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Surmesur Continues Expansion, Goes International

By
Craig Patterson
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TORONTO STORE. PHOTO: SURMESUR

Quebec City-based custom menswear retailer Surmesur will soon open its sixth Canadian location in Mississauga, and a seventh location this spring in the United States. According to the company, more American stores are planned as Surmesur expands its operations internationally.  

Founded by brothers Vincent and Frank Thériault in 2010, Surmesur manufactures and retails men’s made-to-measure clothing which includes custom suits, shirts, blazers, trousers and other garments. It combines body-scanning and manufacturing technologies with traditional methods, boasting a catalog of over 8000 fabrics with a wide assortment of collars, buttons, and sleeves. Surmesur endeavours to keep its costs down to keep prices reasonable and as a result, custom shirts are priced from $65 and suits start at $450. After measurements and fabric/button/design choices are made, suits are ready in four-to-six weeks. To keep costs down, the company chooses to operate free-standing locations as ‘destinations’ rather than locating in malls, partly due to the often high rents within Canadian shopping centres. Cost savings are passed on to customers and as a result, Surmesur’s prices are usually lower than competing made-to-measure menswear retailers.

INSIDE THE TORONTO SURMESUR STORE, LOCATED AT 108 QUEEN STREET EAST NEAR JARVIS STREET.

Surmesur will open a location in Mississauga in mid-April of this year. It will be the second GTA location for the company, following the opening of its downtown Toronto store on Queen Street East, which opened last year. The Mississauga store will be about 2,000 square feet and will be located at 255 Lakeshore Road East. 

Surmesur will then kick-off its American expansion with a unit in Chicago. The store will be located in the city’s central business district (The Loop) and will measure about 2,000 square feet. The location keeps with the company’s strategy to open boutiques close to where its clients work.

“We opened five boutiques in our first five years of operations,” said co-founder Vincent Thériault. “Our vision has always been to globalize the brand over time, so our entry into the U.S. market is the logical next step in our growth. Today, we are proud to introduce our brand to the United States. We’ll follow the same formula in several other cities in the months to come, both in Canada and the U.S.,” said Mr. Thériault. “We want to make it easy for our clients to visit us. Men, especially businessmen with limited free time, appreciate that kind of accessibility.”

Surmesur has planned its foray into the U.S. for more than a year, according to the company, taking the time to acquire the necessary capital, work out logistics, train staff, and implement procedures to ensure a smooth rollout and long-term success.

Surmesur currently operates stores in Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Laval and Toronto. Last year, its 1,200 square foot Quebec City unit, the company’s first, expanded to 2,700 square feet in order to accommodate new business. Its Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto locations are all centrally located near central business districts, capturing business from men who typically wear dressier attire. Surmesur stores are ideally in the 2,200 square foot to 3,000 square foot range, according to Mr. Thériault, featuring clean white facades and interiors. 

Prada Opens Vancouver Flagship [Photos]

By
Craig Patterson
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Italian luxury brand Prada has opened its 8,200 square foot Vancouver flagship at 1098 Alberni Street. It’s the latest luxury brand to open in the city’s burgeoning ‘Luxury Zone’. 

Prada’s facade features entrances and display windows flanked by slim strips of black Marquinia marble. The store’s ground floor features two entrances — one dedicated to women’s leather goods, and the other for women’s footwear. The flagship was designed by architect Roberto Baciocchi, who has created some of the world’s finest retail spaces. 

The store features women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, leather goods, accessories and footwear collections. It also features a Made-to-Measure department, which is the only one of its kind in Canada for Prada. Prices are up to $2,000 for shirts and $28,000 for suits, according to the Vancouver Sun.  

Prada on Thurlow Street in Vancouver.
Prada on Thurlow Street in Vancouver.

The store features departments separated by mirrored and marble portals. Walls are of green fabric. Precious leather goods and jewellery are defined by black Marquinia marble-clad walls. 

Signature black-and-white marble checkered flooring characterize much of the store. As well, the store features steel and crystal display counters and “Clover Leaf” sofas, designed by Verner Panton and reproduced exclusively for Prada. 

Video screens are located alongside the store’s imposing black marble staircase. 

The second-floor women’s ready-to-wear department features large floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as green fabric-clad walls, green velvet sofas, transparent perspex cases, skylights and display tables. 

The second-floor men’s section features ‘masculine’ materials and finishes such as ebony floorboards and walls, metal and crystal display units and ostrich leather sofas. Display counters with saffiano leather detailing in bright hues complement the furnishings. A private area is dedicated to Made-to-Measure service (as mentioned above). 

