Zellers returns..... (yes, really)_

[Northern Light]

Zellers will return as a full, free-standing store at Edmonton's Londonderry Mall, taking 60,000ft2 of a former 'Bay' space.

Retail-Insider w/the scoop:

Zellers Returns to Canada with 1st Edmonton Store

Zellers returns to Canada with a 60,000 sq. ft. store at Edmonton’s Londonderry Mall, marking a major retail comeback following the demise of Hudson’s Bay.

retail-insider.com

Oddly, the owners are secret. We don't know who bought the IP, or who the operator is.............however, R-I did some digging and takes an educated guess.

My thought: Could work, but 60,000ft2 is only 2/3 the size of Zellers average footprint before Target.

I think it sounds a bit small. Apparently they will do clothes and home decor.

I think if they want to trade on nostalgia they will need to bring back the diner is some form........and they need toys and seasonal to drive traffic.

 

[matrix]

Reposting here for good measure, but on the topic of Les Ailes/Fairweather obtaining the Zellers trademark:

Les Ailes de la Mode and Fairweather have been mentioned before on the topic of Bay leases, albeit a footnote on an article about RioCan wanting a buyout of both Georgian Mall and Oakville Place leases before this was known:

RioCan Eyeing Buyout Of Hudson's Bay From Georgian Mall, Oakville Place

RioCan owns 50% of the Georgian Mall and Oakville Place, while the RioCan-Hudson's Bay joint venture owns the remaining 50%.

storeys.com

The third transaction is pertaining to the Yorkdale property in Ontario and will be a sublease arrangement with Fairweather Ltd., an established retailer with over 100 locations that intends to operate the space as a Les Ailes De La Mode.

Is Fairweather/Les Ailes going to operate a Zellers at Yorkdale too? Looking through the trademark transfer documents it sure does seem like it. I just didn't know what to make of it since Ailes has been shut down for quite some time and I didn't think it would generate any worthwhile discussion around here so I just brushed it off.

 

[nightstreak]

Reposting here for good measure, but on the topic of Les Ailes/Fairweather obtaining the Zellers trademark:

Les Ailes de la Mode and Fairweather have been mentioned before on the topic of Bay leases, albeit a footnote on an article about RioCan wanting a buyout of both Georgian Mall and Oakville Place leases before this was known:

RioCan Eyeing Buyout Of Hudson's Bay From Georgian Mall, Oakville Place

RioCan owns 50% of the Georgian Mall and Oakville Place, while the RioCan-Hudson's Bay joint venture owns the remaining 50%.

storeys.com

Is Fairweather/Les Ailes going to operate a Zellers at Yorkdale too? Looking through the trademark transfer documents it sure does seem like it. I just didn't know what to make of it since Ailes has been shut down for quite some time and I didn't think it would generate any worthwhile discussion around here so I just brushed it off.

I can't see a Zellers at Yorkdale. Zellers is a discount brand —Where the lowest price is the law!— in the style of Walmart which would have killed to be in Yorkdale and was never allowed. Interestingly, Canadian Tire got Zellers' slogan in the IP transfer.

If anything, Les Ailes is probably making a comeback with Zellers taking on the lower end of the market and a Les Ailes de la Mode opening at Yorkdale. They went out of business due to an overly ambitious expansion so I can see them keeping it to a store a piece to regain their footing.

 

[Northern Light]

Not yet active but https://zellers.com is in place.

 

[matrix]

I can't see a Zellers at Yorkdale. Zellers is a discount brand —Where the lowest price is the law!— in the style of Walmart which would have killed to be in Yorkdale and was never allowed. Interestingly, Canadian Tire got Zellers' slogan in the IP transfer.

If anything, Les Ailes is probably making a comeback with Zellers taking on the lower end of the market and a Les Ailes de la Mode opening at Yorkdale. They went out of business due to an overly ambitious expansion so I can see them keeping it to a store a piece to regain their footing.

That does make a lot of sense there. I would rather take Ailes de la Mode returning than Ruby Liu.

I can already see it. Les Ailes at Yorkdale, Hillcrest, Square One... Zellers at Londonberry Mall, Erin Mills TC, Oakville Place... If they pull that off and open locations based on market/mall (luxury or residential) they have a smart strategy there. I'm getting a bit ahead of things though.

 

[Richard White]

I wonder if they will put a Zellers in STC.

With Decathalon gone and the former HBC space vacant, the possibilities are endless.

 

[Northern Light]

I wonder if they will put a Zellers in STC.

With Decathalon gone and the former HBC space vacant, the possibilities are endless.

