In the last two years, the Prairie Mall in Grande Prairie, Alberta, has set a scorching pace of adding new retailers to the popular shopping centre.
And for good reason.
The Grande Prairie Primary Trade Area is growing and includes about 110,000 people but the mall believes that number is likely much larger. There’s a young, affluent and captive market with a median age of 33. And the average household income is close to $130,000.
Those are all good demographics for mall owner Morguard Investments which has been able to attract national and international brands to the northwestern Alberta city. Prairie Mall has about 100 stores and services in 278,255 square feet.
Kelly Pekalski, Senior Manager, Retail Leasing, with Morguard Investments, said the mall, which is the largest indoor shopping centre in northwestern Alberta, is performing at about $682 sales per square foot.
CLICK FOR MAP OF PRAIRIE MALL SHOPPING CENTRE
“We were able to secure a few key national retailers about 18 months ago and that just led to a lot of growth in terms of bringing great, strong national brands to Grande Prairie. Albertans love national brands, especially Grande Prairie. The response from tenants is that they’re super happy with their sales here,” said Pekalski.
In the fall of 2017, the mall welcomed Marshalls (24,000 square feet), Ardene (17,000 square feet) and Urban Planet (21,700 square feet) in the former Target space.
More stores followed in 2018: Sephora (4,000 square feet, August); Saje Natural Wellness (1,330 square feet, October); Lululemon (4,000 square feet, November); and Starbucks (1,500 square feet, November).
INSIDE PRAIRIE MALL SHOPPING CENTRE ALL PHOTOS: MORGUARD
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This year Quarks opened in April; Eclipse in June; Mountain Warehouse in July; and Laura will open in November. Poko Popcorn will also open this fall.
Pekalski said a Purdy’s store will open in February 2020 and a Warehouse One will be opening in March 2020.
The mall is currently about 92 per cent leased.
“Hopefully we’ll have a few more nationals to announce but nothing I can officially announce at this time,” she said.
The demographics are a key to attracting retailers to the mall.
PHOTO: BEACHAMP PHOTOGRAPHY VIA PRAIRIE MALL FACEBOOK
“Even when Alberta’s down, which it is as we know, the whole economy may be down as well but it starts from such a higher threshold. The PTA average household income is at the $130,000 per year. So when you start from there if you’re off call it 10 per cent there’s still enough of a disposable income that our retailers see positivity and see growth in a market like that,” added Pekalski.
“And in the secondary trade area the average household income is about $115,000. Over 80 per cent of the population is under the age of 45. That’s a huge factor. Grande Prairie’s such a young demographic. People move there just to work. We’re not just reliant on oil and gas. It’s obviously important. But there’s a strong health-care hub, forestry. It’s not just a one-horse town per se.”
The Prairie Mall also has a pop-up program in place.
“Morguard overall has a really great pop-up program. We have a pop-up program at the mall that has been really, really well received especially in smaller markets like this where they don’t have the exposure to sometimes some of the more unique brands. It got leased up really, really quickly,” said Pekalski.
Exterior of L.L.Bean first Canadian store at Oakville Place. Photo: George Pimentel
Eileen Halpin-Tarrant has a career in retail that dates back to June 5, 1984 and over those years she’s experienced massive changes in the industry.
“It’s obviously a completely different world considering we didn’t have the connectivity and accessibility to the degree that we do now. Especially when considering online shopping and Amazon. The landscape has drastically changed in how retailers view shopping centres and retail space – and ultimately how much space they need,” said Halpin-Tarrant, who is President – Client Services, Broker of Record (Ontario) / Managing Broker (British Columbia) with Oberfeld Snowcap Realty, Brokerage.
“Bricks and mortar retail has to be much more ‘promotional’ today to get consumers’ attention. We are seeing trends that many retailers are perpetually on sale. This tactic is understandable given that consumers have instant access to price comparisons and convenience via online shopping. You’ve got to really be focused on continuously implementing sales promotions to gain and hold traction,” she said.
EILEEN HALPIN-TARRANT
“It’s a different experience for the customer today. The retail environment is much more “experiential”. Consumers typically still want to touch and feel the products before buying them, however getting them in the doors is now one of the core challenges to the industry. Before online shopping took off, it seemed like you would just open your doors and in came the customers. Now, you really have to speak to them at every level – and that means retailers that are emphasizing omni-channel marketing are reaping the benefits.”
“This extends to the landlords now as well. Certainly, malls and shopping centres are increasingly positioned as their own brands with distinct omni-channel marketing schemes. It’s not enough today to simply be a well-positioned mall with a strong lineup of retailers. Major landlords have marketing teams (that are winning awards for their work) dedicated to connecting to consumers and occupying space in their minds as the best places to live, shop, work, and play. Remember Yorkdale’s seemingly viral “Fashion Santa?”, or how about celebrity meet-and-greets at major malls? Today, retailers increasingly rely on landlords to drive traffic and develop centres that remain competitive, especially as shopping options for consumers continue to expand.”
