Employees at Robinsons General Store in Dorset were notified Sunday, January 8, 2023, that the store would be closed temporarily until further notice. All of the business’s social media accounts have been suspended and the emails for the business are bouncing back.
Sources close to the business are saying the owners, who officially took over the business from the Robinson family at the end of April 2021 (and the possessive apostrophe was officially dropped from the name), ran into financial troubles.
While unconfirmed, there are rumours that the business was sold through a vendor financing agreement. In the winter of 2020, it was listed for $6 million and included much of the east side of Dorset’s downtown, from the Dorset Recreation Centre to the waterfront, including the general store building, and lands leased by other commercial entities including the adjacent plaza. It also included a house and a large waterfront area.
A post on the community Facebook page for Paint Lake also announced the temporary closure.
The store has appeared in many travel magazines and brochures through the years. It was established in 1921 and remained in the same family until it was sold almost two years ago. Last year it celebrated its 100th anniversary of serving the community.
“Hopefully it won’t stay closed for long,” lamented one year-round Dorset resident.
Steve Hummel says
Our family has shopped and visited at Robinsons in excess of 50 years…..Dorset could never be the same without this landmark
David Mackay says
My parents shopped at Robinsons in the 50’s. My family and my brothers family shopped at Robinsons from the 60’s until last summer. We got to know the Robinson family, especially Brad. Kushog Lake cottagers.
Maggie Broda says
This seems to another Covid casualty, with USBorders closed and supply chain issues the new owners barely had a chance. So sorry for them.
Deanne Palmer Palmer says
Lived in Dorset for 35 years shopped in Robinsons terrible tragedy.
Brenda Begg says
Oh my! It is, indeed, very sad and surprising news that Robinson General Store is “ temporarily” closed. We’ve been patronizing it for many, many, many years. I do hope that local residents are able to purchase grocery items and other necessary household items elsewhere, especially those who don’t have cars or other means to go elsewhere.
It is an iconic store. Where will Robinson employees find work?
Methinks the community will significantly suffer from such a closure.
Steve Blanchard says
An iconic store … sad news
Anne Eastwood says
As a cottage owner and seasonal resident, we are so sad to hear this. Robinsons is Dorset. Lake of Bays has been smothering the township in regulations lately, it is the most highly regulated municipality in Muskoka. Doesn’t surprise me revenues are declining and businesses are closing all over the township. If you vote for silence, you get silence I guess.