American retail brand Hollister Co. has re-opened in downtown Vancouver’s CF Pacific Centre in a new location. The 23-year-old brand, known for its men and women’s casual apparel, has been a long-time tenant at the mall and has now moved southward along the lower level of the mall. Hollister’s former location across from H&M is slated to be the new home of Victoria’s Secret after it closed its flagship on Burrard Street and Robson Street last week.
The new Hollister location is much more prominent in CF Pacific Centre and is next to the primary escalators from Robson Street which funnels all foot traffic into the centre. It is located across from the Hugo Boss and Plus Shop (Sneakers). The location is on the south end of the retail stretch and the retail space directly to the north of it is currently vacant since Microsoft’s closure of brick and mortar stores in June 2020.
The new Hollister location is a 4,509 square foot space that was previously occupied by long-term tenant, Disney, before shuttering the location in 2021 as part of Disney’s exit from the Canadian market. Canadian company Just Cozy briefly occupied the retail space between the leases of Disney and Hollister. Just Cozy has now moved to a retail space between lululemon and Ecco Shoes on the same level.
Hollister is owned by Abercrombie and Fitch – which opened its first store in Vancouver at CF Pacific Centre in 2015 (excluding the Woodward’s-owned A&F of the 80s/90s in Canada). The Hollister location in CF Pacific Centre is the only store in British Columbia and forms part of the four Hollister locations in Western Canada. The other western Canada stores are located in Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg.
Hollister was conceptualized and founded in 2000, with the intention of appealing to a younger demographic than its parent company. The brand was designed to embody the spirit of the Southern California surf culture, targeting teenagers and young adults with its casualwear. Despite its backstory as a fictional history centered around the supposed lifestyle of J.M. Hollister, a pioneer who emigrated from New York to the Dutch East Indies before eventually settling in California in 1922, Hollister Co. was purely a creation of the 21st century, crafted to resonate with a youthful, energetic, and adventurous audience.
Hollister quickly gained popularity in the 2000s, distinguished by its dimly lit stores, strong fragrance, and the use of loud music, creating an immersive and unique shopping experience. The brand’s clothing line featured a range of casual apparel, including jeans, t-shirts, dresses, and outerwear, often adorned with the Hollister logo. Beyond just fashion, the brand also came to represent a particular lifestyle, one that was relaxed, free-spirited, and connected to surfing and beach culture. Marketing campaigns heavily featured sun-kissed models and idyllic beach scenes, reinforcing the brand’s image. The growth of Hollister was rapid, and by the mid-2000s, it had become one of the most popular teen apparel brands in the United States, even outperforming its parent company, Abercrombie & Fitch, in terms of sales.