“At the end of the day, the customer is really the one running the show. If you don’t speak to them and you don’t give them what they’re looking for, then they’re on to the next one – whether that’s the next mall, the urban street-front locations, or online shopping mediums. The loyalty factor is gone. There’s not as much attachment to brands as there once was, that’s for sure.”
PHOTO: MATT & NAT
Halpin-Tarrant’s first position in the retail real estate industry was with Bramalea Limited, in the shopping centre division. She started in an entry level position and progressed to the role of Leasing Manager where she focused on the leasing of various shopping centres in their portfolio at the time, including Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Scarborough Town Centre, as well as the Halifax Shopping Centre redevelopment, to name a few.
Then in 1993, she went to work at Burnac Leaseholds as Director of Leasing responsible for various properties throughout Atlantic Canada and Ontario. After spending five years there, she went to SMARTCentres where she was Vice President, Leasing for six years.
Halpin-Tarrant has now been with Oberfeld Snowcap for the past 15 years.
Despite the massive evolution in the retail industry in recent years with the explosion of online shopping, bricks and mortar remain a key part of a retailer’s success, she says.
PHOTO: SHOPPERS DRUG MART VIA FACEBOOK
“It’s changed. Typical footprints for retailers at 20,000 square feet for instance now may only be 10,000 square feet. Retailers are required to do more with less space to remain profitable. The number of locations has changed too. Certain retailers potentially don’t need as many locations. Many brands now take the ‘storefront-as-showroom approach.” said Halpin-Tarrant.
“If landlords are open to negotiating – and I find they are more than ever right now – retailers can find favourable deals with major landlords when they position themselves as first-to-market concepts that need incubation. You typically see this with online concepts who want to go to bricks and mortar, and that’s what we need more of to keep the shopping centres unique and on trend. We need landlords to continue to be creative with options for these brands.”
Halpin-Tarrant says that landlords are also looking for alternative uses, and not just fashion, as much as it is still a dominant retailer in shopping centres. Entertainment, food and beverage, and unique offerings are trending as more alternative attractions in shopping centres to attract more people and increase their dwell time which is ideally then captured in the gross sales volumes of the shopping centres.
PHOTO: THE TEN SPOT VIA FACEBOOK
“Anything that’s unique, that’s experiential, that’s really where you’re going to see the trends in the future,” added Halpin-Tarrant.
She explained how shopping centres have evolved over the years simply because they had to. “They can’t stay static in this ever-changing world where online shopping has become more popular. They’ve evolved to offer more of a community place to gather versus just being a place to come and shop. We are seeing residential being added to shopping centres also in order to build traffic and add to that experience of shopping, dining, being entertained all within steps to your residence.”
“At the end of the day, we’re social creatures. We still want to get out there and be part of the experience. The landlords that design their centres towards that concept are the ones that are going to be successful,” she said.
PHOTO: CARREFOUR DE L’ESTRIE VIA FACEBOOK
Halpin-Tarrant has been on both sides of the retail real estate transaction – representing landlords and tenants.
What are the major differences between the two?
“It’s interesting because when I first started working on the brokerage side, and specifically the tenant advisory side, I felt like I wasn’t in control. When you’re on the landlord side, you’re the one making a decision on the merchandising mix of your centre, and you know that whatever happens that it was your call at the end of the day,” she said. “But on the tenant side, it’s definitely a different experience. Just after I joined Oberfeld Snowcap, I said to myself ‘I don’t know if I like this – I can’t make decisions for my client’. In reality, you’re the one that’s advising and bringing the parties together and by doing that, that’s how the decisions are made.”
“So it’s less about making decisions, and more about offering solutions. We’re finding the middle ground between both parties. At Oberfeld Snowcap, we’re facilitating the deal – driving both parties towards an end result with the right deal that works for everyone involved.”
Halpin-Tarrant said the appeal for her in working in this industry is the realization that she, and those who work in the field, are instrumental in helping retailers grow their brand across the country.
“I’ve always had the mindset when providing advice to our clients as if it was my own business. The recommendations that I put forward are always based on the question – ‘what would I do here?’. To me, when you see your clients go from store one to store 100, that’s exciting. That has been a core motivation which has translated into a love for what I do,” she said.
“Today, the foundations of that motivation are still there, but the goals have evolved for me. I have always been proud and focused on building a strong team at Oberfeld Snowcap. We have some of the best people in the industry who have a passion for what they do and for the success of our clients. I’m now more focused than ever on passing my experience on to others. At this point in my career, that feels right to me – sharing my knowledge, and witnessing those around me grow. That inspires me!”
