Canadian Retail Thread

[icetea93]

Originally Posted by Ozabald

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.

Actually you’re probably right. Dartmouth Crossing might be a more attractive place than Mic Mac. Downtown would be great but I don’t think any city in Canada has a stand alone Uniqlo downtown, so I don’t expect Halifax to be first (as nice as that would be for downtown).

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Ozabald

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

The logical locations for Simons in the City of Vancouver are either in Pacific Centre Mall, or Oakridge Park (currently in development as a high-end mall). There's currently space in both locations unallocated - the former Nordstrom space in Pacific Centre, and the Bay in Oakridge. So far only Aritzia has been confirmed for the Nordstrom space Downtown. There will be three other retail units, and unconfirmed (and quite possibly wrong) rumours are for Simons and 'two globally-renowned Japanese and Spanish fast-fashion retailers" - so Uniqlo and Zara, presumably.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by icetea93

Actually you’re probably right. Dartmouth Crossing might be a more attractive place than Mic Mac. Downtown would be great but I don’t think any city in Canada has a stand alone Uniqlo downtown, so I don’t expect Halifax to be first (as nice as that would be for downtown).

Uniqlo has a store in South Edmonton Commons which is a big box development, not a mall.

[icetea93]

Abercrombie & Fitch appears to be opening in Winnipeg and Kitchener at Polo Park and Fairview Park malls. Winnipeg is confirmed by city permits and hiring, and there is a store manager job posted for Kitchener.

I don’t think that it’s a coincidence that both of these new stores are coming 15 years after Hollister opened their stores in both malls. It appears that A&F (which owns Hollister) likes to move Hollister to a new space in the mall for a modernizing, and then Abercrombie & Fitch takes the former Hollister spaces. They must have had 15 year agreements in place.

If this trend continues, Halifax is due for Abercrombie later this year as well, and Hamilton at Lime Ridge shortly after.

[SpongeG]

The new A&F is so weird and isn't dimly lit or smelly. They opened one here in Richmond Centre and they just took over a store that closed down and they didn't even renovate or change the interior, it feels temporary. They also opened one at Metrotown and they built that one out in their newer look of their stores. They now also sell outside brands other than just their own stuff. Not much logo stuff as 15 years ago.

[icetea93]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

The new A&F is so weird and isn't dimly lit or smelly. They opened one here in Richmond Centre and they just took over a store that closed down and they didn't even renovate or change the interior, it feels temporary. They also opened one at Metrotown and they built that one out in their newer look of their stores. They now also sell outside brands other than just their own stuff. Not much logo stuff as 15 years ago.

I believe the brands they sell are all owned by them. They have an athletic brand now in stores. They’ve made a huge come back and are a big name again with young adults

[Wigs]

Abercrombie & Fitch seems like a brand in the past. It'll be forever associated with early 2000s Americana with me.

I do not understand its appeal in 2025 at all

[SpongeG]

its very weird but it's nothing like the ol days, most of it could be bought in any other store


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[Loco101]

Originally Posted by Wigs

Abercrombie & Fitch seems like a brand in the past. It'll be forever associated with early 2000s Americana with me.

I do not understand its appeal in 2025 at all

I totally agree. I never liked that brand. I always associated it with douchy guys.

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by Loco101

I totally agree. I never liked that brand. I always associated it with douchy guys.

It was definitely "frat boy fit" vibes back then

[SpongeG]

I remember it from the 80's when its demographic was old rich people, they sold $300 rhinocerous things and sporting, fishing and hunting goods. Teens would probably never been caught dead shopping there.

I know the Canadian stores were a partnership with Woodwards, I remember they had a store in Oakridge Vancouver and West Edmonton Mall, were they anywhere else? I think they were trying to expand but the Woodwards collapsed and shut down before they could.

They now sell in the $1000's.


1stdibscdn.com

[whatnext]

This Putnam group sounds like quite the shrewd operators.

Multiple Toys “R” Us locations closing, landlords say they are owed unpaid rent
Susan Krashinsky Robertson Retailing reporter
Published Yesterday

Signs of financial distress are mounting at Toys “R” Us Canada, with multiple locations closing in recent weeks and landlords saying they are owed unpaid rent.

The latest closings add to a contraction that has shrunk the toy chain by more than half in less than five years: In 2021, when family-owned Putman Investments Inc. bought Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us Canada from Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., the chain had 81 locations across the country. Currently, the website lists 40 stores, but several of those links lead to blank web pages with no address or store information, and lists cities such as Calgary, Langley, B.C., Guelph, Ont., and the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, where locations have recently shut their doors...

....Fairfax sold the chain to Putman Investments for an undisclosed sum. Run by Doug Putman, whose parents founded the toy distributor Everest Toys in the 1990s, the firm has invested in several retailers over the years. Those include Sunrise Records, HMV stores in Canada and Britain, FYE entertainment stores in the United States and women’s clothing retailer Northern Reflections Ltd....

... Some of those investments have also contracted. Northern Reflections had 134 locations when Putman acquired the chain a year ago; the website now lists 30 stores.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Putman acquired 45 leases for stores vacated by beverage chain DavidsTea, announcing plans to launch a competing chain called T. Kettle. The T. Kettle website currently does not list any locations.

In 2023, Mr. Putman acquired leases for 21 former Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy BABY locations, announcing he would open a home goods chain called rooms + spaces. Many of those stores began closing within months....

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/busi...g-unpaid-rent/

[SpongeG]

The Langley, BC, store closed down a while ago; it owes Willowbrook Mall over $100,000 in rent.

Their Sunrise stores seem to be empty whenever I walk past the Surrey store. And when did vinyl become so expensive, most are in the $50+ price range. Side note, I have noticed some Urban Outfitters who have sold vinyl have started to sell CDs lately.

[MonctonRad]

There are no Toys R Us stores left in Atlantic Canada.

The Moncton store has been converted to Clement out of Quebec.

[SpongeG]

French Connection making a comeback in North America?

Were they ever that popular when they were here the first time around?

French Connection Group looking to expand in North American market
By Mario Toneguzzi
Date: February 3, 2026

https://retail-insider.com/retail-in...erican-market/

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

French Connection making a comeback in North America?

Were they ever that popular when they were here the first time around?

French Connection Group looking to expand in North American market
By Mario Toneguzzi
Date: February 3, 2026

https://retail-insider.com/retail-in...erican-market/

Moderately popular I'd say. I remember the Robson St. location well, usually quite busy. The FCUK logo-wear took off quite well for a period in the early '00s, saw lots of their merch around.

[Hecate]

I got an fcuk shirt back in the 90’s and it drove the teachers mad. Fun times!

[whatnext]

Eddie Bauer is closing all its stores.

CLOSURE: Major clothing store chain expected to close all shops in Canada
Canada | Durham | Hamilton | Ontario | Oshawa | Toronto | Business | Fashion
By Karen Longwell
Published February 2, 2026

A clothing chain with an over 100 year history is expected to close its remaining stores in Canada.

Reports indicate Eddie Bauer will file a Chapter 11 bankruptcy to shutter its approximately 200 North American stores....

https://www.insauga.com/closure-majo...ops-in-canada/

[Wigs]

I didn't know Eddie Bauer still existed. Another store that seems like a relic holdover from the 90s-2000s to me lol

[Airboy]

2 EB store in Edmonton

Toys are Use are in creditor protection and closing more stores.