{"id":15761,"date":"2025-08-15T06:59:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T06:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/simons-opens-first-toronto-store-at-yorkdale\/"},"modified":"2025-08-15T06:59:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T06:59:13","slug":"simons-opens-first-toronto-store-at-yorkdale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/simons-opens-first-toronto-store-at-yorkdale\/","title":{"rendered":"Simons Opens First Toronto Store at Yorkdale"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Retail<\/a><\/p>
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La Maison Simons has officially opened its first store in Toronto, a long-anticipated move that brings the Quebec City-based fashion retailer to one of Canada\u2019s most prestigious shopping destinations. The Simons Yorkdale store opening marks a major step in the company\u2019s national expansion and its eighteenth location in Canada.<\/p>\n

The new 118,000-square-foot store spans two levels of the former Nordstrom space at Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Canada\u2019s top-performing enclosed mall by sales per square foot. This location joins the retailer\u2019s existing Greater Toronto Area store at Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga, which opened in March 2016.<\/p>\n

The August 14 launch drew an enthusiastic crowd that included members of the Simons family, senior executives, retail colleagues, friends, and representatives from Oxford Properties, which owns Yorkdale. The atmosphere reflected both excitement for a new retail experience and pride in a Canadian brand\u2019s ability to continue expanding in a competitive market.<\/p>\n

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Mall entrance to La Maison Simons at Toronto\u2019s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, August 14, 2025. Photo: Craig Patterson <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Store Designed for the Toronto Market<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Yorkdale store\u2019s layout is tailored to an urban customer base, combining Simons\u2019 private labels with an expanded mix of luxury and contemporary brands. The main floor features women\u2019s fashion, footwear, bags, and accessories, while the second level houses men\u2019s fashion, home collections, and a children\u2019s department.<\/p>\n

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Simons\u2019 CEO Peter Simons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

This location offers more expansive footwear departments and a larger assortment of designer bags than many other Simons stores. The \u00c9dito designer departments for men and women feature exclusive brands such as Balmain, Kenzo, Missoni, Vivienne Westwood, and Marni, alongside Simons\u2019 private label departments including Twik, Ic\u00f4ne, Contemporaine, Miiyu, Le 31, and Simons Maison.<\/p>\n

Peter Simons, the company\u2019s Chief Merchant and former President and CEO who led much of its national expansion before stepping aside in 2022, described the Yorkdale location as both a refinement and an evolution of the Simons format. \u201cIt\u2019s 118,000 square feet and the design, the artwork\u2014it\u2019s always unique to every store,\u201d he said during the opening.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve tried to refine how we fit the whole store together while keeping distinct locations for different sub-brands. I think the market\u2019s going to be open to not only our private label but also a lot of discovery brands coming out of our offices in Korea, Italy, and Paris.\u201d<\/p>\n

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La Maison Simons at Toronto\u2019s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, August 14, 2025. Photo: Craig Patterson <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Art and Architecture at the Forefront<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Simons Yorkdale store opening continues the retailer\u2019s long tradition of incorporating art and architecture as central elements of the shopping experience. Designed in collaboration with Gensler Design, Lemay Michaud Architecture, and Reliance Construction, the store follows a \u201cPerennial Ephemera\u201d theme inspired by cycles of light, growth, and transformation.<\/p>\n

Customers encounter \u201cThe Walk of Frames,\u201d an interactive art pathway featuring 40 works by 24 artists, with QR codes allowing visitors to explore each artist\u2019s story. French artist Nelio\u2019s \u201cCIEL\u201d mural, painted above the central staircase, anchors the store\u2019s artistic statement with a luminous, abstract interpretation of a cloudy sunset.<\/p>\n

In addition, Montreal-based Rodeo FX, internationally recognized for its work on productions such as Game of Thrones<\/em> and Stranger Things<\/em>, created three large-scale digital installations for the store. These include:<\/p>\n

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  • Solarium<\/strong>: An animated fabric installation visible from Yorkdale Road, evoking sunlight and stillness.<\/li>\n
  • Forest Diorama<\/strong>: A layered LED display above the entrance showing mannequins in a shifting seasonal forest.<\/li>\n
  • Fabric of Life<\/strong>: A digital animation inside the entrance blending blooming botanicals with fashion imagery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Bernard Leblanc, Simons\u2019 current President and CEO, emphasized the company\u2019s vision: \u201cWe believe our spaces are more than just places to shop\u2014they are places to discover, to be inspired, and to engage with fashion, Canadian art, and design.\u201d<\/p>\n

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    Lego artwork at La Maison Simons at Toronto\u2019s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, August 14, 2025. Photo: Craig Patterson <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Sustainability Embedded in the Brand<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Environmental responsibility has been part of Simons\u2019 operations for decades. Peter Simons said the company began formally mapping its environmental footprint over 20 years ago, working with PwC\u2019s sustainability division in the UK to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water usage.<\/p>\n

    The Yorkdale store incorporates elements from the company\u2019s Vision program, which highlights garments made from recycled or lower-impact materials. The program aims to make responsible fashion more accessible while allowing customers to align their purchases with their values.<\/p>\n

