Happy New Year! We’re anticipating some pretty big store openings in 2017, as international brands continue to open stores in Canada. Here are 10 Canadian store openings that we can’t wait to come this year:
Off-White
Operated in partnership with Yorkville retailer CNTRBND, Kanye West’s creative director Virgil Abloh ‘softly opened’ his first Canadian store just before Christmas — but the store’s official opening date isn’t until February of 2017. We’ve had a peek inside the narrow retail space which is very cool, featuring men and women’s fashions along a walkway framed with sand. Toronto can proudly say that it’s officially got North America’s first freestanding Off-White store!
Herschel Supply Co.
2017 is going to be a great year for Herschel fans! The hipster-friendly backpack and accessory brand, based in Vancouver, will open its first global flagship in Vancouver this year! Located in historical/trendy Gastown, Herschel‘s flagship will span 5,000 square feet. They won’t tell us the exact address yet, and we’re hoping to see more of its stores in Canada soon.
Woolrich
The American heritage brand has become cool (and expensive), and it recently announced that it plans to open stores in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. A recent report in the Halifax Chronicle Herald said that Woolwich is negotiating for a 2,000 square foot retail space at Yorkdale Shopping Centre, making us think that we’re going to see Woolwich stores in Canada some time this year.
Muji to Expand Westward
After successfully opening 3 stores in the GTA, minimalist Japanese retailer Muji will announce its entry into the Vancouver market in early 2017. Vancouver residents will be happy to know that there will be more than one Muji store that will be announced — details to follow!
New Chanel Flagship
In the summer of 2017, Chanel will open its largest Canadian store — as well as its only freestanding Canadian store — at 100 Yorkville Avenue in Toronto. There’s been a delay in building the 8,700 square foot store and in the mean time, Yorkville Chanel fans will have to get their fix with a substantially expanded selection on the second floor of Holt Renfrew at 50 Bloor Street West. Chanel has been expanding in Canada and several months ago, opened a 5,000 square foot shop-in-store within Vancouver’s Holt Renfrew.
Yorkdale Luxury Expanding… AGAIN!
Just when you thought Yorkdale couldn’t become any more luxurious, five Richemont-owned luxury boutiques have put up construction signage in the mall. Watch for the openings of Van Cleef & Arpels, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin, Officine Panerai and IWC Schaffhausen over the summer. These won’t be the last luxury brands to open in the mall in 2017, either — watch for a huge announcement for a major brand to go into Birks’ formers space, next to the recently-opened Saint Laurent.
Vancouver will get more luxurious, too
Richemont is also expanding further into Vancouver. In 2017, watch for Van Cleef & Arpels and at least two of the company’s other brands to open on Alberni Street. Close by on West Georgia Street, Italian super-luxury brand Stefano Ricci is about to open a store, right beside the new Trump Tower, and Tiffany & Co.’s expansion/renovation will be done in the spring as well — it’s going to be huge, and amazing!
COS
H&M’s pricier fashion brand, which stands for ‘collection of style’, will open its first Vancouver store in 2017, after a bit of a delay. COS won’t be done expanding into Canada after that, however — a little bird told us that residents of Mississauga might expect an announcement for a location in the near future, as well.
Nordstrom CF Sherway Gardens
Nordstrom still isn’t done with Canada, which is terrific news! The Seattle-based department store will open its 6th Canadian store, also its third in Toronto, on Friday, September 15, 2017. The 140,000 square foot store will anchor the south end of the mall, and a really big Zara store will join it in the new wing, as well. 2016 was a big year for CF Sherway — Saks Fifth Avenue opened at in February of 2016, followed by a spectacular new expansion wing anchored by Sporting Life and Harry Rosen.
If only we could say that Nordstrom Rack was opening in 2017 as well… we’ll have to wait until early 2018, however, for Rack’s first Canadian location to open at the southeast corner of Yonge and Bloor in Toronto.
Saks OFF 5TH
Saks Fifth Avenue’s off-price concept Saks OFF 5TH plans to operate 25 Canadian stores by 2018. So far it’s opened nine, and in 2017 parent company Hudson’s Bay Company has revealed that at least six more locations will open this year — in Brampton, Pickering, Quebec City, Winnipeg, West Vancouver, as well as a second Edmonton store. We can’t wait for more store announcements!!!
Which of the most anticipated Canadian store openings are you most excited for?
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