List of Luxury Retailers Opening and Expanding in Canada

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September 22, 2014

The following is a list of 30 luxury retailers which are either new to Canada, or expanding their operations nationally. Some are confirmed, while others are more speculative. It’s sponsored by Vancouver-based Peregrine, which custom designs and fabricates retail, display, furniture and architectural features for some of the country’s top retailers.

To have your luxury brand added to this list, email Craig Patterson at: insider@retail-insider.com

STORE NAME	LOCATIONS TO OPEN IN CANADA	NEW OR EXPANDING	ESTIMATED # LOCATIONS POST-EXPANSION
Agent Provocateur	Toronto (free-standing)	Expanding	At least 1, plus multiple concessions at Holt Renfrew
Berluti	Vancouver	New	1
Brunello Cucinelli	Toronto (Yorkville)	New	1 or more – we’re awaiting further details
Bulgari	Toronto (inner core), Vancouver	Expanding	3+, including 1st at Toronto’s Yorkdale
Burberry	Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver	Expanding	6-7 freestanding, 10 concessions
Cartier	Vancouver (replacement location(s))	Expanding	3-5+
Chanel	Vancouver, suburban Toronto?	Expanding	7+
Christian Dior	Vancouver, Toronto (Bloor St)	New	2 freestanding flagships, 5-6 concessions
David Yurman	Toronto (inner core), Vancouver	Expanding	3+ including 1st at Toronto’s Yorkdale
De Beers	Toronto (Yorkville)	Expanding	2 (including Vancouver) + concession at Holts Yorkdale
Fendi Casa	Toronto	New	At least 1 is confirmed – article to follow
Giorgio Armani	TBA	New	TBA
Jimmy Choo	Toronto (inner core), Vancouver	Expanding	3+ including 1st at Toronto’s Yorkdale
John Varvatos	Vancouver	Expanding	2+ including 1st at Toronto’s Yorkdale
Ladurée	Toronto (speculated)	New	1+ anticipated
Max Mara	Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal	Expanding	6 (estimated)
Miu Miu	TBA	Expanding	5+ concessions anticipated
Moncler	Vancouver, possibly 2nd Toronto store	Expanding	2-3+, including 1st at Toronto’s Yorkdale
Montblanc	TBA	Expanding	6+
Mulberry	Vancouver	Expanding	3+ (including 2 Toronto stores)
Prada	Vancouver, others TBA	Expanding	2+ freestanding + multiple concessions.
Pomellato	Vancouver (Pacific Centre)	New	At least one is confirmed – article to follow
Porsche Design	Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal & possibly Edmonton	Expanding	As many as 8
Salvatore Ferragamo	Toronto (Yorkville), others TBA	Expanding	3+ freestanding
Sandro/Maje	TBA	New	3+ freestanding + concessions at Hudson’s Bay
Strellson	Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver	Expanding	4+
Theory	TBA	New	TBA
Versace	Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver	Expanding	4-5
Versace Home	Vancouver	New	1

Londonderry Mall Commences $130 Million Renovation

By

Craig Patterson

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September 22, 2014

Edmonton’s Londonderry Mall is undergoing a $130 million renovation that will see an overhauled interior and several new retailers, including a new anchor. Londonderry is the latest mall to see substantial improvements in Alberta’s booming capital city.

The mall’s common areas, mall entrances, flooring, storefronts, escalators, elevators, washrooms, ceilings and seating areas will be fully renovated. A new full-service dining experience will be added, relocating the mall’s existing food court to the west side of the mall. Interior and exterior lighting will be converted to energy efficient LED, and a state of the art security surveillance system will also be added. The project involves a partnership between MMC Architects and GH+A Design.

According to mall floor plans, a new 75,000 square foot anchor store will also be added to the mall’s second level.

Renovations coincide with the completion of Edmonton’s Anthony Henday Drive ring road in 2016. The surrounding area is growing substantially and the mall’s trade area feeds from affluent surrounding communities. Londonderry is the latest Edmonton mall to see substantial renovations, following improvements at Southgate Centre, Kingsway Mall and extensive renovation plans for West Edmonton Mall.

