The Pier Bar at the Wellington Market in Toronto. Photo supplied
The Wellington Market food hall has opened at The Well in downtown Toronto, which is expected to significantly increase the vibrancy and overall foot traffic in the new 7.6-acre mixed-use complex. The Well opened to the public in November of 2023, and the Wellington Market is considered to be a key component to its ongoing success.
Currently the first phase of the Wellington Market is open to the public, having about 35 tenants. Included is a small grocery market with fresh fruit and various other convenience items, as well as sit-down and vendor stalls featuring a range of food and beverage offerings.
When the market is completed, which includes a yet-to-be-revealed second phase, its capacity will be 3,400 people in a 70,000 square foot area that is fully liquor-licensed. The fully accessible environment will have 900 seats and will house over 50 vendors.
The Well in Toronto, photo suppliedThe Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto. Photo Supplied
“Creating the ideal mix of merchants resulted from a thoughtful, curated, and strategic process informed by extensive culinary research and outreach beyond Toronto’s borders,” said Oliver Harrison, SVP of Leasing and Tenant Experience at RioCan REIT. “This collection of food options cannot be found under one roof anywhere in the city. It pays tribute to the city’s rich culinary history and offers an inspiring balance of new and well-known staples to its food scene.”
The Pier Bar, located at the heart of the Wellington Market, references the shores of Lake Ontario that once came up to Front Street where The Well is located. The Pier has a signature cocktail called The Well 76, referencing the site’s 7.6 acre size.
Other new tenants in the Wellington Market include Vancouver-based Japadog, which opened its first Toronto location at the Wellington Market selling Japadog’s popular Japanese-inspired hot dog. Rosie’s Burgers was founded by three brothers in 2020 with a range of food, and La Cubana is a Cuban food concept also featuring cocktails.
The Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto. Photo SuppliedThe Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto. Photo Supplied
GPA Architects designed the space, which was intended to be a “European-inspired” and “authentic” market experience with energy and excitement. Reclaimed wood from the original site is used throughout the Wellington Market, and oil drums were repurposed to create lighting fixtures.
The Wellington Market is expected to significantly increase the vibrancy of the retail component of The Well. The retail podium was unveiled to the public about six months ago, and since then some have commented about a lack of vibrancy while revelling in the dramatic architecture. The Wellington Market was carefully designed with numerous entrances, including a series of folding glass walls that open to create seamless transitions to the lower ground level of The Well’s Retail Walk, creating a seasonally open-air experience.
A variety of events, workshop, meetings and culinary experiences will be held at the Wellington Market throughout the year, including in its event venue which spans about 5,000 square feet.
The Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto. Photo SuppliedThe Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto. Photo Supplied
The Well will serve the about 11,000 residents and employees who will live and work on-site, as well as about 80,000 residents living within walking distance — many of those order take-out food weekly and represent an important potential consumer base for The Well and the Wellington Market. About 22,000 daily visitors are expected at The Well.
Twelve new restaurants have opened on the perimeter of The Well, some featuring outdoor patios which are already busy as the warmer summer months are finally upon us. Several of the restaurants line Wellington Street while at the top of the 8 Spadina Tower is Area, a restaurant on the 38th floor with stunning views of the city. On Front Street is the first Canadian location for New York City-based Prince Street Pizza.
The Well is a joint venture between RioCan REIT and Allied Properties REIT. Bordering Front, Spadina and Wellington Streets, it is a mixture of retail, commercial and residential space in downtown Toronto that includes 1.2 million square feet of office space and 320,000 square feet of retail and food service. It also has 1,700 residential units spread throughout six purpose-built rental and condominium buildings, plus one office building connected to a three-level Retail Walk.
Additional photos of the Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto:
The Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto. Photo SuppliedThe Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto. Photo SuppliedThe Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto. Photo Supplied
Future T&T Supermarket Gilmore Place (Rendering: T&T Supermarket)
Asian grocery chain T&T Supermarket will be opening two new stores in the summer of 2025.
The popular brand will open its second store in the Seattle area as well as its second store in Burnaby, B.C., at Gilmore Place.
No store is open yet in the US. Its first store in Bellevue will open later this year. Lynnwood will be the second store in the Seattle area.
T&T has 33 stores in Canada – in Ontario, B.C., Alberta and Quebec.
