Simons Takes Over Vancouver, Retail Revival Hopes

0:00Quebec-based department store assignments just drop big news. They're taking over the old Nordstrom spot at CF Pacific Center, right in downtown. Vancouver. The store is set to open by fall of 2027 as their 20th location across Canada, spanning 92,000 square feet over three. Floors and hiring about 150 people. This move comes after years of retail headaches in the city. Nordstrom bailed in 2023, following spots once held by Eaton's in Sears, Canada. Hudson's base shut down his downtown store last year, too, leaving one in four Grandville Street storefronts empty. Simon's president and CEO Bernard LeBlanc says Vancouver has been high on their list since opening two Toronto spots last year. He sees the downtown at a turning point with offices filling up again and tourism bouncing back, plus new eateries and hotels investing in the core. The company plays the long game, expanding deliberately after deep dives into local vibes. For Vancouver, they're designing with the city's brutalist architecture heritage in mind, aiming to

1:02build real connections in standout spaces. Word is, this could spark more retail revival downtown. Proving patient players like Simon's might just flip the script on Vancouver's shopping scene. I'm Cory with the story. That's your Canada news today update, AI powered and always on.