Prada is the latest brand to open in Vancouver’s ‘Luxury Zone’, which is located on and around Alberni Street between the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and the Shangri-La Hotel. Prada’s space is located at The Carlyle, a complex of retail stores that includes brands such as Moncler, De Beers and Tory Burch. Across the street at 745 Thurlow Street is luxury brands Brunello Cucinelli, Versace and Strellson. At the Shangri-La Hotel itself, Rolex will open a 2,500 square foot location this summer next to Burberry and a block north on West Georgia Street, luxury men’s brand Stefano Ricci will also open this summer. Other brands in the immediate area include the likes of Escada, Tiffany & Co. (which is expanding), Montblanc, Hermes, Wolford, Jaeger Le-Coultre, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci, St. John, Omega and others. 

Prominent Saint Catherine Street Retail Buildings being Acquired

By
Craig Patterson
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1325 AND 1327-1333 SAINT CATHERINE STREET WEST. PHOTO: GOOGLE STREET VIEW.

New York City-based Thor Equities is acquiring three prominent retail buildings on Montreal’s Saint Catherine Street West. These include properties at 1325, 1327-1333, and 1391-1397 Saint Catherine Street West, totalling 56,800 square feet of retail space. 

The 1327-1333 Saint Catherine Street West property features 11,860 square feet of retail and 18,550 square feet of office space on six levels, at the corner of Rue Crescent. The adjacent 1325 Saint Catherine Street address features a 2,600-square-foot retail property located next door to an Apple Store, as well as the prominent Ogilvy department store. 

The 1391-1397 Saint Catherine Street West building, located on the corner of Bishop Street, has approximately 23,800 square feet of retail and residential space over four levels, including 6,900 square feet of retail on the ground and lower levels.

“Saint Catherine Street is a premier shopping corridor that is primed for further growth, as evidenced by the recently opened Aritzia flagship store, planned Holt Renfrew-Ogilvy luxury superstore, and the launch of new high-end hotel and condominium developments,” said Joseph Sitt, CEO of Thor Equities. 

In 2015, Thor Equities acquired its first property in Montreal at 777 Saint Catherine Street West.  The historical building includes 20,000 square feet of prime retail space currently occupied by Banana Republic.

1391-1397 SAINT CATHERINE STREET WEST. PHOTO: GOOGLE STREET VIEW.

The City of Montreal plans to invest millions of dollars to enhance Saint Catherine Street with new pedestrian malls, free Wi-Fi and heated sidewalks, which will likely lead to more deals and increased retail sales in the area. 

Aesop Continues Rapid Expansion With More Canadian Locations

By
Craig Patterson
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IMAGE: GOOGLE STREET VIEW

Upscale Australian skin care brand Aesop will open its second freestanding Toronto location this spring in Toronto’s Rosedale commercial area. Aesop also opened concession within Saks Fifth Avenue‘s CF Toronto Eaton Centre and CF Sherway Gardens locations last month. 

The Rosedale Aesop will be located at 1116 Yonge Street, replacing a restaurant. Hilary Kellar-Parsons of Avison Young acted on behalf of Aesop in negotiations with the landlord. 

The new store will be designed by Toronto-based architecture firm superkül, which also designed Aesop’s Queen Street West unit which opened last year.

When the Rosedale store opens, Canada will boast five freestanding and two concession Aesop locations. It’s impressive, considering that the brand’s first Canadian locations opened in July of 2015. Aesop’s first stores included a 615 square foot location at 19 Water Street in Vancouver’s Gastown area, and a 990 square foot location at 880 Queen Street West in Toronto. A Montreal location followed in the fall, at 4968 Sherbrooke Street West in Westmount and last month a second Montreal Aesop location opened on St. Viateur Street in Montreal’s ‘Mile End’. 

Aesop was founded in 1987 in Melbourne by hairdresser Dennis Paphitis. Product packaging is simple, and its quality is considered to be exceptional. It sources plant-based and laboratory-made ingredients, and uses only those with a proven record of safety and efficacy. It operates free-standing ‘signature stores’ as well as wholesale operations in a variety of retailers, high-end department stores such as Holt Renfrew and Barneys New York. Canadian stocklists include a handful of smaller independents.

Links of London to Open 2 Freestanding Canadian Locations this Spring

By
Craig Patterson
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U.K. luxury jewellery brand Links of London will open two free-standing locations in Toronto this spring: one at Toronto’s CF Toronto Eaton Centre, and the other at CF Sherway Gardens. 

Toronto will become one of only two North American cities to feature multiple freestanding Links of London stores. New York City features three freestanding Links locations, and Las Vegas and Natick, Massachusetts both have one. The United States currently has only five freestanding Links stores.

