF Rideau Centre and Tanger Outlets.
Godiva's Mississauga Square One location will also be closing.
The Gap
According to Retail Insider, for the first time in two decades, Bloor Street will be without a Gap store.
Yorkville said goodbye to so many beloved Gap locations this year — 60 Bloor St. W. and 130 Bloor St. closed in mid-January.
"We are looking thoughtfully at our real estate to support the best path forward. As a result, we are closing a number of stores across the Gap Inc.," a representative of the retailer said to Retail Insider.
SEE Eyewear
Sadly, SEE Eyewear's 153 Cumberland St. Yorkville location had to close its doors for good this year.
The store put a sign on its doors after the closure assuring patrons that SEE was still available for purchase online.
The store opened in November of 2017, reports Retail Insider.
Naturalizer
In November, Naturalizer announced that it would close 133 of its footwear stores by the end of its fiscal year.
According to Retail Insider, more than 60 of those stores are in Canada, with the greatest concentrations of closures being in Toronto and Montreal.
In their November 2020 report, parent company Caleres Inc. said they are "confident this step will better align the brand with the Naturalizer consumer of the future and position the brand for growth and further success.”
NYX Cosmetics
In November, NYX Cosmetics announced it would be closing all of its Canadian locations.
At the time, there were 10 Canadian locations left in Canada — in Ottawa, London, Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area.
The first NYX store opened at Square One in Mississauga, followed by a second on Queen Street West in Toronto.