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 several days.
Vancouver-based Coffee Bike has launched a crowdfunding initiative to expand its innovative mobile espresso bar concept globally.
The concept began in 2017 and it has served over a million cups of coffee in Vancouver as well as participating in more than 1,000 private and public events and festivals.
Recently, it launched its Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign.
“We’ve seen incredible success in Vancouver, and now it’s time to share our innovative mobile coffee concept with the world. The Coffee Bike Vol. 2 is more than just a product; it’s an opportunity for individuals to embark on their entrepreneurial journey in the booming mobile food industry,” said Coffee Bike’s founder Vladislav Priadko.
Image: Coffee Bike World
He said Coffee Bike is breaking new ground by offering a turnkey solution for aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide. Unlike traditional franchises, Coffee Bike is committed to providing an opportunity for individuals to start their own mobile coffee business without the constraints of franchise obligations, while saving tons of time and money on the research and development stage – once someone purchases a unit, it is fully theirs, and no one controls their operations.
“The company’s mission is to build a global community of like-minded individuals passionate about the mobile food industry. In pursuit of this vision, Coffee Bike has partnered with a reputable factory to manufacture and distribute its latest model, Coffee Bike Vol. 2. To kickstart this ambitious venture, the company is seeking to fulfill a minimum order of 20 units and aspires to see thousands of these mobile coffee shops operating worldwide,” said Priadko.
After seven successful years with eight thriving Coffee Bikes in Vancouver, and empowering eight new owners across Canada, Priadko said the company has set its sights on worldwide distribution.
For US $19,850, the buyer will receive a complete mobile coffee shop – an espresso bar fully equipped with all the necessary big and small equipment and utensils for turnkey operations.
“Originally I got this idea in 2016,” said Priadko. “I was browsing the web and one of my friends guided me to this online platform which is very similar to Kickstarter – Indiegogo. There was a Sweden-based company which was pretty much introducing this mobile coffee shop concept which looks completely different from what I’ve got right now but what I did I used my savings and ordered one of those coffee carts.
“What I received at the end of the day was absolute crap. It took me roughly an extra one year and an additional 200 to 300 per cent of the initial investment to make this thing work. But the final product was so overweight I just couldn’t see any future for it.”
Image: Coffee Bike WorldImage: Coffee Bike World
In 2017, he launched the cart, worked a couple of months then closed it down.
“The idea was great. I received a lot of local support in Vancouver but the application was completely wrong,” he said.
Priadko had an idea to move from a push unit to a pull bike concept. He came up with a new Coffee Bike which was launched November 2018.
Last year, the company decided to expand by building and selling the units. Last year it sold six Coffee Bikes.
“Basically, it’s an ideal business for someone who has never had business experience before. It’s a very low investment as opposed to say any other brick and mortar coffee shop,” said Priadko. “Another advantage of it is that the overhead costs are absolutely minimal.”
He said the potential is for brick and mortar coffee shops to expand their businesses as well by launching a bike service on the streets of Vancouver or elsewhere.
“It’s like a turnkey solution if someone wants to have a little pop-up coffee shop,” he added.
Image: Coffee Bike WorldImage: Coffee Bike World
The heart of the bike is a commercial grade espresso machine. Most of the drinks on the menu are espresso based.
“The sky is the limit. For us for example we bought a sparkling machine last summer and we started sparkling ice drinks,” said Priadko. “There is also a bakery display on each bike so you can partner with your local bakery and just resell their products from the coffee bike as well or you can make your own production if it makes sense financially.”
The coffee machines are dual powered with propane for outdoors and electrical for inside. There’s batteries for appliances like a coffee grinder. And some solar panels are on the roof as well.
“From public racing to group events, K1 Speed Cambridge promises unmatched excitement. Our diverse Arrive and Drive, corporate packages, team building sessions, and customized events position us as a top-tier destination for adrenaline seekers in the region,” said Daniel Zychlinski, Managing Partner of K1 Speed Canada.
Image: K1 Speed
Established in 2003, K1 Speed has rapidly grown as North America’s premier indoor karting experience with over 75 locations worldwide, now including three in Ontario.
“Eventually we will start to expand to the other provinces as well,” said Zychlinski.
“K1 Speed is the world’s largest go-kart company and we have tracks primarily in North America. It started in California in 2003 and then it started to expand throughout the U.S. first and then eventually K1 Speed started to go international. Their first franchise location opened in Mexico in 2015 and eventually we obtained the rights to bring it to Canada. There are now tracks in Korea, Europe and South America as well.
“The K1 concept is kind of an upscale version of what go karting used to be. And because we’re electric we have very clean facilities.”
The other tracks in Canada are in Downsview Park in Toronto and in Mississauga on Eglinton Avenue.
K1 Speed Cambridge
The Cambridge location was in a previous ice rink location.
“Normally K1 Speeds are not located inside a mall just because of the footprint that we require. Normally most of our locations are around 50,000 square feet,” said Zychlinski. “So for that amount of space usually we would take over an industrial warehouse and then we would build our track there. That’s where the Toronto location and the Mississauga location are at. They’re actually in industrial warehouses.