The Eaton Centre Links store will measure about 860 square feet according to lease plans, and will be located between retailers Michael Kors and Club Monaco on the mall’s third level. That same mall level has direct access to Canada’s Saks Fifth Avenue flagship at one end, with Nordstrom‘s Toronto flagship set to open at the other end in September of this year.

Last fall, we reported that Links of London would open a freestanding store at Toronto’s CF Sherway Gardens. That freestanding location would replace a concession within the mall’s Holt Renfrew, which will close some time this year. 

Holt Renfrew features six Links of London concessions at all locations except for Holt’s Montreal store, where Links instead operates inside Holts-owned Ogilvy. A source at the company says that Links will also open a concession at Holt Renfrew’s Square One Mississauga location when it opens in the summer of 2016.

Links of London was founded in 1990 and has grown to become a global luxury brand. In July of 2006, the company was sold to Greek conglomerate Folli Follie SA. The name ‘Links’ signifies the brand’s famous men’s cufflinks, though collections include accessories, jewellery, timepieces and gifts for both genders.  

World’s 1st Saks Fifth Avenue Food Hall Opens [Photos]

By
Craig Patterson
-
Saks Fifth Avenue Food Hall Opens at CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Norman Katz)

Saks Fifth Avenue, in partnership with Toronto-based Pusateri’s Fine Foods, has opened its very first food hall in the world, in Toronto. Located at CF Sherway Gardens, the Saks Food Hall by Pusateri’s spans 18,500 square feet and boasts many unique features. 

The store features a considerable amount of prepared food items, with only about 30% of product being grocery items. Shoppers are able to consume their purchases right in the store, if desired, in multiple seating areas. The store features ten culinary stations including a prosciutto bar, Champagne and raw bar, sushi bar, cold-pressed juice bar, café, full service hot food counter, rotisserie, and even a Nutella café. 

The new food hall is located on the basement level of Saks Sherway Gardens, which is shared by the store’s men’s department. 

Pusateri’s will open its second Saks Food Hall later this spring on the concourse level of the flagship Saks Queen Street at CF Toronto Eaton Centre. That food hall will measure about 25,000 square feet, according to Saks. 

 See below for photos. 

Saks Fifth Avenue Food Hall at CF Sherway Gardens
Saks Fifth Avenue Food Hall Opens at CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Norman Katz)
Saks Fifth Avenue Food Hall at CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Norman Katz)
Saks Fifth Avenue Food Hall at CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Norman Katz)
Saks Fifth Avenue Food Hall at CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Norman Katz)
Saks Fifth Avenue Food Hall at CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Norman Katz)
Saks Fifth Avenue Food Hall at CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Norman Katz)
Saks Fifth Avenue Food Hall at CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Norman Katz)
Saks Fifth Avenue Food Hall at CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Norman Katz)
Saks Fifth Avenue Food Hall at CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Norman Katz)
Saks Fifth Avenue Food Hall at CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Norman Katz)
Saks Fifth Avenue Food Hall at CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Norman Katz)
Saks Fifth Avenue Food Hall at CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Saks)

Inside Harry Rosen’s New Square One Flagship [Photos]

By
Craig Patterson
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Last week, iconic Toronto-based menswear retailer Harry Rosen opened a large replacement location at Mississauga’s Square One. The store is located in the mall’s new ‘luxury wing’ which boasts a number of upscale retailers. 

The new store replaces a former 10,000 square foot Harry Rosen location that opened at Square One about 30 years ago. Lease plans provided by landlord Oxford Properties show the new Harry Rosen store occupying a primary retail floor of 15,075 square feet, plus an additional 4,660 square foot mezzanine, for a total of about 19,735 square feet. 

The store’s interior is bright, and features an expanded selection of designers such as John Varvatos, Armani Collezioni, Versace Collection, Burberry, Munro Tailoring, Moncler, Paul Smith, Canali and Hugo Boss, among others. The store features a custom installation of dress shirts and furnishings, prominently featuring items from Eton on Sweden, and also features cufflinks and other accessories from popular designer Robert Tateossian. 

The store also features an expansive shoe selection, featuring footwear designers Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, To Boot New York, Hugo Boss, Cole Haan and others. The store also features a fully staffed, state-of-the-art tailor shop, as well as a private, club-like made-to-measure consultation area. 

