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Browns Shoes Opens Two Impressive ‘B2’ Locations

By
Craig Patterson
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B2 AT SQUARE ONE. PHOTO: BROWNS SHOES

Montreal-based multi-brand footwear retailer Browns Shoes recently opened two state of the art locations for its B2 banner. The retailer is also in the process of expanding its store operations for its Browns, B2 and Browns Outlet concepts. 

The new B2 stores compliment existing Browns store locations in each of the centres. The CF Promenades St-Bruno store (near Montreal) measures 2,594 square feet, while a B2 location at Mississauga’s Square One spans an impressive 3,215 square feet. 

Both B2 stores feature contrasting interiors, with black chrome and textured glass blending with raw materials. Cash counters, which act as focal points in the stores, appear to have been carved on-site from a single block of natural stone. Light fixtures, suspended in the air, resemble tiny, glistening jewels on a background of imperfect concrete tiles. Stores also feature state of the art screens and a sound system to play custom musical content, further enhancing the customer shopping experience. Browns Shoes uses an in-house designer for its stores. 

INSIDE THE SQUARE ONE STORE. PHOTO: BROWNS SHOES
AT CF PROMENADES ST-BRUNO. PHOTO: BROWNS SHOES

Browns currently operates 57 stores, and it will also open another five or six locations this year under its Browns and Browns Outlet banners, according to Senior Operations Manager Eric Ouaknine. Browns Shoes will open between four and six stores each year between 2017 to 2020, and the retailer is represented in Canada by brokerage Oberfeld Snowcap. 

Browns Shoes is a family-owned business, founded in 1940 in Montreal by Benjamin Brownstein. The company is now third-generation run. Stores feature designer brands as well as in-house brands including Mimosa, Browns Couture, The Wishbone Collection, Luca Del Forte, Intensi and B2. The B2 brand became so successful in its own right that it now boasts its own freestanding stores, which also carry various other designer brands. 

Ted Baker to Open 3 Canadian Locations this Year

By
Craig Patterson
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TED BAKER AT YORKDALE SHOPPING CENTRE. PHOTO: CRAIG PATTERSON

Popular British fashion brand Ted Baker is confirmed to be opening three more Canadian stores this year — in Ottawa, Calgary, and an outlet in suburban Vancouver. When all stores are open, Ted Baker will boast six full-price and two outlet locations in Canada. 

The Ottawa Ted Baker store, at CF Rideau Centre, will open this spring. The 3,000 square foot store will be located on the mall’s third level, alongside strong co-tenants Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Tiffany & Co. and Harry Rosen, steps away from the entrance to the mall’s Nordstrom location, which opened a bit over a year ago. 

A Calgary Ted Baker location will open at CF Chinook Centre, in retail space recently vacated by fashion retailer Marciano. Chinook Centre’s Ted Baker location will measure 2,900 square feet and is strategically located between retailers Kate Spade and an Apple Store, alongside popular retailers such as Harry Rosen, Tesla Motors, Burberry and Michael Kors. Ted Baker fashions are also carried at Chinook’s Nordstrom, which was the Seattle-based retailer’s first to open in Canada in September of 2014. 

Ted Baker will also open its second Canadian outlet location this year at McArthurGlen Designer Outlets near Vancouver. Ted Baker is currently hiring for various positions at this store.  

Dianne Lemm, Principal/Broker at Northwest Atlantic, represented Ted Baker in the CF Rideau Centre and CF Chinook Centre negotiations. 

Ted Baker’s first Canadian location, measuring 3,230 square feet, opened in October of 2012 in an expansion of Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. The retailer’s second Canadian location opened in October of 2014 at CF Toronto Eaton Centre, spanning 3,800 square feet. A 2,975 square foot Vancouver CF Pacific Centre location opened in June of 2015, and a third Toronto location, measuring 2,750 square feet opened last September at CF Sherway Gardens. Ted Baker’s only Canadian outlet store opened in August of 2013 at the Toronto Premium Outlets.

Eataly Manulife Plans Revealed — If it’s Not Cancelled

By
Craig Patterson
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Popular Italian food concept Eataly intends to open its first Canadian location at Toronto’s Manulife Centre, according to multiple sources. If built, Eataly will occupy three levels at the centre, with most of its space being on a new second-level retail floor currently occupied by offices. An article in Friday’s Globe & Mail by Marina Strauss, however, indicates that the Bloor Street Diner, which operates in the centre, has won an injunction prohibiting Eataly from entering the complex. 

