In a significant move that underscores Canada’s evolving gourmet marketplace, Eataly is set to launch its second Toronto location at CF Sherway Gardens on November 2nd. This 25,000 square-foot Italian culinary experience, following on the heels of its successful 2019 Bloor-Yorkville venture at the Manulife Centre, underpins Eataly’s bullish sentiment on the Canadian market.
“The store at Sherway Gardens is special, marking Toronto as one of the rare North American cities to host more than one of our locations, said Tommaso Brusò, CEO of Eataly North America. “Toronto’s appetite for authentic Italian gastronomy has been overwhelming, and our expansion here reflects that enthusiasm.
“Sherway Gardens was a natural second location for us in Canada. The mall itself opens the door to conveniently reach new audiences, with access to customers coming from Oakville, Mississauga, Brampton and more. Our first store in Toronto has the density of the Yorkville neighbourhood, while Sherway Gardens will see us hosting customers primarily in a drive market and who are looking for a high-quality experience closer to home. CF Sherway Gardens has undergone a beautiful transformation in recent years, and the customer experience has a high bar – we knew this would be the right audience for us.”
“Restaurants are a big priority for us at this location. We have two restaurants, Il Pastaio and La Pizza & La Pasta. Il Pastaio is a fresh pasta concept that we originally launched in in New York City at Eataly Flatiron and it offers fresh, housemade pasta, prepared daily by Eataly’s very own pastai — or pasta makers. La Pizza e La Pasta is the same concept that the GTA has come to know and love from our Yorkville location, with a higher number of tables to meet demand and a dedicated private dining room.”
Sherway Gardens as Eataly’s Newest Home
Eataly’s choice of CF Sherway Gardens for its expansion was deliberate. The shopping centre, having recently undergone a significant transformation, offers a combination of diverse clientele and a premium shopping environment. Its southeast corridor, where Eataly is located, aims to become a hotspot for culinary aficionados while expanding the tenant mix to include a destination that mixes experiential with essentials.
“At Cadillac Fairview, nothing is more important than creating a dynamic retail mix complemented by compelling dining experiences, and our partnership with Eataly is a perfect reflection of what we strive to offer,” said Sal Iacono, EVP of Operations and the incoming CEO at Cadillac Fairview.
In addition to the opening of Eataly at CF Sherway Gardens on November 2nd, the centre has welcomed a number of retailers, including:
- Endy will be opening its first store in the first week of November
- Kiokii will be open on November 1st
- Solmaz opening in November
Recently opened retailers include: - Hatley – May 2023
- Claire’s – May 2023
- Studio Dental – May 2023
- Swatch – May 2023
- Knix – Pop up Store June 2023
- Fox Home – Opened July 2023
- Real Fruit Bubble Tea – Sept 2023
When Eataly launched at the Manulife Centre on Bloor Street in downtown Toronto in November of 2019, it introduced its distinct experiential approach to the Canadian audience. Four years on, a new Canadian location offers Eataly an opportunity to refine and adapt its strategies.
“When we opened the first store in Canada, we understood that the Toronto market is a renowned food city for a reason – there is an elevated understanding and appreciation for cuisine and a strong base knowledge, in particular, of Italian cuisine,” said Brusò. “This was reinforced over the last four years, and the city’s love for unique experiences has pushed us to raise our own bar.”
“Yorkville is the only store in North America where we offer three styles of regional pizza. It’s the first city in North America where we hosted an after-hours Eataly tasting experience. It’s the first city where we have collaborated with local partners, from chocolatiers to honey producers, to create only-in-Toronto, housemade limited-time products.”
“We also learned there is an appetite for Eataly and high-quality Italian products across Canada. In 2020, we launched our nationwide e-commerce platform. Within Toronto, we’re able to ship almost our entire catalogue. Across Canada, we can ship anything from our dry market – and we’ve been encouraged to see orders come in from Victoria to St. John’s to Yellowknife.”
Eataly’s Vision Beyond CF Sherway Gardens
With the CF Sherway Gardens location soon to be operational, Eataly is already plotting its next moves. A third Toronto location at CF Don Mills is on the cards for 2024, further cementing Eataly’s commitment to the Canadian market. Retail Insider will be covering that announcement in further detail in a separate article.
“It’s an exciting time for Eataly,” said Brusò. “In Canada, we are planning a third Toronto location at CF Shops at Don Mills to open in the first half of 2024. Similar to Yorkville, CF Shops at Don Mills presents a new market to us, this one uptown. More details will follow in the coming months, but we continue to evolve the Eataly approach and offer in order to fit our markets and locations, and CF Shops at Don Mills will be no exception.”
“We’re looking beyond Toronto as well. At the moment, we are not at a stage to announce any future locations, but what the Yorkville location affirmed for us is that Canada is a key market for Eataly and we are just beginning to tell our story here.”
