On Thursday, March 24, OFF 5TH’s fourth Canadian location will open at Tanger Outlets Ottawa, measuring 28,000 square feet.
So far, Saks has announced a total of 11 Canadian stores, with the intention to open about 25 within Canada by the year 2021. Other confirmed Saks OFF 5TH Canadian locations include the following:
U.K. luxury jewellery and accessory brand Links of London has opened its first Montreal concession, on the ground floor of Ogilvy. The brand now operates seven Canadian locations, all within Holt Renfrew-owned stores.
The Montreal Links concession opens as parent company Selfridges Group prepares to expand Ogilvy’s luxury offerings by merging it with Holt Renfrew. When completed late next year, the expanded, combined Ogilvy/Holt’s will span 220,000 square feet. Holt’s will close its existing 84,000 square foot Sherbrooke Street West store as part of the merger.
Holt Renfrew features Links of London concessions at all of its existing stores, except for its Montreal Sherbrooke Street unit. The Toronto CF Sherway Gardens Links concession will close this year as Holt Renfrew prepares to vacate the mall. Not all is lost for Sherway Gardens, however, as this spring, Links will open its first freestanding Canadian location in the mall.
Links of London will also open this summer within Holt Renfrew’s Square One store in Mississauga, according to a source at Links.
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.
Luxury diamond company and jeweller De Beers has opened its second free-standing Canadian location at Toronto’s CF Sherway Gardens. The new store joins an existing De Beers location in Vancouver, which opened in the fall of 2013.
The Toronto De Beers store measures about 1,000 square feet according to lease plans supplied by landlord Cadillac Fairview. The store is strategically located in the mall’s centre court.
De Beers’ first Canadian location opened in October of 2013 at 1088 Alberni Street in Vancouver. The two-level retail space features a 1,636 square foot retail storefront on its ground-floor, as well as upstairs offices for De Beers Canada. Toronto’s first De Beers location was originally expected to open as a concession within Yorkdale Shopping Centre‘s Holt Renfrew, though the deal never came to fruition.
De Beers is the latest upscale retailer to join the mix at CF Sherway Gardens. On Thursday, Saks Fifth Avenue‘s second Canadian store opens in the mall, following last week’s flagship Saks opening at CF Toronto Eaton Centre. More upscale brands are expected to move into Sherway over the next several months, including Links of London, which will open its first freestanding Canadian store in the mall this spring.
Popular Vancouver-based accessories brand Herschel Supply Co. plans to open its first freestanding Canadian store, as the company expands its operations amid exceptional growth.
The company was founded in Vancouver in 2009 by brothers Jamie and Lyndon Cormack, with its name adopted from the town of Herschel, Saskatchewan, where three generations of their family grew up. The company produces and retails accessories ranging from wallets to larger bags, all at reasonable price points.
Herschel is looking to open its first Canadian location in Vancouver, according to Women’s Wear Daily. Herschel representatives declined to provide official comment for this article. Over the past couple of years, a number of mall landlords have told us that they have spoken to Herschel Supply about becoming a tenant, with the accessory company indicating that it wasn’t interested in opening freestanding stores.
Last week, Herschel introduced its first trademarked fabric, which has been under development for about two years. Called ApexKnit, the collection is available in limited quantities at: ApexKnit.HerschelSupply.com. The fabric is durable, lightweight, and virtually seamless, featuring a sporty, progressive look. The collection’s design details include forged rubber, dual-density EVA-infused padding, and seatbelt webbing adjusters.
Herschel’s sales are stellar, according to co-founder Lyndon Cormack, with annual growth of 40% to 50% in all categories. The company currently operates 15 stores in Asia with distribution partners.
The owner of Calgary-based kitchen knife retailer, Knifewear, is planning to take his concept to new Canadian markets as it continues to see success. The innovative concept began with a single location in Calgary’s trendy Inglewood area, and has since expanded to four and, soon, five locations. Remarkably, the retailer boasts the largest selection of Japanese kitchen knives outside of Japan.Â
Former sous-chef Kevin Kent got started in the knife business in 2007 by selling handcrafted Japanese knives out of a backpack on the back of his bicycle, while working in a restaurant in Calgary. He became obsessed with Japanese knives and ventured to Japan to find blacksmiths versed in the craft. He quietly opened his first retail store, Knifewear, in Calgary’s trendy Inglewood neighbourhood in 2008, and it was an immediate hit among those looking for high quality kitchen knives. According to its website, the store became “a destination/hang-out for those who love Japanese steel and are addicted to sharp. We carry knives not found in any other shop in Calgary. We like exclusive, scary sharp, high performance blades.”
