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NORDSTROM ANTICIPATES $1 BILLION IN CANADIAN SALES

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Retail Insider
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Rendering: Nordstrom Yorkdale

Nordstrom anticipates Canadian retail sales of about $1 billion once its full-line and Nordstrom Rack stores have all opened. Such competition will be challenging to other Canadian retailers, all competing for Canadian shopping dollars in country with a relatively small population.

Nordstrom anticipates opening between 8 and 10 full-line Canadian stores, as well as between 15 and 20 Nordstrom Rack stores. So far, the company has secured future Nordstrom store locations in Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa, as well as two locations in Toronto (at Sherway Gardens and Yorkdale Shopping Centre). Several more Nordstrom locations will be announced, likely including Downtown Toronto, Edmonton, and possibly Winnipeg. The province of Quebec, at the moment, doesn’t appear to be on Nordstrom’s radar.

Nordstrom Rack is also on the hunt for Canadian store locations and is in talks with several landlords. We’ve been informed that a deal has likely been finalized for Canada’s first Nordstrom Rack store at Ottawa’s Trainyards, for example.

Canada’s retail market has its limits, and Nordstrom’s anticipated $1 billion piece of the retail pie could take sales away from competitors such as Holt Renfrew and Hudson’s Bay. Holt Renfrew already boasts sales of about $800 million annually according to industry insiders, and Hudson’s Bay’s upscaling strategy has seen it start to carry many of the same labels found at Nordstrom. Even more competition will arise once Hudson’s Bay-owned Saks Fifth Avenue opens up to 7 full-sized Canadian stores.

Canadian retailing is coming of age, and our selection of stores and merchandise is becoming comparable to that of the Unites States. At the same time, there’s concern that for such a small country, Canada is potentially seeing too much new high-end and department store retail.

Our primary source for this article can be found at this link for the website Womens Wear Daily.

[Nordstrom website]

LOUIS VUITTON OPENS 3RD-LARGEST CANADIAN STORE AT YORKDALE’S HOLT RENFREW

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Retail Insider
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Photo: Yorkdale Shopping Centre Twitter

Louis Vuitton has reopened inside of the Toronto Yorkdale Holt Renfrew. Sources tell us that the store, which has been expanded, is about 4,000 square feet. This makes it the third-largest Louis Vuitton store in Canada.


Canada’s first-and second-largest Louis Vuitton stores are both substantial, two-level flagships referred to as ‘Maisons’. The second-largest store, which was also the first Louis Vuitton Maison to appear in Canada, opened at the Hotel Vancouver in December 2010. It’s about 10,000 square feet. An even larger Maison opened in Toronto in September 2012, at over 15,000 square feet. These are Canada’s only free-standing Louis Vuitton stores, as a free-standing shop in Banff, Alberta closed in May of 2011.


Canada’s other Louis Vuitton stores are all located within department stores. These include Vuitton concessions at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto (Yorkdale Shopping Centre and 50 Bloor St. W.). A 3,200 square foot Louis Vuitton shop is also located within Montreal’s iconic Ogilvy department store.


Yorkdale’s Holt Renfrew store is undergoing a substantial expansion and renovation, and we’ll be doing a comprehensive article about it when completed.


[Louis Vuitton website]


[Holt Renfrew website]

37,000 SQ FT OF LUXURY RETAIL COMING TO TORONTO’S 80 BLOOR STREET WEST

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Retail Insider
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Photo: 80 Bloor Street West

Toronto’s 80 Bloor Street West tower will reportedly be demolished. It could be replaced with over 37,000 square feet of luxury retail, topped by a 66-floor condominium tower. The new retail space in the planned tower could be among Canada’s most expensive retail real estate.

80 Bloor Street West

The current 80 Bloor St. W. tower includes two ground-floor retail spaces. One is occupied by a Banana Republic store, and the other is a Gap Kids store space, now available for lease. A 22,000 sq ft, two-level fitness club is located above the retail and the remainder of the 17-floor building is utilized for office space. 
The proposed replacement retail at the base of the new tower will feature three levels of retail space, including a large concourse level, according to architectural plans submitted to the City of Toronto. The residential tower above would include 565 condominiums. 

Yesterday we reported that over 50,000 square feet of potential luxury retail space was coming available at 100 Bloor Street West. 80 Bloor’s retail could provide the street with much needed new retail space, as some brokers are finding it challenging locating Bloor Street retail space for luxury tenants.
Our source for this article is the Urban Toronto Forum. Click here to read more about the 80 Bloor Street West redevelopment proposal.

We’ll keep you updated on this exciting development. 

BIRKS TO RENOVATE MONTREAL FLAGSHIP

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Retail Insider
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Photo: Maison Birks

Montreal-based Maison Birks is expected to renovate its Montreal flagship store within the next three to four years, according to the company’s president and CEO Jean-Christope Bedos. The Montreal flagship is one of North America’s largest jewellery stores.