The Seattle location at Lynnwood Crossroads Shopping Center, 6218 196th Street SW, is one of the busiest intersections in the area. The location offers great exposure and accessibility off of Highway 99, allowing it to serve the rapidly growing community in Lynnwood and the northern Seattle area, said the company.
T&T Lynnwood New Store Rendering (CNW Group/T&T Supermarkets)
“We never stopped looking at locations in Washington after the announcement of our flagship store in Bellevue,” said Tina Lee, CEO of T&T Supermarkets, in a statement.
“There’s excellent growth potential here, and although we originally planned on only committing to a second location after Bellevue opens, we just couldn’t resist this opportunity. It’s a great location in a former grocery box – at 30,000 square feet, it’s a fitting size for Lynnwood.”
Last year T&T announced their expansion to the US with a flagship store in Bellevue, Washington, scheduled to open this summer.
“Today we have good news and bad news,” said Lee. “The good news is we have signed our second location. The bad news is our first store is delayed. Unfortunately, our electrical panel – a critical piece of equipment – is on backorder. We do not have an official opening date for Bellevue yet, but we are determined to open later in the year.”
T&T leadership team visited Lynnwood City Hall (CNW Group/T&T Supermarkets)Image: Gilmore Place
The new Burnaby store is part of a new mixed-used development by ONNI Group which will feature a diverse assortment of retail concepts, restaurants, and B.C.’s tallest residential tower.
Located at #110 – 4112 Lougheed Highway, in one of Burnaby’s most up-and-coming neighbourhoods of Brentwood, the new T&T is strategically positioned to serve the surge in high-rise developments and growing population density, where over 28,000 new residential units are currently in development, said the company.
Situated near the busy intersection of TransCanada Highway No. 1 and Lougheed Highway, and seamlessly connected to the Gilmore SkyTrain Station, a major stop on the Millennium SkyTrain Line, this new location is well poised to serve customers across the region, it added.
“We’re so excited to expand our presence in Burnaby with a second store,” explained Lee. “Currently, we have one T&T in Burnaby, and that’s at Metrotown Mall. If you’ve ever been there on a weekend, you’ll know it’s jam packed. This additional store will allow us to better serve such a rapidly growing urban hub.
“Being on the SkyTrain line, getting to the new store could not be easier. Plus, we’ll have plenty of parking.”
“We are very excited to welcome T&T Supermarkets to Gilmore Place,” added John Middleton, Senior Vice President of Leasing for ONNI. “Given our experience with T&T Supermarkets at Ora in Richmond, we have seen firsthand the vibrancy they bring to a community. New home buyers at Gilmore Place have highly anticipated a quality grocer within the project and I know they will be thrilled with this announcement. As will residents throughout North Burnaby. Looking forward to opening day!”
At 55,000 square feet, this location will feature the full range of T&T’s assortment, including Asian snacks, produce, live seafood, bakery, skincare, gifts, and in-store prepared foods. In addition, T&T at Gilmore will have distinguishing features such as popular street foods like popcorn chicken, sticky rice wraps and Chinese crêpes.
T&T Supermarkets was founded in Vancouver in 1993 and is headquartered in Richmond, BC, with offices in Toronto.
Left On Friday, a premium Canadian swimwear brand, has opened two pop-up stores for the summer months, is going to be adding to its collection, and is looking at expanding. The brand designs swimwear with athletes in mind and is sponsoring the Canada’s National Women’s Beach Volleyball team in 2024.
“We believe that the best life is an active life. This philosophy drives everything we do at Left On Friday, our mission is to create swimwear that not only looks good, but also performs exceptionally well in any active setting. Whether you are swimming, playing beach volleyball, or simply enjoying a day at the beach – our products are designed to support and enhance your active lifestyle. We are committed to inclusivity, ensuring that our swimwear fits a wide range of body types, so everyone can feel confident and comfortable – we strive to make every day feel like a Friday,” says Shannon Savage, the co-founder of Left On Friday.
The two new pop-up locations are in Toronto on Ossington Avenue, open through til mid-September, and in Muskoka on Port Carling, open through til Labour Day weekend.
Left On Friday Ossington (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
Both locations are designed to stand out with its colourful swimwear and provide an opportunity for consumers to try on products. The stores will be featuring Left On Friday’s top selling products as well as new collections. As the location in Muskoka is in cottage country, the store aims to provide a summer cottage vibe with an all-white interior showcasing the colourful swimsuits. Both locations also have custom made surfboards from a collaboration with Jimmy Lewis.
