“The whole store erupted in cheers”: This couple got engaged on the last day of the Bay’s liquidation sale

Rebecca Farronato, a 40-year-old executive retail director, and Rudin Causi, a 42-year-old freelance production designer, hadn’t exactly been going for a traditional engagement—their first “ring” was a toy from Dollarama. So, when the Bay’s flagship location at Queen and Bay had its last, frantic day of liquidation and Rudin found himself at the jewellery counter, it was perfect serendipity. Here’s how the legendary department store’s final days made for Rebecca and Rudi’s new beginning.

Rudin: I wanted to propose on May 31, one year to the day after our first date. But I didn’t have a proper ring, so I bought her a fidget spinner ring from Dollarama and a bouquet of flowers.

Rebecca: That morning, Rudin went out to the store and returned with a carton of milk, a bouquet of flowers, a handwritten card and a box from Dollarama, which he handed to me casually and said, “Happy anniversary.” He followed it up with something along the lines of, “I know it’s not the real thing.” We laughed when I put it on and accidentally broke it. Then we went out to have breakfast.

Rudin: The following day, June 1, was the Bay’s last. We had been considering scoping it out, and a few friends of ours were already there, so I headed to the store around 1 p.m. It was chaotic. There was basically nothing left inside the store, and the only people still there were swarming around the jewellery counter. I got the woman working at the jewellery section to start trying on rings for me, but I wanted Rebecca to choose her own ring, so I called her and said, “Look, you’ve got to get here—they’re about to close.”

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Rebecca: Rudin didn’t say anything about engagement rings when he called, but I kind of had a feeling. I’m really picky, so I figured I’d better get down there. I live on Adelaide, so I ran down the street and met him around 5:30 p.m. All the rings he was looking at were solitaire diamonds, and I didn’t like any of them, so I went over to check out the ones at the precious gemstones counter. There, I saw this light aquamarine one surrounded by diamonds. It was stunning.

Rudin: It was an art deco ring, a style I love. I was like, “Forget everything else—that’s the one.” The woman behind the counter was so patient with us. It was her last day of work, so it was emotional for her too. I got her to cash us out, and she gave us a wild deal. The ring was already 80 per cent off, plus 15 per cent off for the last day, and then she gave us an extra five per cent off the discounted price.

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Rebecca: It was 5:55 p.m., and the store was about to close. People were running around stress-shopping, and security was trying to get them out. After Rudi paid for the ring, he turned around and said, “So?” I thought he was joking, so I started laughing and said, “Are you going to get down on one knee in Hudson’s Bay?” Then he did.

Rudin: I didn’t mean to do it right then and there. But, once I had the ring, I thought I might as well. I was sweating.

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Rebecca: The mood inside the store was so intense that neither of us thought anyone was looking. But, after he got down on one knee and I said yes, the whole store erupted in cheers and screams. It really took us aback. My friends were one floor up buying mannequins, and they could hear the screaming from there. It was like a flash mob—it was surreal.

Rudin: A student from Toronto Film School was there doing a documentary on the last days of the Bay. She stopped filming the store and started filming us.

Rebecca: Strangers stopped to congratulate us, and people were screaming for the managers to take photos. It was overwhelming. On the walk home, we talked about what made the Bay so special to us. As a kid, I remember waking up early and trying to beat the crowds to go see the holiday window displays. I’ve shopped at the Bay my entire adult life. I work in the fashion industry, in retail development, so I’ve always been an advocate of supporting the Canadian market. I prefer to spend my money on high fashion in Toronto, because that’s the only way we’re going to get access to good things. What’s crazy is that Rudin used to work there.

Rudin: Several years ago, I was a freelance production designer for the Bay. I started by doing window dressing, and I ended up working on commercials and catalogues for them. I also helped set up the studio at the Bay’s main warehouse.

Rebecca: The proposal felt very Toronto.