Advertisement
Home Blog Page 1153

CF Market Mall Announces Expansion

By
Craig Patterson
-
Image: CF Market Mall

Cadillac Fairview and co-owner Ivanhoé Cambridge have announced new tenants to open at Calgary’s CF Market Mall. Several will located in space left vacant by Target, which exited Canada in 2015. 

New tenants will include a massive Zara, Sporting Life and Saks OFF 5TH, as well as replacement locations for HomeSense and Sport Chek. The new Sport Chek will become Calgary’s first flagship for the brand. 

Zara will open one of its largest Canadian stores at CF Market Mall this fall, spanning 30,000 square feet over two levels. It will be the second Zara store in Calgary, and will be considerably larger than the 14,300 square foot Zara at CF Chinook Centre. 

Sporting Life will open a 40,000 square foot store in the mall this fall, and it will be the second location for the retailer in Calgary. Sporting Life opened its first store in the city in October of 2016 at Southcentre Mall, and sources say that it is doing very well. 

Calgary-based Sport Chek will open a new 60,000 square foot flagship, which will be the first of its kind in the city. The new store will replace an existing 33,300 square foot location in the mall. Last week, Sport Chek opened its first women’s only store at Calgary’s CF Chinook Centre, as the retailer continues to expand and innovate with its Canadian operations. 

TJX-owned HomeSense will move into part of the mall’s former target space, to be replaced by a 26,600 square foot Saks OFF 5TH, which will open in 2018. 

An additional 83 underground parking stalls will also be added to the centre. 

CF Market Mall is one of Canada’s most productive shopping centres, according to a recent Retail Council of Canada shopping centre study. The mall is approaching sales of $1,000 per square foot annually, making it the region’s second-most productive mall, after CF Chinook Centre. 

Outlet Collection Winnipeg Announces Opening Date and List of Tenants

By
Craig Patterson
-

Ivanhoé Cambridge has officially announced the opening date for its new 100-store Outlet Collection Winnipeg, which will be Canada’s second pure outlet centre West of Ontario. Hiring is ongoing for various retailers, and there will be a job fair this month to fill various positions. 

The enclosed 400,000 square foot centre opens to the public on the morning of Wednesday, May 3, and Ivanhoé Cambridge has confirmed the first group of 45 retailers. About half of the new stores will be new to the Manitoba market. Outlet Collection Winnipeg will also feature six anchor tenants, including Saks OFF 5TH*, Old Navy, F21 Red by Forever 21*, DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse* and Winners. Other retailers will include: 

  • Aldo
  • Ardène
  • Banana Republic Factory Store*
  • Bentley*
  • Bluenotes
  • Boathouse
  • Bombay
  • Bowring
  • Browns Outlet*
  • Call it Spring Outlet*
  • Calvin Klein Outlet*
  • Chatters Salon & Beauty Supply
  • David’s Tea
  • Dynamite/Garage
  • Ecko Unlimited
  • Famous Footwear Outlet
  • Gap Factory Store*
  • GNC
  • Guess Outlet*
  • La Vie en Rose
  • Levi’s Outlet*
  • Lids
  • Lindt Outlet
  • Lucky Brand Jeans Outlet*
  • Michael Hill*
  • Mountain Warehouse*
  • Naturalizer Outlet
  • Perfumes 4 U*
  • Quarks Outlet*
  • Roots*
  • Samsonite Outlet*
  • Skechers*
  • SoftMoc Shoe Rack*
  • Suzy Shier
  • The Body Shop*
  • Think Kitchen*
  • Tommy Hilfiger Outlet
  • Under Armour*
  • Urban Kids
  • West 49

In the list above, first-to-market retailers have an asterisk (*) beside their name. Winners will open in September of 2017. 

Western Canada’s first pure outlet centre is the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver, which opened in the summer of 2015. Ivanhoé Cambridge also operates two hybrid outlet centres (mix of full-price and outlet stores) in Western Canada — CrossIron Mills outside of Calgary, and Tsawwassen Mills outside of Vancouver. 