“Toronto was an obvious choice and it was the top city we wanted to be in as well along with the Muskoka location. Our goal has always been to make the shopping experience easy, and people want to try the suit on. We know what happens once a customer comes into the space, touches the bathing suit, and tries it on – typically, they leave with one. We will also be running community activations out of the store and that is really exciting that our customers and community can participate in,” says Laura Low Ah Kee, the co-founder of Left On Friday.
Left On Friday will have similar events as last year in Muskoka which included pilates on the deck, water ski clubs, and different workouts.
About the brand
Left On Friday Ossington (Image: Left on Friday)
Left On Friday was founded six years ago when Savage and Kee, with an extensive background in the apparel industry, particularly with Lululemon, wanted to create swimwear that is not only stylish, but also highly functional and is suitable for a variety of activities from swimming to beach sports.
“We both left Lululemon for different reasons and we entered into the market with our swimsuits. We got really clear that no one was making beautiful bathing suits to sell for both fashion and function that you can be active in and hang out in, and nobody was applying the knowledge of fabric and fit that we knew from Lululemon to the industry, so that is how we got the idea,” says Kee.
The brand offers a wide variety of sizes to meet each consumer’s needs, ensuring everyone who walks in can find a swimsuit that will be comfortable and match their needs.
“In a world of bathing suits, there are fashionable bathing suits and then there are functional bathing suits. Our goal is to make one bathing suit that sells for fashion and function in a really premium way. Can you be active in it? Do you feel powerful in it? Is it cute enough? Will you wear it to a pool party and on vacation? It is really about that one suit that can do everything,” says Kee.
Left On Friday Ossington (Image: Left On Friday)
Savage says consumers are able to also mix and match to create their own bathing suit style: “It is an amazing opportunity to put their suits together. We never set out to create the one hit wonder of the season, our point was to create a line that she could count on and come back to again and again, so it’s like the timeless classics.”
In addition to bathing suits, the brand has recently added clothing options such as “beach essentials” including tops, pants, and accessories.
“The best life an active life”
All swimsuits at Left On Friday are made for both activity and casual wear, Savage says they place a lot of time into designing the swimsuits to ensure the suit is appropriate for both. To ensure quality, Savage and Kee say they use a variety of athletes to test products for sports such as volleyball, surfing, kayaking, and more.
The fabric used on products is Smoothing Dream and is sourced from Italy. Savage says the fabric is compressive, both when wet and dry. The fabric is also resistant to fading in the sun and can survive in chlorine, salt water, and hot tubs: “Our first point of innovation was really just about the fabric that we chose and we placed a lot of effort into defining the fabric that we launched our product with,” says Savage.
As finding a bathing suit can be a difficult process for women, Left On Friday not only makes the process painless, but leaves customers feeling comfortable and excited about their new bathing suits.
“Finding a bathing suit can be a painful process, and our goal is to make the process better and to also make a swimsuit that makes you feel amazing. People are obsessed,” says Kee. “That is why we are so passionate about retail, because the product experience that women have when they actually see the product in person, feel it, and try it on – it is a transformative experience for them and they have just never felt swimwear that makes them feel so good, people have even cried in changing rooms because of how they feel.”
Team Canada sponsorship
Volleyball Canada x Left On Friday (Image: Left On Friday)Volleyball Canada x Left On Friday (Image: Left On Friday)
Left On Friday is again sponsoring the Canadian Beach Volleyball team at the Olympics. This collaboration has led to new innovations, such as the development of the one-shoulder top designed specifically for each volleyball player. The brand also customizes each swimsuit for the players. Left On Friday has been sponsoring this team since 2022.
“We are sponsoring the entire team and we are super proud of products as it really is the definition of fashion and function. Shannon designed a one-shoulder top, which was based off of their feedback that they love to play in the one-shoulder top and they found it so beautiful to wear. So we designed a custom one-shoulder top, and one girl hits with her right arm, so her strap is on her left. So it is truly an innovation of function and fashion in one,” says Kee.
Expansion plans
Left On Friday Ossington (Image: Left On Friday)Left on Friday Ossington (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
Currently, Left On Friday has two pop-up locations, one showroom in Victoria, one location in Vancouver, wholesale locations, and online shopping but Savage and Kee say they would like to expand across Canada.