*Oberfeld Snowcap is a valued partner of Retail Insider. To work with Retail Insider, email: craig@retail-insider.com
In the past, store display units followed a simple pattern for attracting a customer’s attention. They would see marketing material for a piece of merchandise next to the merchandise itself — a tried-and-true technique.
Vertical Vendor takes that same concept and expands on it. The display uses a calibrated spring and advanced injection-moulded air-flow system to provide convenience for customers and employees alike. When a customer removes an item, Vertical Vendor automatically elevates the remaining stock to replace it.
In Europe, brands such as Coca Cola, Heineken, Corona and Carlsberg are using vertical vendors with great success.
In other words, Maple Leaf Displays’ new product has clear value for a variety of companies. The introduction of these displays has shown to increase sales by up to 35% or more, a substantial boost for any business owner. Marketers in Canada have already taken notice, and they’re naturally curious about the display’s capabilities.
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It has obvious appeal for convenience store owners who must adapt to expanded beer and wine sales. They’ll efficiently manage their inventory of alcohol, meeting the demands of customers while taking the pressure off employees. Vertical Vendor has a broad spectrum of benefits for various individuals.
A customer may fail to notice a new product if there’s nothing to distinguish it from other merchandise. A colourful, eye-catching sign can quickly draw the attention of that customer and make them momentarily pause. It’s a simple method for moving products, and Vertical Vendor builds on its success.
Vertical Vendor’s compact shape allows for flexible placement. The business owner can maneuver their display depending on sales activity or a specific campaign. If they have to rebrand Vertical Vendor for a new promotion, they can adjust its appearance in a short amount of time.
In summary, this recent release from Maple Leaf Displays Inc. is a notable advancement in point-of-purchase displays. With the product’s convenient design, high-grade metal composition, simplified mobility and adaptability, you’ll likely come across several Vertical Vendors in the next few years.
The point-of-purchase concept has seen many variations throughout its long history. With all these changes, the idea has remained the same: a simple formula which has proven its value for business owners. When you emphasize a product with a display, that product will see greater attention from your customers.
Kayla Matthews is a researcher, writer and blogger covering topics related to technology, smart gadgets, the future of work and personal productivity. She is the owner and editor of ProductivityTheory.com and ProductivityBytes.com. Previously, Kayla was a senior writer at MakeUseOf and contributing freelancer to Digital Trends. Kayla’s work on smart homes and consumer tech has also been featured on Houzz, Dwell, Inman and Curbed. Additionally, her work has appeared on Quartz, PRNewswire, The Week, The Next Web, Lifehacker, Mashable, The Daily Dot, WIRED and others.
Retailers: unlock your competitive advantage at Retail West on October 16th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
On October 16, Retail Council of Canada will present Retail West conference at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver. Don’t miss this full-day immersion into the latest trends, technologies and best practices in modern retail.
As Western Canada’s largest retail conference, Retail West will bring together more than 200 retailers, vendors, suppliers, thought leaders and decision makers from across Canada. The Full Agendawill inspire attendees with success stories and insights about how business is thriving in the Western market and on the national scene.
Retail West 2019
You’ll hear from companies such as Artizia, LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, Best Buy Canada, Kiaro, Muse Cannabis, Save-on-Foods, Westleaf Inc., Saje Natural Wellness, London Drugs, Urban Barn, House of Knives, Donnelly Group (Hobo), Rexall Pharmacy Group and Google Canada. Notable session topics will include:
Aritzia’s Sally Parrott provides the inside scoop on how Aritzia continues to defy the fashion industry and stay relevant with its customers.
LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics’ Peter Higgins discusses how today’s successful retail executives are changing their decision-making processes to design better business models.
Westleaf Inc.’s Adam Coates discusses how to create effective, emotionally driven brand experiences to increase retail sales.
Rexall Pharmacy Group’s Frank Monteleone presents the newest recruitment and retention strategies for retailers.
Saje Natural Wellness’s Janelle Shiplett and Christa Hull delve into what it takes to create personalized experiences in brick-and-mortar stores and digital platforms.
As part of a panel discussion, Save-On-Foods’ Dan Howe, Best Buy Canada’s James Pelletier, London Drugs’ Yvonne Anyon and Prospect Media Group’s Dave Mathews will chat about the flyer and essential integrated strategies to entice today’s consumer.
This conference will also feature an exhibitor floor, and ample opportunities for attendees to connect with vendors and suppliers between sessions and meal breaks.
The Tremblant Pedestrian Village is presenting a unique opportunity for retailers and restaurateurs to take advantage of a world-class, four-season resort that attracts 2.6 million visitors each year.
Tremblant Pedestrian Village, which is located in the heart of the Laurentian Mountains about a 90-minute drive from Montreal and Ottawa, is working with commercial real estate firm ’s leasing team for the resort, seeking to seize the opportunity to lease with world-class concepts to meet pent-up consumer demand and further unlock the village retail potential.