The Winnipeg project also created a lot of jobs. Overall, more than 1,300 full- and part-time retail jobs and 400 construction related jobs will have been created by the project.

“Job creation is the backbone of every economy and we are proud that the significant investment we and our partners have made in Winnipeg has translated into thousands of construction and retail employment opportunities for its residents,” commented Blair Forster, President, Forster Projects.

*Images via Ivanhoé Cambridge

Canada’s Growing Affluence Supports Expanding Luxury Retail

By
Craig Patterson
-
Bloor Street (SOURCE: YP NEXTHOME)

Property consultancy Knight Frank’s ‘The Wealth Report 2017’ provides evidence of growing affluence in Canada, which may support the notion that there’s more room for luxury retail in Canada. This country is outpacing the United States in terms of overall wealth growth among those with net assets surpassing US $30 million, as it has been for a number of years. 

The report addresses overall growth among various groups, including ‘High Net Worth Individuals’ (HNWI) with net assets in excess of US $1 million, as well as ‘Ultra High Net Worth Individuals’ (UHNWI) with net assets exceeding US $30 million. 

Canada is home to a rapidly increasing population of affluent residents, with growth numbers surpassing that of the United States. A total of 335,800 Canadian residents had net assets surpassing US $1 million in 2016, which is expected to grow to 503,700 by the year 2026. Those in the UHNWI category (net assets surpassing US $30 million) stood at 4,110 in 2016, with a forecasted 50% increase to 6,170 UHNWI’s by 2026. In 2016, Canada had 483 individuals with net assets surpassing US $100 million, forecasted to grow to 725 by 2026. Last year as well, Canada had 40 billionaires (in US dollars), which is forecasted to grow to 60 billionaires by 2026. 

Between 2015 and 2016, alone, Canada saw a 15% increase in UHNWI — a significant number, which may partly explain the rapid increase of luxury brands entering and opening stores in Canada. Canada also saw a 50% increase in UHNWI between 2006 and 2016, which may be explained both by asset growth as well as immigration. 

The United States, for comparison, saw 30% growth in UHNWI’s between 2006 and 2016, with 5% of that between 2015 and 2016. The Knight Frank study estimates that the United States will see a 30% increase in UHNWI between 2016 and 2026 — trailing Canada in terms of percentages. 

The same study examines the affluence of Toronto and Vancouver, and may provide insight into why both cities are leaders for Canadian luxury retail expansion. Toronto is particularly wealthy, rivalling and in some instances surpassing that of some of the world’s largest cities. In 2016, Toronto had an estimated 109,300 individuals with net assets surpassing US $1 million, 3,910 individuals with net assets surpassing US $10 million, and an estimated 1,500 UHNWI’s with net assets surpassing US $30 million. Toronto is forecasted to have 2,250 UHNWI by the year 2026 — a 50% increase. Between 2015 and 2016, Toronto saw a 15% increase in UHNWI’s. 

(RENDERING OF VANCOUVER’S EXPANDED TIFFANY & CO. FLAGSHIP AT BURRARD AND ALBERNI STREETS. WHEN COMPLETED THIS SPRING, IT WILL BE THE COMPANY’S LARGEST CANADIAN STORE) 

Vancouver boasts a considerable number of wealthy individuals as well. Knight Frank estimates that there are 31,100 individuals with net assets surpassing US $1 million, about 1,110 individuals with assets surpassing US $10 million, and 430 UHNWI’s with net assets surpassing US $30 million. In 2026, the study estimates Vancouver will have 731 UHNWI’s — a 70% increase over 2016. Vancouver also saw a remarkable 23% increase in UHNWI’s between 2015 and 2016, though it’s unclear what effect a recent 15% residential foreign buyer tax and ‘Empty Home Tax‘ may have on future numbers. 

Interestingly, Toronto appears to have more ultra-wealthy people than Paris, France. Knight Frank estimates there are 110,900 individuals with net assets of over US $1 million, with 1,320 of those being in the US $30 million+ UHNWI category. The study also forecasts a 10% reduction in UHNWI’s between 2016 and 2026, after seeing a 12% reduction between 2015 and 2016. Paris is likely to always have luxury retail, however, given that it is the headquarters for a considerable number of luxury brands, not to mention one of the world’s top shopping destinations for international tourists. 