The brand would be considering opening more locations in Toronto and Vancouver and are looking at Alberta as another possible location as “the products would be a great fit for the activities and lifestyle in the province,” says Kee. The brand would also be exploring the idea of seasonal pop-up stores in various lake towns and other popular summer destinations across Canada and would operate for two or four months.
Outside of Canada, Left On Friday is opening retail locations in Las Vegas and New York with long-term leases of three to five years. Overall, Left On Friday aims to be present in key cities and popular destinations across Canada and internationally, providing a unique and engaging shipping experience for consumers.
“There are so many places where people go where there are big bodies of water, so it would be amazing to have more pop-ups. Women want to do more than just sit in their swimsuits. They want to run around and go on really cool adventures and we believe that the best life is an active life,” says Kee.
Kate Camenzuli of CBRE represents Left On Friday for its retail expansion.
Former Nordstrom at CF Toronto Eaton Centre (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
Large-format Italian food marketplace Eataly will open another Toronto location next year in part of the former Nordstrom space at CF Toronto Eaton Centre. It will be the fourth location for Eataly in Toronto, creating the highest density of Eataly locations in North America.
The CF Toronto Eaton Centre Eataly is expected to occupy part of the main and second levels of the former 223,000 square foot Nordstrom space in the mall — the exact configuration has yet to be revealed, with more information to come. Eataly’s newest location will include several sit-down restaurant concepts as well as grocery, food items and gifts that can be purchased to take home.
It will be Eataly’s fourth location in Toronto and its second downtown — the company opened its first location in the city, spanning about 55,000 square feet, at the Manulife Centre on Bloor Street in November of 2019. Since then the Canadian division of Eataly has struck a multi-location partnership with landlord Cadillac Fairview. In October of 2023, Eataly opened a 25,000 square foot location at CF Sherway Gardens in Toronto, and this week will open its third location in the city, spanning nearly 10,000 square feet, at the CF Shops at Don Mills.
Former Nordstrom at CF Toronto Eaton Centre (Image: Dustin Fuhs)Eataly at CF Shops at Don Mills (Image: Eataly)
In terms of the number of Eataly locations in one city, Toronto will lead North America with almost as many storefronts as Tokyo (which has five). Eataly has three locations in Manhattan, and six individual storefronts in US markets including Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Dallas, Las Vegas and San Jose California. Eataly also has about 50 locations in selected global markets including Italy, the UK, Japan, France, Germany, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, South Korea and Turkey.
Wittington Investments is a partner in Eataly Canada, owning a share of the business. Wittington is owned by the Weston family, and has assets across classes ranging from real estate to retail.
Il Pastaio at Eataly CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Eataly)Image: Eataly TorontoEataly Il Gran Caffe at CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Eataly)
Eataly at CF Shops at Don Mills opened Thursday, featuring a 180-seat restaurant, Eataly Ristorante, with a menu of traditional Italian dishes from Tagliatelle alla Bolognese to authentic Pizza Napoletana. There are several quick service counters including Il Gran Caffè, an all-day coffee bar, and La Salumeria, an exclusive to the store specializing in Focaccia Farcita andpanini. The retail offer also includes hundreds of imported and local products, as well as Eataly’s housemade line of prepared, ready-to-eat meals.
According to Eataly’s North American CEO Tommaso Brusò last year, Toronto has been a strong market for the retailer. The Manulife Centre Eataly location is the only one in North America offering three styles of regional pizza, and is the first in North America to host an after-hours Eataly tasting experience.
Toronto is also the first city where Eataly has collaborated with local partners, from chocolatiers to honey producers, to create only-in-Toronto house-made limited-time products.
Queen’s Cross Food Hall at CF Toronto Eaton Centre (Image: Cadillac Fairview)
CF Toronto Eaton Centre has expanded its food and beverage options recently, including the opening of a new 19,000 square foot food hall called Queen’s Cross that is operated by Oliver & Bonacini. Several full-service restaurants can also be found in the mall, as well as various options such as Starbucks (with two new mall locations) and a large food court.
We’ll update this article with more details on Eataly opening in Toronto — sources have also told Retail Insider that Eataly had been negotiating to open in part of the former Nordstrom space in downtown Vancouver at CF Pacific Centre, and we’ll update readers with new details as they emerge.
Clearance Signage at Hudson's Bay Queen Street (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
First quarter retail data from Salesforce is indicating consumers have tightened the purse strings, as they did for most of 2023, and that trend is expected to continue for the rest of this year.
