Cadillac Fairview will soon unveil its new 250,000 square foot Nordstrom-anchored expansion wing at Toronto’s CF Sherway Gardens. This week, we toured the space ahead of its August 29 official public grand opening. The dramatic expansion will feature a roster of impressive retailers, which will be joined by Nordstrom when it opens its third Toronto location in the mall on September 16.
The new wing is the latest development for CF Sherway Gardens, which over the past several years has seen over $550 million in expansion and renovation. Sherway’s redevelopment commenced in early 2013 when it was announced that the centre would see a new 210,000 square foot expansion to the north, which opened in September of 2015. Following that, the centre’s former 225,000 square foot Sears space also saw a redevelopment, adding an impressive 143,200 square foot Saks Fifth Avenue store that opened in February of 2016, and an 80,000 square foot Sport Chek flagship that opened in July of 2016.
The new Nordstrom-anchored wing, which will be unveiled to the public on August 29, includes the re-merchandising of 90,000 square feet of existing retail space. Soaring ceiling heights will allow for dramatic 30-foot facades, and the removal of a former stairway and elevator has resulted in clear sight-lines to Nordstrom at the end of the wing.
Housed in the new wing will be 12 best-in-class retailers. The largest of these (excluding Nordstrom) is Zara, which spans almost 30,000 square feet over two levels, making it one of Canada’s largest. Other retailers in the new wing include Saje Natural Wellness (relocation), Loding (relocation into a larger space), Squish Candies, Nike, BonLook (the Montreal-based optical retailer is expanding), L’Intervalle (Montreal-based footwear brand that is also expanding) and the Danish Pastry House. Toronto-based luxury jeweller European Boutique, as well, will see an overhaul that will be discussed in a separate article.
“Along with a revitalized merchandise mix, CF Sherway Gardens is demonstrating an intensified commitment to delivering a unique shopping experience,” said Finley McEwen, Cadillac Fairview’s Senior Vice President of Development. “We started with interior enhancements, introduced new lighting and public amenities, and are now providing a range of upscale dining options and new digital offerings – delivering on our commitment to providing guests with an immersive, premium shopping environment.”
CF Sherway’s iconic white tent roof structure (designed by Eb Zeidler, also responsible for the ‘sails’ at Vancouver’s Canada Place) has been restored, providing ample light into the new wing.
General Manager Andy Traynor explained that Cadillac Fairview is the only Canadian shopping mall operator with three properties housing both Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue stores (CF Toronto Eaton Centre and, next year, CF Chinook Centre in Calgary). “CF is very proud of the partnerships we have nurtured with these high-end global brands and we’re delighted to welcome them to CF Sherway Gardens,” he said. CF Sherway Gardens is also one of the country’s most productive, according to Retail Council of Canada’s Shopping Centre Study, which will be updated with a new study this fall.
“Beyond the physical expansion and upgrades, our revitalization is about adjusting our retail mix to mirror the expectations of our shoppers. This means building on our roster of best-in-class brands, which includes much sought-after premium and luxury retailers,” he said.
Norstrom opens to the public on Friday, September 15 and two days prior, on the evening of Wednesday, September 13, Nordstrom will host a charity gala that is 100% underwritten by the company. Nordstrom will span about 140,000 square feet over two levels, and will be the third Nordstrom in the city of Toronto, and the sixth for all of Canada. Nordstrom’s coffee concept Ebar will have its own mall entrance in the new wing, not unlike at Nordstrom’s CF Toronto Eaton Centre location.
Following the wing’s grand opening on August 29 and extending to September 19, CF Sherway Gardens will be featuring activities that will include a rotating exhibit of specially curated art pieces, a refreshing juice bar and “a highly immersive and share-worthy carousel experience”. We plan to be at the opening of the new wing, and will be reporting on it as well as Nordstrom’s gala and grand opening next month.
*The top rendering via Cadillac Fairview has since been modified.
So CF is going from Toronto’s Eaton center, Sherway gardens and now the Chinook center in Calgary. Did they forget about renovating their other Toronto mall in north york called Fairveiw??