“This particular opportunity in the Cambridge Centre is a unique one because we don’t have that amount of availability in commercial spaces that are required for K1 Speed. But this one we’re able to actually convert the ice rink and because it is an open space we actually installed a multi-level track which means we have an overpass. That allows us to extend the track and build a track on a smaller footprint.”
K1 Speed, renowned as North America’s premier indoor karting venue, offers an electrifying experience with Canada’s swiftest electric go-karts that can touch impressive speeds of up to 45 km/h for adults and 30km/h for juniors. Along with the standard “arrive and drive” sessions, K1 Speed Cambridge offers special event nights, racing leagues, and instructional classes, ensuring racers of all skill levels have a platform to compete, learn, and grow.
Mark Bingeman
“The Cambridge Centre offers an incredible dynamic space and superb viewing area. It’s a thrill to watch races unfold from a unique vantage point, with the added delight of food, beverages, and arcade gaming,” said Mark Bingeman, in a statement.
“Our corporate entertaining packages, which include sponsorship opportunities, lunch and learn racing, and tailored events for clients, promise a unique blend of thrill and camaraderie. We are ecstatic to bring elite kart racing back to the Waterloo Region, making K1 Speed Cambridge a landmark attraction.”
K1 Speed Cambridge has an exclusive second-floor viewing platform, offering panoramic views of the racing action. This strategic location, adjacent to Kingpin Cambridge, further amplifies the experience by combining exhilarating races with extensive arcade gaming, bowling, and diverse food options, said the company.
“Now that we have established ourselves in Ontario, we’re looking at other provinces. We normally expand into cities of one million or more people in demographics. Obviously the largest cities in Canada are of interest to us,” said Zychlinski. “Having said that, in Alberta we have Edmonton and Calgary. In British Columbia, we have Vancouver.
“Again we’re looking into different markets to see which is our next move. It is about acquiring the real estate or making sure that we have the right space available and that’s what guides our expansion.”
He said the concept’s core demographic is males between 20 and 35 years old. There’s also a large corporate following with meetings and events.
Bingemans is a leader in the Waterloo Region’s hospitality and tourism and tourism industry. Bingemans is the entertainment destination, multi-use amusement park, camping resort, full-service caterer, and conference centre located in Kitchener, Ontario.
Grocery basket in a grocery store. Image: iStock/licensed
A note from the author: “According to Canada’s Food Price Report 2024, the recommended monthly expenditure for a healthy diet per individual is $339. Currently, the average monthly spending stands at $248. Until July 2021, Canadians were typically spending above the suggested budget for a nutritious diet. However, this is no longer the case. Now, we are facing increased risks as the carbon tax rises, without a clear understanding of its long-term effects on food prices.”
Canada appears to be a “trading-down” market, a trend that may persist for some time. Recent data from Statistics Canada on the food retail and service industries, as well as fresh GDP figures, paint a concerning picture, especially for those looking to attract more food companies or grocers to our country.
Our population grew by more than 3% last year, yet our GDP increased by less than 1%. While other industrialized economies, such as France and Germany, are experiencing worse economic headwinds, Canada’s economy is highly integrated with the world’s most robust economy at present. Despite our proximity to this economic superpower, the benefits of our geography seem to have stalled. The most alarming aspect of the January GDP numbers is that Canada’s hottest economic sector is currently the public service, while private investments have stalled, largely due to higher interest rates.
The gap in GDP per capita between Canada and the United States has widened by 106% since 2015, and this trend shows no signs of reversing. In other words, despite our growing population, Canada is becoming poorer, not richer.
For those in the food business, this is certainly not good news. Statistics Canada’s reports on food and service sales confirm that consumers are dealing with less wealth while facing higher food and menu prices. As of January 2024, the average Canadian is spending $248 a month on food retail sales per capita, down from $258 in January 2023 and $282 in February 2017. These figures are all in real dollars, which makes the situation even worse. Based on Canada’s Food Price Report 2024, an individual’s monthly expenditure for a healthy diet should be $339. Again, the current average monthly spending is $248. Until July 2021, Canadians were spending more on average than the desired budget to support a healthy diet. Since then, it has clearly been a challenge (see graphic).
Canadians are either wasting less or finding alternative ways to source food outside conventional channels like grocery stores, such as dollar stores and non-traditional grocery discounters. Per capita food expenditures in our country have never been as low as they are now.
One might think that grocers are struggling with this situation, but they are readjusting their strategies and putting more pressure on suppliers with higher fees and lower prices. These are perfect conditions for a potential price war later this year, so don’t be surprised if it happens.
St Lawrence Market in Toronto (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
The data on food service provides a different perspective. On average, Canadians spent $169 at restaurants in January, which is about the same as last year and an increase from $149 in January 2018. However, these sums are in real dollars. The current retail/service split in Canada is that about 41% of all money spent on food is at restaurants, compared to a split closer to 54% in the United States, favoring food service. Considering the frugality of the market, it’s astonishing to see so much money being spent at restaurants, where you typically get less food for your money.
