This is the second part to last week’s list of retailers opening and expanding in Canada. We’re seeing remarkable growth in both new retailers entering the country as well as those expanding existing operations, despite reports of a softening economy. The list below is by no means comprehensive, and many of those listed below have not been revealed to the general public until now.
The following list of 35 retailers that are either entering the Canadian market, or are expanding their operations, is sponsored by Vancouver-based Peregrine, which custom designs and fabricates retail, display, furniture and architectural features for some of the country’s top retailers.
| STORE NAME | LOCATIONS TO OPEN IN CANADA | NEW OR EXPANDING? | ESTIMATED # OF LOCATIONS POST-EXPANSION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Canadian Diamond | 2+ Vancouver locations sought | Expanding | 4+ |
| Arhaus Furniture | Nationwide Expansion | New | Unknown |
| Aquascutum | Toronto 2017 launch, then Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa anticipated | New | TBD |
| Asian Food Centre | Mississauga, Brampton ON site selection | Expanding | 10+ |
| Bizou | 3-5 for 2016, 150+ Canada-wide long-term | Expanding | 250-300 |
| BonLook | Montreal now open, national expansion anticipated | Expanding | TBD |
| Browns Shoes/B2 by Browns | Between 8-10 in 2016, 4-6 each in 2017-2020 | Expanding | 80+ |
| Cabela’s | Ottawa (Spring 2016), Abbotsford BC (fall 2016), Halifax 2017, 12+, | Expanding | 12+ |
| Change of Scandinavia | Looking for central Toronto and Montreal locations | Expanding | 15+ |
| Fonelab | Ontario expansion (currently operates 3 GTA locations) | Expanding | Unknow |
| Gerry Weber | Continued Canadian expansion in better malls. | Expanding | 15+, including 4 franchises |
| GNC | 22 Canadian locations in 2016. | Expanding | Over 200 |
| Hatley | Canadian Expansion, details TBA | Expanding | 15+ |
| Kohler | Seeking 1st Canadian store location in Toronto | New | Unknown |
| Links of London | CF Sherway Gardens (Toronto) freestanding — spring 2016, Square One (Mississauga) Holt Renfrew concession — spring 2016. | Expanding | 8+ |
| LUMAS Galleries | Montreal, Calgary (already open in Toronto & Vancouver) | Expanding | 6+ |
| Marc Cain | Toronto (Eaton Centre) and Mississauga (Square One) in early 2016 (locations now open Montreal, Ste-Foy, Calgary), more TBA | Expanding | Unknown |
| Mastermind Toys | Aggressive national expansion ongoing | Expanding | ~75 |
| MEC | Calgary (spring 2016), Kelowna BC (spring 2016), Toronto (North York, summer 2016), Toronto (downtown replacement location, Queen Street West, fall 2017) | Expanding | 20+ |
| Merrell | National Expansion in 2016, 2 locations now open | Expanding | Unknown |
| Michael Hill Jewellers | 6 locations in 2016, 6 locations in 2017 | Expanding | 80 by 2018, final target of 110 stores |
| Mint Accessories | Vaughan Mills (Ontario) 2016, Montreal, national expansion anticipated | Expanding | Uknown |
| Mountain Warehouse | Burnaby BC (Metropolis at Metrotown now open), national expansion ongoing | Expanding | 15+ |
| Nordstrom | Toronto (CF Eaton Centre, Yorkdale fall 2016, CF Sherway Gardens spring 2017), Edmonton possibly. | Expanding | 7-10 |
| Nordstrom Rack | Toronto (speculated: One Bloor East), Other locations to be revealed when confirmed. | New | Approximately 20 |
| Perfumes 4 U | National Expansion (4 now open in Ontario and Quebec) | Expanding | Unknown |
| Plato’s Closet | National expansion including Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba | Expanding | Unknown |
| Pusateri’s Fine Foods | Toronto (Avenue Road replacement 2016), Oakville ON (early-mid 2016), at Saks CF Eaton Centre Queen Street, Saks CF Sherway Gardens, both February 2016) | Expanding | TBA |
| Reiss | Toronto (now open), Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, other markets expected. | Expanding | Uknown |
| Rudsak | Calgary (CF Market Mall, now open), Ontario, Quebec, looking to open 20-25 more locations nationwide. | Expanding | 50+ |
| Saje Natural Wellness | Toronto, Halifax, Edmonton, Tssawwassen BC, other markets (aggressive expansion). | Expanding | 50 by 2018 |
| Sephora | Major 2016 Toronto/GTA expansion TBA (new locations/replacement/store expansions) | Expanding | TBA |
| SHOO by Steve Madden | Toronto (now open), national expansion anticipated | Expanding | TBA |
| Urban Barn | Downtown Toronto location sought, recently opened 2 Quebec locations, national expansion. | Expanding | 70+ |
| Uniqlo | Toronto (CF Eaton Centre, Yorkdale both opening fall 2016), Vancouver and other markets to follow | New | Unknown |
Our next Peregrine-sponsored List of Retailers Opening and Expanding in Canada will be published early next month. We’ll also discuss what new retailers entered Canada in 2015.
In early 2016, the University of Alberta School of Retailing’s Department of Applied Research will release a study revealing and discussing new brands confirmed to be entering Canada. We’ll discuss the study once released. The research department is also available for hire, for companies/entities looking to conduct retail industry research.
US discount shoe retailer Famous Footwear is opening their first location in West Edmonton Mall in the Sears wing (signs up and almost complete) and Whole Foods has taken the old Canadian Tire location at South Park in Edmonton..
Thank you, John — good to see you’re in Edmonton as well. We’ll be reporting separately on Famous Footwear in January, so we held off putting it on this list. Remarkably, Famous Footwear wants to open about 100 Canadian stores.
City of Edmonton has formally approved the Whole Foods permit, and the retailer will likely announce one or two more Edmonton stores in the next while — we can confirm one more location, and third was recently in negotiations.