Upscale New York City-based women’s fashion brand Veronica Beard has opened its first Canadian storefront at 111 Yorkville Avenue in Toronto. The location features a unique facade in a double-townhouse that was recently renovated.
The new store spans about 1,800 square feet and houses Veronica Beard’s women’s ready-to-wear collection and staples such as the Dickey Jacket, scuba suiting and denim, as well as outerwear, dresses, jeans, tops, skirts, footwear, accessories and other categories.
The store was decorated in partnership with interior designer Carolina de Neufville. The decor includes leopard ottomans and drapery. Trapezium shell-shaped chairs, sourced from Chairish, were reupholstered in Pierre Frey leopard, a signature print for the brand.
The brand Veronica Beard was founded by sisters-in-law Veronica Miele Beard and Veronica Swanson Beard in 2010. The first product was the ‘dickey jacket’ and the brand has since expanded to a full lifestyle collection. Veronica Beard has 21 stores in the United States as well as one in London UK and now in Toronto.
“We are thrilled to be opening our second international store and entering this new phase of the business,” said Veronica Swanson Beard in a statement. “Toronto has been key in our brick-and-mortar strategy. It is an incredible market for us and we’re so honored that our brand resonates with Canadian women.”
“Toronto happens to be one of our favorite cities, with an energy unlike any other,” said Veronica Miele Beard in a statement. “We wanted VB Toronto to capture the distinct spirit of Veronica Beard as well the spirit of Toronto—warm, lived-in, and inviting.”
The lease deal for the Veronica Beard space at 111 Yorkville Avenue was handled by CBRE, which has been active in the Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood, and another brokerage. CBRE’s Arlin Markowitz, along with Teddy Taggart and Jackson Turner, represented Veronica Beard in the deal, along with Michael Leifer of Runyon Group. The landlord side of the deal was handled by CBRE’s Arlin Markowitz and team members Emily Everett and Alex Edmison.
Markowitz, who has been active both in retail leasing and building sales in the area, said that there is confidence in brick-and-mortar retail in the Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood which is already home to many of the world’s top luxury brands. He said that more exciting announcements will follow as the neighbourhood sees an ongoing retail transformation.
More upscale retailers will be opening nearby on Yorkville Avenue this year, with announcements to follow. One is California-based John Elliott which will soon begin construction on a new store. The entire Bloor-Yorkville area is seeing something of a retail renaissance, including prestigious Bloor Street West which will see several luxury brand flagship stores open this year. Yorkville Avenue itself is home to several luxury brand stores including Chanel, Stone Island, Versace, Brunello Cucinelli, Kiton, Christian Louboutin and Isaia.