The days of uncertainty regarding the balance between working from home and working away from home are long gone. The food economy has, for all intents and purposes, normalized. Food inflation is causing Canadians to spend less at grocery stores, which may seem counterintuitive, but is what the data is telling us. Currently, about 18% of all retail dollars are devoted to food, compared to 21% in 2017. Simply put, the cost of living is a problem for many Canadian households, and trading down is much easier with food. People may be “ordering in” more often to avoid tips and overpriced beverages, for example.
All of this is based on our trust in Statistics Canada, which may not be all that strong. However, Statistics Canada is merely an indicator, and Canadians have no other way to know what is really going on out there other than reading reports from the federal agency.
Regardless of how we interpret the data, the numbers are simply not encouraging. This is what happens when our population grows, but not our collective economic wealth.
Under construction: Bulgari at 131 Bloor St. W. in Toronto. Photo: Craig Patterson
LVMH-owned luxury jewellery brand Bulgari will be opening its Canadian flagship store this year at The Colonnade at 131 Bloor Street West in Toronto. Bulgari is the latest global luxury brand to find a home on the former ‘Mink Mile’ stretch of Bloor Street between Avenue Road and Bellair Street.
Bulgari’s boutique location at The Colonnade will span 2,969 square feet on one level. The store is expected to feature lavish marble and stone interiors, as does the brand’s locations around the world. The Bloor Street Bulgari will be the second standalone location for the brand in Canada — Bulgari opened at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre in 2014 in a retail space that expanded to about 2,900 square feet in 2022 along with a beautiful full renovation.
The Bloor Street retail space was formerly occupied by pop-up retail, including upscale German ski wear brand Bogner which operated out of the premises during the pandemic. The Colonnade is an historic building built in 1963 that is heritage designated, considered to be Canada’s first mixed-use building with retail, office and residential components. The complex features flagship locations for other major luxury brands including Dior, Ferragamo, Prada, Cartier, and Moncler.
Future Bulgari at 131 Bloor Street West (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
A Sephora store operated out of the retail space to be occupied by Bulgari, as well as where neighbouring Moncler operates a store, until Sephora relocated nearby to 77 Bloor Street West in the summer of 2016. Italian luxury brand Moncler opened its 3,000 square foot store at The Colonnade in the fall of 2017.
Bulgari currently operates a concession nearby at Holt Renfrew at 50 Bloor Street West. Bulgari opened on the renovated main floor of Holt Renfrew in Fall 2019 in a small but lavish space, in an area of the store that is said to struggle with traffic. Bulgari also operates a concession at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver at CF Pacific Centre which opened in 2018.
Travel retailer Dufry operates Bulgari boutiques in Vancouver International Airport as well as in Toronto’s Pearson Airport in Terminals 1 and 3. Multi-brand retailer Château d’Ivoire in Montreal also carries Bulgari.
Bloor Street has transformed over the course of the past several years to include a stretch of major global retailers, operating flagship stores. Major brands operating at press time on Bloor between St. Thomas and Avenue Road include Rolex, Loro Piana (under construction at 111 Bloor W.), Dior, Ferragamo, Prada, Cartier, Moncler, Max Mara, Bonpoint, Montblanc, Brooks Brothers, Roger Dubuis, IWC, Panerai, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Burberry, Gucci (which will be expanding into the adjacent St. John space), Lafayette 148, Alexander Wang, Anne Fontaine (assumed to be under construction), Saint Laurent, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Hermes.
Bulgari at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Image: Bulgari)Bulgari at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Image: Bulgari)
Retail Insider attended the grand re-opening of the expanded and renovated Yorkdale store in October of 2022. The renovation of the Yorkdale store took about five months, expanding the retail space from about 1,500 square feet to approximately 3,000 square feet. Architect Peter Marino conceptualized the space which now has two private salons.
The main entrance to the Roman-inspired store is made of Black Grand Antique marble, and the interior includes white Tarvertino Navona marble walls that are finished in white and gold hand-applied Scagliola plaster. The middle of the store features the recognizable Bulgari Condotti eight-point star in red porphyry, which dates back to the first Bulgari shop opened by Sotirio Bulgari in Rome in 1884. Condotti windows within the store reference the original windows still present in Bulgari’s historic flagship on Via Condotti in Rome, and there are two Murano crystal chandeliers made by Italian artisan Vistosi that illuminate the interior.
Three Andy Warhol silk-screen prints in the store were issued specifically for Bulgari by the Warhol Foundation. Andy Warhol was known for being a longstanding fan of Bulgari, so much so that he had called the New York boutique “the most important museum of contemporary art.”
The expanded Bulgari flagship carries an expansive range of high jewelry and fine jewelry as well as watches, and handbags.