(ROLEX RECENTLY OPENED ITS LARGEST NORTH AMERICAN STORE ON ALBERNI STREET IN VANCOUVER. PHOTO: RITCHIE PO)

Toronto and Vancouver still trail behind New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles in terms of wealth, however, according to the study. Both Canadian cities also trail behind much smaller cities in Switzerland — Zurich and Geneva — which both have a surprisingly high number of very wealthy individuals.

Local affluence is only one component of what luxury brands look for when determining where to open stores. Spending patterns, demographics, mobility, incomes, and tourism also play significant roles. As tourism numbers are forecasted to increase in Canada, particularly among high-spending Chinese tourists, Vancouver and Toronto stand to gain. The US Trump administration’s recent border-related entrance denials/detainments could also further enhance Canada’s tourism, as international visitors may see Canada as a friendlier and more accessible destination — and our low dollar only makes us more attractive to high-end shoppers. 

In the coming weeks we’ll be touring Canada’s ‘luxury retail nodes’, and we’ll report on each of these in separate articles. We’ll discuss both freestanding luxury brand boutiques, as well as concessions operating within larger host retailers. About 18 months ago we coordinated a study on behalf of a Canadian consultancy, where we ranked Canada’s ‘luxury nodes’ in terms of number of brands with stores. We’ll update and expand on that here on Retail Insider, as there have been a number of new ‘luxury nodes’ added — including CF Toronto Eaton Centre, which now houses Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Links of London as new luxury destinations. Other areas of discussion will include Toronto’s Bloor-Yorkville and Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Vancouver’s Alberni Street ‘Luxury Zone’, Montreal’s Rue de la Montagne/Sherbrooke Street West, and a handful of other streets and malls in major centres.

RCC 2017 Human Resources Conference Now Open for Registration

By
Retail Insider
-

Retail Council of Canada’s 2017 Human Resources Conference takes place on April 19th at the International Centre in Mississauga, with a focus on the most contested human resources challenges facing retailers in Canada today. Registration is now open, and conference delegates may earn 6.5 hours of certified HRPA credits for participating. 

Speakers will include:  
•    Jim Caldwell, Executive Vice President, Big Box Retail at Lowe’s Companies Canada ULC
•    Monika Mielnik, Senior Consultant, HR Workplace Health, Bell Canada
•    Kelly Davis, Senior VP HR, Loss Prevention & Customer Service, Town Shoes
•    Gil Dennis, Executive Vice President, Retail and Human Resources, Indigo
•    Ed Mantler Vice President, Programs & Priorities, Mental Health Commission of Canada
•    Michel Arsenault, Clinical Director of Ontario and Digital Clinical Services, Morneau Shepell
•    Dan Demers, Senior Manager of Strategic Business Development, CannAmm
•    Andrea Coopman, Sr. Human Resources Manager, Microsoft
•    Miles Lucas Country Human Resources Manager H&M Canada
•    Rob Power, North American Retail Trainer, Michael Hill Jewelers
•    Ted Moroz, President, The Beer Store
•    Ramesh Venkat, Director, David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing, Sobey School of Business.

Not to mention others — The full listing of speakers is available at www.rcchrconference.ca/content/speakers.
  
Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, Retail Council of Canada will open the conference with Lowe’s Jim Caldwell who will lay out how dramatic business changes, such as Lowe’s 2015 acquisition of RONA, affect people, and how implementing progressive human resources strategies can help companies flourish.  

Perhaps one of the most polarizing human resources issues today is the burning debate on the impact of marijuana legalization, especially as it relates to safety sensitivity.  This session, led by Dan Demers, Senior Manager, Strategic Business Development, CannAmm, will help provide guidance on how to manage both medically authorized and legally accessible marijuana in the workplace through compelling facts, resources and action steps.   