The 779,000 square foot two-level Londonderry Mall currently houses about 150 retailers and features anchors Hudson’s Bay (118,000 square feet), Army & Navy (60,200 square feet), Save-On-Foods (38,300 square feet), Winners (31,800 square feet) and Shoppers Drug Mart (17,000 square feet). It boasts in excess of 3,500 parking spaces.

When it opened in 1972, Londonderry was Canada’s largest mall west of Toronto, and the only two-level mall in Western Canada. The 85 store mall was anchored by Eaton’s, The Bay, Woolco, Safeway, and a movie theatre. In 1984, the mall added 65 additional stores and services.

Max Mara Opens Expanded Vancouver Store

By

Craig Patterson

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September 19, 2014

Italian luxury fashion brand Max Mara‘s Pacific Centre store in Vancouver has more than doubled in size, annexing adjacent retail space formerly occupied by a watch retailer. Vancouver sells more Max Mara clothing than any city in North America, and also has the most Max Mara stores of any city on the continent.

Max Mara’s former 975 square foot boutique expanded by adding almost 1,200 square feet of a former La Swiss watch store. The new 2,150 square foot location reflects the brand’s updated design by Duccio Grassi Architects. It’s the first Canadian location to feature custom tailoring, and features the Max Mara, Max Mara Elegante, Max Mara Studio, Max Mara Accessories and ‘S Max Mara lines.

Established in 1951, Max Mara is known for its womenswear as well as accessories and shoes, and has stores around the world. The company also retails other fashion lines including Weekend Max Mara, Sportmax, Sportmax Code, Marella, Pennyblack, iBlues, Max & Co., and Marina Rinaldi, among others.

Vancouver is North America’s top-selling city for luxury Italian fashion brand Max Mara, even surpassing sales in New York City. Vancouver also has the highest number of Max Mara stores of any North American city, with a sixth location scheduled to open next year.

Vancouver has three Max Mara stores and two (soon to be three) Weekend by Max Mara stores. Located on Vancouver’s tony South Granville strip, Vancouver’s largest Max Mara store (at 3,850 square feet) boasts North America’s first Max Mara bridal salon. Last year, its Oakridge Centre location relocated to a 2,475 square foot space. Its lower-priced Weekend Max Mara brand currently has two Vancouver locations: a 1,240 square foot Oakridge Centre store and a 2,060 square foot store at Burnaby’s Metropolis at Metrotown. A third Weekend store will open in September of 2015 below Pacific Centre’s Nordstrom store, beside a large new Apple Store.

Vancouver’s Max Mara stores are franchises owned by Catherine Guadagnuolo, founder and owner of Vestis Fashion Group. We asked Ms. Guadagnuolo why Vancouver does such high sales for Max Mara, and she replied to us that her company puts great effort into working with its customers, and has done so for almost 30 years. Vestis is expanding beyond the Vancouver market, opening two locations in Calgary: a Weekend Max Mara store next month at Chinook Centre, and a Max Mara store in the same mall in October of 2015.

Max Mara’s only other Canadian store location is at 151 Bloor Street West in Toronto. The company will also open an outlet store next year at the Montreal Premium Outlets.

Inside Canada’s First Nordstrom Store

By

Craig Patterson

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September 18, 2014

Last night we attended the gala opening of Canada’s first Nordstrom location, and we’ve included some photos in this article. The store is stunning. The Calgary store is only the second in the chain to feature the retailers’s new store design, which other Canadian Nordstrom locations will follow. The Chinook Centre store opens to the public at 9:30 am tomorrow (Friday, September 19). The following is a description of our first impression of Chinook Centre’s Nordstrom, as well as various photos from the gala.

Overall, the interiors of Calgary’s Nordstrom are brighter and more contemporary than most of its American locations. Smooth white ceilings characterize much of the store, as opposed to the tiled ceilings and tract lighting common in most American Nordstrom locations. Calgary is the retailer’s second location to adopt such contemporary interiors, following the recent opening of a Nordstrom location in suburban Houston, Texas.

