The Saks Food Hall by Pusateri’s, located beneath the Saks Fifth Avenue store at the Hudson’s Bay building in downtown Toronto, has officially closed its doors. The closure, which comes in the wake of Pusateri’s filing for bankruptcy protection earlier this year, signifies the end of the Saks Food Hall concept in Canada.
The Saks food hall launched in 2016 in Toronto with just two locations, both of which have now ceased operations. The closure of the downtown Toronto location follows the earlier shuttering of the CF Sherway Gardens Saks Food Hall in early 2023, leaving the future of these once-celebrated spaces uncertain.
The Rise and Fall of Saks Food Halls in Canada
The Saks Food Hall concept was introduced to the Canadian market in March 2016 with the opening of an 18,500-square-foot space below the Saks Fifth Avenue store at CF Sherway Gardens in Toronto. This location was the first Saks Food Hall in the world.
Just months later, in November 2016, a second Saks Food Hall debuted below the downtown Toronto Saks Fifth Avenue store at the corner of Yonge and Queen Streets. This location, delayed by construction issues, opened approximately nine months after the main three-level Saks Fifth Avenue store welcomed shoppers in February of the same year.
The downtown food hall spanned an impressive 24,000 square feet, designed by GH+A. It was strategically situated in Toronto’s PATH system, the world’s largest underground shopping network, which links office towers, hotels, and retail spaces through 30 kilometres of walkways. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the PATH saw daily foot traffic of over 50,000 people, making it an ideal location to cater to commuters, tourists, and downtown residents. However, the pandemic and subsequent changes in consumer behaviour significantly impacted the viability of the downtown food hall.
Pandemic Challenges and Bankruptcy Protection
The Saks Food Hall at CF Sherway Gardens closed in early 2023 and has remained vacant since. This left the downtown Toronto location as the last remaining Saks Food Hall in operation. However, in August 2024, Pusateri’s Fine Foods, the operator of the Saks Food Hall concept, filed for bankruptcy protection with significant debts. As part of its restructuring efforts, Pusateri’s consolidated its operations into a single store on Avenue Road near Lawrence Avenue in Toronto. The closure of the downtown Saks Food Hall was a direct result of this consolidation.
The downtown Saks Food Hall faced additional challenges during the pandemic, with prolonged closures and only a partial reopening in 2022. By then, the dynamics of foot traffic in Toronto’s PATH had shifted, further eroding the business’s customer base.
A Luxury Grocery Experience Unlike Any Other
At its peak, the downtown Toronto Saks Food Hall offered an elevated grocery shopping experience, blending luxury and convenience. The space was designed to rival traditional grocery stores, featuring marble flooring, elegant wood finishes, and upscale fixtures. It included a variety of departments catering to diverse tastes:
Departments and Features at the Downtown Saks Food Hall
- Champagne Bar: This premium bar offered fine wines, local beers, and fresh raw bar selections curated by Pusateri’s corporate chef, Tony Cammalleri. It became a destination for PATH commuters and visitors alike.
- Sushi Bar: Expert sushi chefs prepared fresh rolls and sashimi for both dine-in and take-away customers.
- The Chopped Bar: The a-la-carte salad bar featured gourmet greens, cheeses, and meats, along with a make-your-own yogurt parfait counter in the mornings.
- Rosticceria: Customers enjoyed traditional rotisserie dishes with a luxurious twist, complemented by gourmet street foods and sides.
- BENE, A Pusateri’s Pizzeria: Facing directly onto the PATH, the Roman-style pizzeria served slices made with high-quality ingredients such as DOP San Marzano tomatoes and Canadian Fior Di Latte cheese.
- Sorelle and Co.: The shop-in-store specialized in allergen-free foods, including breads and sweets that were gluten-free, soy-free, vegan, and more.
- Pusateri’s Café: Offering coffee and European-style breakfast pastries, this café was a favourite for PATH users.
- Daits: A counter selling Saudi Arabian dates in a boutique-like setting.
New Competition at CF Toronto Eaton Centre
The closure of the downtown Saks Food Hall comes amidst rising competition at CF Toronto Eaton Centre. In April 2024, the 19,000-square-foot Queen’s Cross food hall opened, offering a curated mix of local and international culinary vendors aimed at attracting downtown shoppers and commuters.
Adding to the competitive landscape, Eataly is set to open a 25,000-square-foot location in the fall of 2025, occupying a portion of the mall’s former Nordstrom space. Eataly’s expansion into CF Toronto Eaton Centre brings its signature blend of Italian dining, grocery, and culinary experiences to one of Canada’s busiest shopping destinations, creating additional pressure for upscale food concepts in the area.
The Future of the Saks Fifth Avenue Space Downtown
The closure of the downtown Toronto Saks Food Hall raises questions about the future of the 24,000-square-foot space it occupied. Located in the bustling PATH network with access points from the Queen subway station and adjacent buildings, the location holds significant potential for redevelopment.
No announcements have been made regarding plans for the now-vacant space. However, its prime location below the Hudson’s Bay building and direct connection to CF Toronto Eaton Centre make it a valuable asset for future use. On Friday, it appeared there was demolition work being done in the space.
The Remaining Saks Fifth Avenue Stores in Canada
Saks Fifth Avenue continues to operate three locations in Canada, including its flagship downtown Toronto store, the CF Sherway Gardens store, and a 115,000-square-foot store at CF Chinook Centre in Calgary, which opened in February 2018. Unlike the Toronto stores, the Calgary location does not feature a food hall component.
The brand’s future in Canada is uncertain, as stores have been downsized while brands have exited. The formation of Saks Global, including the recent acquisition of Neiman Marcus, further put Saks’ Canadian operations into question.
I’m wondering if a slightly more mainstream full-service supermarket like Sobeys or Loblaws could be a good replacement for the Saks Food Hall.
Also note the freebird market opening in bay Adelaide which will have more options nearby
I’m starting to question the talent of HBC. The Bay store in downtown Montreal rivaled Macy’s Herald Square in the 90s, when unemployment in Montreal was 12%. Today, its under 5%, the city is much wealthier, and the store makes TJ Maxx look like Bergdorf Goodman. It’s in a stunning historical building, facing a popular public square, directly atop one of the city’s busiest metro stations. Would love to see an in-depth article on why HBC can’t get its act together and .ake this store what it has all the potential to be.
Everything HBC does turns to failure. The reason HBC is surviving is because of the value of their real estate portfolio. Every time they sell a property, instead of using the funds to renovate and modernize their stores… they do nothing. Many stores have so many problems with maintanance.. including fixtures, HVAC, and escalators not working. They introduce Zellers into their stores so it’s like Holt Renfrew opening up a Dollarama inside their stores. HBC doesn’t know what they’re doing half the time. Quinn Murph is right. They can’t get their act together. They don’t even try. They change CEOs often. Each gets a huge salary to make piss poor decisions. They need someone who will just redo the entire team and get fresh faces and new ideas. Stop investing in other department stores.. They aquired Neiman Marcus for 2.65 billion… see how quickly they sink that ship too. They should’ve reinvested in their total HBC chain first and THEN start aquisitions when the Bay and the other department stores they already have their sh*t together.
Come to think of it.. Maybe add Neiman Marcus into that vacant spot ASAP since it is now part of Saks Global. However, I am sure the pencil pushers are thinking of another mediocre corporate decision… Like, hmmm Saks Off Fifth, or another food hall? Only time will tell. Good luck HBC you’ll need it
Neiman Marcus would likely view the retail space as inferior, given the low ceiling heights and lack of street presence. A more likely scenario would be Neiman Marcus replacing the entire Saks store in the building.