Lululemon is preparing to make a significant new investment in downtown Montreal with the lease of a large multi-level retail space at the northeast corner of Ste-Catherine Street West and Peel Street. Construction signage has now appeared on the building, confirming industry speculation that the Vancouver-based brand had secured the address. The forthcoming Lululemon Montreal flagship is poised to become one of the largest locations for the retailer and will add fresh momentum to a prime downtown corner that has been awaiting a new anchor tenant since American Eagle exited the site during the pandemic.
The arrival of Lululemon at this intersection reinforces the brand’s commitment to expanding its presence in Canada’s largest urban centres after opening a major flagship at Toronto’s Yonge and Bloor intersection in spring 2024. Montreal will be next to receive a statement location that reflects the company’s focus on experiential retail, design-forward environments, and high-visibility sites within the most trafficked retail districts in the country.
A Major Corner Reintroduced to Downtown Montreal
The retail space at 1035 Ste-Catherine St. W. has long been considered one of the most valuable in Montreal’s commercial landscape. Located at a high-traffic corner surrounded by dense office towers, hotels, restaurants, and other flagship retailers, the site benefits from some of the highest pedestrian volumes in the city. Its expansive street-facing windows wrap around the intersection, ensuring near-constant visibility for any retailer operating within the space.
With approximately 12,000 square feet across two levels, the property is ideally suited to a flagship of the scale Lululemon is known for in global cities. Lululemon’s decision to move forward suggests both confidence in the condition of the property and optimism about the long-term strength of downtown Montreal’s retail performance.
The corner’s appeal has only grown in recent years as Ste-Catherine Street continues to undergo a major transformation. Public realm upgrades, wider sidewalks, refreshed landscaping, and improved lighting have reshaped the corridor, encouraging longer street visits and higher engagement from downtown workers, residents, and returning tourists. The new flagship will capitalize on this momentum as Montreal’s downtown revival continues to take shape.
Inside the Marine Building and Its Prominent Retail Base
The Lululemon Montreal flagship will occupy the retail podium of the Marine Building, a mixed-use property that has anchored this corner of the city since its completion in 1989. Developed by Montreal entrepreneur Sheldon Mintzberg, who continues to own and operate the building through the Marine Group, the property rises eight storeys with a blend of high-quality office floors above retail space.
The building’s design reflects its late 1980s origins, when many of Montreal’s commercial projects were built with substantial materials intended to last decades. Marble finishes, escalators, curated artwork in the lobby, and modern upgrades introduced over the years reinforce the building’s premium positioning in the downtown market. The Marine Building also connects directly to Montreal’s vast Underground City, offering seamless indoor access to Peel Metro Station and a link to the growing REM system. This connectivity creates a steady flow of visitors from both the street and the city’s subterranean retail and transit network.
For retailers, the combination of street exposure and interior connectivity is rare. On-site parking and immediate access to nearby garages further widen the property’s reach, helping create a destination environment suited to a company seeking to maximize footfall across multiple dayparts.
A Key Addition to Montreal’s Strengthening Retail Landscape
Lululemon’s arrival comes at a time when downtown Montreal is reestablishing its position as a major Canadian retail market. While the pandemic created temporary setbacks for the district, the past two years have seen a notable bounce back. Office occupancy has improved, tourism has returned at scale, and several global and national brands have invested in either opening new stores or expanding existing ones along the Ste-Catherine corridor.
A flagship of this size and visibility contributes significantly to this upward trajectory. The corner of Ste-Catherine and Peel had been without a long-term tenant since American Eagle vacated the site, leaving one of the city’s most recognizable storefronts inactive for an extended period. The activation of the site by a brand with Lululemon’s appeal will restore energy to the intersection, create a new draw for the surrounding retail cluster, and strengthen the corridor’s appeal for both locals and visitors.
Ste-Catherine Street has always been defined by its blend of international brands, department store anchors, and long-standing local operators. The renewed interest among major retailers, paired with the city’s extensive investment in urban improvements, has set the stage for a new era in the street’s evolution. Lululemon’s commitment to this corner is a clear signal of confidence in Montreal’s retail future.
Lululemon’s Global Strategy and Canadian Expansion
Lululemon’s continued investment in large-format stores aligns with the brand’s broader international strategy. The company, founded by Chip Wilson in Vancouver in 1998, has grown from a yoga-focused apparel label into one of the world’s leading athletic and lifestyle brands. Under the leadership of CEO Calvin McDonald and Chairman Glenn Murphy, the company has expanded rapidly in markets across Asia, Europe, and newly entered territories such as Italy, Denmark, and Mexico.
As of early 2025 the company operates more than 670 stores worldwide, with approximately 767 locations when including new openings and recent franchise expansions. While North American markets have matured and shown slower growth in recent quarters, international markets have strengthened considerably, especially in China. Lululemon’s approach has included increasing the proportion of new styles, improving speed to market, and elevating the in-store experience through design innovation and expanded product assortments.
Canada remains central to Lululemon’s identity. The country had 71 stores as of February 2025, including prominent locations in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa, and Montreal. The company’s decision to open a major Montreal flagship reflects both a commitment to its home market and a response to shifting consumer habits in urban centres where brand experience and store design play increasingly important roles in purchasing decisions.
Comparisons to the Toronto Flagship at Yonge and Bloor
The Montreal flagship follows Lululemon’s significant investment in Toronto, where the brand opened a major multi-level store at Yonge and Bloor in spring 2024. That store spans more than 12,000 square feet across three levels and features expansive glass façades, custom millwork, terrazzo flooring, digital screens, and a sculptural staircase inspired by 1970s architectural forms. Men’s apparel occupies the upper floor, women’s apparel is located on the main level, and a concourse level connects directly into the TTC network.
The Toronto flagship replaced a smaller 3,067-square-foot location in Yorkville, freeing that site for redevelopment, and signaling Lululemon’s intent to anchor important retail nodes within Canada’s major cities with larger, more immersive formats.
Montreal’s Lululemon Montreal flagship may surpass Toronto in size based on available square footage at the Marine Building. If confirmed, Montreal could house the largest Lululemon store in the country. Given the brand’s attention to architectural detail and experiential features in its most recent flagships, the Montreal location has the potential to introduce new design elements that reflect both the brand’s evolving identity and the character of the city.
