Nov 10, 2026
This Thursday, a true icon of Canadian childhood is making a comeback — Zeddy the bear is heading back to store shelves just as Zellers opens its doors in Cambridge, Ontario.
The timing is no accident. Holiday shopping is surging, household budgets are pinched and nostalgia is moving the needle. But a sentimental road trip can quietly erase the savings a discount store promises once gas, time and impulse buys are added up.
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Before hitting the road, check what’s in store and whether your nearest Zellers is worth the trip.
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What’s opening in Cambridge and when?
The Cambridge Centre store opens Nov. 12 at roughly 25,000 square feet, according to a Zellers news release. The product lineup spans key retail categories, including apparel, home essentials, toys, gift items, seasonal merchandise and packaged snacks. The store takes over part of the former Hudson’s Bay anchor space at the mall, according to Retail Insider.
Opening weekend kicks off Thursday, Nov. 12, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 15. The store is hoping families come to check out the store and is offering complimentary face painting and balloon animals throughout the day. Plus, you can grab a free bag of popcorn whenever you make a purchase. The first 100 customers get a collectible Zeddy keychain.
Cambridge joins existing locations at Edmonton’s Londonderry Mall and 80 Orfus Rd. in Toronto, with Ontario’s expansion rolling right into 2027 as new doors prepare to open at Shoppers World Brampton and Malvern Town Centre in Scarborough. A store at Tecumseh Mall in Windsor, Ontario is expected to announce an opening date soon.
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Are Zellers prices really a bargain?
It depends on what you compare them to. Bruce Winder, a retail analyst, told CTV News that the new owners are pitching value prices and could carve out a niche below retailers like Walmart, if shoppers respond.
Early signs look promising, even if it’s still early days. When the Toronto doors opened back in June, plenty of shoppers walked away impressed by the shelf selection and the wallet-friendly prices. No independent price comparison has been published yet, though. Treat Zellers like any other retailer: compare its prices against your regular go-to stores.
The company says recent brand additions include Von Dutch, Dickies, Bass Creek and NFL merchandise.
Why does the trip math matter this holiday season?
Canadians are dialling back holiday spending, budgeting an average of $911 this year compared to $975 last year. Ontario shoppers plan to spend $952, a drop of $143, according to the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) x Leger Holiday Shopping Survey. The RCC is the trade association representing Canadian retail.
Nearly half of respondents (48%) named inflation and higher prices as the biggest factor shaping their plans. Meanwhile, 64% plan to hunt for bargains more aggressively than in previous seasons.
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With a smaller budget, every cost counts. A bargain price isn’t a deal if the drive, parking and lost time cost more than you save.
When is a trip to Zellers worth it?
If you live in or near Waterloo Region, the trip costs little. Opening weekend’s free activities can make it an inexpensive family outing.
If you’re just planning to go to score a free Zeddy, skip the trip. The bears go on sale at all Zellers stores starting Nov. 12, and you can get it in its plushy form or as a keychain.
If you’d face a long drive but want to check out the store, decide how much you care and how much gas you’re willing to burn while gas prices are high. Shoppers in Peel Region or east Toronto may be better off waiting for the 2027 stores.
Zellers could easily become a regular stop on your holiday shopping rounds this year — just make sure it earns that visit with actual shelf savings, not just warm nostalgia. As Winder put it, “you can’t run a business purely on nostalgia in this market,” and you can’t run a holiday budget on it either.
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Amy Tokic is an SEO content editor for Money.ca. She holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Windsor. Amy is an award-winning author and has been writing professionally for 15 years, publishing articles in the lifestyle and health sectors.