Tremblant is offering companies an excellent opportunity to position their brand at the footstep of an “immense opportunity.”
“I am absolutely thrilled to collaborate on a project of Tremblant’s scale and quality. The prime leasing opportunities, the level of client choice and the performance of its boutiques and restaurants make the Tremblant Pedestrian Village a privileged market,” said Manon Larose, Senior Vice President, Retail and the lead JLL broker on this project.
“There are opportunities for different restaurants, maybe some vegan offerings and some breakfast concepts. There are also some opportunities for new retail components. Boutiques. Well-known banners. Pop-up stores. To complete the entertainment component and add to what’s existing.”
Currently, there are about 75 boutiques, bars and restaurants at Tremblant with a casino, an on-site convention centre and 1,900 on-site accommodation units.
With the recent acquisition of the resort by Alterra Mountain Co. – one of America’s leading ski resort owners and operators – and the commercial portion of the resort by LaSalle Investment – a leading institutional investment management firm – the new ownership sees value in the optimization of the resort merchandising mix. Tremblant’s Pedestrian Village is a proven retail experience that has best-in-class property management and a track record of retail and restaurant success, said Larose.
What’s the appeal for a restaurant or retailer to set up shop in Tremblant?
“The quality of the site, which is exceptional,” explained Larose. “When people are visiting Tremblant, they are relaxing. They love to shop and experience the benefits of the fine dining and try the local activities. The quality of the site and the mood of the clientele that is over there. The exposure to some people who are coming from some worldwide destinations.”
Currently, the tenant mix in the pedestrian village is 46 per cent retail, 29 per cent food and beverage and 25 per cent hotel and accommodation.
“It is really appealing for tourists, families and locals as well as professionals because there’s a convention centre there. The diversity of activities is incredible – visitors can go skiing, water skiing, cycling, golfing all year long. The destination remains attractive during all four seasons as there are a lot of indoor activity offerings as well. So, in terms of retail, there are even some artificial intelligence components and craft activities. It’s really, really complete in terms of the offering,” said Larose.
Tremblant Pedestrian Village has several opportunities currently for businesses to move into the popular resort.
“I’m always open to different concepts because some people may have ideas I haven’t thought about,” said Larose about leasing the properties. “What I know I want to have is a vegan concept. A sit-down restaurant or a fast-casual vegan concept as a quick service restaurant because we know nowadays people are healthier and healthier, so this is something they are looking for.
“A breakfast offering is also something we do not have over there, so that’s another option. There is also room for two other restaurants. In terms of fashion, it could be well-known banners that you would find in other resorts like Whistler (B.C.) as an example. We are also thinking of having one location that could be a pop-up where you can welcome different retailers and rotate them throughout the year. Incubate some businesses as well. Those are some of the things we are looking for.”
After three years of anticipation, LVMH-owned French luxury brand Christian Dior has opened a massive flagship store on Toronto’s Mink Mile. It is now the largest Dior store in North America, by far, and is the first in the Western Hemisphere to feature the Dior home furnishings collection.
THE GROUND FLOOR WOMEN’S HANDBAG AND ACCESSORY AREA IN DIOR’S NEW FLAGSHIP AT THE COLONNADE IN TORONTO. PHOTO: KRISTEN PELOU
MAIN FLOOR, LOOKING TOWARDS A FRAGRANCE AREA. PHOTO: RETAIL INSIDER
MAIN FLOOR FRAGRANCE AREA. PHOTO: RETAIL INSIDER
Dior’s Colonnade flagship spans more than 13,300 square feet over two levels. The store initially appears unassuming when one enters the store from its Bloor Street entrance — the main floor of the store is 3,117 square feet, according to Morguard lease plans. The second level is something completely different, featuring soaring ceilings that include natural light from third-level windows that were incorporated into the flagship’s design. The second level spans 10,194 square feet according to lease plans, which means ascending up the store’s grand staircase is a must for anyone visiting the new store.
The stairwell itself is a showpiece, featuring a three-storey commissioned work by artist Ian Davenport that appears to be paint cascading from the walls down onto the floor, creating a puddle-like appearance. On the second floor, several of Dior’s handbags, placed near the artwork, also feature a similar design.
COMMISSIONED WORK BY ARTIST IAN DAVENPORT. PHOTO: RETAIL INSIDER
TOURING THE NEW BLOOR STREET DIOR FLAGSHIP WITH MIKE KEHOE, BROKER/OWNER OF CALGARY-BASED FAIRFIELD COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE. PHOTO: RETAIL INSIDER
The store’s main floor includes a range of handbags and accessories from the Dior brand, displayed in an open concept space. At the back of the first floor is a fragrance section with bottles displayed on metal shelving.
