Canadian lifestyle retailer Roots continues to reinvest in its national retail footprint with the relaunch of two significant stores: Mont-Tremblant, which reopened on July 18, and Vaughan Mills, which celebrated its transformation on April 17. Both locations represent the company’s evolving vision, one that honours its heritage while introducing a refreshed and modernized brand experience tailored to contemporary shoppers.
These upgrades follow a broader strategy under the leadership of President and CEO Meghan Roach, who has been guiding Roots through a period of store renovations designed to balance tradition with innovation.
A Renewed Commitment to Heritage and Community
The Mont-Tremblant store has long held symbolic importance for Roots, serving not only as a high-volume location but also as a destination that captures the brand’s connection to nature and outdoor living. According to Roach, maintaining that legacy while modernizing the space was a central priority.
“We’ve been a member of the Mont-Tremblant community for many, many years,” she explained. “It was time for us to put a new, fresh face forward. You’re going to see some aspects of the old store left there, like the beautiful wood floors, which have been refreshed, alongside lighter, brighter colours, digital screens, and nods to nature that make the store feel alive again.”
The redesign includes moss installations and brand touchpoints that tie back to Roots’ iconic beaver logo, blending the rustic and the modern. For Roach, these elements serve as visual reminders of the company’s Canadian identity while ensuring the retail space feels contemporary.
Vaughan Mills: Reinventing the Mall Experience
Roots’ Vaughan Mills location is one of the company’s busiest mall-based stores, and its renovation underscores the brand’s commitment to enhancing its suburban and outlet presence. The refreshed store integrates many of the design elements seen in other recent flagships, but with adaptations suited to the shopping centre format.
“Vaughan Mills for us is a really high-traffic, great location,” Roach said. “When we were thinking about the concept and how we modernize the experience, we wanted to make sure we considered all the different types of stores we operate. For a mall store like Vaughan Mills, that meant bringing in lighter, brighter colours, streamlined merchandising, and digital touchpoints, while still reflecting Roots’ heritage.”
The updates create a seamless shopping journey for customers, emphasizing clarity in product presentation and providing a warmer, more immersive atmosphere. The investment signals that Roots is not limiting its modernization efforts to flagship streetfronts but also sees value in mall locations that generate significant traffic.
A Broader Store Modernization Strategy
The renovations at Mont-Tremblant and Vaughan Mills are part of a larger initiative. In recent years, Roots has systematically invested in key stores across the country, from major flagships in Toronto and Vancouver to regional destinations that resonate with local communities.
“We’ve been investing behind the modernization and bringing nature and brand touchpoints into these stores a little bit differently than in the past,” Roach said. “We look at our portfolio in terms of flagship street stores, destination stores like Tremblant, and high-traffic mall stores like Vaughan Mills. Each one requires a slightly different approach, but the goal is always the same: to refresh the brand experience and ensure it feels both modern and true to our roots.”
Roach also noted that more store renovations are in the pipeline. “We do have a number of them coming in the next year,” she confirmed. “Once we have everything nailed down with our landlords, we’ll be able to share more details. We’re also identifying the elements from these renovations that have become iconic and can be rolled out more widely, even in stores that don’t undergo a full redesign.”
Roots’ Enduring Legacy
Founded in 1973 by Michael Budman and Don Green, Roots began as a footwear brand before expanding into apparel, leather goods, and accessories. The first store opened on Toronto’s Yonge Street, and the company quickly grew across Canada and internationally. Its signature beaver logo, introduced in 1985, has since become an icon of Canadian design.
The brand has long drawn inspiration from the wilderness and outdoor culture, which is evident not only in its product range but also in its store designs. Whether through wood finishes, natural motifs, or storytelling elements, Roots has consistently emphasized its connection to nature.
Roots remains a publicly traded company, with majority ownership held by U.S.-based Searchlight Capital Partners since 2015, while its headquarters and main leather factory remain in Toronto. The brand currently operates more than 100 company-owned stores across Canada, two stores in the United States, and maintains a strong global presence through eCommerce and partner-operated stores in Asia.
The Modern Retail Experience
The latest renovations reflect how Roots is adapting to evolving consumer expectations in Canadian retail. Modern shoppers are seeking experiences that are immersive and convenient, blending digital and physical touchpoints seamlessly. Roots has responded with brighter interiors, enhanced merchandising layouts, and interactive features such as digital screens.
These elements are paired with a renewed focus on craftsmanship and storytelling, ensuring that the brand’s Canadian-made leather goods and iconic sweats remain central to the experience. “It’s about bringing forward the heritage while modernizing it for today’s consumer,” Roach emphasized.
As Roots prepares additional store renovations across Canada, the company continues to refine its balance between tradition and innovation. The success of recent projects in Mont-Tremblant and Vaughan Mills demonstrates the brand’s ability to adapt while staying true to its core identity.
For Roach, the work is ongoing. “There’s going to be new product arriving every day and new experiences unfolding in our stores,” she said. “We want to make sure every Roots location feels fresh, welcoming, and true to who we are as a brand.”
Jeff Berkowitz of Aurora Realty Consultants represents Roots as broker in Canada, and negotiates leases for new locations.