Caila Schwartz, Director, Consumer Strategy & Insights for Salesforce, said what we’re experiencing in Canada is a continued pullback in consumer spending, according to the 2024 Q1 Shopping Index.
Caila Schwartz
“Inflation has remained pretty sticky even if we’re not seeing inflation at the same rates that a year or two years ago. We’re definitely not in a deflationary period. Consumers are still dealing with higher prices and we don’t know when when interest rates, or if interest rates, will come down,” she said.
“And I think that especially with the fact that borrowing money is a lot more expensive, and that’s not just hitting retail. That’s having a huge impact on mortgages, cost of living, getting a car loan, things like that. Consumers are having to make tradeoffs on where they spend. And so we’re seeing this recalibration where shoppers are focusing on what we would call either essential goods like food and beverage and health and beauty but more like the things you use every day for personal care and a pullback on luxury items.
Sunglass Hut at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Image: Craig Patterson)
“So we see luxury apparel, luxury handbags are underperforming. We also see that high ticket items are underperforming like furniture, electronics, appliances. And we also see that shoppers are swapping out for alternatives. For example, luxury handbags are struggling but general handbags is doing really well. If consumers are spending, they’re opting for a lower price alternative.
“It’s a continuation of what happened last year and I think as long as we remain in the current economic state, these trends will continue throughout this year as well.”
In this environment, Schwartz said retailers like Walmart with lower prices are benefiting from consumers who are spending more there.
She said research has also been launched by Salesforce, with the results coming in a few weeks, showing that shopping platforms like Temu and Shein are doing very well right now – 68 per cent of shoppers polled across U.S., Canada, Australia and the UK said they have placed an order on one of these shopping apps.
“The reason why they said they’re gravitating to these apps is because of price. They offer the lowest price and for the next six months especially towards the holiday season we asked do you anticipate starting your shopping there and 62 per cent said they are anticipating starting their shopping journey on these apps,” added Schwartz.
“That price conscious shopper is gravitating to these lower priced retailers like Walmart, like the Temu’s of the world. And they’re trading off on maybe quality for getting the lowest price.”
Walmart Canada in Nova Scotia (Image: Field Agent Canada)
Salesforce’s Shopping Index found that digital commerce overall grew two per cent in the first quarter but the data showed a decline in per-visit average spend of $2.02 (down from $2.40 in the last quarter), and a drop-in conversion rate to 1.8 per cent (down from 2.3 per cent last quarter).
Retail Insider is streamlining its Canadian retail news from around the web to include a handful of top news stories that can be viewed quickly during the day. Here are the top stories from the past 24 hours.
The commercial podium at 100 Bloor Street West in downtown Toronto is seeing new retail tenants that are transforming the heart of the ’Mink Mile’ luxury run. The podium, located at the northwest corner of Bloor and Bellair Streets, is shifting its tenant mix with new retailers being added and new opportunities coming available.
It comes at a time when retail vacancies are down substantially on the ‘Mink Mile’ stretch of Bloor, where new luxury brands are opening stores, and more are on the way. Brandon Gorman of brokerage JLL said in an interview that vacancies on the street are far lower than during the pandemic in 2020, as global luxury brands open stores on Bloor at a pace unseen in recent years.
The 100 Bloor podium’s recent shift began in 2017 when iconic luxury brand Hermes opened in a space that formerly housed a Williams Sonoma store. The Hermes flagship spans more than 6,000 square feet over two levels and is artfully designed with a Danish brick facade. Next to it is French luxury jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels, which opened a stunning Canadian flagship store there in October of 2023. At the back of the podium facing the Village of Yorkville Park is a Barry’s Bootcamp that opened in the spring of 2019, and a Kupfert & Kim restaurant.
100 Bloor Street West in Toronto (Image: Craig Patterson)
Retail Insider recently reported that part of the former Pottery Barn space at 100 Bloor had been leased, featuring the prominent heritage facade of a movie theatre that once occupied the site. The main floor of the former Pottery Barn will see luxury British brand Burberry move in and occupy about 6,300 square feet, relocating from a multi-level storefront nearby.
Holt Renfrew Men, which opened at 100 Bloor Street West in September of 2014, will be moving back into the 50 Bloor Holts flagship at the end of this year as its lease expires. The 16,500 square foot Holt Renfrew Men space at 100 Bloor Street West is thus currently available for lease and could house one tenant or multiple tenants.