The sprawling second floor is divided into several departments, with a central atrium looking downwards toward the store’s main floor. Included are open-concept rooms for women’s ready to wear, women’s footwear salon, men’s ready-to-wear areas and a men’s footwear boutique. A selection of Dior jewellery can be found in a boutique area accessed from the women’s ready-to-wear area — the jewellery area faces windows overlooking busy Bloor Street, as well as the atrium overlooking the store’s main level.
WOMEN’S AREA. PHOTO: KRISTEN PELOU
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The new Bloor Street Dior is the first in the Western Hemisphere to also feature Dior’s home furnishings collection, and is one of only a handful of stores in the world to feature the line. A table set in the centre of the Dior Home department sets the tone, with home accessories along the walls.
Staff in the store said that a new personal shopping suite, with windows facing onto Bloor Street, will also open soon.
MEN’S AREA. PHOTO: KRISTEN PELOU
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The Colonnade was the first mixed-use building in Canada when it was erected in 1963. The building’s design by architect Gerald Robinson was influenced by the popular Brutalist movement of the 1950s and 1960s, and features large areas of exposed concrete and a mix of block patterns and sweeping Gothic curves. Other retailers in The Colonnade include Coach, Mulberry, a Prada flagship, Cartier, Black Goat Cashmere, Escada and Moncler. Toronto-based tabletop retailer William Ashley operates an impressive store in The Colonnade that includes a 1,077 square foot main level with a Teuscher of Switzerland chocolate boutique on its main level, with an additional 11,304 square feet upstairs. At one time The Colonnade was an enclosed shopping centre but has since morphed into a Bloor Street-facing retail building housing flagships for various high-end brands.
Dior is taking the Toronto market seriously with the opening of its impressive Bloor Street flagship, as well as two other boutiques in the city. Earlier this month, a Dior accessories boutique concession, spanning more than 1,000 square feet, opened inside Holt Renfrew’s flagship at 50 Bloor Street West. In October, Dior will also unveil a ‘World of Dior’ concession boutique at Holt Renfrew’s Yorkdale store, spanning about 3,800 square feet on one level. The Yorkdale Dior store, which will stand alongside recently opened ‘world of’ Fendi and Gucci storefronts, will carry Dior’s ready-to-wear for men and women as well as accessories and handbags. Holt Renfrew has also opened boutiques for Dior women’s footwear in its Bloor Street and Yorkdale stores.
[Above (2 slides): Construction plans for Dior’s Toronto flagship, obtained from a source involved in the project]
Construction plans for Dior’s Toronto flagship, obtained from a source involved in the projectConstruction plans for Dior’s Toronto flagship, obtained from a source involved in the project
Dior’s first standalone Canadian store, which spans 9,600 square feet over two levels, opened in the summer of 2015 in the historic Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The store occupies the prominent corner space of the hotel’s retail podium with frontage on both West Georgia Street as well as on Burrard Street. The Vancouver flagship was the largest Dior store in North America for more than four years, prior to the opening of the new Toronto flagship.
Inside Dior’s Vancouver flagship that opened in 2015. Photos: Dior
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Dior is also expanding its presence in the Montreal market as it prepares to open a boutique at Holt Renfrew Ogilvy in Montreal. Montreal’s Dior will span about 2,000 square feet on the street level of Holt Renfrew Ogilvy, joining a roster of world-renowned luxury brands that are opening one-by-one as an overhaul on the 250,000 square foot Holt Renfrew Ogilvy continues. In the spring of this year, Holt Renfrew Ogilvy unveiled a 25,000 square foot concourse-level beauty hall, as well as a 40,000 square foot men’s floor that houses 25 luxury brand concessions for some of the world’s most prestigious brands. Included on the men’s floor is a soon-to-open Dior men’s boutique that carries ready-to-wear as well as footwear and accessories. A women’s ready-to-wear boutique is said to be opening on the store’s third floor in several months.
Dior also operates concessions at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver, as well as at Saks Fifth Avenue in downtown Toronto. The ground-floor Dior concession at Holts Vancouver is expansive and includes a street-facing feature wall. In Toronto, the Saks Fifth Avenue flagship at CF Toronto Eaton Centre features a main floor Dior accessory boutique concession that we featured in Retail Insider when it opened in the spring of 2016, as well as a women’s ready-to-wear boutique on Saks’ third floor that stands alongside several other luxury brand boutiques.
