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 and 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.
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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.
Steve Blanchard says
An iconic store … sad news
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.
Deanne Palmer Palmer says
Lived in Dorset for 35 years shopped in Robinsons terrible tragedy.
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.
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.
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
Ken Lasitz says
Terrible loss to the community. My family has been going to Robinsons since 1954. Mostly when on our way to Bear Lake. Was always good to know that when you had an urgent need they were there. Do hope the Robinson family will take it back and reopen. I knew Brad and even his dad from way back. Here’s to hoping all works out and soon.
Susan Magee says
This is very sad news indeed. So sorry for the new owners and especially for the Robinson’s who must now dealt with the effects. Hopefully a solution will be found that works for all. Our hearts go out to Brad whom we have known for 70 years. Robinson’s was an almost daily destination for us in the summer as we took all our grandchildren in the boat for ice cream in Dorset. We are also very sad for all the employees who are left with no job. Hopefully they can fill in some of the vacancies in businesses who can’t find the help they need. Transportation may be a problem for many of them.
Fiona Marson King says
So very sorry to hear of this. I have probably only been to the store ten times or less, (over 50 years) but it is an iconic one I won’t forget! Many great memories tied up with it. I do hope the Dorset and area residents will pitch in to assist in its reopening.
Christine Graves says
My parents built a cottage on Blue Chalk Lake in the late 50’s and it was our home every summer until they sold it in 1985. My father and Brad became pretty good friends, and while Mom shopped for food, Dad and Brad would be in the hardware section talking about whatever two guys talk about during the summer. Nice memories to have. I hope things will work out, and that the closure is temporary.
Ed mcmahon says
Anne Eastwood the store and all it’s property are actually in Haliburton- so you can’t blame this on Lake of Bays and the over-regulation you allude to. As someone who’s been coming to Dorset for over 40 years and whose cottage is is the township of lake of bays I have not experienced anything like what you’re writing about. This failure is a classic business story plain and simple. New owners who don’t fully understand or appreciate the gem they are acquiring and who promise to change nothing (while immediately setting out to change a whole bunch of things). Expensive and unwelcome additions (especially the coffee shop). And Wagu beef? Are you serious? This is Dorset – not Paris! I hope Brad and his common sense family find a way to step back in.
Anne Eastwood says
Ed Mcmahon, our cottage which is in Lake of Bays township was hit with a huge by-law regulation with thousands of dollars of fees and government intrusion. We used to rent our cottage for about four to six weeks in the summer to offset some of the costs, but with the regulation this no longer makes sense to deal with the hassle and govt intrusion. We’ve never had a single issue renting over 15 years. This is the case with a few of our longtime friends also who just try to offset the costs of our cottages, also near Dorset. We received a letter with a picture of our listing from the government, incredibly eery, creepy, and intrusive feeling. We ALWAYS recommended visiting Robinsons to our weekly guests, so at least from us and our friends who have also decided not to deal with the gov’t intrusion and hassle of renting for 4-6 weeks, that’s a lot of big spending groups of people not visiting Robinsons each summer now. I am guessing we are not the only ones in a similar situation. So yes, this new regulation 100% is attributable to less income for Robinsons, our guests spent a lot there, NO MORE. Same with Trading Bay, our guests would usually go there as a group at least 1-2 times for each weekly rental, NO MORE. This is true with our cottage and at least 2 other friends’ cottages. Not trying to argue just stating the facts from our end.
Shakira O'Neal says
Wow, what a not-really-shocker. We snowmobiled there, only to realize the Marina re-directed the OFSC signs toward his place, only to confront a locked gate. We had to redivert to the trail as we remembered it, only to realize he was attempting to steal customers from the Shell station. Not us!
Joanne Richardson says
So done with the store. I’ve walked by and seen the produce fermenting on the shelves. Why couldn’t something have been done to prevent such waste? To lock the door and walk away while food is needed everywhere is so disgusting. Such a shame and sham of greed.
Julie Refrew says
Joanne asked us to be positive. How do you be positive when it was so sudden, and she had ample warning and didn’t mention anything, didn’t do anything to smooth the transition back? How’s this for positive: Yay, a new era must begin! Cheers.
Tom Young says
I would be very interested in owning this place and making it a go of it . I’m a muskokan grown boy . If the Robinsons are Interested in helping me buy it I’ve love to talk to them .
Wayne Course says
Tom:
I think this location is extremely unique. The actual money making season is quite short. COVID, high interest rates courtesy of the Bank of Canada and so on as wacked everyone into insecurity. Unless you can operate without a mortgage….