Further building on employees’ morale and emotional resilience, Ed Manteler, Vice President, Programs & Priorities, Mental Health Commission Canada will discuss the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (The Standard) and share updates on how some of the first companies to implement The Standard are experiencing its impact.  

Monika Mielnik, Senior Consultant, Human Resources – Workplace Health at Bell Canada will also share learnings from Bell’s “Let’s Talk” program and how Bell is measuring the progress of its adaptation of The Standard for its workplace mental health strategies.  
 
Effective strategies to attract and hire talent through employment brand building will be explored in a three-way exchange featuring Stacy Parker, Managing Director, Blu Ivy Group, Ted Moroz, President of the Beer Store, and Kristen MacLellan , Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition Best Buy Canada.

The full agenda can be viewed at www.rcchrconference.ca/content/agenda.

“It’s fascinating how members are being stretched to tackle highly nuanced and complex human resources issues that were not even on the radar a few years ago,” said Retail Council of Canada’s Senior Director of Events and Education, Kyle Tomlin.  “This is going to be one of the most controversial conferences Retail Council of Canada has ever produced as we all try together to find a way to bring solutions to these modern workforce challenges for retailers in Canada.”    

Registration is now open to to buy tickets for this event.  

Cutting-Edge Eyewear Retailer Opens 1st Canadian Store

By
Craig Patterson
-

Hong Kong-based eyewear brand MUJOSH opened its first North American store last week at Edmonton’s West Edmonton Mall. It could be the first of multiple locations for the retailer, and marks the first of at least three new international eyewear companies set to enter the Canadian market in 2017. 

MUJOSH was founded in 2010 and it already has over 700 boutiques globally, operating both freestanding stores as well as department store shop-in-stores. Its stores are in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia and now, Canada. 

The company describes itself as “boldly combining unique elements and styles into design,” with “an attitude of its own to encourage the young group to think out of the box and to be innovative”. Product includes frames, sunglasses and related accessories. 

The new West Edmonton Mall store boasts a strategic corner space on the mall’s ground floor, facing a busy main corridor as well as an access way to the busy Phase 3 food court. The store is also visible from the bright open area in the mall that houses a replica of the Santa Maria ship. 

Ben Labrecque of Oakmont Real Estate Services negotiated the deal on behalf of the retailer. 

Canada is seeing an unprecedented number of new optical retailers opening stores, both homegrown brands as well as international companies. New York City-based Warby Parker opened its second Toronto store in the fall of 2016, and Australia’s Bailey Nelson is in the process of launching another expansion. Montreal-based BonLook will expand across the country with over 20 new stores, after having launched its first store outside of Quebec in the fall, in Toronto. Two more American eyewear retailers will be entering Canada this year with their first freestanding stores, and we’ll reveal both of these soon, in separate articles. 

SuitSupply Opens Montreal Flagship [Photos]

By
Craig Patterson
-

Nearly three years after opening its first Canadian location in Toronto, Suitsupply has opened its largest Canadian store in Montreal, at 2152 Rue de la Montagne. Hailing from Amsterdam, Suitsupply stands out with it’s relatively affordable prices and it’s vast array of suits and other fashions.

Spanning three levels in a completely renovated building, the new Montreal store features 4,163 square feet of retail space, making it one of the company’s largest locations. Stepping into the store is breathtaking — tall ceilings and dramatic stairways draw the eye to the store’s multi-level offerings, and the store’s large windows give the impression that the store is open to the outside. 

The store’s interior has a “summer feel”, featuring muted wooden floors and bright colours throughout, including a variety of vibrant wallpaper styles. Furniture in the new space is charming, playful and eclectic. 

While the store features a wide range of ready-to-wear suits, jackets, trousers, shoes, shirts, outerwear and accessories, it also features ‘casual space’ with a selection of relaxed clothing as well as shoes and accessories, in an area reminiscent of being “by the water”. 

The store also features several convenient services, such as a made to measure department and in-store tailor for on-demand alterations, allowing customers to leave with the perfect fit.

Montreal can now boast having Canada’s largest Suitsupply location. The Toronto store, which opened in February of 2014 at 9-11 Hazelton Avenue, spans about 2,150 square feet, according to the company. 