Main floor, Holt Renfrew Men, 100 Bloor St. W. in TorontoSecond floor, Holt Renfrew Men, 100 Bloor St. W. in Toronto
The Holt Renfrew Men’s space is particularly prominent, with 65 feet of frontage of Bloor Street and 105 feet of frontage on Bellair Street. Ceiling heights in the retail space span an impressive 19 feet, creating a sense of volume with south-facing sun-flooded glass windows facing Bloor Street.
The ground floor of the available Holt Renfrew Men’s space spans 6,160 square feet, with the second floor measuring 9,355 square feet. A lower level of 1,046 square feet creates a total space spanning 16,561 square feet. The commercial podium, owned by New York City-based ASG Equities, includes 140 public underground parking spaces and a luxury condominium apartment tower directly above.
There is potential to also demise the Holt Renfrew Men’s space. Brokers and retailers interested in leasing at 100 Bloor may contact Brandon Gorman of JLL.
Future Burberry at the base of an heritage facade at 100 Bloor Street West in Toronto (Image: Craig Patterson)Barry’s Bootcamp at 100 Bloor West (Image: Craig Patterson)
George Karnoupakis, Head of Asset Management at ASG Equities, explained that there is also a second-floor leasing opportunity at 100 Bloor Street West, with the potential to have a ground-level access point from a north-south pedestrian walkway connecting Bloor and Cumberland Streets, between 100 Bloor and 102 Bloor Street West. The available second level space spans 8,344 square feet, with main floor access from space in the laneway behind Barry’s Bootcamp. Brandon Gorman of JLL can also be contacted by interested parties in these spaces.
“Once a traditional shopping district, Bloor Street has emerged as a premier destination for high-end brands,” said Karnoupakis. “Bloor Street’s transformation not only reflects the changing dynamics of consumerism but also underscores Toronto’s growing prominence on the international stage of luxury retail. Landmarks like 100 Bloor Street contribute to this allure, attracting shoppers from around the world who seek elegance and style.”
When all the commercial spaces at 100 Bloor have been leased, the fully occupied commercial podium will be at the centre of a transformation that has turned Bloor Street West into a global luxury retail destination. More luxury brands are said to be negotiating to open stores on the street, and Retail Insider will be sure to report on what new tenants will be moving into 100 Bloor Street West when deals are signed.
Ahiri at 797 Queen St W, Toronto, ON (Image: Ahiri)
Canadian womenswear label Ahiri, which began as an online retailer, launched its flagship store at 797 Queen Street West in Toronto.
This is the first permanent store for the brand and houses its design studio on the retail floor along with its office and warehouse.
The retailer said combining its studio and retail spaces means Ahiri customers can be part of the label’s design process and experience the world of designer Michael Jafine. This behind-the-scenes access offers a deeper connection, making it more than just a shopping trip. Toronto-based visual consultant Jairo Betancur, known for his work with renowned brands such as Gucci, Hudson’s Bay and Club Monaco, is overseeing the store’s visual presentation and merchandising.
Ahiri at 797 Queen St W, Toronto, ON (Image: Ahiri)Ahiri at 797 Queen St W, Toronto, ON (Image: Ahiri)
“Co-locating our retail, designer studio, office and warehouse will save time, resources and allow Ahiri to streamline its operations. Our customers can see what Michael is working on, give their feedback and be a meaningful part of Ahiri’s ecosystem. They will get a behind-the-scenes look at the design process, including mood boards, fabric swatches and other in-studio accoutrements,” said Sheetu Latif, CEO and co-founder, Ahiri.
“This is a huge moment for Ahiri and our team couldn’t be more excited to offer a fresh retail experience. Ahiri is all about timeless designer fashion and now our customers can get a behind-the-scenes look at our creative process and give their own input. The relationship with our customers will become more intimate, as they will now be reflected in our upcoming collections in a deeper way,” added Jafine.
Ahnaf Ali and Sheetu Latif (Image: Ahiri)Michael Jafine (Image: Ahiri)
The brand was launched in 2021 by co-founders Sheetu Latif, Naimul Chowdhury and Ahnaf Ali. It has since dropped four collections.
“When we set out to create Ahiri, we made it our mission to offer quality, designer garments at sensible prices, all designed locally. We also set out to create garments that elevate everyday basics and integrate easily into our customer’s current wardrobes,” said Ali.