Bulgari at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Image: Bulgari)Bulgari at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Image: Bulgari)
LVMH acquired Bulgari in 2011 as part of a strategic alliance. Bulgari operates a network of standalone stores, concessions, and wholesale accounts in major markets globally. Marriott operates Bulgari Hotels and Resorts which has nine locations globally with more to come, and there are Bulgari-branded restaurants in Tokyo and Osaka.
A healthy and voluminous head of hair works wonders in regaining a youthful appearance and boosting self-esteem. While hair can weaken with age, there are valuable solutions that can combat hair loss, as a growing number of individuals are turning to hair transplant procedures. Mexico has risen as a hotspot for hair transplants, offering unparalleled affordability and quality when it comes to hair restoration procedures. With reliable techniques and appropriate costs, hair transplants in Mexico have witnessed a significant increase in popularity.
When contemplating the financial aspect, the price range for a follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplant in Mexico typically spans from $2,990 to $6,900, contingent upon the number of grafts required. However, patients are urged to exercise caution when encountering exceptionally low prices, as they may signal compromised quality. While finding cheap hair transplant services can seem like a steal, it is essential to remain vigilant of clinics offering rates below $3,500. A deal that appears too good to be true could signal underlying risks associated with the discounted procedure.
Selecting the right surgeon is also paramount to achieving a satisfactory outcome.
To be fully informed and confident about your hair transplant clinic, meticulous research into the surgeon’s credentials is recommended to secure optimal results. The surgeon’s experience and expertise play a pivotal role in determining the hair transplant’s overall success.
Mexico’s status as a hub for hair transplants is because of its competitive pricing, state-of-the-art facilities, and seasoned surgeons. A substantial proportion of Mexican surgeons boast international training and accreditation, ensuring adherence to global standards of care. Moreover, Mexico’s proximity to the United States and Canada makes it a convenient choice for patients seeking quality treatment. Beyond cost-effectiveness, undergoing a hair transplant in Mexico offers the added benefits of shorter travel durations and personalized patient-doctor interactions. Patients can return home within hours post-procedure, minimizing disruptions to their daily routines.
Regarding techniques, patients are presented with a plethora of options. These techniques include FUE, Sapphire FUE, Direct Hair Implantation (DHI), and robotic hair transplantation. Each method offers unique benefits, catering to individuals seeking hair restoration’s diverse needs and preferences. With each technique, it’s important to note that the duration hair follicles spend outside the scalp significantly impacts their survival, making careful handling a vital element in preserving follicle viability.
With many advantages, Mexico is a premier destination for hair transplants. The array of techniques, transparent costs, and reputable clinics, such as Capilclinic, deliver a cohesive blend of affordability, quality, and convenience.
As a hair transplant leader in Mexico, Capilclinic boasts a team of experienced professionals who use the latest technology for successful hair restoration. Their Mexico City clinic offers procedures like FUE and DHI hair transplants. The clinic has developed the FUE MIN TIME to increase the success rate of your hair transplant, which focuses on minimizing the amount of time each hair follicle spends outside the scalp during extraction and implantation.
FUE MIN TIME involves meticulously categorizing each follicle during extraction based on the exact time it was removed. This careful process allows Capilclinic’s surgeons to significantly reduce the time each follicle spends outside its natural environment. On average, follicles remain outside the scalp for no longer than 120 minutes, significantly increasing their chance of survival and overall transplant success.
Capilclinic also personalizes the hair implantation process to ensure a natural-looking outcome. Factors such as hair type and the desired aesthetic are considered to achieve a homogeneous distribution of follicles and optimal placement per square centimeter. This approach translates to a more natural-looking result with the possibility of placing more follicles per area, maximizing hair density.
Beyond the FUE MIN TIME method, Capilclinic boasts a highly experienced and talented team of specialists. Their expertise contributes to the clinic’s impressive success rate, exceeding 99%. To ensure optimal results, the clinic also offers comprehensive aftercare, including both online and in-person follow-up consultations to monitor the progress of your hair transplant.
Those seeking effective hair restoration that prioritizes safety and quality above all else will find Mexico’s hair transplant scene to be in alignment with those values. The prospect of reclaiming your locks is made possible with ease and efficiency through hair transplants in Mexico.
Main entrance to Holt Renfrew at 50 Bloor Street West in Toronto. Photo: Craig Patterson
The Holt Renfrew store at 50 Bloor Street West in Toronto is marking 45 years of operations this month. When it opened in March of 1979, it was met with considerable celebration and marked a milestone in the chain with its largest store location to open at the time, by far.
The store boasted about 85,000 square feet of retail space over three levels at the time, considerably larger than the location it replaced up the street. The new store featured a marble-clad facade which existed until the fall of 2020 when it was replaced with a new look.
The 1979 grand opening of the Bloor Street Holt Renfrew store saw over 1,000 attendees pay $75 each to attend a gala — proceeds went to renovations of the Royal Ontario Museum. There was considerable excitement in the area as landlord Morguard had completed the Holt Renfrew Centre at 50 Bloor Street West, which would soon become part of an underground pedestrian system that connects several commercial buildings in the Bloor-Yorkville area.