The retailer now works with over 40 different Japanese blacksmiths of varying sizes, and has branched into selling knife-related accessories. Chefs remain an important part of the business, representing about 20% of sales, according to Mr. Kent.
The company differentiates its brick-and-mortar stores from online by offering “expert knife knowledge, an enjoyable purchasing experience, after sale support and knife passion”, according to its website. Success has seen the brand expand beyond its two Calgary locations, opening stores in Edmonton’s Old Strathcona and Ottawa’s Byward Market areas. Knifewear is now looking to open a Vancouver store, after a series of highly successful pop-up locations in that city.
Mr. Kent explained that new Knifewear stores will ideally be in the 1,000 square foot range on urban streets, and that long, narrow ‘bowling alley-like’ retail spaces are ideal for displaying its wares. After opening a Vancouver store, Mr. Kent said that a Toronto location ‘makes great sense’, and that he’d even like to open a store in Kyoto, Japan.
Although some independent retailers choose to stay small, Mr. Kent explained that he has no problem with his retail concept growing to become a chain. Alberta Venture recently ranked Knifewear as the province’s 12th fastest-growing growing company, up from number 18 the year before. Although the retailer may be growing, it’s the ‘fun’ and interactive nature of its operations that will keep it down to earth. Mr. Kent explained that he’s full of ‘silly ideas’ that when implemented, often succeed, including a documentary film about Japanese blacksmiths that won an award at the Edmonton International Film Festival. He explained how success can stem from doing what you love, and that one of his goals is for customers to say “I went to a knife store and had a good time”.
Swedish fast-fashion retailer H&M is preparing to re-open one of its largest locations in the world this week. The CF Toronto Eaton Centre flagship will feature an expanded assortment of product categories, spanning three levels and about 52,500 square feet.
Although parts of the expanded store have been open for days, the store’s second level, 3,200 square foot Home Collection department will open along with the formal store re-opening on Thursday, February 25. The store will be the second in Canada to feature H&M’s Home Collection, following the summer of 2014 Canadian debut at H&M in West Edmonton Mall.
Eaton Centre’s H&M opened in the fall of 2004 and at the time, measured about 33,000 square feet over three floors.
LEASE PLAN: CADILLAC FAIRVIEW
H&M anchors the north end of CF Toronto Eaton Centre, featuring a prominent presence at the busy corner of Yonge Street and Dundas Street. In the fall of 2016, the store will be joined by Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo, which will open a 28,000 square foot store between H&M and Nordstrom. The 220,000 square foot Nordstrom flagship is set to open its Eaton Centre store on September 16, with a charity gala to be held two days prior. Rumours continue to persist that an Apple Store flagship store will open nearby, and sources say that a recent increase in hiring indicates that possibility.
Nordstrom has revealed new details and an exterior rendering of its CF Toronto Eaton Centre flagship, ahead of the store’s September 16, 2016 grand opening.
The three level, 220,000 square foot Nordstrom will be located at the northern end of the busy downtown Toronto shopping centre. When it opens, Nordstrom CF Toronto Eaton Centre will be one of only five flagships for the Seattle-based retailer, along with locations in Vancouver, San Francisco, downtown Seattle and Chicago. A 363,000 square foot Manhattan flagship will join in 2019.
The store will employ 850 and according to Nordstrom, will feature many of the same amenities and services as the Vancouver flagship which opened in September of 2015. Toronto Eaton Centre’s Nordstrom will feature three restaurant concepts — Bistro Verde restaurant, Habitant lounge, and coffee concept Ebar. The store will also feature the following:
Personal Stylist
Concierge
Alterations/Tailor Shop
Service Bar
Pop-In@Nordstrom
Beauty Concierge
Beauty Stylist
Mobile Checkout
Studio Services
Shoe Shine Stand
Certified Shoe Fitters
Certified Bra Fitters
Family Restrooms
Mother’s Lounge
Complimentary Gift Boxes
Nordstrom Gift Cards
Debut Rewards
Free Wi-Fi
The store will also feature Nordstrom’s new SPACE department, developed by former Opening Ceremony VP Olivia Kim, featuring emerging and otherwise unrepresented international designers.
