It is days before Christmas and the community is finding out about the loss of Laura Secord, a premiere Canadian chocolate shop, which has been a fixture at Cloverdale Mall for 64 years.

Store officials have confirmed that the Laura Secord at Cloverdale Mall is now permanently closed.

A spokesman for the company said only one store is affected and there are no plans to shut other stores.

The popular store opened in 1956 and was the place to purchase chocolates and other confectionary at one time, in what seems like another era.

Many area residents say they purchased gifts and treats at the Cloverdale store and the staff will be greatly missed.

The store was named after Secord, who was a Canadian heroine of the War of 1812. She is known for having walked 20 miles out of American-occupied territory in 1813 to warn British forces of an impending American attack.

She died in Chippawa, Niagara Falls, in October 1868, at the age of 93.

The news of Laura Secord’s closure had some reminiscing about the shop known for its green frosted mint chocolates and waffle ice cream cones dipped in chocolate.

“The most iconic store of Cloverdale Mall is now history,” one post said.

Other people said it was their favourite store back in the day.

The mall is going through a major transformation in which townhomes and condos are being proposed on some of the extensive property, in construction which will take a number of years.

“The mall will be different when condos are built south and west. A piece of history gone,” one person said.