March 1979 newspaper clipping from the Toronto Star, sourced via Newspapers.com
The new 50 Bloor Street store cost about $6 million to build at the time, and was billed as “the most beautiful store in town”. About 300 people worked in the store, 85 more than in the previous location at 144 Bloor Street West. The new store’s interior was described in the Toronto Star as being lavish, with marble floors in the central area of the main floor with a mirrored escalator — an upgrade from the slow passenger elevators that moved visitors over the five levels of the former store.
Other materials used in the 50 Bloor Street store included bronzed and layered moires, taffeta, raw silk, and light woods such as white oak, olive as and white ash which lined the walls. Plush carpeting could be found in boutique and speciality areas.
The main floor of the new Bloor Street store was a showcase with a range of departments and boutiques. Cosmetics, handbags and accessories could be found on the main floor, and there was a mirrored black-and-beige section devoted to four Italian luxury brand boutiques that included Valentino, Basile, Fendi, and Salvatore Ferragamo. There was a shop called Fabriano which carried imported jewellery from France and Italy, and a Neuhaus chocolate shop where sweets were flown in twice weekly from Brussels. An upscale stationery area featured a range of items, near a 5,500 square foot menswear department that included a casual fashion area called L’Uomo.
Former marble-clad Holt Renfrew facade on Bloor Street — the facade was updated in 2020. Photo: Holt Renfrew
The second floor of the store was dedicated to women’s fashions, including an area called ‘The Boutique’ which housed some of the priciest fashions in the city at the time. Designers in that department included the likes of Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Chloe and Versace in an area with plush carpeting and moody lighting. The second floor was also home to women’s designer sportswear, Ports International (a popular Canadian brand at the time), dresses, suits, coats, and a fur salon.
The third floor featured a women’s department called Miss Renfrew, a boutique for brand Cacharel, gifts, a beauty salon, and a travel department called ‘First Class’. A children’s department featured a range of designer clothing in a space featuring a pink and blue colour scheme. There was a gourmet food shop and a restaurant next to it called the Fresh Market on the third floor as well — Holts sold foods from Fortum and Mason in London and Fauchon in France, along with a range of kitchen and home goods.
Holt Renfrew’s Bloor Street store on March 27, 2024. This new facade was completed in the fall of 2020. Photo: Craig Patterson
American parent company Carter Hawley Hale made the decision to open the large Toronto flagship store after recognizing the rapidly increasingly affluence in the city. Toronto was seeing a growth boom and Holts took the opportunity to grow its presence in the market — previously Montreal had been the retailer’s headquarters, but an economic decline in the province following issues over language laws led to Toronto becoming the centre of the country economically for the first time.
The Bloor Street store was by far the largest of Holts’ Toronto stores, with other locations in 1978 including Yorkdale Mall, Sherway Gardens and Fairview Mall. Holt Renfrew had 18 stores across Canada at the time — the company had entered the Vancouver market for the first time in 1975, and also had stores in Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City.
Prior to moving to 50 Bloor Street West in 1979, Holt Renfrew occupied several floors at 144 Bloor Street West — current retail tenants at 144 Bloor include a Burberry store facing Bloor Street, and a Nespresso store facing Cumberland Street. Offices are located upstairs, including Ink Entertainment.
Image: The Toronto Daily Star, Tuesday, September 6, 1955. Image retrieved from Newspapers.comFormer Holt Renfrew store at 144 Bloor Street West — Burberry is the main floor tenant (and is relocating). Photo: Craig Patterson Holt Renfrew store at 144 Bloor Street West in 1955. Photo: Architectural Conservatory Ontario
When Holt Renfrew opened at 144 Bloor Street West in September of 1955, it occupied the entire four upper levels and basement level of the building, spanning from Bloor to Cumberland Street. The Cumberland Street entrance featured a curved driveway for vehicles, with a marquee for weather protection. A small wooded parkette with a fountain at the centre was part of ‘Renfrew Walk’, as the tree-lined motor entrance was called.
144 Bloor was the first building in Canada with an exterior of stainless steel and glass, noted at the time to be similar to that of the United Nations Building in New York City. The Bloor Street building was considered to be state-of-the-art at the time, with air conditioning and a lack of columns throughout the store, with a 45-foot clear span supported by 27-inch steel girders. Recessed incandescent lighting was used throughout the retail space, which spanned about 32,000 square feet at the time.
Rendering of the Cumberland Street ‘Renfrew Walk’ at Holts 144 Bloor St. W. — Rendering from the 1955 newspaper ad above. An expansion in the 1970s saw the Cumberland Street side of the former Holt Renfrew store turned into a movie theatre, then a Nespresso store. Photo: Craig Patterson
The store featured a range of small departments ranging from hats to gourmet food — the crowded main floor had various departments from beauty to women’s shoes, and the third floor housed pricey garments in the ‘HR Boutique’. A luxurious Christian Dior salon was on the third floor, part of an exclusive arrangement Dior had with Holts in Canada at the time. Other departments included a children’s shop, footwear, sportswear, a Monster Marcel beauty salon, menswear and others.
