NEW YORK & TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Saks Fifth Avenue is delighted to reveal details about the previously announced opening of two full-line Saks Fifth Avenue stores in Toronto, Canada. The 163,000 square-foot location in the Eaton Centre at Queen Street is expected to open on February 18, 2016. Just a week later, the 150,000 square-foot Sherway Gardens location is anticipated to open on February 25, 2016.
“Saks Fifth Avenue’s entrance into Canada is a very exciting moment for our company,” commented Marc Metrick, President of Saks Fifth Avenue. “We are thrilled to bring Saks Fifth Avenue’s renowned assortment of designer fashions and legendary experience to Toronto.”
The Saks stores at Eaton Centre in Queen Street and Sherway Gardens will include a number of luxurious offerings to delight and entertain Toronto residents and visitors alike. They will feature an extensive array of women’s designer ready-to-wear, a grand designer handbag selection, robust beauty offerings and unique men’s areas complete with a made-to-measure lounge. The two locations will also include 10022-SHOE, Saks Fifth Avenue’s signature women’s designer shoe salon that will showcase an extensive selection of designer brands.
Both stores will introduce The Fifth Avenue Club, Saks Fifth Avenue’s personal shopping and styling service. The Club’s expert personal shoppers will offer an unmatched level of attention and distinguished services tailored to the customers’ needs—plus access to a private suite, refreshments and more—right in the middle of Saks Fifth Avenue. Saks Fifth Avenue Eaton Centre at Queen Street and Sherway Gardens will also feature the renowned luxury hair and beauty salon, John Barrett. As the retailer’s new official in-store salon and spa partner, John Barrett will be an integral part of the Canada stores. The salon will offer clients the expertise of top international stylists all while enjoying a relaxing and luxurious experience. Overall design will be led by Tricarico Architecture and Design and the staff will be chosen and trained by Barrett himself.
As part of the landmark launch of the Saks Fifth Avenue brand in Toronto, Pusateri’s Fine Foods will be integrating a world-class food experience at the luxury department store’s first two Canadian locations. Saks Food Hall by Pusateri’s, taking over 21,000 square feet in the Eaton Centre at Queen Street and 18,500 square feet in Sherway Gardens, will be an unparalleled destination for fine international food products, gourmet prepared foods, and integrated full-service experiences, offering an elevated and luxurious atmosphere synonymous with both the Pusateri’s and Saks Fifth Avenue brands. Pusateri’s is world-renowned as an authority in fine foods, lauded for its exceptional quality, exemplary selection, and incomparable customer service—three pillars the gourmet grocer will bring to its exciting partnership with Saks Fifth Avenue.
Oliver & Bonacini (O&B)—one of Canada’s leading fine dining restaurant, events and catering companies, founded by Peter Oliver and Michael Bonacini—will launch unique restaurant concepts at each location. The restaurant and bar in the Eaton Centre store will span three floors at 11,000 square feet at the corner of Yonge and Richmond Streets, while the restaurant at Sherway Gardens, will span 5,500 square feet. Both properties will be sleek and stylish with hints of whimsical tones and textures. The food and beverage offering at each restaurant will showcase the best quality ingredients, playful combinations and innovative concoctions. The culinary program for both locations will be spearheaded by Oliver & Bonacini’s Corporate Executive Chef Anthony Walsh. “We are very proud to partner with Saks Fifth Avenue, as both of our organizations have a shared commitment to inspired service and exceptional quality,” commented Andrew Oliver, President of Oliver & Bonacini Restaurants.
Through these new stores, Saks Fifth Avenue will also introduce The Personal Shopping Experience to the Greater Toronto Area. This intimate shopping service operates from a Saks Fifth Avenue-branded Mercedes-Benz, accompanied by a personal shopper, and travels to a client’s home or office. The Personal Shopping Experience arrives stocked with merchandise specifically selected for the client; its amenities include styling, beauty consultations and tailoring.
Both Saks Fifth Avenue stores will feature breathtaking architectural details created by Saks Fifth Avenue Store Design and Planning in partnership with design firms FRCH Design Worldwide for the Eaton Centre at Queen Street location and Ted Moudis Associates for the Sherway Gardens location. The Eaton Centre at Queen Street store will reflect the grandeur and tradition of Saks Fifth Avenue’s New York flagship while the Sherway Gardens store will introduce a fresh, contemporary, open-format layout. Both locations will feature hand-crafted materials and furniture, hand-applied finishes and elements of surprise.
“Toronto has a discerning luxury customer and Saks Fifth Avenue is excited to serve this new market,” commented Stephane Ledoux, Regional Vice President, Saks Fifth Avenue Canada. “Saks Fifth Avenue will be a premier shopping destination in the area, offering an elevated experience unrivaled by any other. I am very passionate about this opportunity and look forward to bringing Saks Fifth Avenue to Canada.”
To celebrate its launch in Canada, Saks Fifth Avenue is pleased to partner with The National Ballet of Canada, an iconic Canadian arts organization with an international reputation for excellence. The partnership begins with the National Ballet’s 2015/16 season, which opens this month with The Winter’s Tale by Christopher Wheeldon.
ABOUT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
Saks Fifth Avenue, one of the world’s pre-eminent specialty retailers, is renowned for its superlative American and international designer collections, its expertly edited assortment of handbags, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics and gifts, and the first-rate fashion expertise and exemplary client service of its Associates. As part of the Hudson’s Bay Company brand portfolio, Saks operates 38 full-line stores in 22 states, five international licensed stores and saks.com, the company’s online store.
ABOUT HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY
Hudson’s Bay Company is one of the fastest-growing department store retailers in the world, based on its successful formula of driving the performance of high quality stores and their all-channel offerings, unlocking the value of real estate holdings and growing through acquisitions. Founded in 1670, HBC is the oldest company in North America. With the recent completion of its acquisition of GALERIA Kaufhof Group, HBC’s portfolio today includes eight banners, in formats ranging from luxury to better department stores to off price, with more than 460 stores and 65,000 employees around the world.
In North America, HBC’s leading banners include Hudson’s Bay, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks OFF 5TH, along with Home Outfitters. In Europe, its banners include GALERIA Kaufhof, the largest department store group in Germany, Belgium’s only department store group Galeria INNO, as well as Sportarena.
HBC has significant investments in real estate joint ventures. It has partnered with Simon Property Group Inc. in HBS Global Properties Joint Venture, which owns properties in the United States and Germany. In Canada, it has partnered with RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust in the RioCan-HBC Joint Venture.
