Kit and Ace has opened its relocated store at CF Sherway Gardens in Toronto, nearly doubling its footprint at the shopping centre as the Canadian apparel retailer continues to expand and improve its national store network.
The new approximately 2,370-square-foot store opened last week, replacing a roughly 1,271-square-foot pop-up elsewhere in the mall. The move adds close to 1,100 square feet, representing an increase of about 86 per cent.
The new Kit and Ace is positioned between Rodd & Gunn New Zealand and L’Oro Jewellery in a prominent fashion corridor at Sherway Gardens. Andrews is immediately nearby, while Maison Birks, Free People, Harry Rosen and Indigo are also located in the surrounding area.
The relocation had been planned for several months. Kit and Ace CEO David Lui previously told Retail Insider that the existing Sherway store was operating as a pop-up and that the company intended to move into a stronger location within the shopping centre.
Larger Footprint at Sherway Gardens
The move represents a significant expansion for Kit and Ace within the same shopping centre. Its previous store, shown on Cadillac Fairview leasing plans as Unit 1382, occupied approximately 1,271 square feet. The new space measures about 2,370 square feet, giving the retailer a considerably larger physical presence at Sherway Gardens.
The relocation also positions Kit and Ace within a cluster of fashion, jewellery and lifestyle tenants. The move demonstrates how the company has approached some of its Canadian real estate decisions, using temporary locations to establish a presence and evaluate customer response before pursuing stronger space when opportunities become available.
Pop-Ups Provide Flexibility for Kit and Ace
Flexible retail arrangements have played a role in Kit and Ace’s expansion under Unity Brands, which acquired the company in 2023.
Lui previously explained that temporary stores can give the company flexibility while still providing customers with a complete Kit and Ace experience. At Sherway, the initial pop-up allowed the retailer to establish itself within one of Toronto’s leading shopping centres before upgrading its position within the property.
The strategy comes as Kit and Ace becomes increasingly selective about its real estate. The company has emphasized that it evaluates opportunities based on individual markets, available spaces and their fit with the brand rather than pursuing a predetermined store-count target.
That approach has accompanied considerable growth. Kit and Ace had four stores when Unity Brands acquired the company in 2023. Its network has since expanded to 17 locations through new openings and relocations.
Kit and Ace Reaches 17 Canadian Stores
The Sherway relocation follows a series of openings for Kit and Ace across Canada.
The company recently opened a 4,700-square-foot store at Hillcrest Mall in Richmond Hill, one of the largest locations in its current network. That opening brought the retailer to 17 stores nationally.
Kit and Ace also recently returned to West Edmonton Mall with an approximately 3,500-square-foot store in space previously occupied by Michael Kors. The retailer had operated at the Edmonton shopping centre during an earlier period of expansion before leaving the market.
Earlier in 2026, Kit and Ace opened an approximately 2,200-square-foot store on Government Street in Victoria. The location has performed well, serving customers who previously travelled to Vancouver or purchased products online.
The recent activity shows several elements of the company’s current retail strategy. Kit and Ace is entering new markets, returning to markets where it previously operated and investing in stronger locations within shopping centres where it already has an established presence.
Selective Growth Under Unity Brands
Kit and Ace’s current expansion follows a significant repositioning of the business under Unity Brands.
Founded in Vancouver in 2014, Kit and Ace originally expanded rapidly in Canada and internationally before contracting its store network several years later. Unity Brands acquired the company in 2023 and has since rebuilt its physical presence.
The retailer now operates multiple locations in major markets including Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary, with additional stores elsewhere in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta.
Lui has said Canada could potentially support approximately 20 to 25 Kit and Ace locations, although the company does not consider that figure a formal target. Its approach is to evaluate the strength of individual markets and available real estate before committing to additional locations.
CF Sherway Gardens Continues to Evolve
The relocation is taking place during a period of significant change at CF Sherway Gardens.
The Etobicoke shopping centre has seen substantial shifts in its tenant mix in recent years following the departures of several large department store anchors. New retailers, restaurants and entertainment concepts are also reshaping parts of the property.
Within the existing mall corridors, changing availability is creating opportunities for retailers to relocate, expand and improve their positioning.
Kit and Ace’s new store places the company among a concentrated group of fashion and premium retailers. Rodd & Gunn sits directly beside the space, while L’Oro Jewellery occupies the adjoining location on the opposite side. Andrews, Maison Birks and other fashion-oriented tenants are within the same immediate section of the mall.