The store’s flooring is primarily tile, as opposed to carpeting which covers much of Nordstrom’s American store locations. Tiled floors allow flexibility to shrink or expand each department with carpeting according to demand. Carpet over the tile can be moved and is held with adhesive.

Footwear features prominently on the store’s ground floor. Prices vary from the affordable to well in excess of $1,000 per pair.

The women’s handbags department features a wide variety of designers. Along the wall are shops for Burberry, Valentino, and Chloé. Each shop has its own register.

The store’s top-priced womenswear department, Collectors, features designers such as Missoni, Akris Punto, Michael Kors, and St John Knits. As is the case with most departments, it is open and characterized only by carpeting.

The store features ample dressing rooms in various departments. Personal shoppers are on hand to assist customers.

Menswear ranges from the trendy to the professionally conservative. Prices vary. We spied a beautiful Salvatore Ferragamo jacket but decided against the $2,150 purchase price.

The store features artwork from various Canadian artists, especially around dressing rooms and other common areas.

The store’s cosmetics department features an open-sell concept. Experts are on hand and, interestingly, are available to assist shoppers for the entire department, not just from one brand.

The store is far more open than Nordstrom’s US locations. It’s possible to see clear across the store from various departments.

Nordstrom was founded in 1901 as a shoe store and naturally, its footwear selection is exceptional. We couldn’t resist buying this pair of patent leather dress shoes. They’re from Nordstrom label, Calibrate, and were reasonably priced at at $120.

The store features an upscale full-service restaurant on its second floor, called Bazille. It features bistro cuisine and a full bar. Fresh salads, speciality entrées, signature cocktails, a wine list and house-made desserts are featured. Calgary is Bazille’s fourth location, and here’s its American menu: [American Bazille Menu, PDF]

The gala saw over 1,800 people attend, and raising over $180,000 for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, as well as the Calgary United Way. Tickets went on sale last summer for $100 each and sold out in exceptional time. The entire cost of the gala was underwritten by Nordstrom, meaning that all proceeds from ticket sales went to these charities.

Anchoring the north end of Chinook Centre, Calgary’s Nordstrom spans two floors and measures about 140,000 square feet. It replaces part of the mall’s former 172,000 square foot Sears store.

Nordstrom’s second Canadian location, measuring 157,000 square feet, opens March 6, 2015 at Ottawa’s Rideau Centre. Its 230,000 square foot Vancouver (Pacific Centre) store opens September 18, 2015 and in the fall of 2016, two Toronto stores (Toronto Eaton Centre – 213,000 square feet, Yorkdale Shopping Centre – 191,000 square feet) will open, followed by a third Toronto store (Sherway Gardens – 138,000 square feet) in the spring of 2017.

Next week we’ll provide a more in-depth description of each Nordstrom store department, following its Friday grand opening.

Will Holt Renfrew Build a New Store on Bay Street?

By

Craig Patterson

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September 17, 2014

Submitted plans to rebuild Toronto’s Cumberland Terrace suggest that a 36,754 square foot, three level retail space will connect to the neighbouring Holt Renfrew flagship on Bloor Street. If Holt Renfrew has indeed secured this space, it could be best utilized for a separate men’s store or possibly for a new food concept.

Oxford Properties recently submitted plans to the City of Toronto’s Planning Department for the new retail podium at Cumberland Terrace, which will be joined by an adjacent 54-storey residential tower. Holt Renfrew’s 185,000 square foot flagship at 50 Bloor Street West sits across the laneway (called Mayfair Mews) from the new Cumberland Terrace.

According to plans, the 36,754 square foot Cumberland Terrace retail space will include an 8,090 square foot lower level, an 11,894 square foot ground floor, and a 16,779 square foot second level. The lower level and the second level both appear to connect to Holt Renfrew via passages below and above Mayfair Mews.