Two notes here:

1) Its very early days on the Zellers relaunch. They've gone w/one store. They'll want feedback on what the public likes or does not, and sales data past the novelty phase, before deciding on a broader rollout. The logistics of a truly national Zellers again is no small matter, should it get there.

***

2) STC has more than one interested player of size looking at its empty spaces. An announcement is likely in early to mid '26. but TBD. Other things have to fall into place first.

 

[pw20]

Two notes here:

1) Its very early days on the Zellers relaunch. They've gone w/one store. They'll want feedback on what the public likes or does not, and sales data past the novelty phase, before deciding on a broader rollout. The logistics of a truly national Zellers again is no small matter, should it get there.

***

2) STC has more than one interested player of size looking at its empty spaces. An announcement is likely in early to mid '26. but TBD. Other things have to fall into place first.

1. It's a way smarter strategy to launch a test store in a mid-market mall that's probably somewhat representative of other malls in Canada, perfect merchandise mix, etc before doing a national roll-out. Already this is smarter than Target and Ruby Liu. I wish them well. The Target failure wasn't from a lack of demand for a lower market department store, but a failure of execution.

2. Smells like La Maison Simons.

I'd be surprised if anyone opened a Les Ailes at Yorkdale. That has no brand cachet outside of a small number of people who lives in Quebec in the early 2000s. A better bet IMO would be to license a US brand name (like Bloomingdales) if someone wanted to fill empty retail space.

 

[Northern Light]

1. It's a way smarter strategy to launch a test store in a mid-market mall that's probably somewhat representative of other malls in Canada, perfect merchandise mix, etc before doing a national roll-out. Already this is smarter than Target and Ruby Liu. I wish them well. The Target failure wasn't from a lack of demand for a lower market department store, but a failure of execution.

100%

I'd be surprised if anyone opened a Les Ailes at Yorkdale. That has no brand cachet outside of a small number of people who lives in Quebec in the early 2000s. A better bet IMO would be to license a US brand name (like Bloomingdales) if someone wanted to fill empty retail space.

Is there a U.S. department store name that isn't impaired at the moment? Saks, Bloomingdales, Nieman, the shine is off all of them, I think.

In the international space, you've got the great stores of Paris, and London, but any international forays to date have not got all that well.

Periodically we see musics about Primark or M&S, but they certainly aren't high end.

I wonder about one of the Asian department stores maybe giving Canada a try?

 

[matrix]

I'd be surprised if anyone opened a Les Ailes at Yorkdale. That has no brand cachet outside of a small number of people who lives in Quebec in the early 2000s. A better bet IMO would be to license a US brand name (like Bloomingdales) if someone wanted to fill empty retail space.

US brand names are off the table. They're all not doing very well, or they were previously up here and had to shut.

I feel like Fairweather is banking on the fact Les Ailes is unknown outside of Quebec, so no one has any expectations of what it's supposed to be like, while being able to reinvent the brand. If that's the case I would be willing to bet Yorkdale will be a soft-launch too, although that has not materialized as quickly as Zellers'.

 

[torontowest91]

I am so confused by this Zellers 3.0?

Will it actually be like a "new" Walmart? or just a dumping ground for clothes aka an outlet

 

[narduch]

I am so confused by this Zellers 3.0?

Will it actually be like a "new" Walmart? or just a dumping ground for clothes aka an outlet

I wonder if they will just sell the same crap they already sell in their other stores: Fairweather, International Clothiers or Designer Depot

 

[Richard White]

I wonder if they will just sell the same crap they already sell in their other stores: Fairweather, International Clothiers or Designer Depot

God I hope not. International Clothiers was so cheap with gaudy designs on some items. I would not shop there unless it was for junk clothes.

The quality at International Clothiers reminded me alot of Bi-Way and the clothes they used to sell.

I do hope they keep the Anko brand though, for a house brand it was not too bad.

 

[thettctransitfanatic]

I wonder if they will just sell the same crap they already sell in their other stores: Fairweather, International Clothiers or Designer Depot

Someone took this photo of a part of the door that was not covered up, and well it looks like the same crap... sigh.. Zellers will probably be their discount store...

 

[thettctransitfanatic]

God I hope not. International Clothiers was so cheap with gaudy designs on some items. I would not shop there unless it was for junk clothes.

The quality at International Clothiers reminded me alot of Bi-Way and the clothes they used to sell.

I do hope they keep the Anko brand though, for a house brand it was not too bad.

I've seen some Anko branded products at Walmart recently.