*Photo: Google Street View screen capture. Click image for interactive version.*

Vancouver-based multi-discipline performance training and fitness brand RYU Apparel has secured retail space for its first store location outside of British Columbia. The company has announced that its first Toronto store will open in early spring of 2017 at 361 Queen Street West, joining other popular retailers in the area.

RYU’s Toronto store’s retail space will span about 2,200 square feet, with an additional 2,050 square feet of office and meeting space to be located below. Jeri Brodie of Aurora Realty Consultants represented the retailer in a deal with the landlord.

RYU will join a number of strong co-tenants including Arc’teryx, Lululemon, Nobis and Icebreaker, which have all recently opened nearby. Vancouver-based large format outdoor cooperative MEC will also open a flagship nearby at the northwest corner of Queen Street West and Soho Street.

RYU's first retail location, measuring 5,600 square feet, opened at 1745 W. 4 Avenue in November of 2015 and acts as the brand's global flagship. Soon, RYU stores will open at 805 Thurlow Street (just south of Robson Street) in downtown Vancouver as well as at Park Royal in West Vancouver and next year, at Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby.

*Click above for interactive Google Map.*

"Toronto is a new community for us and we are excited to be expanding outside of Vancouver to our first location in Ontario," said Marcello Leone, CEO and Chairman of the Board for RYU. "We have received such great feedback from the Toronto fitness community already and we are looking forward to further growing our brand in Eastern Canada. We are excited to introduce the new standard of urban athletics to the Toronto market.”

Founded in Portland, Oregon, RYU or 'Respect Your Universe', is an athletic tech-style apparel brand engineered for the fitness, training and performance of the multi-discipline athlete. Marcello Leone, son of the founders of Vancouver-based multi-brand luxury retailer Leone, took the company over in 2014 and spearheaded an overhaul which saw its headquarters moved from the United States to Canada, choosing his hometown of Vancouver to be its new corporate address. RYU's intention is to become the world's top multi-discipline performance training and fitness brand, according to Mr. Leone.

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web: October 17, 2016