If Holt Renfrew has indeed secured this new retail space, it could be best served for one of two purposes. A new 37,000 square foot Holt Renfrew men’s store could feature a Bay Street entrance, and multiple sources say that Holt Renfrew could be working with Eataly to bring its Italian food concept to Canada. The 37,000 square foot Cumberland Terrace space may be too small for Eataly, however, as its Chicago location measures 63,000 square feet and its New York City location measures in excess of 50,000 square feet.

Holt Renfrew recently revealed plans to expand and renovate its Bloor Street flagship, including the addition of a new facade. This fall, Holt’s will also open a 14,000 square foot men’s store at 100 Bloor Street West, directly across the street from luxury menswear retailer Harry Rosen. Holt Renfrew is in the process of renovating and expanding its store base as it anticipates increased competition from Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom, both opening multiple Canadian locations over the next several years.

We’ll update you when we learn more on Cumberland Terrace’s new retail component, including whether or not Holt Renfrew has secured this retail space.

[Link to City of Toronto Cumberland Terrace Application PDF]

Oakville Place Adds Pusateri’s as part of $30 million redevelopment

By

Craig Patterson

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September 17, 2014

RioCan is investing $30 million into Oakville Place in Oakville, Ontario. Upscale grocery store Pusateri’s will be the mall’s newest anchor, and this will be Pusateri’s fourth store location. The following is from a press release.

RioCan is set to break ground in June 2015 on the re-development of Oakville Place, led by the addition of a new Pusateri’s Fine Foods. The opening of Pusateri’s is part of a $30 million dollar renovation that RioCan Oakville Place and is scheduled to be complete late 2016.

Centrally located with visibility from major highways, RioCan Oakville Place is the only enclosed shopping centre in the area. Its attractive architecture, spacious and diverse food court, and desirable merchandise mix are all tailored to attract both frequent locals and visiting tourists.

Pusateri’s is expected to create approximately 150 jobs and is scheduled to open in time for the holiday season, 2015.

“We are pleased to see that our recent investments in a thriving centre, with a strong loyal following of shoppers and tenants, has drawn the attention of a high quality retailer such as Pusateri’s” says Edward Sonshine, Chief Executive Officer of RioCan. “Pusateri’s brings their reputation of being one of the finest specialty food shops in the Greater Toronto Area to the retail mix at RioCan Oakville Place. With world-class offerings and superior, knowledgeable service this will certainly be something that the Oakville market will be happy to discover.”

“We are pleased to be expanding Pusateri’s to four stores in Ontario with our newest location at RioCan Oakville Place. This location will be the first Pusateri’s in Oakville and in the West GTA, and the fourth location in Ontario for the Canadian-owned fine foods store,” says Frank Luchetta, President of Pusateri’s Fine Foods. “We travel the world exploring new and distinct culinary experiences to share with customers. It is our unmatched passion for food and commitment to quality that inspires the diverse and exceptional selection of our products, and we are so pleased to be bringing this experience to the Oakville community.”

About Pusateri’s

World-renowned for exceptional products, superior quality, freshness and customer service: Pusateri’s has built an enviable reputation as one of the best fine food shops today. Pusateri’s staff has traveled the globe in search of the unknown, with the determination and desire to share their passion for food. Family-owned and operated for over 45 years, Pusateri’s remains a one-of-a-kind shopping destination for food enthusiasts. It has three locations in the Toronto area: Yorkville, Avenue Road and Bayview Village and a location opening at RioCan Oakville Place in late 2015.

About RioCan Oakville Place

RioCan Oakville Place is located in the Town of Oakville, at the corner of Trafalgar road and the QEW. The centre boasts attractive architectural features, a spacious food court, a sophisticated shopping experience and a desirable merchandise mix that currently features over 100 key retailers including Hudson’s Bay, SportChek, H&M, Nine West, Mexx, Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill and many more. Visit riocanoakvilleplace.com for more information.

About RioCan

RioCan is Canada’s largest real estate investment trust with a total capitalization of approximately $14.9 billion as at June 30, 2014. It owns and manages Canada’s largest portfolio of shopping centres with ownership interests in a portfolio of 340 retail properties containing approximately 81 million square feet, including 47 grocery anchored and new format retail centres containing 13 million square feet in the United States as at June 30, 2014. RioCan’s portfolio also includes 16 properties under development in Canada. For further information, please refer to RioCan’s website at www.riocan.com.