With neighbours such as Allsaints, Montblanc, Holt Renfrew and the recently opened Christofle, the new Montreal Suitsupply store further contributes to the rebirth of Rue de la Montagne. That trend will continue next year with the opening of an Expanded/combined Ogilvy-Holt Renfrew, which will be part of a luxury complex anchored by a new Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences. 

Suitsupply is growing in popularity and continuously receives positive press. It has received widespread accolades from the likes of GQ, Esquire, and, perhaps most notably, a Wall Street Journal blind test that rated a $600 Suitsupply suit in a first-place tie with a $3,600 Giorgio Armani ensemble. 

Founded in Amsterdam in the year 2000, vertically integrated Suitsupply features suits with prices starting at $429, with quality and style considered to be exceptional. Suitsupply has over 70 stores globally in 22 countries, including 22 stores in the United States, with a further six locations set to open in the coming months.   

*An amended, bilingual version of this article appeared last week on Montreal-Weekly.com. 

One Week Until Retail Thought Leadership Conference

By
Retail Insider
-

Join us at the University of Alberta School of Retailing’s third annual Thought Leadership Conference, which is being held on Friday, March 10 in Edmonton. There’s still time to register. The half-day event provides both thought leadership and networking opportunities, with senior management from a number of major companies attending, as listed below. 

The conference is conveniently located in a hotel/conference facility attached to Edmonton International Airport, allowing for easy fly-in-fly-out for those not living in the city. 

Senior executives from the following companies will be in attendance: 

  • Staples
  • The Brick
  • Oxford Properties Group
  • Michael Hill
  • Best Buy
  • Loyalty One
  • RBC
  • Freson Bros.
  • ATB
  • Ivanhoé Cambridge
  • Aritzia
  • Pepsico
  • Loblaw
  • West Edmonton Mall
  • Hillberg & Berk
  • Apple
  • Sobeys
  • Urban Barn
  • H&M

Tickets are still available ($225+GST) for the conference, and can be purchased here. Breakfast, lunch and parking are included. 

There’s also a hotel discount for out of town guests interested in staying at the conference venue — the funky/beautiful Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel.

The conference features speakers from across Canada, with a focus on the topic of leadership strategy. Speakers include: 

  • Brett Halliday, President of Michael Hill, who will open the day with a discussion about the ‘accidental career’,
  • Dr. Kyle Murray, Director of the School of Retailing,
  • Kamy Scarlett, Senior Vice President, Retail and Chief Human Resources Officer, Best Buy Canada,
  • There will also be an award given for Advancing Retail as a Career, with this year’s recipient being Toni Galli, Country Sales Manager of H&M Canada. Diane Brisebois, President & CEO of Retail Council of Canada will present Toni the award. 

On the evening of Thursday, March 9, an intimate cocktail networking event, sponsored by Canada Safeway and hosted by Retail Insider, will be held in ‘The Library’ at the Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel. 

Buy tickets here and for more information, contact Emily Salsbury-Deveaux at: retail@ualberta.ca

Sport Chek Launches 1st Women-Only Concept Store [Photos]

By
Craig Patterson
-
Image: Sport Chek

FGL Sports-owned Sport Chek is launching a new women-only store concept this week at Calgary’s CF Chinook Centre. The 16,675 square foot retail space merges experiences with an expanded product assortment and services, and could be the first of multiple locations if the concept is successful. 

Kara Anastasiadis, associate vice-president of merchandise strategy for FGL Sports Ltd., explained how the new space was “designed by women, for women”, featuring a different look from the company’s typical sports store, also featuring a number of new brands as well a services specifically geared towards the female consumer. 

Merchandise is organized based on activity — running gear is at the front of the store, while areas dedicated to yoga, swimming and various other activities are positioned throughout the new space. The store’s design is bright and open, with a different “feel” from traditional Sport Chek stores.  

