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LA MAISON SIMONS LIKELY TO ANNOUNCE VANCOUVER STORE THIS MONTH

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Retail Insider
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Quebec City-based La Maison Simons will likely announce its first Vancouver-area store in the coming weeks. If the deal has been signed (the mall’s landlord won’t yet confirm), it would be located in the suburbs at a relatively upscale shopping centre.

We were holding off on breaking this news but The Globe & Mail has just reported that Peter Simons may make a Vancouver store announcement in the coming weeks. We’ll won’t mention which Vancouver-area mall may feature Simons, though those familiar with the region can probably narrow their guesses to one of three or four malls.

Simons is also looking to open one or more Calgary stores – one suburban and one possibly in the downtown core. Winnipeg is a possibility for Simons as well – Polo Park is our best guess but it could also go into a newly-built retail complex. 

Currently, the only Simons store not in Quebec is at West Edmonton Mall. It’s the largest in the chain at 118,000 square feet, and we’ve been told that its sales are stellar.

La Maison Simons continues its expansion across Canada, and it’s in talks with mall landlords nation wide. We reported that Simons was in talks to open stores at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre and Mississauga’s Square One, after Sears Canada sold its leases to those mall’s landlords. Simons has secured a lease for a 105,000 square foot store at Ottawa’s Rideau Centre (to open in 2016), and may open a second Ottawa-area store in Gatineau. Its ninth store opened last month at Montreal’s Les Galeries d’Anjou.

Simons’ combination of inexpensive, fashionable, private-label clothing and more expensive designer brands seems to be working. We think that as many as 10 new Simons stores will be open in Canada within the next five years.

[La Maison Simons website]

MONTREAL’S OGILVY PROJECT IS DELAYED

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Retail Insider
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Combined Ogilvy/Holt Renfrew/hotel/condo tower. Rendering: Carolyne Loubert

A project that could have seen the amalgamation of Montreal’s Ogilvy and Holt Renfrew stores has been delayed. The building’s owner, Selfridge’s Group, is reevaluating plans to demolish an adjacent hotel for a new 17-story hotel and condominium tower. 

There have been rumours that Holt Renfrew’s 83,000 square foot Sherbrooke Street West store would close so that a combined Holt Renfrew/Ogilvy store could operate on Sainte-Catherine Street. Holt Renfrew won’t confirm these plans so we can’t say that they were certain. We’ve been given word, however, that plans for the project, generally, will be modified. 

There’s no word yet if the project’s delay stems from Saks Fifth Avenue‘s revelation that it will open within the downtown Montreal Hudson’s Bay store. Hudson’s Bay is also on Sainte-Catherine Street, about 800 metres East of Ogilvy.

A few months ago, we were provided with initial plans that indicated Ogilvy occupying much of its current space, with entrances to an adjacent retail space featuring an atrium and escalators. The image above reflects the exterior of the plans we viewed and, again, we’re not confirming that Holt’s will move beside Ogilvy. 

Current Holt Renfrew store in Montreal

Holt Renfrew’s Montreal store opened in 1937. Until an expansion in the mid-1990’s, the store only had about 38,000 square feet of retail space over four floors. The store has expanded in stages, taking over the facades of adjacent townhomes and even expanding into a former theatre and the ground floor of an office tower. Despite the expensive additions and renovations, the store continues to be smaller and more awkwardly laid out than more contemporary Holt Renfrew flagships. 

Ogilvy’s 160,000 square foot store has recently seen renovations and continues to be a popular shopping destination for locals and tourists. Ogilvy was purchased by Selfridge’s group in July 2011. Selfridge’s Group also owns Holt Renfrew as well as Selfridge’s in England, Brown Thomas in Ireland and de Bijenkorf in the Netherlands. 

[Holt Renfrew website]

[Ogilvy website]

UPDATE: SEPHORA’S NEW STORE ON VANCOUVER’S ROBSON STREET

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Retail Insider
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Sephora's development application signage on Robson Street

Sephora‘s new store on Vancouver’s Robson Street will be one of the largest in Canada, if not the largest – we’ll know more soon. Signage for the development application, posted on site, indicates that the store will be over 9,500 square feet and two floors. It will be fairly wide as well – plans indicate its width to be almost 70 feet. The Robson Street Sephora will be the largest in Vancouver. By comparison, the Pacific Centre Sephora store is 5,935 square feet.

Close-up of the development application billboard for the new Sephora building, on Robson Street

We first reported on the Robson Street Sephora store in June, where we revealed that Clearly Contacts’s first store would be closing for demolition.

For those unfamiliar, Sephora is a Paris-based chain of cosmetics stores. It was founded in 1970 and purchased by the LVMH conglomerate in 1997. It has locations worldwide and opened its first North American store in New York City in 1998. It carries over 100 brands as well as its own private label products and includes makeup, skincare, fragrance, hair care, bath and body products and hair and make-up tools. 

