Zellers ‘accelerating comeback’ with two new stores in Ontario

Rendering of Zellers’ First New Ontario Store Opening at 80 Orfus Rd. in Toronto Photo by Zellers/Submitted

Article content

Canadian retailer Zellers is expanding into Ontario with two new stores as it “accelerates its national comeback” following its Alberta debut in October.

Article content

Its initial Ontario rollout includes the June 18 opening of the Toronto location at 80 Orfus Rd. in North York, followed by another store inside Tecumseh Mall in Windsor, Ont., in July.

Article content

Article content

The retailer said the new openings build on last year’s comeback success and signal continued momentum in Zellers’ national expansion strategy.

Article content

Article content

“Following the incredible response we saw in Edmonton, we’re excited to bring Zellers back to Ontario in a meaningful way,” its chief operating officer, Joey Benitah, said in a press release.

Article content

Article content

Zellers said the brand’s first store opening at Londonderry Mall in Edmonton in October exceeded expectations and reinforced demand for its return. The Edmonton store opening marked a major milestone in the brand’s return, drawing strong foot traffic, enthusiastic customer response and sustained sales performance across key categories, it said.

Article content

The retailer said insights from that launch directly informed the merchandising strategy and in-store experience for upcoming locations, “expanding assortments to reflect what Canadians want today.”

Article content

One of Canada’s most iconic retail brands, Zellers was founded in 1928 as a discount store chain. The brand’s return in 2025, which it calls Zellers 3.0, reimagined it as a small-format department store. Quebec-based retailer Les Ailes de la Mode Inc. acquired the Zellers trademarks from Hudson’s Bay Company Inc. in August 2025, following HBC’s dissolution last year.

Article content

Article content

The Toronto location is currently under construction and will be a 25,000-square-foot standalone store. The new Windsor location in Tecumseh Mall is also well underway, and something of a homecoming for Zellers, which previously occupied space in the mall.

Article content

Article content

“We are excited and nostalgic to welcome the Zellers brand back to Tecumseh Mall, marking a great new chapter for both our property and the greater Windsor community,” said Katarina Taylor, general manager of Europro’s Windsor Properties, owners of mall. “Our shoppers have always remembered the brand fondly, so this reopening is a genuinely meaningful moment for everyone involved.”

Article content

Taylor said the mall is ready to introduce the updated retail offering to its customers, supporting Zellers’ mission of providing Canadians with a homegrown, value-driven shopping experience.

Article content

Zellers said that for each new store opening, it will introduce a series of nostalgic in-store moments and surprises designed to celebrate the brand’s legacy.

Article content

It said the new Ontario stores will build on Zellers’ core categories, including apparel, accessories, home and seasonal, while introducing several new offerings in response to customer demand.