Holt Renfrew advertisement, showcasing the Yonge/Adelaide storefront 90 years ago. Former Holt Renfrew building at 118 Yonge Street in 2012 — the building was decommissioned and its facade was rebuilt half a block north. Photo: Google Street ViewHolt Renfrew’s former 118 Yonge facade has been incorporated into a new development at Yonge and Temperance Streets, next to where Holts once operated. Photo: Google Street View
Prior to opening on Bloor Street, Holt Renfrew’s Toronto operations were in a building at the corner of Yonge and Adelaide Streets (118 Yonge St.) in what is now the Financial District. That store opened in 1910 and served the Toronto market for about 45 years (the building’s facade was shockingly turned sideways, moved half a block north and incorporated into a new office development several years ago with SUD as a main tenant). Prior to that, Holt Renfrew operated nearby at 71-73 King Street East from 1889-1910.
Basement level cosmetics hall at Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor Street West. Years ago, this was a men’s floor with a cafe. Photo: Craig Patterson Main floor of Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. W., on March 27, 2024. Main floor of Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. W., on March 27, 2024.Main floor of Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. W., on March 27, 2024.
The 50 Bloor Holt Renfrew store has seen expansions and renovations over the years — a basement level was added that was dedicated to menswear and a cafe, and a mezzanine level was added in the early 2000s for women’s footwear. Further space was added in 2006 by annexing an adjacent retail space on Bloor Street formerly occupied by Eddie Bauer. Holt Renfrew currently occupies 190,000 square feet at 50 Bloor Street West.
A standalone 16,000 square foot men’s store, branded Holt Renfrew Men, opened in September of 2014 at 100 Bloor Street West. Construction is now underway on the third floor of the 50 Bloor Holt Renfrew store for a new men’s store that will open before the end of the year. That will coincide with the closure of the 100 Bloor standalone men’s store.
Current Holt Renfrew Men’s store at 100 Bloor Street West — the store will be closing before the end of the year to relocate back into the main 50 Bloor Holts store. Photo: Craig Patterson
The 50 Bloor Street West Holt Renfrew store has seen some substantial updates recently, including a new facade that was added in the fall of 2020. The circa 1979 white marble facade, which was starting to show its age, was replaced with a beige stone expanse that dominates the north side of Bloor Street (see photos above in this article). The store’s interior has also been updated substantially — in the spring of 2019, the basement level was converted to a beauty hall, and the main floor was updated before the pandemic with new luxury concessions. The women’s second level designer floor was updated during the pandemic with new Chanel, Celine and Gucci boutiques, the mezzanine restaurant was updated, along with the shoe hall, and now the third floor is under construction for Holt Renfrew Men as well as women’s contemporary fashions.
Second floor of Holt Renfrew at 50 Bloor Street West — Gucci and Celine opened beautiful new concession spaces in 2022. Photo: Craig Patterson Second floor of Holt Renfrew at 50 Bloor St. W. Second floor of Holt Renfrew at 50 Bloor St. W.
When the 85,000 square foot store opened in 1979, it was considerably larger than Holt Renfrew’s other Canadian stores at the time. The Montreal store on Sherbrooke Street was about 34,000 square feet over four levels, and the Vancouver store at Pacific Centre was about 32,000 square feet. The Montreal store was eventually expanded to about 65,000 square feet and the Vancouver store to about 68,000 square feet, before the company began to implement a Neiman Marcus-like ‘superstore’ strategy.
That ‘superstore’ location opening began with the construction of a 137,000 square foot Vancouver store in 2007 (now 180,000 square feet with an expansion), which was followed by a 150,000 square foot replacement store in downtown Calgary in 2009. In 2012, Holts substantially expanded its Yorkdale store (now about 130,000 square feet), and in 2017 it relocated its CF Sherway Gardens store to a 140,000 square foot space at Square One in Mississauga. Most recently, in 2019, Holt Renfrew opened a 250,000 square foot Montreal storefront on Ste-Catherine Street, rebranding the Ogilvy department store that had operated there for generations.
‘Studio’ shopping area on the second floor of Holt Renfrew at 50 Bloor St. W. — until the early 2000s, this was a luxury women’s fashion area called ‘HR Boutique’. Photo: Craig Patterson Mezzanine level of Holt Renfrew at 50 Bloor St. W., including women’s footwear and a Delveaux boutique. Future men’s store under construction on the third floor of Holt Renfrew at 50 Bloor St. W.
The 50 Bloor Holt Renfrew store has a lot of history — many splashy parties have been thrown in the store, and some of the wealthiest and best-known people in the world have passed through its doors. The store has carried some of the world’s leading fashion designers and hosted them in-store, with TV show Fashion Television sometimes profiling the glamorous events. The store has gone through various renovations and expansions to where it is today, and its future is opportunistic as the area continues to build a clustering of wealth residentially, while attracting visitors from the region and beyond.