Sephora will replace these Robson Street stores

Sephora will be located adjacent to the recently-completed retail complex that includes a flagship Forever 21 store.

[Sephora website]

TIFFANY’S NEW TORONTO FLAGSHIP IS NOW OPEN

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Retail Insider
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Photo: androiduk, UrbanToronto

Tiffany & Co.’s new Toronto flagship store is now open. The two-floor, 11,100 square foot store at 150 Bloor Street West replaces a four-floor, 13,450 space at 85 Bloor Street West. Despite its smaller size, the new store features more useable space as well as a more open, modern interior. It is the largest Tiffany & Co. store in Canada, and one of the highest-selling in North America. 

The store is about 3,000 square feet at the street level and 8,100 square feet on its second floor. Tiffany is located next door to a flagship Louis Vuitton Maison, which opened last year. The Vuitton Maison is also the largest in Canada. 

Tiffany & Co.’s first Canadian store opened in 1991 at 85 Bloor Street West. Tiffany signed a 15-year lease, which it extended by 7 years in 2006. The space is empty and is now for lease.

Since opening its first Toronto store, Tiffany has opened stores Canada-wide. Its second Canadian store opened in 1993 within Vancouver’s Holt Renfrew and at 700 square feet, it was tiny compared the Bloor Street flagship. Tiffany has since opened free-standing stores across Canada including 3 in Toronto, 2 in Vancouver and one in each of Calgary and Montreal. A Tiffany store will open this fall at West Edmonton Mall. Smaller Tiffany boutiques, averaging 600-1,500 square feet, are also located within Holt Renfrew stores in Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver.

Photo: androiduk, Urban Toronto

[Tiffany & Co. website]

POSSIBLE SAKS FIFTH AVENUE LOCATION(S) FOR TORONTO

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Retail Insider
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[Image Source]



It’s confirmed that Toronto will be host to at least one Saks Fifth Avenue store, if no several. Toronto’s first Saks store(s) will be located within existing Hudson’s Bay store space, and purpose-built Saks stores could follow.


The following is our analysis both on potential shorter-term Saks Fifth Avenue store opening(s) in Toronto and some potential longer-term store locations. Longer-term stores could be newly built, including the possibility of one such Saks Fifth Avenue at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre.


So far, we know that Hudson’s Bay intends to open two Canadian Saks stores towards the end of 2014. One will be in Toronto, the other in Vancouver. We expect both to be located downtown, with the possibility of one or more suburban stores to immediately follow. 


This is our analysis of possible Saks Fifth Avenue locations in the Toronto area:



Hudson’s Bay, Queen Street, Toronto [Image Source]

1) Saks Fifth Avenue Within Hudson’s Bay, Downtown Toronto, 176 Yonge Street (aka “Queen Street” store): We initially expected Toronto’s Saks to replace Hudson’s Bay’s 342,000 square foot Yonge and Bloor store. Management we’ve spoken to are suggesting otherwise, meaning we could see Saks within Hudson’s Bay’s 851,000 square foot flagship ‘Queen Street’ store. It has room for a Saks store, though it would require an awkward reconfiguration of the store’s current layout. Recently, the Queen Street flagship has added various concessions including a 19,000 square foot TopShop/TopMan, one of the world’s largest women’s shoe floors, and an outpost of the Drake General Store. In addition, it also recently announced that a 20,000 square foot Kleinfeld Bridal store will open next year on its 7th floor. Finding a contiguous 100,000-150,000 square feet for Saks within the Queen Street Bay may be challenging given the store’s layout. In light of this, Hudson’s Bay could create a series of “Saks departments” throughout its store, or Saks could occupy one or more entire floors at Hudson’s Bay.

 
Hudson’s Bay, Coquitlam BC. Uneven, dirty carpet and duct tape.
Hudson’s Bay, Coquitlam BC. Broken glass, uneven/stained carpet and duct tape.

However, we think opening several “Saks departments” within any Hudson’s Bay stores would be bad for the Saks brand. Saks’ stores are famous for their customer service and upscale interiors, while Hudson’s Bay is known for the opposite. The entire Saks brand could be devalued both for Canadians and Americans if Saks departments open in existing Hudson’s Bay stores. Hudson’s Bay Company CEO Richard Baker says that he’d like Hudson’s Bay to be “Canada’s Harrod’s“, indicating that he might consider merging the stores by opening Saks departments within Hudson’s Bay stores. We think this would cause confusion for Canadian shoppers. We recently visited a Hudson’s Bay store in Coquitlam, BC, where carpet was held together by duct tape, customer service was essentially non-existent, and mirrored pillars were broken (see images above). Hudson’s Bay has a lot of work to do before Canadians can accept it as an upscale label in its own right, even if it inserts upscale Saks departments at several of its better stores.