The store also boasts a number of unique services. One-on-one bra fittings by specially trained staff as well as a digital bra selector, guarantee a ‘perfect fit’ from a wide variety of sports and other styles. An expert advisor is available to provide gait analysis for running shoes, using a specialized medical motion gait analysis treadmill to determine running style. A dedicated personal shopper is available to assist with various needs. There’s even a ‘Community Manager’ in the store, explained Ms. Anastasiadis, who can connect shoppers with local studios, classes, and information pertaining to brand launches and other initiatives. 

“It’s all about the experience,” said Ms. Anastasiadis, who explained how Sport Chek wants to connect with the female consumer in a comprehensive way with the new store concept, and how its detail-oriented design is expected to resonate with the target demographic. 

A number of brands in the new Sport Chek women’s store are not available in mainline Sport Chek locations. Montreal-based yoga brand Lolë is one of them, and it’s hosting a free yoga class in the store on Friday, March 3 — which is already full. 

FGL Sports, which is headquartered in Calgary, jumped on the opportunity when a large retail space became available on CF Chinook Centre’s second level, beside Nordstrom. The Calgary mall has a high percentage of female shoppers, noted Ms. Anastasiadis, creating an opportunity to engage the consumer in a curated retail environment. Sport Chek will test the concept in Calgary and if it proves to be successful, Sport Chek Women could be expanded into other Canadian cities.  

*Photos in this article were supplied by FGL/Sport Chek.

Still Time to Register for Dx3 Conference in Toronto Next Week

By
Retail Insider
-

Back for its sixth and most interactive year, the Dx3 Canada conference is being held on March 8 and 9 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. It’s Canada’s largest conference and trade show focused on digital marketing, digital advertising and digital retailing, bringing together agencies, brands, publishers and retailers for two days of networking and education. There will be more than 40 educational sessions, 100 exhibitors and 4,000 attendees, and there’s still time to buy tickets to attend. 

Among the interactive exhibits is The Seamless Shopping Experience, which will focus on how companies can leverage solutions to meet the needs of today’s modern customer. Shopify, Moneris, Interac, and Beehivr will demonstrate how they make the process easier for consumers through innovative retail solutions to create an overall integrated experience.

Dx3 will showcase the latest innovations in marketing and retail technology. Attendees will be able to participate and have a hands-on experience with the following interactive exhibits:

Dx3 Autolab presented by Toyota and powered by Tobii Pro: Partnering with auto manufacturer Toyota and eye-tracking research specialists Tobii Pro, the Dx3 Autolab is an interactive car showroom where subconscious behaviour is captured while attendees “shop” for a car on the show floor.

Interactive VR Lab: The Interactive VR Lab will explore how VR can be commercialized and applied in industries like real estate, education, entertainment, automotive and airline industries.

Agile Retail Lab: Moneris, Chatter Research, Dive Networks, and Brika team up to bring technological retail tools to a pop-up shop, enabling the store to adjust to consumer needs in real time.

PayPal Startup Zone: Sponsored by PayPal, the Startup Zone is a curated group of the leading marketing and retail startups in Canada.

Canadian Retail Innovation Challenge: This competition aims to find the best new companies working to improve the retail merchant and retail technology sectors. The six finalists will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges from Oxford Properties Group, Retail Prophet, Salesforce and the Retail Council of Canada in front of a live audience on March 9. The winners who demonstrate the most innovative retail-related ideas will have the opportunity to work with Oxford Properties Group to test and demonstrate their winning concept at one of its top tier assets, Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

The New Retail Frontier: Presented by Mastercard and powered by Tulip Retail, the New Retail Frontier will show how, through retail demonstration with brands such as Coach, Toys ‘R’ Us, or Frank + Oak, new technology — like the biometric authentication app, Mastercard Identity Check — can simplify the purchase experience for consumers.

Buy tickets and see the full schedule with details on speakers and exhibits at Dx3Canada.com.

*Partner Content. To work with Retail Insider, contact Craig Patterson at: craig@retail-insider.com

Inside Yorkville’s Soon-To-Be-Demolished Retail Plazas [Featured Photo-Tour]

By
Craig Patterson
-

Toronto’s affluent Yorkville neighbourhood is about to see an unprecedented wave of redevelopment, which will see a number of vintage retail plazas demolished in the coming years. We toured and photographed several of these mini-malls and created a tour to describe what’s to come for one of Canada’s wealthiest commercial and residential districts. 

