Craig Patterson

Toronto

Editor-in-Chief at Retail-Insider

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Articles

MR.SUB Celebrates Canada Day with Sub Special and Food Rescue Partnership

3 days ago | retail-insider.com | Craig Patterson

Canada’s original homegrown submarine sandwich brand, MR.SUB, is celebrating Canada Day 2025 with a patriotic promotion that reflects both national pride and a commitment to community. From June 27 to July 6, MR.SUB is offering special pricing on its Canadian Club Sub, one of its most popular items. A portion of proceeds will go to Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue organization.
Rimowa Opens Yorkdale Boutique Amid Canadian Expansion

3 days ago | retail-insider.com | Craig Patterson

Luxury luggage house Rimowa has officially opened its third standalone Canadian boutique, selecting Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre as its latest retail destination. The new store marks a significant milestone for the brand, furthering its presence in Canada and anchoring Yorkdale’s ambitious new 65,000-square-foot luxury wing.
JD Sports Opens Canadian Flagship on Robson Street

3 days ago | retail-insider.com | Craig Patterson

UK-based sports-fashion retailer JD Sports has officially opened its first Canadian flagship store in Vancouver at 1042 Robson Street, marking a milestone in the company’s aggressive expansion strategy across Canada. The flagship stands as the retailer’s most substantial investment in the Canadian market to date and is the 34th JD location in the country.
Canadians Cautiously Embrace AI in Customer Service

3 days ago | retail-insider.com | Craig Patterson

Canadians are cautiously optimistic about the promise of artificial intelligence, especially in retail and customer service, according to new national data from Salesforce. But while many see AI as a tool to solve long-standing frustrations, concerns about trust, ethics, and transparency continue to hold back widespread adoption.
Loblaw and Parmigiano Reggiano Break Cheese-Cracking World Record

3 days ago | retail-insider.com | Craig Patterson

In a landmark celebration of culinary tradition and community, Parmigiano Reggiano and Loblaw Companies Ltd. have officially set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the most Parmigiano Reggiano wheels cracked simultaneously across multiple locations. The achievement took place on June 14, 2025, at exactly 12:00 PM EST, uniting Canadians coast-to-coast in a moment that combined culture, craftsmanship, and food appreciation.
Cozey Expands with Permanent Stores in Vancouver and Calgary

4 days ago | retail-insider.com | Craig Patterson

Cozey, the Montreal-founded Canadian furniture brand known for its modular, tool-free sofas and accessible design, is ramping up its national retail footprint with the announcement of two new permanent stores in Vancouver and Calgary. The move comes as the company continues to test the market with pop-up locations, including its newly launched Ottawa store, and marks a significant evolution from its digital-first beginnings in 2020.
Stone Island to Open New Store at Yorkdale in Toronto

4 days ago | retail-insider.com | Craig Patterson

Luxury fashion brand Stone Island will soon open its second standalone store in Canada at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, further solidifying the brand’s growing presence in the Canadian market. The new store will span approximately 3,600 square feet, as Yorkdale continues its evolution as a premier destination for high-end streetwear and global luxury retail. Stone Island’s upcoming Yorkdale boutique takes over a prominent space previously occupied by menswear brand John Varvatos.
Ruby Liu Secures 3 Hudson’s Bay Stores to Launch Chain

5 days ago | retail-insider.com | Craig Patterson

Weihong (Ruby) Liu, a billionaire real estate investor based in British Columbia, has received court approval to acquire three former Hudson’s Bay store leases. The ruling, issued Monday by Ontario Superior Court Justice Peter Osborne, marks the first formal step toward Liu’s goal of launching a nationwide department store chain bearing her name—Ruby Liu.
Miznon Expands in Canada with New Restaurant Locations

5 days ago | retail-insider.com | Craig Patterson

Following the successful debut of its first Canadian location in Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood in 2023 and a second at Union Station earlier this year, Israeli-born street food brand Miznon is turning up the heat with plans for further expansion across Canada. The brand, led in Canada by Eli Benchetrit, is eyeing new markets, new cities, and potentially even new concepts under the culinary empire of celebrated Israeli chef Eyal Shani.
Ruby Liu Presses On as Landlords Reject Bay Lease Deals

1 week ago | retail-insider.com | Craig Patterson

Entrepreneur and real estate investor Ruby Liu says she’s not giving up — even after a major setback involving her plan to acquire dozens of Hudson’s Bay stores across Canada. A court-appointed monitor has confirmed that landlords representing 23 of 25 store leases have opposed her company’s proposed lease assignments, placing the future of the broader acquisition effort in jeopardy.