It’s still possible that the Bloor Street Diner will negotiate an agreement with Eataly’s Canadian operation, which is 52% owned by the billionaire Weston family (who also own Holt Renfrew, directly across the street). If Eataly were to open at Manulife Centre, we’ve located floor plans as to how it will be configured, submitted by B+H Architects to the City of Toronto several months ago. 

If it opens at Manulife Centre, plans show Eataly spanning three floors, with retail space on the concourse (basement), ground and second levels. A Bloor Street-facing ground level entrance would provide access upstairs via an elevator, staircase and escalators, and a concourse level retail space (with direct underground access to Holt Renfrew Centre across the street) would also provide Eataly access and signage. The vast majority of Eataly, however, would be on Manulife Centre’s second level, which would involve carving retail space out of existing offices. Eataly’s top level would feature frontage facing Bloor Street West, Bay Street and Balmuto Street. Plans indicate a retail space of approximately 39,000 square feet. 

If built, Eataly would be part of an overhaul to Manulife Centre’s retail podium, which is set to see its footprint expanded outwards along Bloor, Bay and Balmuto Streets. Renderings show glass-fronted facades as part of the expansion, with multiple new entrances, possibly for new retailers.  

Hopefully Eataly can come to an agreement with Bloor Street Diner’s parent company, paving the way for Eataly to open at Manulife Centre. It will be a great addition to a vibrant area that continues to see considerable new residential and retail development. 

Innovative Retail Entertainment Concept to Launch in Canada

By
Craig Patterson
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French entertainment company and video game developer Ubisoft will open its first entertainment centre this summer in suburban Montreal. The child-friendly, 15,000 square foot video game-focused complex will be located in the heart of a major retail hub, acting as a place for parents to drop off children while adults shop nearby. Montreal’s Ubisoft centre will be the first in the world of its kind for the company.

According to CBRE Montreal Associate Vice President Gina Mastromonaco who negotiated the deal, the Ubisoft concept will launch across Canada as locations are secured, ideally near substantial retail nodes. The Montreal Ubisoft, for example, will be located at Méga Centre des Sources, a short drive from CF Fairview Pointe Claire shopping centre as well as nearby big box retail centres featuring anchors such as Costco, Canadian Tire, and Leon’s Furniture.

Ms. Mastromonaco said that a number of similar centres will be rolled out across Canada, ideally in areas featuring substantial retail activity that may include big box stores, busy shopping centres, and even outlet centres. Ubisoft’s child-friendly centres will therefore compliment existing retail nodes, creating an amenity for parents with children who might otherwise not be able to shop conveniently.

Ubisoft spent two years researching and planning for the new centre, which will be targeted to children under the age of 12. Parents may drop off their children at the centre, or even participate/watch activities. Scheduled to open in August, Ubisoft Montreal will draw on the company’s popular Rabbids video game franchise, and Ubisoft will release more details about the centre towards its opening date.

Farla Efros, President of leading consultancy HRC Advisory, said that the new Ubisoft entertainment concept is a great addition to the Canadian retail scene. Ubisoft’s centres will give families another reason to go out, with the child drop-off capability allowing parents some time to shop alone. This added shopping time will be particularly beneficial to some retail areas that have recently seen declines in foot traffic, given the increasing popularity of e-commerce, Ms. Efros noted.

Stefano Ricci Reveals 1st Canadian Store Renderings

By
Craig Patterson
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Pricey Italian luxury brand Stefano Ricci has revealed renderings and a floorplan of its first Canadian location, which will open this summer in Vancouver. The beautiful looking 2,600 square foot store will be at 1139 West Georgia Street, next door to the city’s soon-to-be-completed Trump Tower. 

The store will be operated by franchisee Manuel Bernaschek, owner of Showcase Pianos, who is also now President of Stefano Ricci Vancouver.

According to an exclusive interview by Helen Siwak for Vancity Buzz, Vancouver’s Stefano Ricci store will feature a burled California walnut wood interior with custom millwork imported directly from Italy. The store will also feature a VIP back room with a handful of ‘very special items’. 

The store will feature Ricci’s pricey menswear as well as fragrances, accessories (such as leather goods and cuff links) and home goods such as porcelain and crystal dinner services, silverware and luxury linens. 

Founded as a tie manufacturing firm in Florence (by designer Stefano Ricci) in 1972, the family-run company strives for quality to the point of perfection, with prices to match. Attention to detail is key and the brand only uses the finest leathers, skins and fabrics. Prices can climb well into the thousands, with bags in exotic skins retailing for close to $50,000. The brand currently operates three North American locations — in New York City, Las Vegas and Beverly Hills. The remainder of its stores are in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. 

