Canadian Retail Thread - Page 440

SpongeG · #**8781** Posted **Nov 18, 2025, 2:20 AM**

Fairweather too ‘downmarket,’ unsuitable to take over HBC space in Yorkdale: Oxford
By The Canadian Press
Updated: November 17, 2025

TORONTO — Mall landlord Oxford is fighting another real estate firm to keep Fairweather Ltd. from reviving the defunct Les Ailes de la Mode department store at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto.

In new court documents, Oxford argues Fairweather is not suitable for the former Hudson’s Bay space measuring more than 300,000 square feet because most of its other locations are about three per cent of that size.

It also alleges Fairweather is “not a financially healthy retailer” and its stores “look and feel temporary and downmarket,” which is the antithesis of the luxury vibe Yorkdale projects.

“I cannot overemphasize how inappropriate and detrimental it would be to have Fairweather occupy the most prominent premises at Yorkdale for even one year, much less the next 50 years as contemplated by the proposed Fairweather transaction,” said Nadia Corrado, a vice-president with Oxford, in a Thursday affidavit.

“This would have the effect of compromising decades of significant investment and planning by Oxford and create a cascading negative effect for Yorkdale’s existing tenants.”

Fairweather is a womenswear brand that was created in 1867. It is now owned by business mogul Isaac Benitah. He and his family members have run home goods chains Wyrth, Bombay and Bowring as well as apparel retailer International Clothiers.

They were also behind Les Ailes de la Mode, a Canadian department store that faltered in the early aughts but now exists as a small handful of shops selling deeply discounted clothing. Earlier this year, they bought the rights to Zellers, a discount retailer previously run by HBC, and have started reviving it through an Edmonton store.

...

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business...rkdale-oxford/

MolsonExport · #**8782** Posted **Nov 18, 2025, 3:29 PM**

How is H&M not "downmarket"? Their clothes are awful.

theman23 · #**8783** Posted **Nov 18, 2025, 3:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

How is H&M not "downmarket"? Their clothes are awful.

The issue is that Fairweather stores perpetually appear to be as if they're just about to go out of business, even if they've just sprung up. H+M might be downmarket, but they at least keep their stores looking nice and renovate relatively frequently.

savevp · #**8784** Posted **Nov 18, 2025, 4:09 PM**

The track record for this Benitah family is not good, they've taken a number of iconic Canadian brands into bankruptcy, and objectively don't seem to possess much business sense. This Isaac Benitah reads a bit like a comprehensible Ruby Liu.

Djeffery · #**8785** Posted **Nov 18, 2025, 4:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by theman23

The issue is that Fairweather stores perpetually appear to be as if they're just about to go out of business, even if they've just sprung up. H+M might be downmarket, but they at least keep their stores looking nice and renovate relatively frequently.

Yeah, the store in White Oaks Mall in London still has that 70's feel of when it opened. I used to deliver to their stock 20 years ago and the store had "closing for renovations" signs up. The signs are gone but the store hasn't been touched. I think they still have one of those credit card imprint machines lol.

GreatTallNorth2 · #**8786** Posted **Dec 5, 2025, 4:57 PM**

Looks like Uniqlo is going to open a store in Winnipeg, this is in addition to their new stores announced for this year in Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton & Quebec City.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/arti...p-in-winnipeg/

hipster duck · #**8787** Posted **Dec 5, 2025, 5:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Fairweather is a womenswear brand that was created in 1867. It is now owned by business mogul Isaac Benitah. He and his family members have run home goods chains Wyrth, Bombay and Bowring as well as apparel retailer International Clothiers.
...

When I think of these brands, all I can think of is that this is the kind of low-grade junk you buy, all in one spot, and for 1/3 of the price at Winners. Or off Temu.

MolsonExport · #**8788** Posted **Dec 5, 2025, 6:16 PM**

I thought Bowrings went under.

casper · #**8789** Posted **Dec 5, 2025, 9:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hipster duck

When I think of these brands, all I can think of is that this is the kind of low-grade junk you buy, all in one spot, and for 1/3 of the price at Winners. Or off Temu.

But your paying for customer service. These places have associates that know their product (ok junk).

kwoldtimer · #**8790** Posted **Dec 5, 2025, 9:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

I thought Bowrings went under.

Years ago.