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    Women\u2019s \u2018Twik\u2019 department on the main floor of La Maison Simons at Toronto\u2019s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, August 14, 2025. Photo: Craig Patterson <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Building on a National Growth Strategy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    The Simons Yorkdale store opening is part of a broader $100 million investment in the Greater Toronto Area, which includes the September launch of a second Toronto location at CF Toronto Eaton Centre. The downtown store will occupy approximately 112,000 square feet of another former Nordstrom space, sharing it with Eataly and Nike.<\/p>\n

    Combined, the two Toronto stores are projected to generate around $100 million in annual sales. That performance could place them among Simons\u2019 most successful locations nationally. Currently, the retailer\u2019s total sales exceed $650 million annually, with approximately two-thirds generated by its 17 other physical stores and the remainder from its e-commerce business.<\/p>\n

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    Men\u2019s designer accessories on the second floor of La Maison Simons at Toronto\u2019s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, August 14, 2025. Photo: Craig Patterson <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    From Quebec City to Coast-to-Coast Presence<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Founded in 1840 by John Simons in Quebec City, the company began as a dry goods store and grew into a department store format focused on fashion. It remains Canada\u2019s oldest privately owned family business.<\/p>\n

    For more than 185 years, Simons\u2019 operations were limited to Quebec, expanding across the province to cities including Montreal, Laval, Sherbrooke, and Saint-Bruno. In 2012, the brand ventured outside Quebec for the first time with a flagship store at West Edmonton Mall.<\/p>\n

    The years that followed brought new locations in Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton (Londonderry Mall), Mississauga, Halifax, and now Toronto. The retailer\u2019s expansion strategy has focused on flagship-sized stores in top-performing shopping centres, often in redeveloped spaces formerly occupied by department store chains such as Sears and Nordstrom.<\/p>\n

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    Men\u2019s accessories on the second floor of La Maison Simons at Toronto\u2019s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, August 14, 2025. Photo: Craig Patterson <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    A Canadian Retailer Standing Alone<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    In a Canadian retail landscape where most homegrown department store competitors have disappeared, Simons has endured by differentiating itself from traditional department store models. Peter Simons resists the label entirely. \u201cI don\u2019t really consider us a department store,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don\u2019t do hard goods. It\u2019s a unique concept of mixing brands and our own exclusive merchandise.\u201d<\/p>\n

    He noted that long-standing stores continue to post strong double-digit sales growth. \u201cWe\u2019re in a bit of a magic moment,\u201d he said, acknowledging a mix of factors, from brand loyalty to the appeal of a family-owned Canadian business, that have helped fuel momentum. \u201cBay customers were used to larger-format store experiences. Ours is different, but still navigable, with unique assortments.\u201d<\/p>\n

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    Men\u2019s Missoni and other designers in the \u2018Edito\u2019 department on the second floor of La Maison Simons at Toronto\u2019s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, August 14, 2025. Photo: Craig Patterson <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Designer Brands and the Spirit of Discovery<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Simons\u2019 designer \u00c9dito departments have long been a point of distinction. While the company has carried well-known international brands since the 1960s \u2014 including early Canadian boutiques for labels such as Ralph Lauren and Kenzo \u2014 it also prioritizes introducing emerging designers.<\/p>\n

    \u201cMy heart\u2019s with the younger startups and interesting new creatives,\u201d Peter Simons said. \u201cYou live in a world where you have a hot brand here and a hot brand there, and you need to have them. But what I\u2019m really looking for is creativity. If you\u2019ve got that, I\u2019m interested.\u201d<\/p>\n

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    Home department on the second floor of La Maison Simons at Toronto\u2019s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, August 14, 2025. Photo: Craig Patterson <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    With two new Toronto stores, an established e-commerce platform, and a continued focus on art, design, and sustainability, Simons appears poised for a strong next chapter. While the company is open to new locations, Peter Simons said it prefers to wait for the right opportunity. \u201cWe\u2019re certainly looking at spaces and we\u2019re open in discussion, but we\u2019re looking for the right space at the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n

    For now, the Simons Yorkdale store opening and the upcoming CF Toronto Eaton Centre debut reflect both the brand\u2019s heritage and its forward-looking approach\u2014an integration of fashion, art, and culture that is increasingly rare in Canadian retail.<\/p>\n

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    Lots of natural light: La Maison Simons at Toronto\u2019s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, August 14, 2025. Photo: Craig Patterson <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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    Men\u2019s underwear at La Maison Simons at Toronto\u2019s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, August 14, 2025. Photo: Craig Patterson <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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    Customer service desk at La Maison Simons at Toronto\u2019s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, August 14, 2025. Photo: Craig Patterson <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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    Home department at La Maison Simons at Toronto\u2019s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Photo: supplied <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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    Women\u2019s \u2018Contemporaine\u2019 department on the main floor of La Maison Simons at Toronto\u2019s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Photo: supplied <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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    Women\u2019s \u2018Twik\u2019 department on the main floor of La Maison Simons at Toronto\u2019s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Photo: supplied <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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    Women\u2019s \u2018Icone\u2019 department on the main floor of La Maison Simons at Toronto\u2019s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Photo: supplied <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    More from Retail Insider: <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

    \"Retail<\/a><\/p>
    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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