Occupying one or more upper floors at the Queen Street flagship is possible but could also be a challenge. If located on an upper floor, Saks would lack a street-front entrance. We think it would be a disservice to Saks Fifth Avenue to deprive it of a glamorous street-front entrance, even if the store is only considered to be a “temporary” location before the opening a flagship further up Yonge Street.

Hudson’s Bay, Yonge and Bloor, Toronto [Image Source]


2) Saks Fifth Avenue, Yonge and Bloor Streets: As mentioned above, Hudson’s Bay’s 342,000 square foot store at Toronto’s Yonge and Bloor intersection could be converted into Toronto’s flagship Saks Fifth Avenue store. If this happens, it’s likely that the store’s current concrete exterior would have to be substantially modified. Its bunker-like exterior and low ceilings might be remedied by selected demolition, though this would be expensive and challenging.  As we mentioned, Hudson’s Bay wants Saks in Toronto by the end of 2014. A substantial remodelling of the Yonge/Bloor Bay would likely take longer. In the short term, a “temporary” Saks could open within the Queen Street Bay while the Yonge and Bloor store is properly renovated. Opening Saks at Yonge and Bloor would be strategic as it would go head-to-head with neighbouring Holt Renfrew, which will see a substantial expansion in the next few years. The area is also more “prestigious” than the areas near the Queen Street flagship. 

Hudson’s Bay, Yorkdale (note: last week new ‘Hudson’s Bay’ signage replaced the yellow logos in this photo) [Image Source]
3) Saks Fifth Avenue, Yorkdale Shopping Centre: The 303,000 square foot Hudson’s Bay at Yorkdale has recently seen extensive renovations, including Canada’s first full-sized TopShop/TopMan store. If Saks were to carve out, say, a 100,000 square foot portion of Yorkdale’s Bay, that would still leave 200,000 square feet for the primary tenant. However, Saks would be up for significant competition at Yorkdale with a world-class renovation/expansion of the mall’s Holt Renfrew store, the addition of a 188,000 square foot Nordstrom store and possibly the arrival of anchor La Maison Simons.


One or more “Saks departments” could be located within Yorkdale’s Hudson’s Bay on a more temporary basis while it secures space occupied by neighbouring Sears, which will close in a few months. Some have speculated that Saks could replace the entire Yorkdale Hudson’s Bay store itself, though we think it’s too large – there are no suburban Saks stores even close to 300,000 square feet in size.

Hudson’s Bay, Square One Shopping Centre. Image: Google Streetview screenshot.
4) Saks Fifth Avenue, Sherway Gardens: The 223,000 square foot Sherway Gardens Hudson’s Bay could see the inclusion of a Saks shop-in-store. A full-sized Saks is less likely here because even taking 75,000 square feet for a Sherway Saks would likely render Hudson’s Bay too small. Opening Saks in Sherway could be a good move for Hudson’s Bay, as competitor Holt Renfrew is expected to exit Sherway when it opens its Mississauga store in 2016. Nordstrom’s 2016 Sherway Gardens arrival will boost the mall’s popularity and Saks will more likely compliment Nordstrom than provide outright competition, given their limited brand cross-over.


Some are speculating that Saks could take over the entire Sherway Hudson’s Bay store. We don’t think this will happen, as 223,000 square feet is likely too large for a suburban Saks. Some also speculate that Saks could take over the 225,665 square foot Sears at Sherway and, again, we think it’s too big. Subdividing Sherway’s Sears for Saks and others is possible, though we’re not aware of any such plans. 
 
5) Saks Fifth Aveneue, Square One Shopping Centre, Mississauga: The 201,000 square foot Square One Hudson’s Bay could see a Saks shop-in-store. Despite Square One having Target and Walmart as anchors, Saks could actually fit in the mall now that Square One will include a 120,000 square foot Holt Renfrew store and possibly La Maison Simons. We’re not sure how Saks could be configured into existing or new space, and we think Square One is the least likely of all locations discussed above to open Saks Fifth Avenue.


Our next Saks Fifth Avenue article will be on its Vancouver store opening(s).


[Hudson’s Bay website]


[Saks Fifth Avenue website]

TORONTO PEARSON AIRPORT LUXURY RETAIL UPDATE

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Retail Insider
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Photo: Bernadette Morra, Fashion Magazine (via twitter)

Construction is underway for the luxury shops at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, Terminal 1. Last month we reported that the airport’s duty-free concession was opening a luxury area with shops for various designers.

Bernadette Morra, Editor-in-Chief of Fashion Magazine (Canada), posted to twitter the above photo of a Bulgari shop currently under construction at the airport. It will join shops for Burberry, Salvator Ferragamo and others. 

