Zellers is making a comeback with major Canada-wide expansion plans

Thought you saw the last of Zellers? Think again! The nostalgic Canadian retailer is planning to take the country by storm, looking to expand nationally once again.

I have vivid memories of when I was a kid, roaming the aisles at Zellers with my mom and ending the morning with some lunch at the retro diner. Many Canadians share that same sense of nostalgia, so much so that it’s safe to say we’ve craved its return.

Zellers: The Canadian icon

We did see its return in the form of a pop-up at select Hudson’s Bay locations; however, with the historic brand’s closure across the country, Zellers went away with it.

Despite a few setbacks, Zellers did open its first standalone store inside the Londonderry Mall in Edmonton last October, and luckily, it found success. What the retail calls Zellers 3.0, the concept was met with “enthusiastic customer response, reaffirming the enduring emotional connection Canadians have with the brand and validating the demand for a modern, value-driven department store experience.”

According to Zellers, its Edmonton location introduced a thought-out selection of men’s, women’s, kids’ and baby apparel, footwear, accessories, home essentials, and seasonal choices.

“Launching our first store exceeded our expectations in every way,” said Joey Benitah, Chief Operating Officer of Zellers.

“The excitement we saw on opening day has continued well beyond the launch, with consistent customer traffic, overwhelmingly positive feedback, and sales performance that continues to surpass our internal targets. Canadians have shown a deep love for the Zellers name, strong enthusiasm for the new store concept, and genuine appreciation for the product selection and value we’re delivering.”

What’s to come for Zellers across Canada

All that being said, Zellers wants to replicate that success across the country – and it’s confident it will do well.

At the moment, the retailer is “actively pursuing” new leasing opportunities nationwide, as part of its phased expansion strategy. Its goal is to secure locations in every major Canadian market.

But as to when that will come to flourish, we have yet to find out. The Canadian retailer shares it will announce anything related to new store locations, expansions and future phases of the Zellers 3.0 concept in the next few months.

“Our goal is to bring Zellers back to communities across the country, and we’re already in active conversations with landlords nationwide as we explore opportunities in all major Canadian markets,” said Benitah.

“At the same time, we’re actively listening to our customers and paying close attention to what they’re telling us they want to see more of. That feedback is directly informing how we evolve our offerings, refine the store experience, and introduce new categories and brands over time.”

Oh, Zellers, how we’ve missed you!

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