The Montreal flagship, located on Phillips Square, has been occupied by the jeweller since 1894. The building comprises of 19,785 square feet of retail space and 58,444 square feet of corporate office space above, according to the company. The handsome flagship store is located along a popular strip of Ste Catherine Street West, alongside retailers such as Hudson’s Bay, La Maison Simons and Les Ailes de la Mode (which will close in a few months).

Currently, Canada’s largest jewellery store is Maison Birks in Downtown Vancouver. It boasts slightly more retail space than the Montreal location, at 20,221 square feet. The third largest is the Maison Birks store at Toronto’s Manulife Centre, measuring in at 15,620 square feet over two levels.

Interior of Montreal’s Maison Birks

Maison Birks recently re-branded and has plans to open stores internationally. Its first Asian store opens next year in Beijing, China. It’s also opening mono-brand Canadian stores selling only Birks-branded products.

Mr. Bedos revealed the Montreal store renovation plans during a talk at The Canadian Club in Montreal. It was subsequently reported by La Presse in this article (in French).

[Maison Birks website]

POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT ADDITION TO TORONTO’S LUXURY RETAIL SCENE: 100 BLOOR WEST

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Retail Insider
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Image: 100 Bloor

Over 50,000 square feet of potential luxury retail space could become available at 100 Bloor Street West in Toronto. According to the landlord’s website, most of the retail component of 100 Bloor could come up for lease, including spaces currently occupied by Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, The Body Shop and Roots.

Roots is already confirmed as leaving its 100 Bloor retail space in early 2014, and there’s no word yet as to whether or not Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn will vacate. A source tells us that both Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn may be in talks with Hazelton Lanes to open replacement stores in the mall, though we can’t confirm this beyond saying it is speculation.

In total, over 51,000 square feet of retail space at 100 Bloor could come up for lease. This includes retail space on both the ground floor and the second floor. Looking at its lease plan, we can imagine somewhere in the range of seven two-level flagship stores to occupy space at 100 Bloor, including an Apple Store flagship that we discussed yesterday. Note that this article was only speculation, but some brokers have quietly suggested that Apple might open here.

We would expect 100 Bloor’s retail rents to be among some of the highest in Canada. Bloor Street already boasts Canada’s most expensive street-front retail and 100 Bloor is ‘centre ice’ in the luxury district, being across the street from Harry Rosen’s flagship menswear store and within steps of luxury retailers Chanel, Prada, Mulberry, Gucci, Hermes, Burberry and others.

Ground floor plan for 100 Bloor St. W., including our edits in red (showing 7+ retail spaces)

Before 100 Bloor’s construction in the early 2000’s, the site had multiple proposals that ranged from hotel towers to theatres to department stores.

At one time, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Paris-based department store Printemps were interested in the site, as it offered retail floorplates large enough to accommodate one of these flagships over 4-6 floors.

Before current tenants were secured, 100 Bloor was reportedly in talks with Donna Karan, Fendi and Dries van Noten. According to one source, 100 Bloor’s landlord felt that “Pottery Barn’s money was as good as Fendi’s money” which helps to explain the current configuration of tenants at 100 Bloor.

POSSIBLE APPLE STORE FOR TORONTO’S BLOOR STREET

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Retail Insider
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Rendering: 100 Bloor St. W.

Apple continues to examine possible retail space for a flagship Toronto store, according to sources. We’ve been told that Apple has been in talks for the retail space indicated in the image above. The photo represents a possible Apple Store flagship at 100 Bloor Street West, which would replace a Roots store that currently occupies that corner.

We’ve been told that Roots will vacate its 100 Bloor flagship in early 2014 and that the landlord is looking to replace it with a high-profile retailer. Apple would certainly fit that description. Roots plans to move to a much smaller retail space at 89 Bloor Street West.

We’re not yet sure if Apple will end up at 100 Bloor, as sources also inform us that Apple is considering space at 1 Bloor Street East, another large retail development to eventually be located in the area. 1 Bloor St. E. could be an even more prominent location for Apple than 100 Bloor, given that it stands at the very prominent corner of Yonge and Bloor Streets. A flagship Apple store in the Yonge/Dundas Square area is also a possibility, though we don’t yet have information where. Potential Apple retail space could become available, however, once Sears vacates its Toronto Eaton Centre location in February.

We’ll follow up this article with one outlining the possibility of other retailers moving into 100 Bloor. A substantial amount of retail space may come to market, paving the way for some exciting flagship retailers on Bloor Street.

We’ll also keep you updated on where Toronto’s flagship Apple store will be located. We’ve been told that it’s not a matter of “if” an Apple flagship opens; the real question is “when and where”.

SUITSUPPLY TO OPEN FIRST CANADIAN STORE ON TORONTO’S HAZELTON AVENUE

By
Retail Insider
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Rendering of Toronto's new Suitsupply store. We borrowed this image from an article published by Sharp for Men Magazine.

Dutch men’s suit retailer Suitsupply will open its first Canadian store location at 9-11 Hazelton Avenue in Toronto. The store is expected to open in January 2014, according to popular menswear website Sharp for Men. It will be the 47th store location for the retailer.