Despite its prestige, Yorkville features a number of unpretentious and in some instances, unkempt retail corridors that serve a number of small retailers. Some of the malls also include a considerable amount of vacant retail space, providing insight into why accessibility and visibility are key in order to ensure success in drawing visitors. 

We toured the following plazas, as per the map below, and have provided a description of what’s there, and what’s to come. 

(1) Cumberland Terrace
(2) Village Arcade
(3) 99 Yorkville Avenue
(4) 104-108 Yorkville Avenue
(5) 1240 Bay Street
(6) York Square
(7) Old York Lane (not to be demolished) 

*****

1) Cumberland Terrace

The three-level Cumberland Terrace opened to the public in 1974, and its interiors reflect its age. The lower level features a number of small, independent retailers, as well as a food court that can get busy during lunch hours. The main floor features a number of retailers and where it faces Bloor Street West, Swarovski and Talbots flank the entrance. A second level is almost completely empty, as per photos below. 

Most of the existing Cumberland Terrace will be demolished for a major redevelopment that some are calling ‘Yorkville Square’. Details will be revealed in the next while for what is expected to become one of the most important urban redevelopment projects in the city in years. 

Above is the Yonge Street entrance to Cumberland Terrace. An interesting fact — ‘The Potter’s Field’ cemetery was once located here, established in 1826. The cemetery was closed in 1855 and between 1851 and 1881, the remains of 6,685 people were moved to other cemeteries in the city, allowing for redevelopment of the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Bloor Street West. 

A directory on the ground floor of Cumberland Terrace, providing wayfinding for all three levels. The TTC subway Line 2 runs under part of the complex. Holt Renfrew‘s Bloor Street flagship connects to Cumberland Terrace via the adjacent Holt Renfrew Centre. 

Cumberland Terrace’s ground floor features a number of small, independent retailers. 

Looking down from the mostly vacant top retail level of Cumberland Terrace. 

Above is a Cumberland Street entrance to Cumberland Terrace, indicating what was once possibly a grand retail plaza. 

Lower-level food court at Cumberland Terrace. Lunch hours are the busiest time, by far. 

Ground floor retail spaces at Cumberland Terrace. Tall windows facing Cumberland Street provide ample sunlight. 

Bloor Street West entrance to Cumberland Terrace, featuring Talbot’s and Swarovski stores. 

2) Village Arcade.

Another retail plaza that’s seen better days is the ‘Village Arcade’ at 50 Cumberland Street. The one-level retail hallway acts as a passageway between Cumberland Street and Yorkville Avenue, at the base of a large multi-storey parking garage. Remarkably, this plaza is a stone’s throw away from some of Canada’s most expensive condominium units at the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences. 

Much of the entire block, including the parkade as well as adjacent 1235 and 1255 Bay Street office towers, will be demolished as part of the ‘Yorkville Square’ redevelopment mentioned above.  

Cumberland Street entrance to ‘Village Arcade’, facing Cumberland Terrace that was described above. 

The interior corridor of Village Arcade is clean and quaint, featuring several small businesses. This photo is looking north from the Cumberland Street entrance towards Yorkville Avenue. 

The Yorkville Avenue entrance to ‘Village Arcade’ is considerably newer. A development proposal is on its wall, which will be updated as new redevelopment plans are presented to the City for approval. 

3) 99 Yorkville Avenue

Located beside Yorkville Avenue’s new Christian Louboutin boutique, 99 Yorkville Avenue is ripe for change. A series of dated corridors house a number of smaller retailers, as well as a number of vacant storefronts. At one time, it was expected that quaint laneways would attract shoppers and retailers, but we’ve since learned that visibility and accessibility is what works best. 