“We’re cultivating a fresh community of fashion enthusiasts in Canada who appreciate and actively seek new designs at exceptional prices.”
Jafine received his bachelor’s in fine arts for fashion design at Parsons The New School for Design in New York City. Working for brands such as Proenza Schouler, The Row and Behno, he trained his design and tailoring skills to later create his own fashion line before joining Ahiri. In his design process, he values craftsmanship, sustainability, and emotion, blending the three to create new and innovative approaches to the timeless classics of a wardrobe.
Ahiri at 797 Queen St W, Toronto, ON (Image: Ahiri)Ahiri at 797 Queen St W, Toronto, ON (Image: Ahiri)
“The way we position ourselves is that it doesn’t necessarily have to cost you an arm and a leg to have nicely designed, good quality, good fabric, nicely constructed clothes,” said Latif. “That is our niche, you can say.
“We’re incredibly excited about the opening of the new flagship store. It’s our first permanent location that brings together retail space, design studio, office and warehouse, all under one roof.
Ahiri at 797 Queen St W, Toronto, ON (Image: Dustin Fuhs)Ahiri at 797 Queen St W, Toronto, ON (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
“This is a start and you can call it our pilot. Obviously we feel that we need a presence in the West Coast and in the fashion capital of Canada also in Montreal. Actually you would be surprised. We are getting a lot of attention in the USA. I actually want to open one in L.A. and one in New York. You have to dream.
“It will all depend on how well we do here. We’re confident and this will be the model we will replicate in other places.”
Illuminarium, a technology interactive space in Toronto, is planning on exploring expansion in Canada with possible locations in Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver via a travelling concept.
The Distillery District location opened August of last year and has been successful since, especially during the holiday season. The company partnered with Toronto-based Secret Location and uses cutting-edge technology to engage all four senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, and touching. Along with any expansion plans, Illuminarium is getting ready for the increased number of visitors during the summer months.
Ryan Andal
“We had an incredibly busy period leading up to the holidays, which was fantastic. The Distillery District holiday market got somewhere between 800,000 to a million visitors over a six to seven week period, so we managed to get quite a few people through our space. The second busiest period for us is the summer, so as soon as kids are let out of school at the end of June, we are expecting more people to come see our shows,” says Ryan Andal, President and Co-Founder of Secret Location and Partner of Illuminarium Toronto.
Illuminarium Toronto (Image: Dustin Fuhs)Illuminarium Toronto (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
The 13,500 square-foot complex has three rooms, and one that is designated for introducing guests to the experience. Andal says they welcome guests every 15 minutes and “pulses them into the space.”
“One room is for onboarding guests into the space, so it is a bit of a preview show that takes about five minutes or so. We can accept as many as 50 guests, although that does get a bit tight, so somewhere between 30 to 50 we usually put into that room. A host will come out, introduce the show that everyone is about to see and then after the show, we have the doors automatically open and welcome guests into the main, larger projection space.”
Andal says the interactive show goes on for around 45 minutes and has a mix of live gaming, interactivity, and cinematic narratives. Once the show is over, guests can experience an interactive play area, which right now is Light Bright where there is a photobooth area where they can turn guests into a LITE-BRITE Character and more activities.
LITE-BRITE: Worlds of Wonder
Image: Illuminarium TorontoIlluminarium Toronto (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
“Our LITE-BRITE show is doing really well and it is obviously playing into the nostalgia of that toy, and the gaming and play areas in that space works really well for both Gen Z, kids, and families. I would probably say that it is one of the best shows we have done from an event series perspective.”
The show is partnered with Hasbro, a leading toy and game company and is inspired by a classic toy and blends elements of gaming, creative activities, and technology to create an engaging and entertaining environment for all ages. Guests are able to create their own LITE-BRITE character, can turn themselves into a LITE-BRITE character using AI technology, and the space as interactive games.
“We have all of these childlike games that we have built into the experience. Colouring sheets that you can colour on the floor, we have QR codes that you can connect to and then draw a character and then see how it appears on the walls, and we have games like tower defence or exquisite corpse.”
Guests can expect a “60-minute interactive show, 12 activations in the digital play space, an immersive retail experience, three cinematic worlds, real life hosts to welcome you to the experience” and “visitors can us their bodies to interact with the immersive show, play and create a physical LITE-BRITE toy, and following the experience, visitors can take a memorable take-home photo.”
