Season 3, Episode 1: Changes Coming to Toronto and Vancouver Luxury Retail Districts

Date:

Share post:

This week, Craig & Lee return for 2021 and discuss Vancouver’s Alberni Street “Luxury Zone” and Toronto’s Bloor Street “Mink Mile” for recent announcements of openings/closures.

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.

Discussed this episode:

  1. Luxury Brand Thom Browne to Open 2nd Canadian Storefront in Vancouver
  2. BRIEF: SEE Eyewear Exits Canada, LCBO Scores Coveted Corner Mink Mile Retail Space
  3. BRIEF: GAP Shuts All 3 Mink Mile Stores
  4. Luxury Multi-Brand Retailer ‘The Webster’ to Open 1st Canadian Store in Toronto’s Yorkville Neighbourhood
  5. German Skiwear Brand Bogner Opens ‘Winter Boutique’ on Toronto’s Mink Mile
  6. Major Optical Chain Secures Mink Mile Space at the ‘Best Retail Corner in Canada’

RETAIL INSIDER MALL TOURS:

Subscribe, Rate, and Review our Retail Insider Podcast!

Follow Craig:

Follow Retail Insider:

Listen & Subscribe:

Share your thoughts!

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/

1 COMMENT

  1. 2021 will be a disaster for retailers in North America. I’m seeing stores that opened a year or two ago go dark in the Boston, Philadelphia and Washington DC left and right. I know that the CELINE, Berluit and GIVENCHY store openings at Copley Place have been scraped and the brands will instead open shop in shop at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue in the same mall. I’ve always believed that not all brands need their own stores.

Comments are closed.

RELATED ARTICLES

Load more

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required

RECENT articles

Leon’s Turns to Financing and Promotions as Canadian Shoppers Remain Cautious

Leon's Furniture says customer financing helped lift average basket values during the third quarter of 2026. The retailer is preparing for an important November promotional period while Canadian shoppers remain cautious about major purchases and inventory delays continue.

Loblaw Targets Premium Pet Food Market with Reformulated President’s Choice Line

Loblaw is reformulating its President’s Choice Nutrition First dry pet food portfolio with specialized diets and advertised savings against selected premium brands. The move brings grocery private label into closer competition with Canadian specialty retailers including Pet Valu.

Crombie REIT Expands Grocery-Anchored Portfolio with $350 Million in Canadian Retail Acquisitions

Crombie REIT is pursuing approximately $350 million in acquisitions involving 28 Canadian retail properties, including 13 in Ontario. The expansion will increase its grocery-anchored holdings as the landlord reports strong leasing conditions, advances new developments and sells weaker shopping centres.

Daily Synopsis: November 11, 2026

Canadian textile maker eyes US production amid tariffs, RBC names Loblaw top stock pick, Toronto Valu-Mart grocery store shutting, storing holiday cash concerns for retailers, and other news.

Canada Lost Its Department Stores. Did It Have To?

Writing from South Africa, Lee Rivett examines why Canada's department stores disappeared while leading shopping centres continue to thrive. From David Jones and Edgars to Simons' expansion, the column considers what retailers and landlords can learn.

Maybelline updates iconic tagline as part of global brand repositioning (Video)

Maybelline New York is introducing a revised version of its 1991 tagline alongside a global campaign featuring brand ambassador Miley Cyrus, with a focus on confidence and self-expression.

Article to open new furniture stores in Austin and Atlanta in 2027

Vancouver-based furniture retailer Article plans four new stores in 2027, including locations in Texas and Georgia, as it expands its physical retail presence across North America.

Retail Insider “Q3 2026 Jewellery & Accessories Report”: Physical Investment Needs a Defined Purpose

Jewellery retailers are investing in services, flagships, partnerships and fulfilment rather than store counts alone. Retail Insider’s Q3 report examines how defined commercial roles and uneven financial results shape those decisions.

SteMargScot Opens Toronto Flagship, Showcasing Canadian Fashion and Natural-Fibre Brands

Canadian outerwear brand SteMargScot has opened a flagship boutique at 1412 Dundas Street West in Toronto, featuring independent Canadian makers and Simply Merino's first Toronto micro-store. Founder Sasha Jardine discusses the multi-brand concept, domestic manufacturing and Canadian wool industry challenges.

Former McDonald’s Canada Executive Expands Franchise Business with New Yorkdale Restaurant

Former McDonald’s Canada executive Jonathan Greenway has opened a new restaurant at Yorkdale Shopping Centre after acquiring his first McDonald’s in Scarborough in June. He is planning a third Toronto restaurant in Riverside for spring 2027.

Apple’s Historic Montreal Flagship Property Sells for $51.9 Million Following Major Restoration

The historic Montreal building housing Apple's newly opened Sainte-Catherine store has sold for a reported $51.93 million to Deka Immobilien. The transaction follows extensive construction and heritage restoration by SAJO and concludes nearly 25 years of Gindi family ownership.

The Quebec Gap in Google Shopping That Canadian Retailers May Be Missing

Canadian retailers advertising nationally through Google Shopping may be overlooking French-language search opportunities in Quebec. With 82% of Quebec adults shopping online in 2025, expert Joshua Uebergang examines product-feed language, advertising visibility and practical steps retailers can take.

Daily Synopsis: November 10, 2026

Fresh Prep gets court approval to acquire Goodfood, Crmobie plans real estate expansion, Costco opens Windsor store this month, Langley Fresh St. Market named top medium-sized independent grocery store, and other news.

Danish Footwear Brand glerups Opens Its Only Global Store in Toronto

Danish footwear brand glerups has opened its only currently operating standalone store at 787 Queen Street West in Toronto. Longtime Canadian distributor Tin Shack is using the location to build consumer awareness, support wholesale partners and gather direct customer feedback.

Royal Bank Plaza Marks 50th Anniversary with Chef Craig Wong Food Court Takeover

Royal Bank Plaza is celebrating its 50th anniversary with Tray Chic, a two-week culinary collaboration featuring chef Craig Wong and five restaurants at The Eatery in downtown Toronto.

Retail Insider “Q3 2026 Books & Specialty Report”: Physical Reach Needs Repeat Spending

Collectibles, books and entertainment brands are widening physical distribution through stores and partnerships. Retail Insider’s Q3 report examines why opening attention must develop into repeat purchases and sustainable location economics.

Andriani Marks First Anniversary of $55M Canadian Manufacturing Facility in London, Ontario

Italian food innovator Andriani marks one year of Canadian manufacturing in London, Ontario, with a $55-million investment and plans for North American growth.

Canadian Retailers Face Cautious Holiday Shoppers and Inventory Risks Ahead of Black Friday 2026: Hennick

With Canadian holiday spending expected to fall 14%, retail expert Alex Hennick discusses Black Friday trends, consumer price sensitivity and inventory management challenges heading into 2027.

Pet Valu sees Q3 revenue reach close to $300 million

Pet Valu opened 7 new stores and ended the quarter with 882 stores across the network.

Visualping Study Finds One-Third of Canadian Black Friday Deals in 2025 Were Cheaper Earlier in the Season

Visualping’s 2025 analysis of 2,500+ products reveals misleading Black Friday discounts at Canadian retailers, with some items costing 37% more than their earlier seasonal lows.