By Gillian LaGuerta

Upscale menswear retailer Harry Rosen will relocate its Ottawa store to an 18,000 square foot space in November. Rosen's current Rideau Centre store is less than half that size. The stunning new store will compete with the adjacent Nordstrom, scheduled to open in March of 2015.

Ottawa's new Harry Rosen will feature outstanding interiors, similar to those in its recently renovated and expanded Yorkdale Shopping Centre location. Interestingly, Rosen's Ottawa store will include a large shoe shop with its own entrance, adjoined to the main store. Rosen's will also include several designer shops-in-shop, not unlike other larger Harry Rosen stores. Its Yorkdale store, for example, features shops for Ermenegildo Zegna, Canali, and Giorgio Armani.

When finished, it will be one of Harry Rosen's largest stores. The largest is the 55,000 square foot Toronto flagship on Bloor Street West. In total, Harry Rosen has 16 Canadian store locations as well as one outlet store in Mississauga. A second outlet store will open this fall at Toronto's Vaughan Mills.

Harry Rosen is renovating and expanding a number of its stores, completely overhauling its Downtown Vancouver and Montreal locations. Its Montreal store will grow to become the company's second-largest, rivalling the world's best men's stores. Its Vancouver store, the second-highest selling in the chain, will be completely renovated and reconfigured.

Ottawa's Rideau Centre is undertaking a massive expansion which will eventually include new retail anchored by a 105,000 square foot La Maison Simons store and a 157,000 square foot Nordstrom store. Nordstrom is scheduled to open March 6, 2015, next door to Harry Rosen.

Although Harry Rosen will see increased competition from the likes of Nordstrom and Simons, Rosen's exceptional selection and service will set it apart. We'll do a separate article next week discussing the future of Ottawa's upscale retailing, including discussion on both Harry Rosen and Nordstrom.