DIOR’S CONCESSION AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE IN TORONTO. PHOTO: DIOR
DIOR READY-TO-WEAR BOUTIQUE AT SAKS TORONTO. PHOTO: DIOR
DIOR’S ACCESSORY CONCESSION AT HOLT RENFREW IN VANCOUVER. PHOTO: LEE RIVETT
Toronto’s ‘Mink Mile’, which spans from Yonge Street to the east and Avenue Road to the west, is seeing a transformation that places it amongst some of the world’s top luxury addresses. East of Dior, the Holt Renfrew flagship at 50 Bloor Street West is undergoing a transformation that includes renovated interiors, the addition of new luxury brand concessions, and a new facade for the first time since the store opened in 1978. Eataly, the Italian grocerant concept, is opening across the street in a couple of months at the overhauled Manulife Centre at 55 Bloor Street West. The southwest corner of Yonge and Bloor will see a tower spanning more than 1000 feet, courtesy of Mizrahi developments, that will include a flagship store for a soon-to-be-named retailer as well as a new Andaz hotel with more than 500 luxury condominium apartments above it. Landlord Morguard is updating its 60 Bloor Street West and 77 Bloor Street West office towers, both housing retail at the base. Menswear retailer Harry Rosen has been renovating its flagship at 82 Bloor Street West to include new shop-in-stores for luxury brands.
Other luxury brand flagships on the Mink Mile include a stunning Hermes flagship that opened in the fall of 2017, as well as flagships for Prada, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Burberry, MCM and others. The clustering of boutiques are expected to draw affluent locals as well as an ever increasing number of tourists visiting Toronto. Yorkville Avenue, a short walk north of Bloor Street West, is also seeing a transformation that includes new flagships for brands including Chanel, Brunello Cucinelli (its largest in North America), Versace, Off-White and, soon, Stone Island. Landlord First Capital Realty is in talks with several luxury brands, according to sources, to open storefronts on Yorkville Avenue as the street continues to see redevelopment. Dior was said to have been considering a retail space next to Chanel that once housed a Diesel flagship store before Dior secured its current space at The Colonnade on Bloor.
While Toronto currently boasts Dior’s largest flagship store in North America, the brand’s flagship on 57th Street in New York City will grow to become much larger next year. The current two-level store spans 8,000 square feet. A source at Dior says that the store will add three more levels by annexing space from the LVMH tower above — the expanded store will span a whopping 23,000 square feet when completed in 2020. Included will be departments for women’s and men’s ready-to-wear as well as a home furnishings department, a Dior high jewellery salon, and a Dior Café.
CONSTRUCTION HOARDING AT THE EXCHANGE TOWER IN TORONTO’S FINANCIAL DISTRICT. PHOTO: LADURÉE
Upscale French bakery and sweets maker Ladurée will open its second Toronto location in November this year in the heart of the city’s Financial District. It will be the fourth Ladurée location in Canada, after the company entered the country by opening a storefront in Vancouver about three and a half years ago.
Ladurée’s second Toronto location will be in the retail component of The Exchange Tower, part of a commercial centre that includes several skyscrapers that soar above the iconic King and Bay intersection. Ladurée will be located across from a Starbucks in a busy part of Toronto’s underground PATH pedestrian network.
The Exchange Tower Ladurée will measure about 680 square feet, according to Ladurée’s Canadian licensee Olesya Krakhmalyova. A signature macaron display will draw customers in, with a selection of about 14 flavours of macarons (including classic as well as seasonal varieties). An intimate seating area for 16 patrons will be found within, and several more seats will be included in a ‘macaron bar’ within the new retail space.
PHOTO: LADURÉE
PHOTO: LADURÉE
CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER PDF OF TORONTO’S ‘PATH’ PEDESTRIAN NETWORK.
Ms. Krakhmalyova explained that the new space was designed with a ‘contemporary touch’ to the classic Ladurée look. Given its location in a busy corporate setting, visitors to the new Exchange Tower Ladurée will be able to enjoy a business coffee break and consume other Ladurée items, including coffees/teas ‘to go’ — the retailer won’t divulge all of the details as to how the location will look, though we were told that the space’s Macaron Bar will be serving macarons, small sweet and savoury items and drinks.
Besides Ladurée’s signature macarons, the new Exchange Tower location will include a range of madeleines, financiers, loaf cakes, ice creams, Ladurée savoury quiches and salads ‘to go’, as well as coffees and teas ‘to go’, chocolates and a selection of Ladurée accessories for gift options. Given the location in the Financial District, Ladurée will be available for corporate orders and will provide a delivery service, according to Ms. Krakhmalyova.
YORKDALE MACARON BAR. PHOTO: LADURÉE
PHOTO: LADURÉE
PHOTO: LADURÉE
LADURÉE’S FIRST CANADIAN LOCATION ON ROBSON STREET IN VANCOUVER. PHOTO: LADURÉE
The contractor building out the space will be Elevate Build Inc., which is a new company that was founded by industry professional Paul M. Bélanger.
