Inside Nordstrom's Eaton Centre Flagship, and List of Brands/Boutiques [Photos]

Mall entrance on September 7, 2016. Photo: Devon Johnson

Nordstrom held a press tour of its CF Toronto Eaton Centre store on Wednesday, September 7, in anticipation of its public grand opening on Friday, September 16. We took photos of the beautiful new space which, similar to the Vancouver flagship, features a considerable variety of amenities as well as several luxury shop-in-stores. In this article, we've also provided a list of designers carried in the store's various departments. 

The 220,000 square foot store is located at the north end of CF Toronto Eaton Centre, in retail space once occupied by Eaton's flagship and, most recently, Sears Canada. Nordstrom's street-level entrance is technically on the mall's third level, given its configuration. 

The store's ground floor features women's footwear (three departments) a beauty hall, jewellery, handbags, accessories, and coffee concept 'Ebar'. The store's second level features men's and children's fashions and footwear as well as the Habitant bar within the men's department. The store's third level is devoted to women's fashions, as well as the restaurant called Bar Verde.

Ground floor women's footwear departments and the central atrium. Photo: Devon Johnson

We'll describe the new store and provide photos, floor-by-floor. We normally provide outbound links for brands mentioned on Retail Insider but due to the number discussed below, we will instead mark them in italics

Ground Floor

The store's ground floor features five luxury shop-in-stores for leather goods, including Loewe, Stella McCartney, Miu Miu, Gucci and Burberry. Other handbag brands include names such as Alexander Wang, MCM, Moschino, Coach 1941, Kate Spade New York, Mackage, Marc Jacobs, Rebecca Minkoff, Tory Burch, and Ted Baker

Loewe boutique (under construction) with Stella McCarney next to it. Photo: Devon Johnson

Stella McCartney handbag boutique, with the Miu Miu boutique next to it (both under construction). Gucci will open a shop-in-store to the right of Miu Miu. Photo: Devon Johnson

Jewellery and watch brands include Bony Levy, Kate Spade New York, Kendra Scott, Nadri and Shinola. Sunglasses brands include Celine, Chanel, Dior, Fendi, Miu Miu, Ray Ban and Tom Ford.

Beauty and fragrance brands include Chantecaille, Charlotte Tilbury, Chanel, Clé de Peau Beauté, Dior, Diptyque, Guerlain, Hermès Carré, Jo Malone London, Kiehl’s since 1851, *L'Artisan, La Mer, Le Labo, MAC, Nars, *Parfum de Marly, Sisley, *Space NK, Sulwhasoo, Tom Ford Beauty, and YSL. (brands with asterisks are exclusive to Nordstrom) 

Beauty hall. Photo: Devon Johnson

Women's footwear includes three separate departments. In 'Salon Shoes' (the store's priciest footwear department) brands include Alexander Wang, Burberry, Ferragamo, Giuseppe Zanotti, Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Miu Miu, Moncler, Prada, Rag & Bone, Robert Clergerie, Tory Burch and Vince. In the store's 'Women's Shoes' department, brands carried include AGL, Camper, Cole Haan, ED by Ellen DeGeneres, Rebecca Minkoff, Ron White, Sam Edelman, Ted Baker London, UGG Australia, Via Spiga and Vince Camuto. In the store's 'BP Shoes' department, brands include Adidas, Converse, Dolce Vita, Frye, Jeffrey Campbell, Nike, Sorel, Steve Madden and TOMS

Women's footwear, with 'Salon Shoes' on the back wall. Photo: Devon Johnson

Women's footwear. Photo: Devon Johnson

Pop-In@Nordstrom is featured on the new store's ground floor. The concept is a monthly series of themed pop-up shops curated by VP of Creative Projects Olivia Kim, and Alexander Wang is the featured designer for September.

Second Floor

Nordstrom CF Toronto Eaton Centre's second floor includes a large men's department, which takes over a considerable portion of the floor. A noted feature is Nordstrom's very first 'Men's Clubhouse' -- a private area overlooking Yonge street, featuring flat screen TV's, a seating area, and the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a personal stylist. 

