Quebec City-based Chocolats Favoris officially opened its downtown Montreal flagship yesterday. Measuring about 2,300 square feet, it's the brand's first on the island of Montreal. The company is expanding aggressively and next week, will open its first Western Canadian location in Victoria, BC.

The Montreal Chocolats Favoris replaces an Aldo shoe store location in the central Quartier des Spectacles at Complexe Desjardins, with the storefront facing Sainte Catherine Street West. The retail space is bright and attractive, and its opening was well attended as per the brief video below.

Video created by Maxime Frechette

*At the store opening on June 21, 2016. Photo: Maxime Frechette*

*Click above for interactive Google map*

The Montreal opening follows several recently opened locations, including its first in Ontario in Orleans, which opened on June 4. Other recently opened locations were in the Quebec communities of Rosemere, Mont Saint-Hilaire, St-Hubert, Granby, Vaudreuil-Dorion, and at Quartier DIX30 in Brossard, near Montreal. On July 1, a large location will open on Victoria's tourist-heavy Government Street, just in time for the busy cruise ship season. Each new store requires an investment of about $600,000, according to the company.

Chocolats Favoris now has 21 locations, and it plans to eventually operate about 75 stores coast-to-coast. Toronto locations are soon to follow according to the company, which plans to grow its sales to about $100 million by the year 2020.

Founded in Lévis, Quebec in 1979, Chocolats Favoris was acquired by entrepreneur Dominique Brown in 2012. Each store employs between 35 and 40 staff. About half of Chocolats Favoris' locations are franchised and that ratio will be maintained as part of the expansion.

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*Photos/video by Maxime Frechette.

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web: June 23, 2016