Ladurée entered Canada in March of 2016 when it opened a 1,100 square foot boutique and 23-seat tea salon at 1141 Robson Street in Vancouver. That was followed by a second Vancouver location in March of 2017 with the opening of a 500 square foot Ladurée concession (including an 18-seat tea salon) at Vancouver’s Holt Renfrew flagship, adjacent to the store’s overhauled 8,500 square foot women’s designer footwear salon. The Holt Renfrew location has since been converted to a ‘Ladurée carriage’ with the former location having made way for new footwear boutiques for luxury brands Chanel and Dior.
In December of 2018, Ladurée opened its first Toronto location at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre. The 1,185 square foot storefront is located across from luxury brands including Chloé, Mr. and Mrs. Italy and Saint Laurent. Ladurée’s Yorkdale storefront features a retail area as well as a 26-seat tea salon. Claudia Ravnbo designed the Yorkdale Ladurée, which was the first in the world to reflect a new design aesthetic with an interior inspired by the colonial style of the 18th century.
LADURÉE YORKDALE. PHOTO: LADURÉE
The pastel pink tea room is decorated with a white marble sales counter that is accentuated with gold lattice details and gold Lattice is also present on the walls of the salon. A Classic crystal chandelier contrasts with contemporary madeleine lights hanging from the ceilings, as well as the geometric marble tile flooring and velvet-accented furniture. The store’s soaring ceilings are dramatic with plaster ceiling treatments.
Ladurée opened a dedicated bakery space in Vancouver in the summer of 2018 to provide Ladurée’s Vancouver locations with fresh baked pastries. Chef Mickael de Monte relocated from Paris to Vancouver to run it. Ms. Krakhmalyova explained that bringing Chef Mickael to Canada was the next step in the progression of Ladurée’s Canadian operations.
A Toronto pastry laboratory is expected to open at some point as well, though there isn’t a specific timeline, according to Ms. Krakhmalyova. Thus, the new Toronto location will not yet offer croissants and other viennoiseries (baked goods), though that is expected to change at some point next year when a location is secured and operational.
Founded in Paris in 1862, Ladurée is best known for its double-decker macarons, selling over 15,000 of them daily. Many Ladurée locations also sell ice cream, sorbets, jams, chocolate and candy, as well as branded accessories. Ladurée was purchased by French business group Groupe Holder in 1993, expanding Ladurée from a handful of locations to dozens of boutiques in 27 countries, including several in the United States.
We’ll update this article with photos of the new Toronto Financial District Ladurée when it opens in November.
New York City-based men’s casual brand UNTUCKit, known particularly for its shirts that are meant to be worn untucked, has opened its fifth Canadian store in just 12 months as the retailer rapidly expands its operation across Canada. UNTUCKit operates stores in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton, and last week a second Toronto location opened at the highly productive Yorkdale Shopping Centre.
The Canadian expansion has already been a success — UNTUCKit’s top-selling store in the entire chain is at Toronto’s CF Sherway Gardens, which was its first to open in Canada in September of 2018 in a 1,565 square foot space. Hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky, who is an investor in UNTUCKit, attended the CF Sherway Gardens opening. Next month, Gretzky will also visit the West Edmonton Mall store — in the 1980’s he led the Edmonton Oilers to win four Stanley Cup championships.
After opening the CF Sherway Gardens store in September of 2018, UNTUCKit took time to observe the Canadian market before rapidly opening three other stores in the summer of 2019. That included stores at Ottawa’s CF Rideau Centre (June 2019), at West Edmonton Mall (July 2019), and at Calgary’s CF Market Mall (July 2019).
UNTUCKIT’S NEW YORKDALE STORE
UNTUCKit opened its Yorkdale Shopping Centre location last week in a 1,693 square space in a central corridor of the mall that will eventually include a first-in-the-world entertainment concept up the hall. The UNTUCKit store carries the full line of the brand’s men’s apparel. Over the past eight years, the brand says that it has expanded to offering 50 fit combinations and 13 product categories—ranging from T-shirts and polos to sports jackets, outerwear and pants.
Yorkdale Shopping Centre is Canada’s most productive shopping centre in terms of annual sales per square foot, according to Retail Council of Canada’s Canadian Shopping Centre Study. A 2019 Shopping Centre study will be released this fall, authored by Retail Insider’s Craig Patterson [Details Here].
Retail brokerage and consultancy Oberfeld Snowcap is representing UNTUCKit as it continues to expand further into Canada, under the direction of Rob Hart. Oberfeld Snowcap will be at the ICSC Toronto Conference this week in booth 1407 in the Main Hall of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
UNTUCKIT’S NEW YORKDALE STORE
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Last year, UNTUCKit launched an e-commerce platform for the Canadian market as well as a product fulfilment centre that is based in Toronto. Both were launched in anticipation of a cross-Canada expansion that will see numerous UNTUCKit stores open in various markets.
