Josh Katz of RioCan Discusses The Well and Retail Developments in Toronto and Edmonton [Video Interview]

Date:

The Canadian Retail Landscape with Josh Katz: Trends, Growth, and Exciting Brand Expansions [Video Interview]

Share post:

Craig and Josh Katz, Assistant Vice President of Leasing at RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust, discuss Katz’s extensive career in commercial real estate, starting with his entry into the industry right before the 2008 financial crisis.

Katz highlights the resilience of certain retail categories and the innovative approaches taken by RioCan to navigate these challenging times, including the development of The Well in Toronto. This mixed-use project is a transformation of urban retail, offering a blend of necessity-based and unique retail experiences, including a significant focus on fitness and food tenants.

Katz also discusses RioCan’s strategies for future developments and leasing trends, including the move towards mixed-use projects and the importance of creating engaging retail environments that cater to community needs. The conversation touches on specific projects including 11 Yorkville Avenue, where Sweat and Tonic will be a tenant. They also discuss South Edmonton Common and the introduction of Chick-fil-A to the Edmonton market, showcasing RioCan’s proactive approach to reimagining retail spaces and enhancing consumer experiences. The interview concludes with a look at the broader implications of these strategies for the retail and commercial real estate industries.

Episode Sponsor: 

  • SAJO – Canada’s first specialized retail builder. Visit SAJO to see their holistic approach and transdisciplinary team to explore and understand your needs.
Youtube video

The Interview Series video podcasts by Retail Insider Canada are available through our Retail Insider YouTube Channel where you can subscribe and be notified when new video episodes are available.

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!

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/

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

RELATED ARTICLES

Load more

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required

RECENT articles

Modern Ambition Opens in Toronto’s Yorkville as Canadian Menswear Brand Plans National Expansion

Winnipeg-born premium menswear brand Modern Ambition has opened in Toronto’s Yorkville, with plans for over a dozen more stores across Canada.

Employment increases in accommodation and food services sector: Statistics Canada

Employment was little changed in June, but accommodation and food services led gains with 15,000 new jobs, Statistics Canada said.

65% of marketers say they have differentiation anxiety, new Cashew study finds

While AI has made content creation faster than ever, marketers say standing out has become significantly harder.

Inside Aritzia’s Expanding Store and Infrastructure Strategy

Aritzia’s latest filings reveal a larger retail platform taking shape across productive boutiques, major flagships, distribution and real estate.

Knix Founder Joanna Griffiths Steps Down After 14 Years as Nicole Tapscott Takes Leadership

Knix founder Joanna Griffiths is stepping down after 14 years, with Chief Commercial Officer Nicole Tapscott taking leadership as the Canadian retailer continues its expansion across stores, ecommerce and wholesale.

MTY Food Group to close 68 of its corporate locations in the coming months

MTY Food Group will close 68 corporate locations after a portfolio review, with an estimated $10 million to $12 million cost.

Montreal-based Richelieu Hardware sees 3.9% sales growth in Q2

Three acquisitions are adding $27 million in annual sales.

Costco Canada Sales Growth Moderates as Warehouse Expansion Continues

Costco Canada's June comparable sales growth slowed from earlier in the year, but the warehouse retailer continues to post healthy underlying gains while expanding its Canadian store network.

Daily Synopsis: Jul 9, 2026

Vestis opens Max Mara and Weekend stores in Vancouver, Dollarama growth could be expansive, Joseph Tassoni returns to The Well for immersive show, 7-Eleven marks 60 years of the Slurpee, and other news.

7-Eleven Canada Expands Slurpee Brand as Iconic Frozen Drink Turns 60

7-Eleven Canada marks Slurpee’s 60th anniversary with new packaged sodas, confectionery and promotions as the retailer expands its food and beverage strategy.

Aritzia Q1 Fiscal 2027 net revenue rises 43.4% to $951M

Canada net revenue increased 25.0% to $312.9 million, comprising 32.9% of net revenue.

Joseph Tassoni Returns to The Well With ‘Natural Authority’ Fashion Experience

Canadian designer Joseph Tassoni returns to The Well on Sept. 18 with his reimagined "Natural Authority" runway experience, blending fashion, technology, hospitality and philanthropy.

Honestly Good Chicken Fingers appoints Naomi Kempkes as President

Prior to her co-founding Honestly Good Chicken Fingers, she held leadership roles with several established restaurant brands, including Recipe Unlimited Corporation, The Burger’s Priest, Fionn MacCool’s and East Side Mario’s.

Vestis Expands with Max Mara’s Return to Oakridge Park

Vestis Fashion Group has reopened Max Mara and Weekend Max Mara at Oakridge Park, bringing exclusive collections to Vancouver and expanding its luxury retail footprint.

Beyond Store Growth: What’s Next for Dollarama?

Dollarama's future growth may come from convenience, consumables, deeper market penetration and logistics investments as the retailer expands beyond its store-count ambitions.

D Spot Dessert Café opens first American location in Dallas

The brand was founded in 2014 and has more than 55 locations across Canada.

Appliance industry innovating against its own customer

In a national poll of more than 5,600 consumers, smart and connected features ranked near the bottom of purchase drivers — and shoppers under 35 want them no more than their grandparents do. Long-term reliability and value dominate the decision.

Retail Insider “Apparel & Fashion Report”: Market Polarization Reshapes Canadian Apparel Retail

Retail Insider’s Q2 2026 Apparel & Fashion Report examines how premium brands, value retailers, resale concepts and specialists are reshaping Canadian apparel retail while mid-market chains face growing pressure.

Faubourg Contrecœur retail lineup now complete as Harden and Crombie sign Dollarama and McDonald’s

Dollarama will occupy approximately 9,726 square feet and McDonald’s approximately 3,046-square-feet.

Winners/HomeSense to open first Fort McMurray location at Parsons Creek Town Centre

The announcement follows the development of a new approximately 142,000-square-foot Walmart Supercentre at Parsons Creek, which will relocate Walmart’s existing Fort McMurray store and establish the site as the city’s dominant retail destination.