The Galleria brand is looking for potential sites of 3,000 to 20,000 square feet in markets such as Aurora/Newmarket, London, Markham, Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Waterloo and Toronto.
Matthew John Pieszchala
Matthew John Pieszchala, Vice President at CBRE Canada, which is representing the brand in its expansion, said the brand originally began as Korea Food Trading and has been around since the 1980s.
“Along with doing the wholesale to major grocery stores for Korean specific products they eventually ended up opening a retail store in Thornhill, Vaughan,” he said. “That store which was their first ever store has since closed and they opened another one in the same area (at Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue). That one actually got expropriated and we just helped them buy a plaza in the same intersection that they’re going to terminate the Toys R Us and put their new brand in,” said Pieszchala.
“Started in the wholesale business, got into the retail business, Korean based products, they supply grocery stores and now they’re expanding their retail footprint across the province of Ontario to start.”
Pieszchala said the smallest store is 1,500 square feet with the largest being 35,000 square feet.
“We’re hoping to do one to two (new) stores a year,” he said.
“The site selection and the size is heavily driven by their key demographics- where their key demographics, which is number one Korean population and number two would be Chinese, and where those demographics live they will open larger stores. Think Richmond Hill. Think Markham. Think Thornhill. Those types of areas.”
Galleria Supermarket Eglinton (Image: Galleria)
“And where they’re going to open smaller footprint stores is the Yonge and Eglington, the Queen West, urban stores that have less of their demographic like their key Korean and Chinese demographic but still have a heavy foot population and the theory here is that they’re actually pulling customers off of the street versus relying on their key demographic driving to them.”
“It’s a two phased approach as to why they’re opening urban ones. Number one is obviously they want to make money as a retail store as everyone does but the underlying piece to it is also to create brand awareness and Korean-based products in general because the more their non-dominant customer eats and likes Korean-based products the more they’re going to order them from their larger stores, from their online distribution and then also through the major grocery banners that their grocery stores supply to.”
Galleria Supermarket at 7040 Yonge Street (Image: Humbold Properties)
Pieszchala said expansion plans are all in Ontario right now to start but they have been out to Calgary to look at real estate. That is being put on hold for now but will be revisited eventually.
“Right now the focus is on southern Ontario,” he said.
Retail Insider’s Craig Patterson interviews Christina Morrow, Founder at Vancouver-based Wicked Rose, about Morrow’s journey of creating a groundbreaking women’s martial arts activewear brand. Morrow shares her personal motivation, driven by the lack of suitable clothing options for women in martial arts, which led her to develop a brand that combines high quality, performance-oriented apparel with size inclusivity up to 5XL. Morrow’s six-year experience in Muay Thai, and her dissatisfaction with existing offerings, inspired her to research and eventually create a line of activewear that caters specifically to women’s needs in martial arts.
Morrow discusses the unique design challenges and solutions Wicked Rose offers, like the introduction of non-see-through spats with high waistbands to ensure comfort and functionality during intense training sessions. Morrow’s approach involved meticulous product development, including gathering feedback from the martial arts community and incorporating innovative design elements to address common issues faced by women in martial arts. Her collaboration with a tattoo artist friend brings a unique aesthetic to the brand, making it stand out in a market saturated with generic designs.
The conversation concludes with Morrow’s future ambitions for Wicked Rose, including its upcoming Kickstarter campaign aimed at broadening the brand’s reach and introducing sustainable practices in activewear production. They touch upon the potential expansion into retail and the vision of establishing Wicked Rose as a globally recognized activewear brand founded on principles of empowerment, innovation, and inclusivity.
SAJO – Canada’s first specialized retail builder. Visit SAJO to see their holistic approach and transdisciplinary team to explore and understand your needs.
If you prefer to listen to the audio version, it is available below:
The Interview Series audio podcasts by Retail Insider Canada are available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Also check out our The Weekly audio podcast where Craig and Lee discuss popular content published on Retail Insider which is part of the The Retail Insider Podcast Network.
Subscribe, Rate, and Review our Retail Insider Podcast!
Drop us a line at Craig@Retail-Insider.com. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!
Background Music Credit: Hard Boiled Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The anticipated opening of The Ballroom Bowl in Yorkville is finally here and will deliver a luxurious bowling experience. Guests can expect traditional bowling with a modern upscale twist and the space will have eight state-of-the-art bowling lanes including two VIP lanes. The space will not just be used for bowling, but for social gatherings such as corporate events, team building events, and birthday parties. The company also has plans to expand in the future with locations within the GTA, outside of Ontario, and in the United States.
The first location opened in Toronto in 2010 located on John Street in the city’s Entertainment District, and is a popular destination within the city. The Ballroom Bowl is not just about enjoying pastime, but modernizing bowling to be an experience resonating with Toronto.
