Quebec-based fashion retailer Simons opened its first urban Toronto location at Yorkdale Shopping Centre on Thursday, August 14, marking the family-owned company’s most significant expansion in its 185-year history. The two-storey, 118,000-square-foot store represents the first of two planned Toronto locations and the company’s 18th store nationally.
The opening follows a $100 million investment in the Greater Toronto Area that will create 400 new jobs across both Toronto locations. Simons, Canada’s oldest private family business, selected Yorkdale as its flagship Toronto location after operating successfully at Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga since 2016.
“What a pleasure it is to open our doors in Toronto and become part of such a vibrant, creative, and diverse community,” said Bernard Leblanc, President and CEO of Simons, who was present for Thursday’s opening. “This milestone represents many years in the making. Our Yorkdale store reflects our commitment to creativity, design, esteemed service, purpose, community and connection.”
The Yorkdale location showcases Simons’ distinctive retail approach through clearly defined brand zones, including the signature red-themed Twik section for women’s contemporary fashion and the Maison home goods department featuring Canadian-designed furniture and lifestyle products. The store’s layout demonstrates the company’s boutique-within-store concept, where each private label occupies distinct visual merchandising spaces.
Central to the store’s design is the “Walk of Frames,” an interactive art installation featuring 40 works by 24 artists, many of them Canadian. The centrepiece includes CIEL, a monumental ceiling mural by French artist Nelio, positioned above the store’s central staircase. Digital installations created in partnership with Montreal-based Rodeo FX extend from the exterior storefront into interior spaces.
“Fashion is art, and we see art as the ultimate connector, enabling our customers to meaningfully engage with one another and their surroundings,” Leblanc said. “The design and construction of our stores are often influenced by the local works we feature, and Yorkdale is no exception.”
The Toronto expansion comes at a critical juncture for Canadian retail, as traditional department stores face mounting pressure from e-commerce competition and changing consumer shopping patterns. Simons’ entry into Canada’s largest metropolitan market signals confidence in experiential retail concepts that combine fashion, art, and cultural programming.
“Our entire Oxford team is so proud to welcome this renowned Canadian retailer to Yorkdale as we continue to build on the mix of destination brands available at the shopping centre,” said Daniel Fournier, Executive Chair at Oxford Properties, which operates Yorkdale Shopping Centre.
For Toronto’s retail landscape, the opening introduces a distinctly Canadian alternative to international fast fashion chains and luxury brands that dominate many shopping destinations. The company’s emphasis on Canadian designers through its Fabrique 1840 platform, which features over 400 local creators including several Toronto-area artisans, positions Simons as a supporter of domestic fashion talent.
The Yorkdale opening reinforces the shopping centre’s position as a premier retail destination in the GTA, adding to an tenant mix that includes major international brands and Canadian retailers. For Oxford Properties, which has partnered with Simons since the Square One opening, the expansion validates the mall operator’s strategy of attracting experiential retailers that offer more than traditional shopping.
The success of Simons’ Mississauga location provided the foundation for the Toronto expansion, demonstrating Ontario market appetite for the retailer’s curated fashion and cultural programming. The Yorkdale store’s performance will likely influence Simons’ broader national expansion strategy, as the company evaluates entry into other major Canadian metropolitan markets including Vancouver and Calgary.
With the second Toronto location planned for CF Toronto Eaton Centre later this year, Simons is positioning itself to capture both suburban and downtown Toronto markets. The dual-location strategy reflects the company’s recognition that Toronto’s diverse geography and demographics require multiple touchpoints to build meaningful market presence in Canada’s economic center.
Dustin Fuhs is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of 6ix Retail, Toronto’s premier source for retail and hospitality industry news. As the former Editor-in-Chief of Retail Insider, Canada’s most-read retail trade publication, Dustin brings over two decades of expertise spanning retail, marketing, entertainment and hospitality sectors. His experience includes leadership roles with industry giants such as The Walt Disney Company, The Hockey Hall of Fame, Starbucks and Blockbuster.
Recognized as a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert in 2024 and 2025, Dustin delivers insider perspectives on Toronto’s evolving retail landscape, from emerging brands to established players reshaping the city’s commercial districts.