Toronto’s airport will finally include the luxury retail found in major international airports around the world. We’ll keep you updated on its progress, as well as its expected opening date. 

[Nuance Duty Free website]

[Pearson International Airport website]

HMV RE-OPENS ON VANCOUVER’S ROBSON STREET. TEMPORARILY.

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Retail Insider
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Photo: HMV

Music retailer HMV opens a temporary location on Vancouver’s Robson Street today. It closed its enormous store across the street in early 2012, now occupied by a 35,000 square foot Victoria’s Secret store which opened this week.

We’re not sure of the length of HMV’s temporary lease, but its space will eventually be amalgamated with adjacent retail stores to create a flagship Lululemon store. 

The temporary HMV space, at 970 Robson Street, was until recently occupied by an Energie/Miss Sixty store. 

[HMV website]

STUART WEITZMAN: WEST EDMONTON MALL’S LATEST UPSCALE RETAILER

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Retail Insider
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Stuart Weitzman at West Edmonton Mall (Photo: Katie Dadswell)

Footwear retailer Stuart Weitzman will open a 1,500 square foot store at West Edmonton Mall before the 2013/2014 holiday season. Weitzman is the latest upscale tenant to open in the mall. It will be the 10th Stuart Weitzman store in Canada.

The Stuart Weitzman store replaces footwear retailer SoftMoc on the second level of the mall’s ‘Phase III’. It will be located next to a new Tiffany & Co. (which we recently announced will open in the mall). West Edmonton Mall is also undergoing interior renovations that will see it become more upscale.

For those unfamiliar, Stuart Weitzman is an upscale American shoe designer/retailer which sells at Canadian retailers including Holt Renfrew and Browns Shoes. It also has nine Canadian stores: Four in Toronto, two in Montreal, two in Vancouver, and one in Calgary. Store locations can be found here.

Thank you to our source Katie Dadswell for providing the tip and photo for this article.

[West Edmonton Mall website]

[Stuart Weitzman website]

LATEST CANADIAN MALL EXPANSION/RENOVATION: $280 MILLION GUILDFORD TOWN CENTRE OPENS TODAY

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Retail Insider
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[Photo: Ivanhoe Cambridge]

Surrey BC’s Guildford Town Centre reveals its $280 million renovation/expansion today, amid increasing competition amongst Canadian malls. Guildford’s expansion adds over 200,000 square feet of retail space for about 70 retailers. New stores include H&M, Forever 21, Browns Shoes, iehl’s, Sephora and a LEGO Store, among others. The expansion also includes a new food court with over 1,000 seats, new washrooms, and an overall modernized mall interior.

The mall will also see further redevelopment, scheduled for completion in 2014. We’ll periodically provide updates as we receive them.

In addition, a 10,000 square foot ‘living wall’ will adorn the mall. It’s one of the largest of its kind in North America and features more than 120 species of plants.

1.5 minute mall renovation/expansion ‘fly-through’

Landlord Ivanhoe Cambridge will continue to spend a fortune renovating and expanding its retail properties across the country. One of its largest projects is Vancouver’s Oakridge Shopping Centre, set to expand to more than double its current retail square footage while adding a third luxury department store. Ivanhoe Cambridge will also beef up the retail offerings at several Canadian hotel properties that it plans to eventually sell, including the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

Other Canadian shopping malls are also seeing significant expansions and renovations. One of the largest is at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, which recently underwent an expansion before announcing another addition/expansion that will include a Nordstrom store.

Mississauga’s Square One will see the addition of a 120,000 square foot Holt Renfrew as well as other retailers. West Edmonton Mall is spending hundreds of millions while adding luxury tenants and courting Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue, while Calgary’s Chinook Centre looks to, again, expand its premises.

We’ll soon be writing an article on the expansion of West Vancouver’s Park Royal Shopping Centre, which will feature an outdoor ‘town-centre’ concept as well as the addition of a new retail anchor.

Guildford Town Centre’s doors open at 10:00 am today, after a 9:30 am grand opening celebration.

[Press Release]

[Guildford Town Centre website]

DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER’S OLD NAVY STORE NEARS COMPLETION

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Retail Insider
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Photo: Retail-Insider.com

*****Update: This store opens on Wednesday, November 13th 2013 at 5:00pm Pacific Standard Time*****

Construction of a two level Old Navy store in Downtown Vancouver is nearing completion. It’s located at one of the most prominent retail addresses in the city: The south-west corner of Granville and Robson Streets. There will be office space above the building’s retail component. 

We’ve been told that Old Navy will span both main floor as well as the second floor retail space. We previously reported that Old Navy had leased the second floor of this building, and it now appears it has decided to occupy valuable ground-floor retail as well. 

The building is directly across the street from Vancouver’s future Nordstrom store, set to open in 2015. 

[Old Navy website]

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