CF Toronto Eaton Centre’s Nordstrom will be the first of three for Toronto. A 196,000 square foot Yorkdale Shopping Centre location is set to open on October 21 of this year, and a 138,000 square foot CF Sherway Gardens store will open some time in the fall of 2017.
Nordstrom will be the latest addition to CF Toronto Eaton Centre, which last week saw the opening of Canada’s first Saks Fifth Avenue store. According to retail experts, the opening of both stores could help transform Yonge Street, as the area continues to see new retailers.
This week, we toured Saks Fifth Avenue‘s first Canadian store, located within the Hudson’s Bay building on Queen Street at CF Toronto Eaton Centre. This article features photos from a media tour, as well as an evening cocktail event hosted by the National Ballet of Canada. The store opens to the public with a ribbon cutting at 9:30 am on Thursday February 18.Â
The Queen Street Saks store is bright and luxurious, spanning 169,000 square feet over four floors. The store was designed by Saks Fifth Avenue Store Design and Planning, in partnership with design firm FRCH Design Worldwide.Â
The store’s cosmetics department includes a number of premium brands. Saks provided the following vendor list: Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Parfums Christian Dior, Clive Christian, EX NIHILO, MEMO Paris, SERGE LUTENS, Guerlain, Carre Hermès Perfumer, Acqua di Parma, Le Labo, House of Creed, Byredo, Diptyque, Kilian, Jo Malone London, Trish McEvoy, Laura Mercier, By Terry, Decortè, Cellcosmet, Apothecary, Tom Ford, La Prairie, La Mer, Chantecaille, Cle De Peau, Aesop and Valmont.
The store’s second floor features the 25,000 square foot menswear department, as well as an 8,500 square foot women’s shoe department called ‘10022-SHOE’. The menswear department features a number of premium brands such as Balmain, Dior Homme, Martin Margela, Givenchy Dunhill, Isaia, Zegna, Helmut Lang, Kenzo, Rag & Bone and others.
The store’s third floor features women’s ready to wear, lingerie, and personal shopping suites at Fifth Avenue Club, Saks’ personal shopping and styling service that includes a private suite with refreshments.Â
A 25,000 square foot upscale food hall operated by Pusateri’s Fine Foods will open some time in April on the store’s concourse level. As well, a three-level, 11,000 square foot restaurant/bar operated by Oliver & Bonacini, called Leña, will open in May of 2016. It will be operated Chef Anthony Walsh, will showcase “the vibrant essence of South American cooking and dining with unique Spanish influences”, according to Saks.Â
Saks’ second Canadian location opens at Toronto’s CF Sherway Gardens on Thursday, February 25.
More photos below:Â
SAKS FIFTH AVENUE CF TORONTO EATON CENTRE 10022-SHOE SALON (PRNewsFoto/Saks Fifth Avenue)
The 38,600-square-foot store is scheduled to open in 2018 at the southeast corner of Yonge and Bloor Streets in Toronto, in the retail podium of ‘One Bloor East’. About 10,000 square feet will be on the ground level, with the remainder on the second floor, according to sources.
The store will be about a mile north of Nordstrom’s full-line store, scheduled to open in CF Toronto Eaton Centre on September 16, 2016.
“We’re excited to announce our first Nordstrom Rack in Canada in such a wonderful location and provide Canadian customers another way to shop their favorite Nordstrom brands at great prices,” said Karen McKibbin, president of Nordstrom Canada. “We want to be a part of compelling locations across the country and this is a great first step. We look forward to getting our doors open to serve customers in Toronto.”
“We are delighted to welcome Nordstrom Rack to One Bloor, the perfect retailer for such a dynamic location. Anchoring the mink mile at the Yonge/Bloor intersection, One Bloor represents one of Toronto’s signature architectural landmarks and is a symbol of excellence in design, technology and experience,” said Christopher Wein, President of Great Gulf. “With a culmination of residential, retail and transit at this amazing intersection and the vibrant pedestrian activity, Nordstrom Rack will be well positioned for success and future growth.”
Nordstrom plans to open about 20 Nordstrom Rack stores in Canada over the next several years.