Future shows
Illuminarium at AREA15 in Las Vegas (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
Wizard of Oz, an immersive musical that will bring the story to life with visuals, sound, and “a fully immersive environment.” This show is expected to appear by the end of the year.
Mythologies will explore five different cultures including Chinese, Canadian Indigenous, African, Greek, and Norse mythology.
Dinosaur-themed show featuring lifelike visuals and floor vibrations to enhance the experience. The expected timeline for this is about two years.
“It is the most requested thing that we have ever had in our space, which is people want to see dinosaurs on the screen. So we are working on a prehistoric world exhibition that I think would be a lot of fun to be able to see and feel it in that scale, particularly in locations like Las Vegas, where they have haptic flooring. So being able to see and feel the rumble on the floor when a Brachiosaurus is walking throughout the space would be really fun.”
New Concepts
Andal says they have added an immersive bar where guests can get drinks and snacks while “seeing a bit of the show playing in the space.” The new bar space is designed to match the theme of the show that is playing.
“I think in the summer months, we will start to ramp it up. Right now, we are just serving mocktails and snacks, but we are in the middle of getting our alcohol permits so once that happens we will start doing some alcoholic drinks.”
Andal says the goal would be to get an alcohol licence within the next month.
Illuminarium is also looking at adding a dining concept, similar to its successful location at AREA15 in Las Vegas. Guests would be offered a three course meal surrounding an immersive environment and live performances.
“The immersive dining experience in Las Vegas is really upscale, they did several nights during the Super Bowl and sold out every night. So after seeing the success, we want to figure out a dining concept here. We have been talking to a variety of different partners on how we can incorporate not just the dining, but a story concept into the show itself and it will be a bit experimental.”
The immersive dining experience is planned to be available by the end of the year.
Summer events
Illuminarium Soul Expansion (Image: Illuminarium)
During the summer, Andal says there will be new collaborations with artists, such as its new wellness series.
“We have a wellness series that we are going to be doing and we have a partnership with a group called Soul Expansion. They do a bit of a meditative yoga experience and it was sold out the last time we did it as I think we had 180 people in the space to do the solo expansion experience.”
The space will also host comedians as these shows have sold out in the past.
“We are going to be doing a bit more in the comedy space and more in the wellness space – but that is the beauty of a space like ours, we can transform it into whatever we want. So whether it is a dance, vocal performance, comedy show, wellness experience – it starts off with a grey box, but you can turn that grey box into any environment that you want to.”
Expansion Plans
Illuminarium Toronto (Image: Dustin Fuhs)Illuminarium Toronto (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
To provide this unique experience to everyone, Andal says the company is looking at a travel concept to bring shows across Canada.
“We are interested in wanting to see if we can bring this kind of entertainment and digital immersion to as many locations as possible. So we are in the midst of building a touring kit that we can bring into our other spaces for this show and other shows we are producing. So that is sort of the next big step for us.”
As for new locations in Canada, Andal says they are looking at expanding into Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary, and possibly around Kingston, Ontario.
“I feel like there are lots of pockets where we can service the style of entertainment that is becoming more and more interesting. But we are still sort of in the early stages of figuring out more permanent locations in Canada.”
Glenn Green of g squared hospitality is representing Illuminarium in the Canadian market and can be reached via email.
Andal says the next location will most likely be in Montreal or Vancouver.
“I am very interested in the Quebec market and we are looking at a partnership with someone in Montreal right now. It is a very different market from Toronto and it does open up some distribution in Europe as well, which is interesting. Montreal also has a lot of creators and being able to partner with them would be the goal of why we want to open up a space there.”
Soon-to-Open Chicago Illuminarium (Rendering: Illuminarium)
Outside of Canada, Illuminarium is expanding more into the United States including a new location in Chicago opening this summer. The company already has locations in Las Vegas and Atlanta.
“When you look at the kinds of entertainment that you would get at Disney or Universal, for the most part, it always seems incredibly expensive to go to and is a once in a lifetime experience. And the types of shows and immersive experiences we have, we want to bring to larger city centres on a smaller scale to make it more accessible on a regular basis to the average family, that is our overall goal and the more that we can have these spaces that we can transform into different things – the easier that goal will be to accomplish.”
Retail Insider is streamlining its Canadian retail news from around the web to include a handful of top news stories that can be viewed quickly during the day. Here are the top stories from the past 24 hours.