Oberfeld Snowcap is said to be in talks with landlords to open more UNTUCKit stores in Canada. The Vancouver market is one of the targets, and the Montreal region is also expected to see at least one location as the retailer moves into new provinces. Secondary markets such as Kitchener/Waterloo are also said to be targets for UNTUCKit, recognizing male demographics with a casual style and spending power. The Greater Toronto Area, boasting a population in excess of six million people, is expected to see at least one or two more store announcements as part of the expansion.
UNTUCKit’s expansion via direct-to-consumer storefronts is a trend becoming more common among brands of all price points. As a result, shoppers interact directly with the brand store that includes curated product and dedicated staff with specific product knowledge.
UNTUCKIT’S NEW YORKDALE STORE
Canada was UNTUCKit’s first market outside of the United States. In November of this year, the retailer will begin expanding into the United Kingdom where it will open two stores in London.
According to UNTUCKit’s website, the retailer currently has 75 stores in the United States and Canada, and the retailer is rapidly opening its direct-to-consumer stores in the United States, as well.
“You want to look good but these days everyone’s dressing casual. There isn’t a better way to do that than our product. People wear them to work because they look so neat. They don’t look sloppy,” said Chris Riccobono, one of the retailer’s founders and executive chairman, in an earlier interview with Retail Insider.
We’ll continue to report on UNTUCKit’s Canadian expansion as the retailer continues to open more stores.
The Midtown shopping centre (formerly ‘Midtown Plaza’) in the heart of Saskatoon has seen a significant impact following the launch of its new Midtown Common food hall in July.
The new food hall is unique with its location on the second floor of the mall in previous vacated space by retailer Sears.
Midtown is about 650,000 square feet anchored by Hudson’s Bay on one end and it used to be anchored by Sears at the other end. But Sears left in January 2018.
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PHOTO: LEE RIVETT
“We had an old food court. It had been there 25 years. We decided we would move it into Sears on the second level. It’s completely changed the shopping centre. People from downtown are the customers,” said Terry Napper, Regional Manager of Saskatchewan and Northern Alberta for Cushman Wakefield Asset Services which operates and manages Midtown.
“The sales are going through the roof. It’s extremely strong. We are just getting sales for August, they’re really good. For Saskatoon, it’s really, really positive.”
The old food court was on the lower level and Midtown has leased that space to Mountain Equipment Co-op, which will open a store next May.
INSIDE MIDTOWN’S NEW “MIDTOWN COMMON” ALL PHOTOS: LEE RIVETT
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INSIDE MIDTOWN’S NEW “MIDTOWN COMMON” ALL PHOTOS: LEE RIVETT
The new food hall is about 50,000 square feet with 16 vendors.
“The old food court used to do $1,700 a square foot (per year) and the new food hall will do somewhere between $2,200 and $2,400 a square foot. So quite an improvement really,” explained Napper, adding that the new food hall fills the previous empty space with a contemporary and welcoming gathering space illuminated by natural light, with comfortable seating, an inviting fireplace, and new and familiar food vendors.
“We believe that this beautiful new food hall will get the people of Saskatoon and surrounding areas excited about visiting Midtown,” he said.
The new food hall also includes 320 feet of floor-to-ceiling windows with views towards Riversdale and the South Saskatchewan River, 25 per cent more seating than the previous food court, a natural gas fireplace and communal tables that foster large gatherings as well as provide a space for smaller, intimate groups.
New tenants include Pi Co., KFC, MIA PASTA, Bourbon Street Grill and TCBY. Swedish fast-fashion retailer H&M will open a 23,000 square foot store at Midtown in the summer of 2020.
PHOTO: LEE RIVETT
PHOTO: LEE RIVETT
Napper said Midtown has recently opened The Shoe Company in about 4,500 square feet. A deal has been done with Bellissima Fashions which will open in early October. Another deal has been done with Shoppers Drug Mart which is currently in 8,000 square feet but will expand to 15,000 square feet to include its Beauty Boutique concept. That will open in November.
“Saskatchewan is the same as Alberta. The retail industry is tough right now. But sales were up in August. That’s a positive thing. But sales have been down most of the year,” said Napper.
“But I think we’ve turned the corner now in terms of sales. I’m expecting sales to increase between now and the end of the year. It depends on how we can continue to lease space and go forward.”
Cushman & Wakefield is among the largest real estate services firms with approximately 51,000 employees in 400 offices and 70 countries. In 2018, the firm had revenue of $8.2 billion across core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, valuation and other services.
This week Craig and Lee talk about Hermès Vancouver, The Brick and Cadillac Fairview Mall Investment.
The Weekly podcast by Retail Insider Canada is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
Sponsored by Oberfeld Snowcap: Founded 40 years ago, Oberfeld Snowcap is a full-service real estate and retail advisory firm that focuses on retail tenant representation, strategic planning, property and project leasing, as well as real estate investment sales.
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Tim Hortons ends Beyond Burger in Canada, except BC and Ontario
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