A unique pop-up retail space is opening this weekend on August 19-21 at the Hudson’s Bay flagship store at Yonge and Queen Streets in downtown Toronto. Toronto-based J2 Retail Management will launch the latest activation of its ‘Community Playground’ concept that will be housed on the second floor near the store’s main bank of elevators.
Four local vendors are part of the Hudson’s Bay Community Playground pop-up, which will feature a curated mix of fashions from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. That will include mint-condition band t-shirts, Levi’s jeans, and other fashions. On-hand will be a mix of affordable as well as some higher-end pieces.
Three of the vendors are from Toronto and one is from Hamilton. One vendor, Kobe Sells Vintage, has operations in North York and will bring some of its top pieces to the Hudson’s Bay pop-up. Fruit Market Vintage Clothing, located on College Street in Toronto, is a local favourite for many. Edgy Kensington Market-based Lost Boys Vintage will be on-site with a range of t-shirts and other vintage styles, as well Hamilton-based Drop Spot Vintage which has a huge local following in that city.
A dedicated area near the second-floor elevator banks in the department store has seen various pop-ups, creating experiences to bring consumers back by diversifying offerings.
Hudson’s Bay partnered with Toronto-based J2 Retail Management on this weekend’s pop-up. It’s part of a broader years-long relationship between the Hudson’s Bay and J2, whose co-founders Jodie Wolfe and Brian LeSaux have worked with various brands on merchandising strategy.
As part of its evolution, J2 Retail Management has expanded its service offerings and is now hosting Community Playground activations in the Greater Toronto Area. Brian Le Saux, another retail veteran, is now partners with Wolfe and the duo is growing the J2 Retail Management operations by offering services that include logistics and supply chain management, merchandising, e-commerce, and visual media. It operates several warehouse spaces in the Toronto area with plans for further expansion.
Wolfe and Le Saux spoke to Retail Insider about the pop-up as well as J2 Retail’s plans at the end of the month to unveil a much larger Community Playground activation at Toronto’s Bentway near Fort York. Details on that activation will be released soon and it’s expected to include about 50 vendors and 20 foodservice businesses as well as speakers and various activities.
*Retail Insider partnered with J2 Retail Management for this article. To work with Retail Insider, contact Craig@retail-insider.com