While it’s unclear what exactly will happen with these retail spaces, we can say that a number of nearby buildings will be demolished and replaced with street-facing retail. The half-level ‘up-down’ retail spaces characteristic of much of Yorkville fail to gain the same rental rates as easy-access street-level retail spaces. Landlords are acting accordingly and in a number of instances, are planning to demolish existing buildings in order to construct modern storefronts with easy-access sidewalk-accessed doorways. 

The photo above looks towards the entrance of 99 Yorkville Avenue. The red facade of Christian Louboutin, which opened in the summer of 2016, is on the right. Yorkville Avenue is in transition — this summer, Chanel will open an 8,700 square foot flagship across the street, and other luxury retailers will be soon be announced for spaces nearby.  

Inside of the 99 Yorkville Avenue retail plaza. Most spaces are currently unoccupied, with awkward access and narrow interior hallways. 

A ‘character corridor’ within the 99 Yorkville complex. This photo was taken through locked glass doors. The doors at the end of this photo face towards the Minto Yorkville luxury residential rental building, with a 5,500 square foot Pusateri’s Fine Foods grocery store at its base. 

An exterior corridor that has generally failed to attract retailers and shoppers. 

3) 104-108 Yorkville Avenue

The laneway in these photos is expected to remain in a modified form, though the buildings at the forefront are slated for demolition. Chanel will locate in the brick building to the right. Pricey, hip streetwear retailer CNTRBND is currently in the laneway in the photo below, though in May of this year it will relocate to a streetfront space at 135 Yorkville Avenue.

Above are two rendering of what will replace the buildings at 104-108 Yorkville Avenue, via Kearns Mancini Architects. Three European luxury retailers will occupy the street-level spaces when the project is completed towards the end of 2018. 

5) 1240 Bay Street

A nondescript retail hallway within the building is located directly above the Bay TTC subway station. The photo below is of the Bellair Street entrance. Quirky Toronto-based beauty retailer Deciem occupies the retail storefront marked ‘Not Bay’, hopefully providing clarification to commuters who may confuse entrances. Deciem is opening stores in Toronto as part of an international expansion. 

We’re not aware of any imminent plans to demolish/redevelop 1240 Bay Street. Given its location directly over the subway line, 1240 Bay will likely outlive most, if not all, of the properties featured in this article. 

The photo above is of the interior corridor of 1240 Bay, looking towards Bay Street from Bellair Street. Deciem is located to the right. 

6) York Square

The York Square retail development was completed in 1968, and over the years it has housed a number of prominent retailers. It originally joined together several former historical residences that were converted to commercial purposes, with a central court for stores and restaurants. A redevelopment proposal is expected to maintain some of the heritage facades of York Square, but the existing interior corridors will be reconfigured/removed in order to facilitate a large luxury residential tower that will eventually locate above. 

The photo above is the Yorkville Avenue entrance to York Square. 

Much of the retail space in the centre of York Square is currently vacant. Vidal Sassoon and Furla once had locations here. 

7) Old York Lane (Not to be Demolished)

The outdoor passageway between Cumberland Street and Yorkville Avenue has been unusually successful, housing a number of important retailers. Kate Spade occupies a two-level flagship space on the Cumberland Street side, and North America’s first location for Spanish jeweller Carrera y Carrera is located mid-block. Other boutiques on Old York Lane include ça va de soi and Paris-based Tanya Heath footwear. 

Toronto’s Yorkville will see considerable redevelopment over the coming years, not to mention thousands of new residents in new residential towers. We’ll be periodically reporting on the neighbourhood’s progress, as it transforms into Toronto’s answer to London’s Mayfair. 

1...1,1521,1531,154...1,327Page 1,153 of 1,327
spot_img
spot_img

About

Contact

Media

Follow

© 2025 Retail Insider Media Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The content on this website is protected by the copyrights of Retail Insider Media Ltd. or the copyrights of third parties and used by agreement. No part of any of the content of this website may be reproduced, distributed, modified, framed, cached, adapted or linked to, or made available in any form by any photographic, electronic, digital, mechanical, photostat, microfilm, xerography or other means, or incorporated into or used in any information storage and retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the prior written permission of Retail Insider Media Ltd. or the applicable third party copyright owner.