ESTEVAN — Estevan-area residents, along with many others across Canada, have shared their thoughts online and in person after Peavey Industries LP announced the closure of 90 Peavey Mart stores and six MainStreet Hardware locations nationwide earlier this week.
The official Facebook post announcing the closures garnered close to 1,500 reactions, over 1,200 shares, and hundreds of comments on the first day. Many users reflected on their shopping experiences and shared what they will miss.
For many, Peavey Mart, Canada’s largest farm and ranch retail chain, was a destination for specific brands or niche products unavailable elsewhere. According to its , the 100 per cent Canadian and employee-owned company provided “a unique selection of agriculture, farm and ranch, pet, work wear, lawn and garden, hardware and homesteading supplies for those who enjoy a down-to-earth rural lifestyle.”
Local residents noted they visited Peavey Mart for feed, clothing, pet supplies, giftware and more. Some ranchers even considered it a date-night destination.
“All the stuff: yard, fencing, garden, watering, plumbing, electrical, Christmas presents. If I couldn't find it anywhere else, Peavey Mart had it and usually at a decent price,” said Nicole M in a Facebook comment.
“We bought a lot of spices and rubs and other smoking accessories as my husband uses his smoker every week. In fact, the first smoker we bought was purchased at Peavey Mart on a smokin’ hot deal,” said Jennifer Howie on FB. “The management and staff are all great people. It was a friendly place to shop, and I know the farmers will miss it so much more than myself.”
“[We shopped at Peavey Mart for] anything and everything. Peavey Mart was a good place for all kinds of items,” said FB user Michelle Avery.
FB user Ashley Shyan Kerslake-Gress added: “We shopped there for certain equine and livestock supplies that the co-op didn’t carry. I know I’ll miss the staff — they were always great. I hope the co-op will be able to expand their inventory to fill in a few of the gaps left behind by this closure or that another farm supply store will take the place of Peavey in the mall.”
Sheri Matthies said on FB: “Peavey Mart was my go-to for anything poultry and equine. I feel like I’m losing access to daily essentials for my animals. At least we have the co-op ag still, but even they won’t have the larger storefront of products and may have to order in or I’ll have to drive to Cowtown in Weyburn.”
FB user Alison Forsyth said: “Our family will miss Peavey Mart and the staff. Work gear, clothes, bird seed, garden, farm supplies, and the list goes on. Can always find something to buy.”
"Almost every Saturday in the summer, we would have breakfast at Timmies, stop at farmers market and then Peavey. Great place for brass fittings for our acreage water needs, I bought pipe nipples there for house shelving, filters for our cat water dish, yetis for gifts, grass seed, garden seed and fertilizer, portable air compressors for our quads, pump for our sump, gate for our garden, gloves for work, FR jeans for my husband, work gear, moccasins, misc tools, hose for our water system, plumbing fittings, toys for Christmas gifts, canning supplies, Watkins, bulky sticks and toys for the dog, dog shampoo, pump for my indoor garden, patio furniture, snacks, salt for the sidewalks, peat moss, chicken wire and fabric for my garden, potato seed, shovels, rake, hoses, big rain gauges, outdoor lighting, garden tool repair items, meat processing stuff/spices. Oh and snacks, especially the discounted. Jeepers, we spent a lot of money there," shared Laurel Holmgren on FB.
Others shared reflections on how Peavey Mart had evolved over the years. “I will always remember PM. I feel they kind of lost the feeling they had about 20 years ago,” said Dean Erickson on FB. “Lately it felt like they were trying to keep up with Canadian Tire and had too much home and BBQ stuff that nobody seemed to be buying. It was a good resource for tools and winter clothing.”
“I really liked their work clothing selections for women,” added FB user Shawna Hallworth. “The exchange program for different bottles of gases will be missed as well.”
Many pointed out that the closure of Estevan’s Peavey Mart leaves a void in the community, while also noting the exceptional service provided by its staff.