Crisca Closes Canadian Stores

By

Craig Patterson

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September 16, 2014

Last week, upscale German women’s designer brand Crisca closed all seven of its remaining Canadian stores. Founded by luxury parent company Escada, Crisca’s Montreal-based franchise holder controlled the brand’s North American operations.

According to its Canadian brokerage, Oberfeld Snowcap, Crisca carried moderate to higher-priced fashion-forward casual, career and weekend wear for women, as well as related accessories. Store sizes were ideally in the 1,200 square foot range and according to its Canadian franchise holders, each location cost roughly $200,000 to build. In 2009, the Montreal franchise holder had aggressive plans for between 25 to 30 Canadian locations. Sales targets for some of its Canadian locations were reportedly in excess of $1 million annually.

Crisca’s recently closed Canadian locations include the following:

Calgary: Chinook Centre
Calgary: Market Mall
Montreal: Centre Rockland
Quebec City: Place Ste-Foy
Toronto: The Shops at Don Mills
Toronto: Bayview Village
Vancouver: Oakridge Shopping Centre

A number of other Crisca locations closed prior to last week. Representatives wouldn’t speak on the record to provide further details, other than to confirm the end of its Canadian store operations. The company’s website links to the German website for fashion brand BiBA.

Saje Natural Wellness’ Astounding Store Expansion Plans

By

Craig Patterson

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September 15, 2014

image-asset - 2021-05-02T225910.214 — PHOTO: SAJE NATURAL WELLNESS

Vancouver-based Saje Natural Wellness will open eight Canadian locations this year, including its first in Ontario. Saje is one of Canada’s fastest-growing companies, planning to grow its 14 locations to 50 by the year 2018. The momentum will continue next year, as Saje plans to open between eight and 10 Canadian locations in 2015.

Founded in 1991, Saje retails hundreds of different natural wellness products, accessories and gift ideas. Products contain 100% natural ingredients, including plant-derived essential oils and base ingredients. It currently operates 14 stores in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Kelowna.

Today, Saje’s first Ontario location opens at Mississauga’s Square One Shopping Centre and this winter, the retailer will open three Toronto-area locations. By the end of 2014, Saje will have opened eight stores in five provinces, including the following:

Mississauga: Square One Shopping Centre
Toronto: Uptown (2636 Yonge St.)
Toronto: Queen Street (399 Queen St. W.)
Vaughan (suburban Toronto) – Vaughan Mills
Winnipeg: Polo Park Shopping Centre
Saskatoon: Midtown Plaza
Calgary: Chinook Centre
West Vancouver: The Village at Park Royal

PROFIT Magazine recently ranked Saje Natural Wellness as one of Canada’s fastest growing companies, with an impressive five year revenue growth of 267%. Saje is considered to be the top retailer in its category in top-tier Canadian shopping centres.

INSIDE SAJE’S KELOWNA STORE, PHOTO: WWW.TUJAWELLNESS.COM

Saje is seeking retail space between 700 and 1,200 square feet, in top tier malls and high traffic street front locations across Canada. Currently, its primary focus is expanding throughout Ontario, with expansion plans for the Greater Toronto Area, South Western Ontario and the Ottawa region.

John Snable is responsible for mall opportunities and Josh Campbell, VP Retail, is responsible for high profile street-front locations. You may contact johnsnable@sympatico.ca or josh@saje.ca for leasing inquiries.

Quiet Luxury Awaits at Toronto’s Bayview Village

By

Craig Patterson

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September 12, 2014

By Karim Rashwan

It may not be Toronto’s most prestigious mall, nor its most popular, but Bayview Village could be the city’s most unique mall. While Yorkdale, Sherway Gardens, Square One, and Toronto Eaton Centre are all undergoing massive expansions and upgrades to accommodate the seemingly never-ending parade of luxury retailers that are making their way to Canada, Bayview Village has been quietly undergoing a retail renaissance unlike that of most malls in North America.