“If you had told us that we were going to get this kind of opportunity to move into these kinds of locations, I wouldn’t have believed it – I still actually can’t believe it. It is something very different and there is nothing else like this in Canada,” says Paul Donato, President and CEO of The Ballroom Bowl.
The Ballroom Bowl will also be adding a third location at Dundas Square, on the third level of ‘The Tenor’ at 10 Dundas Street East, and will be opening for November.
New location, different feel
Ballroom Bowl Yorkville (Image: Adrian Ozimek)
Each location has a different concept and will match the feel and vibe of its surrounding neighbourhoods.
The first location on John Street is described as having an “old warehouse” feel, the Yorkville location given the neighbourhood will have an upscale concept and Donato says “visitors won’t believe it when they see it, and the Dundas location will have a very industrial look with “a lot of steel, wood, and will be open concept – It will be really neat and different from the other locations.”
The new Yorkville location design was from mcCallumSather, a Hamilton-based design firm, and guests can experience a “sophisticated leisure-inspired aesthetic.”
Each location will allow returning guests to have a different experience with the same services and people should try all three locations once they are all open.
“I get goosebumps just talking about this because I can’t believe it myself. We are very fortunate, very lucky, and very proud. Year after year, you just watch the bowling balls go down the lanes at the John Street location and we are just really proud – it has really been a well kept secret that is obviously getting out there now and that is okay. There is also a lot of room for growth in the bowling industry in Canada, and I am just very excited to be part of that.”
“Canada has forgotten about bowling”
Paul Donato at Ballroom Bowl Yorkville (Image: Adrian Ozimek)
Donato says Canada has “forgotten about bowling” in the last decade and says he is bringing it back as it brings people together, especially when it is needed the most during difficult times.
“With our different cultures, Canada is so diverse and when you go into The Ballroom Bowl on a Saturday or Friday night – it is just people. It is the United Nations and everybody loves it. You might not want to go out on a Friday night, but when you chuck that first rock down the lane, it is a different mindset. You can have a nice cold beer, a nice martini, and some nice food – it is just fun and is really for everyone.”
Aside from the bowling, The Ballroom Bowl treats guests as they would like to be treated and provides an atmosphere where people can let go and have fun.
Social Events
Ballroom Bowl Yorkville (Image: Adrian Ozimek)Ballroom Bowl Yorkville (Image: Adrian Ozimek)
All three locations have space for social events such as corporate events, team building, birthday parties, charitable events, and even bridal parties.
“The team building is constant. So Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, the bowling lanes are always busy. And starting soon, you have Bank of Montreal coming in to do a team building event, like it is just constant and we believe that will continue at Yorkville and the Dundas locations as well. There is only so much space in the city to put bowling lanes in and it is not easy to find, and I don’t think we are saturating the market. The team building in the corporate events are a big part of the company.”
Donato says with the Yorkville location, he thinks a lot of birthday parties for kids will be hosted there. “If I am a kid living around the corner – this will be a top destination.”
“I would like to have expanded yesterday”
Future Ballroom Bowl at 10 Dundas in Toronto (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
Currently, Donato says he is working on his biggest deal right now, but unfortunately couldn’t announce the location yet.
When looking for future locations, Donato says the brand is looking to keep it simple and look for places that are mixed in with some great companies: “It is a pretty wide open map in the GTA and other areas to set up The Ballroom Bowl.”
The Yorkville location will be surrounded by Nike, Scotiabank, Mango, and Altea Active while the future Dundas location will be around the Hard Rock Cafe and Shake Shack.
Alex Edmison of CBRE negotiated the lease deal on behalf of Ballroom and is representing the brand nationally for any potential future location expansions.
The Ballroom Bowl John Street (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
Outside of Ontario, Montreal and British Columbia are two areas Donato mentions for possible expansion locations and expressed he would have liked to expand to these locations “yesterday.”
Donato also wants to take The Ballroom Bowl internationally by expanding it into the United States. The company was planning to expand into Nashville, Tennessee back in 2013 and although this never happened, Donato is now looking into the US for future growth opportunities.
“Our second store was planned in Nashville in 2013, and I still have the work sitting in my files. I travel extensively throughout North America looking for opportunities and checking out everything that is going on in the marketplace, and you can go anywhere with the ballroom. We would have loved to be in Montreal yesterday, we would have loved to be in British Columbia yesterday, and we have the opportunities that are present. The reality is, there is so much to do in my own backyard first.”
The Ballroom Bowl Yorkville (Image: The Ballroom Bowl)The Ballroom Bowl Yorkville (Image: The Ballroom Bowl)The Ballroom Bowl Yorkville (Image: The Ballroom Bowl)The Ballroom Bowl Yorkville (Image: The Ballroom Bowl)The Ballroom Bowl Yorkville Grand Opening March 28, 2024 (Image: The Ballroom Bowl)The Ballroom Bowl Yorkville (Image: The Ballroom Bowl)Alex Edmison and Paul Donato at The Ballroom Bowl Yorkville Grand Opening (Image: The Ballroom Bowl)