All photos were supplied to Helen Siwak by Mr. Bernaschek. 

Employment – Retail Construction Company Seeks Project Manager

By
Retail Insider
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Leading Mississauga-based retail construction company Pace Construction is growing quickly, and is seeking a full time Project Manager to handle new business. The qualified candidate should have an excellent command of both written and spoken English, and be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and other Windows programs. The candidate must have a minimum of 10 years related industry experience, and must be a graduate with a degree obtained in Canada along with a working knowledge of the National Building Code as well as Provincial requirements.

Leadership and problem solving skills are a must, and the candidate must be a motivated self-starter, be able to budget for large and small projects, and manage all aspects of project from start to finish. The candidate will also promote a professional atmosphere in the office and on the job site. Negotiating contracts for projects tendered, managing sub trades, and managing client expectations will be part of the position. The candidate will also work with the Project Coordinator to coordinate estimating and maintenance/service work.

The job requires travel within Canada and to the US from time to time, so a valid passport is required. The employer is also looking for a strong candidate who can assist with marketing and obtaining new clients. All Health & Safety Certificates must be up to date including but not limited to WHMIS and First Aid.
 
Kindly forward your resume along with references and current contact information to Chris at: chris@pacecon.ca.

Scotch & Soda Plans Substantial Canadian Store Expansion

By
Craig Patterson
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PHOTO: SCOTCH & SODA/FAB

Amsterdam-based fashion brand Scotch & Soda plans to open more than a dozen freestanding stores across Canada, in partnership with Montreal-based Freemark Apparel Brands. Scotch & Soda recently opened its fourth Canadian store in suburban Vancouver, at CF Richmond Centre.

The Canadian expansion follows Scotch & Soda’s initial entry into the Canadian market in 2011, when it opened three stores that summer. The brand’s first Canadian location, measuring 2,170 square feet, opened in June of that year at Calgary’s CF Chinook Centre. In August of 2011, two locations followed — a 2,485 square foot store at West Edmonton Mall, and a 2,050 square foot location at CF Toronto Eaton Centre.

New locations will be in the 1,500 square foot range, according to Freemark’s Vice President of sales and co-owner, Lawrence Routtenberg, Stores of that size are small enough to create an intimate Scotch & Soda shopping experience, yet large enough to properly display product. Mr. Routtenberg said that he’s working with brokerage Oberfeld Snowcap to open between 12 and 15 freestanding Scotch & Soda locations throughout Canada over the next several years. He went on to name some desired locations for new stores, including Saint Catherine Street and CF Carrefour Laval in Montreal, CF Rideau Centre and/or Bayshore Shopping Centre in Ottawa, Yorkdale Shopping Centre/CF Sherway Gardens/Square One in the Greater Toronto Area, Winnipeg’s CF Polo Park, Southgate Centre in Edmonton, and possible Vancouver locations on Robson Street, CF Pacific Centre and Metropolis at Metrotown.

PHOTO: FAB/SCOTCH & SODA
PHOTO: FAB/SCOTCH & SODA

The Scotch & Soda brand began in the 1980’s as a Dutch youth fashion brand, and was relaunched in 2001 after a hiatus. The premium fashion brand, with lines for men, women and children, operates over 150 stores globally, and is carried in over 8,000 multi-brand retailers. The brand entered Canada through Freemark Apparel Brands in 2010, wholesaling at top retailers. It is currently carried in better multi-brand fashion retailers such as La Maison Simons, Mendocino, Sporting Life, Over the Rainbow, Boys’Co, Hills of Kerrisdale, and at a handful of Hudson’s Bay‘s top doors. 

Tiffany & Co. Reveals Vancouver Flagship Expansion Renderings

By
Craig Patterson
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New York City-based jeweller Tiffany & Co. has released renderings of the interior and exterior overhaul of its freestanding Vancouver flagship, now under construction. The store is adding a second level by annexing space formerly occupied by a Japanese restaurant, and the entire project is expected to be completed at the end of this year. 

The store’s facade will be completely re-done, including a new rounded corner entryway, a trademark Atlas figure holding a clock, and Tiffany-blue fabric awnings that will replace the building’s current glass canopies. The store’s renovated interior will feature ample marble and wood, as well as new spaces for fine jewellery and bridal pieces on the ground floor, as well as a watch salon — a Canadian first, on the store’s second level. Private shopping areas will also be expanded to cater to an increasing number of affluent shoppers in the area, dubbed Vancouver’s ‘Luxury Zone’. 