“Our new flagship store represents our most modern thinking in terms of store design,” said CEO Larry Rosen. “We’re thrilled to reveal this state-of-the-art store here. This new store is a testament to how well we understand the needs and wants of Canadian men. Our buyers are based here in Toronto and curate the world’s finest menswear collections with a uniquely Canadian perspective – specifically tailored to every unique market we operate in.” Mr. Rosen went on to say: “We set out to build the best shopping experiences for men. Everything was designed with the delivery of our legendary customer service in mind.”

See more photos below, all via Harry Rosen. 

Black Goat Cashmere to Open Unique Governmenet Street Location

By
Craig Patterson
-

Luxurious Vancouver-based cashmere brand Black Goat Cashmere is continuing its store expansion with a new location in Victoria, British Columbia. The store will be at the heart of the city’s tourist zone in a remarkable heritage building, and is scheduled to open in May of this year.  

Located at 1008 Government Street, Black Goat Cashmere will occupy 1,175 square feet of space in the Promis Block, an historical building constructed in 1905. The building is regarded as one of the most detailed examples of Edwardian renaissance architecture in downtown Victoria. It was designed by Hooper and Watkins Architects for Oscar Promis of San Jose, California, featuring a Government Street frontage of glazed bricks, molded terracotta decorative elements, recessed upper bay windows and cast iron columns.

One of the most distinctive elements of the Promis Block is the continuation of the building through the entire block with facades on both Government Street and Langley Street, allowing for a unique retail floor plate with dual frontages. The building went through a comprehensive renovation which included a full seismic upgrade, according to Black Goat. 

Oberfeld Snowcap acted on behalf of Black Goat Cashmere in the deal, and Colliers International represented the landlord. 

Black Goat’s products are designed in Vancouver and manufactured in Mongolia with the highest-quality cashmere. The company is vertically integrated, and sells a variety of cashmere products for men, women and children. Some garments have accents such as mother of pearl buttons and leather trim. The Mongolian cashmere used is from long strands, which are known for durability and high quality.

Black Goat Cashmere currently has three store locations: a downtown Vancouver store at 925 West Georgia Street in the city’s ‘Luxury Zone’, a second Vancouver location on Vancouver’s tony South Granville strip (the company’s first, which opened in 2011), and a Toronto store which opened in the winter of 2015 at The Colonnade at 131 Bloor Street West. 

MAC Cosmetics to Open Saint Catherine Street Flagship

By
Craig Patterson
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MAC Cosmetics will open a prominent corner location this summer in the heart of Montreal’s busiest shopping area. MAC will replace footwear retailer Spring, which closed last week. 

MAC will locate in the Confederation Building at 1253 McGill College Avenue, at Saint Catherine Street West. Other tenants in the building include skincare brand Keihl’s, Les 3 Brasseurs restaurant, and Google.

MAC currently operates four freestanding locations in Montreal (4157 Rue Saint-Denis, Rockland Centre, CF Fairview Pointe Claire, CF Carrefour Laval) as well as concessions in Ogilvy and several Hudson’s Bay stores. The brand was founded in Toronto in 1984, though it is now headquartered in New York City under the Estée Lauder ownership umbrella. MAC is one of the world’s top three makeup brands, with annual turnover of over $1 billion US annually and over 500 independent stores in 79 countries internationally. 

Thank you Maxime Frechette for being the source of this article. 

Prominent ‘Mink Mile’ Building Sold to Amsterdam-Based Investors

By
Craig Patterson
-

The 1200 Bay Street office/retail block has been sold to European investors. The building includes flagship locations for footwear retailers David’s Footwear and Capezio Shoes, and is at the northwest corner of Bloor Street West and Bay Street in the heart of Toronto’s ‘Mink Mile’. 

The 100,000 square foot 12-story mixed-use building was built in 1966, and its sellers were the original group that developed the building. Jordan Karp, Senior Vice President of Paracom Realty, along with Vice President Ryan Morein, acted in the capacity of both exclusive listing and selling broker for the deal. The successful bid was made by ProWinko Canada Inc. and Kroonenberg Groep, who closed the transaction on March 2, 2016. Prowinko and Kroonenberg Groep are both privately owned real estate companies based in Amsterdam.

Mr. Karp said: “Arguably one of the most coveted corners in Canada, it was the first time in 50 years the property was available. The sale process we implemented resulted in an overwhelming number of bids, from both private and institutional investors, Canadian and Foreign based that recognized the value of this iconic corner.”

ProWinko is no stranger to the area. In 2008, it bought the commercial podium of 110 Bloor Street West, which features retailers J. Crew, Brooks Brothers, Browns Shoes, Winners/HomeSense, Calvin Klein Underwear and Guerlain. The 1200 Bay Street deal is the first Canadian real estate investment for Kroonenberg Groep. 

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