Tucked away in Willowdale, one of Toronto’s most affluent communities, and also catering to the nearby ultra-wealthy neighbourhoods of York Mills, The Bridle Path, Sunnybrook, and Lawrence Park, Bayview Village’s stores are notably upscale. What makes the mall so different, however, is that it contains, arguably, the city’s highest concentration of “the only one in North America” stores. High-end designer labels such as Betty Barclay, Oui, Luisa Cerano, Laurèl, Riani, and Basler all have mono-brand shops in the mall, all of which are the only North American outpost for each retailer. Brooks Brothers, Jacadi, Pink Tartan, and the soon-to-open Strellson are also among the luxury designer labels that have set up shop in the mall, as well as high-end grocery store Pusetari’s – Canada’s answer to New York City’s famed Dean & Deluca’s. Strellson’s opening in the fall marks a significant milestone for the brand in Toronto’s retail scene, making Toronto the only city in the world to boast two freestanding Strellson stores.

With Bayview Village’s target customer being female, over 30 years old with an annual household income of over $100,000, it should come as no surprise that the mall contains no fewer than seven footwear stores and is consistently ranked in the top 5% for sales per square foot in Canada.

Things weren’t always this way, though, for Bayview Village. The shopping centre started out as an open air mall when it was built in the 1960’s, catering to the growing post-war, suburban communities that were starting to dot the Greater Toronto Area landscape. But unlike several other “power centers”, like Honeydale Mall, that didn’t manage to survive the recessions of the 70’s, 80’s, and early 90’s, Bayview Village remained competitive by actively seeking out independent luxury boutiques not found in larger malls across the city. In 1977, the mall was enclosed, and as Kmart moved out, Canada’s first GAP store moved in, setting the scene for Bayview Village to take on some of the country’s higher profile malls. With Toronto having been recently ranked 15th in the world for the highest concentration of millionaires, today, it is not uncommon to spot Bentley’s, Maserati’s, Aston Martin’s, and Ferrari’s in the Bayview Village parking lot, as empty-nesters shop for $1,000 jackets and sip $8.00 lattes.

As competition for retail space intensifies, and malls increasingly become a point of entry into Canada, Bayview Village will no doubt continuously reinvent itself, as it seeks to attract unique retailers that, while not necessarily having the same big name pop of a Versace, Ferragamo, or Bvlgari, will continue to build on Toronto’s growing and diverse luxury retail scene.

New Online Retailer – Emart Canada Launches

By

Craig Patterson

-

September 11, 2014

By Jeanie Borremans

A new Edmonton-based e-retailer, Emart Canada (www.emartcanada.ca) opened its proverbial doors on Sunday, August 31st with a selection of mid-range men’s, women’s and children’s brands. Shipping strictly within Canada, the website’s aim is to provide fashion to all corners of Canada by using Canada Post as their main shipping provider. The website aims to provide new and exciting brands that aren’t readily available to the Canadian shopper.

RW-2014-Retail-Insider-400x400.Sept 10.png

The website has no ads, facilitating a clean, easy to shop environment. They also have “E Points Rewards” – 10 points for every $1 spent, with rewards levels starting at 500 points. Brands currently in stock include William Rast, Buffalo David Bitton, AngelEye, LouenHide, Appaman, Outbaks and Jojo Maman Bebe, with more brands being added daily.

Retail InsiderCanada's Most-Read Online Retail Industry Publication.

List of Luxury Retailers Opening and Expanding in Canada

Londonderry Mall Commences $130 Million Renovation

Max Mara Opens Expanded Vancouver Store

Inside Canada’s First Nordstrom Store

Will Holt Renfrew Build a New Store on Bay Street?

Oakville Place Adds Pusateri’s as part of $30 million redevelopment

Crisca Closes Canadian Stores

Saje Natural Wellness’ Astounding Store Expansion Plans

Quiet Luxury Awaits at Toronto’s Bayview Village

New Online Retailer – Emart Canada Launches

Today’s Retail News From Around The Web: September 11, 2014

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