Located at the northwest corner of Burrard Street and Alberni Street at 723 Burrard Street, the 4,700 square foot store opened in the fall of 2006. Tiffany & Co. entered the Vancouver market as a licensed shop-in-store within Holt Renfrew in 1994. Tiffany continues to operate a shop at Vancouver’s Holt’s as a concession, as well as a 3,157 square foot store at Oakridge Centre. 

Tiffany has three free-standing stores in Toronto, two in Vancouver, and one each in Edmonton, Calgary and Montreal. Three smaller Tiffany & Co. concessions also operate within Holt Renfrew locations in Calgary, Montreal (at Ogilvy) and as mentioned, in Vancouver. 

H&M to Open 2nd Largest Canadian Location

By
Craig Patterson
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CF Carrefour Laval PHOTO: WWW.YOUTUBE.COM

Swedish fast-fashion retailer H&M will open its second-largest Canadian location this fall at CF Carrefour Laval in suburban Montreal. The 39,000 square foot store will move into retail space formerly occupied by Sports Experts, which recently relocated to larger digs. 

The new H&M replaces an existing 6,210 square foot location in the same mall. The massive new store will feature women’s, men’s, sport, beauty and children’s fashions, as well as H&M’s home collection in a separate department. 

H&M opened a 3,200 square foot H&M Home shop-in-store at its CF Toronto Eaton Centre location in February of this year. That store location also grew to an impressive 52,500 square feet, making it the largest in Canada, and one of its largest globally. H&M first introduced its home collection to Canada through its West Edmonton Mall store in the summer of 2014. 

CLICK ABOVE FOR INTERACTIVE MALL FLOOR PLAN.

The new Laval H&M will be located near competitor Zara, which operates a 19,300 square foot location on the east side of the mall. Nearby tenants vary in price-point, from the affordable Aldo/Aldo Accessories to the likes of upscale Harry Rosen, Maison Birks/Breitling and Caudalie. 

Longo’s Continues Growth After 60 Years in Business

By
Craig Patterson
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Popular Toronto-based grocery retailer Longo’s reached a milestone this month, celebrating 60 years in business. According to spokesperson Roseanne Longo, the retailer plans to continue expanding beyond the GTA as well as explore opportunities for more downtown Toronto locations. 

The family-run grocery chain was founded in Toronto by brothers Tommy, Joe, and Gus Longo in 1956, with its first location at the intersection of Yonge Street and Castlefield Avenue. Eight family members worked in the 2,000 square foot store. More locations subsequently opened and in 2004, Longo’s acquired Grocery Gateway, providing it the largest online grocery retail presence in Canada. Longo’s corporate office is now in Vaughan, just north of Toronto. 

The retailer owns and operates 29 stores in the Greater Toronto Area, ranging from smaller urban locations to larger suburban stores. Some of its stores are very unique — its Leaside store, which hosted the company’s 60th anniversary event last week, is in a restored circa 1919 heritage building, recently named one of the world’s 25 ‘must visit’ supermarkets by Canadian Grocer Magazine. In the fall of 2010, Longo’s opened a 48,000 square foot flagship at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Square, adjacent to busy Union Station and the Air Canada Centre sports facility. Longo’s also operates five smaller ‘market’ stores, located in densely populated areas in central Toronto. We recently profiled its stunning looking Imperial Plaza location on St. Clair Avenue, which features dramatic high ceilings and heritage accents. 

Gus Longo and Toronto Councillor Norm Kelly, last week at the Leaside celebrations.

Moving forward, Ms. Longo explained that the company is growing beyond the Greater Toronto Area due to customer requests/demand. This fall, Longo’s will open a store in Ancaster, and in early 2017 it will open stores in Guelph and Ajax. The retailer will also investigate opportunities to open further smaller locations in Toronto’s central core, particularly given projections that its population will almost double from 250,000 to 475,000 residents within the next 25 years. 

Ms. Longo explained how the retailer differentiates itself from competitors. Produce is a focus for Longo’s stores, making up the biggest footprint in its market locations along with a visible kitchen area to welcome visitors. Convenience and prepared foods are key, and most Longo’s locations now also feature in-store Starbucks locations. Customer service is also paramount, and is part of the family feeling that the company attempts to create for its roughly 5,000 (and growing) employees. It’s a family affair that will continue as a third generation moves into roles at the company.

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