New Zealand-based menswear brand Rodd & Gunn has opened its first Canadian store at 21 Hazelton Avenue in Toronto’s Bloor-Yorkville area. More stores are planned as Rodd & Gunn establishes itself in the Canadian market.
The new Yorkville Rodd & Gunn store occupies all three levels of a building at the corner of Hazelton and Scollard Streets. Included is a basement level with exposed brick that showcases the character of the 124 year-old building that was once a residence.
Rodd & Gunn’s full range of men’s fashions are on display in the new store, from casual styles to suiting options, along with accessories, footwear and other items. The store spans about 3,300 square feet across its three levels — the ground floor, accessed from stairs on Hazelton Avenue, spans just over 1,000 square feet. The second floor, accessed from a stairway featuring brass Rodd & Gunn branding, spans 934 square feet. The basement level has been made bright and welcoming, with plenty of stock in a space spanning more than 1,330 square feet.
Jordan Karp of Savills Canada coordinated the lease deal for the new store — he listed the space and he also has the mandate to represent Rodd & Gunn in Canada as the brand expands and opens more stores. Hanard Investments owns the building at 19-21 Hazelton Avenue which is managed by Greenwin. The building was constructed in 1900 as two houses, and was renovated in 2006 after decades as a commercial property.
The Rodd & Gunn retail space at 21 Hazelton had been occupied by upscale multi-brand women’s retailer George C. until last year, when the retailer’s owner retired. In the fall of 2022, Dutch men’s suit maker Atelier Munro opened its first Canadian location in the adjacent retail space at 19 Hazelton Avenue, featuring a mix of off-the-rack and custom men’s clothing.
The Hazelton Avenue store is the first of several locations for Rodd & Gunn in Canada. Karp said that the brand is seeking street-front retail space with ‘character’ in nodes featuring premium brands and premium multi-brand retailers, as well as locations in top enclosed malls. The ideal retail space for a Rodd & Gunn store is in the 2,000-3,000 square foot range, and can be larger.
The ‘premium brand’ node mentioned above describes Yorkville perfectly — the area is home to various retailers, restaurants, beauty and other businesses, including a clustering of luxury brand stores. The historic area also features a large high-density residential population including an affluent demographic.
When speaking to Rodd & Gunn’s choice of street-front stores, Scott Braini, General Manager of Real Estate at Rodd & Gunn, said, “Our premises selection almost always starts with a building that exudes character or a notable point of difference that we can lean into as a brand and showcase our unique rich heritage & personality.”
He went on to say, “Preferred locations are vibrant retail nodes that provide a village energy and showcase a diverse and eclectic retail mix from progressive designers, premium lifestyle offers, classic sophisticated staples and market leading cafes and restaurants.”
“We are driven by opportunities that excite and engage with our passion for retail. Rodd & Gunn is extremely dynamic in its approach to property, and will readily pivot our strategy to achieve unique and authentic experiences for our customers,” said Braini.
Jordan Karp of Savills said that Rodd & Gunn is targeting between three and five standalone stores for the Toronto market, as well as a national expansion that will eventually see stores in Montreal and Vancouver. This all follows Rodd & Gunn’s initial entry into Canada in 2022 when the company opened more than 30 concessions within Hudson’s Bay stores across the country. Braini said that concessions will continue to be an important part of Rodd & Gunn’s Canadian market penetration strategy while several standalone stores are also built to showcase the Rodd & Gunn ethos in a dedicated environment.
One highly anticipated ‘environment’ is the Rodd & Gunn Lodge Bar flagship concept, which has proven to be very popular in New Zealand and Australia. Karp said that Rodd & Gunn is expected to open at least one of these Rodd & Gunn Lodge Bar flagships in Canada, with Toronto being the most likely city for a first location. The flagships feature retail as well as a significant licensed food and beverage component, creating a social space that further builds the brand. A Canadian location would ideally be in the 7,000-12,000+ square foot range, Karp said.
Braini said that there is currently not a timeline in terms of when a flagship store would open in Canada, which means there’s time to find just the right space to make the entire concept work. “These stores are an immersive brand experience that encapsulates Rodd & Gunn’s vision and values across lifestyle mediums of food and fashion. The catalyst for these locations starts with a location that captures our hearts and imaginations,” Braini said.
Bloor-Yorkville is seeing a flurry of construction activity and store openings which is transforming the area. Last week, Harry Rosen announced that it will be relocating its flagship from Bloor Street to a 38,000 square foot building on Cumberland Street in 2026, signalling a further shift of retail to the Village of Yorkville area. Over the past seven years, luxury brands have moved into the immediate area, including Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Versace, Brunello Cucinelli, Isaia and others. This spring, luxury retailer V Hazelton (Located at 5 Hazelton Avenue) is expanding into an adjacent building on Yorkville Avenue with a dedicated Kiton boutique.
Additional Photos of Rodd & Gunn Yorkville
