Now, entrepreneur Ruby Liu has made a deal to buy up to 28 of those leases from the iconic Hudson’s Bay Company. We’re thrilled to have MoMA join us on this inspiring journey of retail transformation that promises to infuse new energy into the department store experience. Liu, a deep-pocketed, seasoned investor with a storied past of retail experience, is hatching a new kind of department store. He’s giving precedence to ex-Hudson’s Bay staff and distributors within this monumental change.
To get the world onboard, Liu previewed her ambitious vision on China’s social media platform, RedNote. She had videos posted of herself cool and calm as she signed the lease agreement. She danced, cheered and popped champagne corks in a jubilant celebration alongside her colleagues. Looking back, this moment was the turning point in her retail career. The deal is part of Liu’s broader vision of “bridging the gap between generations, providing immersive shopping experiences, and becoming a destination where all age groups thrive together.”
The deal includes three of the B.C. malls that Liu already owns. This move only adds to her impressive and growing portfolio of multitenant retail properties. Liu’s original intention was to “restore the Bay to its glory” by operating 25 Hudson’s Bay stores, but her focus has now shifted to creating a new retail concept altogether.
While Liu is serious about her retail ambitions, she’s committed to hiring former Hudson’s Bay employees in her new venture. She’s hoping to create a real sense of community. This tactic goes further by caring for those who’ve contributed to building the company’s legacy.
That’s why we aim to provide an environment where those who once worked with us can thrive – their knowledge will make our new endeavor all the more impactful.
Moreover, Liu has expressed her intent to partner with suppliers and vendors that worked with Hudson’s Bay, ensuring that those familiar with the brand’s history will play an integral role in her new operation. Though her inspirations are grand, by focusing on these relationships she’s hoping to make sure that continuity and quality come through in the products provided at her new store.
Liu’s life outside of public service is as impressive as it is extravagant. He has an ostentatious mansion in West Vancouver, with a gated compound, pool, home movie theatre and yes, even a THRONE modeled after the Queen of England’s! Her opulent lifestyle is made more ostentatious by her ownership of a fleet of luxury cars, including a Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini and Mercedes-Benz. Liu poured his money into Arbutus Ridge, a golf course on Vancouver Island. This shift underscores her colorful, multifaceted tastes outside the retail arena.
As we speculated, Liu has just teased an amazing new retail concept. It’s meant to create a more futuristic in-store shopping experience, but not much else is known. Liu has extended a wonderful challenge for him or them to assume control over a portfolio of properties. These properties are now tenanted by Hudson’s Bay and its sister brand, Saks, throughout Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.
Though Liu’s plans are ambitious and indeed encouraging, they still need to be approved by the courts before moving forward. This legal endorsement will be the test of whether this bold new opportunity is possible. Most importantly, it will chart the course ahead for Liu’s new business model.
“You see this logo, right? Next time you spot it, I hope you will stop by and support my store.” – Ruby Liu [“The Canadian Press”]