SpongeG · #**8791** Posted **Dec 6, 2025, 1:56 AM**

Bowring and Bombay branded items often show up at Homesense or Winners.

such as this

facebook

SpongeG · #**8792** Posted **Dec 6, 2025, 3:04 AM**

Bed Bath & Beyond 3.0
They shouldn't have a problem finding store space.

Sleep Country CEO plans Canadian relaunch of Bed Bath & Beyond
By Mario Toneguzzi
Date: December 5, 2025

Bed Bath & Beyond — one of the most iconic names in home retail — is returning to Canada. Sleep Country Canada has officially acquired the brand for Canada and the UK, welcoming the beloved retailer into its growing portfolio of household brands.

“For decades, Bed Bath & Beyond helped Canadians imagine what home could be,” said Stewart Schaefer, President & CEO of Sleep Country Canada. “We’re honoured to bring this brand back to Canadians — and to do so in a new way that feels fresh, exciting, and true to what people have always loved about it.”

...

https://retail-insider.com/retail-in...d-bath-beyond/

EnvisionSaintJohn · #**8793** Posted **Dec 6, 2025, 8:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

Looks like Uniqlo is going to open a store in Winnipeg, this is in addition to their new stores announced for this year in Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton & Quebec City.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/arti...p-in-winnipeg/

I’m surprised they’re not in a lot more cities by now.

GreatTallNorth2 · #**8794** Posted **Jan 12, 2026, 6:21 PM**

Uniqlo opening 2 stores in Winnipeg

https://retail-insider.com/retail-in...-store-launch/

icetea93 · #**8795** Posted **Jan 12, 2026, 6:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

Uniqlo opening 2 stores in Winnipeg

https://retail-insider.com/retail-in...-store-launch/

And Halifax continues to be “the logical next step for the brand” but our dominant mall has no space

MolsonExport · #**8796** Posted **Jan 12, 2026, 6:46 PM**

GreatTallNorth2 · #**8797** Posted **Jan 12, 2026, 8:24 PM**

I think Halifax, London, Waterloo Region would make sense. Masonville Place in London has a good chunk of space from Hudson's Bay leaving, so I would expect Uniqlo to possibly go in there.

someone123 · #**8798** Posted **Jan 12, 2026, 8:40 PM**

Uniqlo is weirdly absent in Halifax. To give a sense of what the retail market is like, it already has a full sized IKEA and Simons. It tends to get stores around the same time as Winnipeg.

I wonder if Uniqlo would consider opening downtown. Funny how downtown Vancouver has no Uniqlo. Also weird how the Simons is in North Van. But both are rumoured to be opening downtown soon.

icetea93 · #**8799** Posted **Jan 12, 2026, 9:26 PM**

Uniqlo no doubt wants a space in Halifax Shopping Centre, which is far and away the fashion mall of Atlantic Canada. Unfortunately, it is much smaller in terms of available leasing area than most top malls in other major cities. For context, Polo Park in Winnipeg has a similar tenant list and similar productivity, but has twice the retail area to work with. It’ll be interesting to see what happens. Uniqlo could take a space at Mic Mac mall, but it’s not nearly as strong. HSC could expand but I’m not sure how that would work.

My bet is mic Mac mall, and then they grab a spot in HSC when it comes available. I think they’re a strong enough brand to work anywhere in Halifax.

Ozabald · #**8800** Posted **Jan 12, 2026, 9:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

Uniqlo is weirdly absent in Halifax. To give a sense of what the retail market is like, it already has a full sized IKEA and Simons. It tends to get stores around the same time as Winnipeg.

I wonder if Uniqlo would consider opening downtown. Funny how downtown Vancouver has no Uniqlo. Also weird how the Simons is in North Van. But both are rumoured to be opening downtown soon.

Plus, there's a LL Bean in Halifax as well (Dartmouth Crossing). Don't know if Uniqlo locates in big box developments as Dartmouth Crossing could be a potential location if there's no suitable space at the Halifax Shopping Centre. The retail cluster on Spring Garden Road in D/T Halifax could be a decent location; again if there's a large enough space available. Lululemon has one of its Halifax stores on Spring Garden Road.

It is strange there's only one Simons in the GVRD. Certainly the market could support a store at Pacific Centre and Metrotown.