For those unfamiliar, Suitsupply is a vertically integrated men’s suit retailer that was started in 2000 in Amsterdam. It has received many awards and was voted #1 men’s suit retailer by the Wall Street Journal. Prices start at around $400 and both quality and style are considered to be exceptional.

Suitsupply is known for choosing ‘unconventional’ retail locations. Its Chicago store, which opened over a year ago, is located on the top floor of a former Barney’s New York store and features a penthouse roof garden. 

Suitsupply has 6 American store locations and it’s growing quickly – it expects to have 11 American stores within a few months, according to its website.

The new Hazelton Avenue Suitsupply will be across the street from upscale shopping centre Hazelton Lanes. Hazelton Lanes is slated to see a substantial expansion and renovation as it attempts to secure luxury retail tenants.

We’ll keep you updated as to any other possible Canadian store locations for Suitsupply.

[Article Source: Sharp for Men]

[Suitsupply website]

NORDSTROM WILL SOON BE HIRING CANADIAN DEPARTMENT MANAGERS

By
Retail Insider
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Photo: Nordstrom

Nordstrom will be taking a slightly different approach to hiring staff for its Canadian stores. It will hire Canadian department managers, train them at Nordstrom’s Seattle headquarters, then allow these managers to hire Canadian store staff. Nordstrom will begin accepting department manager applications on December 5th, and hiring starts in January 2014 for its first Canadian store in Calgary. 

Normally, Nordstrom seeks out existing “proven leaders” in its stores to become new department managers. For Canadian Nordstorm stores, however, it appears that the company will take a slightly different approach. Instead of promoting its own existing staff, Nordstrom will seek out Canadian talent and then immerse the chosen candidates in Nordstrom’s corporate culture. Between March and May, 2014, these new hires will live in Seattle (housing, food and transportation to Seattle will be covered by Nordstrom) and once trained, department managers may start hiring staff for its new Calgary store. 

We’re not sure if this strategy will be continued for other Canadian Nordstrom store locations, which start opening months after the Calgary store. It may be the case that some Calgary department store managers are appointed to hire for other Canadian Nordstrom stores. Time will tell. 

To apply for a job as a department manager at Nordstrom Canada, visit the company’s Canadian career site. We wish applicants the best of luck. 

The above revelations were made by Brooke White, VP of Corporate Communications at Nordstrom, to the Calgary Herald. For more, you can click here to read our source article. 

[Nordstrom Canada website]

TOPSHOP OPENS TOMORROW AT CALGARY’S CHINOOK CENTRE

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Retail Insider
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Photo: TopShop

TopShop/TopMan opens tomorrow at Calgary’s Chinook Centre. The store will be about 15,000 square feet and will be adjacent to its franchise owner, Hudson’s Bay.

There’s no word yet as to if TopShop/TopMan will open a full-sized store within Downtown Calgary’s Hudson’s Bay store or at any other suburban locations. Downtown Calgary’s Hudson’s Bay carries some collections but does not yet feature the large TopShop stores found within some other Hudson’s Bay flagships.

This is the latest popular retailer to open at Chinook Centre. Other recent additions to the mall have included J. Crew, Hugo Boss and Eileen Fisher. Nordstrom will also open its first Canadian store in the mall next year.

Chinook Centre is one of North America’s most productive malls. It sees sales of almost $1,100/square foot/year and by 2016, it is expected to have annual sales of close to $1 billion with non-anchor sales of about $1200/square foot. In addition to a recent expansion and the opening of Nordstrom, the mall will be undergoing a further expansion that will include an outdoor ‘town centre’ environment.

[Chinook Centre website]

[TopShop/TopMan website]

CANADA’S FIRST JOE’S JEANS OPENS AT VANCOUVER’S OAKRIDGE CENTRE

By
Retail Insider
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Image: Joe's

Joe’s will open its first Canadian store tomorrow at Vancouver’s Oakridge Centre. The popular denim and apparel brand will be located adjacent to the mall’s current Hudson’s Bay store.

The store will be 1,483 square feet according to the mall’s lease plan. A press release describes its offerings as follows:

“The Vancouver location will feature denim and lifestyle collections for men, women and children, along with footwear, jewelry and exclusive handbags made in California. Among the notable Fall 2013 styles are the brand’s new “Tailored by Joe’s” Denim Suit Collection for women featuring tailored jackets and ankle trousers, as well as the new “The Black That Never Fades” Collection featuring an innovative new fabric and wash. Every style in this collection will not fade from its original black shade on day one, regardless of how many times it is washed”.

For those unfamiliar, Joe’s is a Los Angeles-based denim, apparel and accessories brand that retails through 35 free-standing stores in the United States, as well as in various retailers (including department stores). Joe’s is “a casual chic lifestyle brand known for modernized, timeless styles from premium denim and collection pieces to contemporary accessories and footwear”

However, Joe’s won’t always have Hudson’s Bay as its neighbour. As part of Oakridge Mall’s expansion, Hudson’s Bay will be demolished and moved northward.

We’ll keep you updated on future Joe’s locations in Canada.

[Source: Press Release]

[Oakridge Centre website]

[Joe’s website]

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