Nordstrom's first 'Men's Clubhouse' will feature windows overlooking Yonge Street. Photo: Devon Johnson

Men's suits. Photo: Devon Johnson

Photo: Devon Johnson

Photo: Devon Johnson

Men's designer brands include names such as Armani Collezioni, Balenciaga, JW Anderson, Lemaire, Marni, Paul Smith Collection, Tim Coppens, Umit Benan, Yohji Yamamoto, Canali, Corneliani, Hugo Boss and Pal Zileri. Men’s Sportswear brands include Burberry, Billy Reid, Hugo Boss, Ted Baker London, Theory and Vince. The more causal 'The Rail' department features Adidas Originals, Baldwin, G-Star, Naked & Famous, Scotch & Soda, Nudie and Zanerobe, while 'Men’s Performance and Activewear' includes Nike, Under Armour and Zella

Men's footwear. Photo: Devon Johnson

Men's shoe shine. Photo: Devon Johnson

'Habitant' bar in the middle of the men's floor. Photo: Devon Johnson

Men's footwear brands include Adidas by Raf Simons, Balenciaga, Common Projects, Ferragamo, Giuseppe Zanotti, Gucci, Magnanni, Nike, Prada, Santoni, To Boot New York, UGG Australia and Vince

The store features an impressive offering of kids fashions. Clothing brands include Burberry, Canada Goose, Mini Boden and *Tucker & Tate, and kids shoe brands include Hunter, Nike, TOMS, UGG Australia, *Pajar, *AKID and *Converse. (brands with asterisks are exclusive to Nordstrom)

Children's fashions. Photo: Devon Johnson

Photo: Devon Johnson

Third Floor

The store's third floor primarily features women's fashions, as well as the Bar Verde restaurant which boasts windows overlooking the bright interior corridor of CF Toronto Eaton Centre. 

The store's priciest women's designer department is called 'Collectors', and features five individual designer boutiques: Burberry, Lanvin, Loewe, Moncler and Stella McCartney. Other designers carried in Collectors include Adam Lippes, Alexander Wang, Ann Demeulemeester, Burberry, Del Pozo, Kenzo, Marc Jacobs, Missoni, Mary Katrantzou, Rag & Bone, St. John and Zero Maria Cornejo. The adjacent Women’s Designer Evening salon features Badgley Mischka, Marchesa, Rubin Singer, Zac Posen and Zuhair Murad. Marchesa is exclusive to Nordstrom in Toronto. 

Under construction: Stella McCarney boutique. Photo: Devon Johnson

Under construction: Loewe women's ready-to-wear boutique. Photo: Devon Johnson

Almost finished: Moncler boutique for women. Photo: Devon Johnson

Women's designer 'Collectors' department. Photo: Devon Johnson

Collectors shares space with the store's SPACE department, which features edgy/harder-to-find brands such as Ashley Williams, Anthony Vacarello, Brother Vellies, Colovos, Ellery, Etienne Deroeux, Faustine Steinmetz, Marques’Almeida, Roksanda, Shrimps, Simone Rocha, Steven Tai, Undercover and Vejas, Wwake. Included are five Canadian designers for the store's September launch. 

The new SPACE department, adjacent to Collectors. Photo: Devon Johnson

The third floor features several other women's designer departments. 'Via C' carries brands such as A.L.C., Frame Denim and Helmut Lang. The 'Individualist' department stocks Alice & Olivia, Boss, Eileen Fisher, Joie, Ted Baker London, Theory and Vince. 'Point of View' includes brands such as Nic & Zoe, NYDJ and Vince Camuto, while the 'T.B.D.' department features Free People, Madewell (exclusive to Nordstrom), Paige and Rag & Bone/Jean

Photo: Devon Johnson

Photo: Devon Johnson

The 'JWN Room' private shopping salon on 3. Photo: Devon Johnson

The store's plus-size 'Encore' department includes brands such as Caslon, Eileen Fisher, Kut, Nic + Zoe and Vince Camuto. Women's Coats include brands such as Canada Goose, Mackage, Soia & Kyo, Woolrich and Mooseknuckles. Women's Dresses include brands such as Eliza J, *Teri Jon, *Chelsea 28 and *Dress the Population, and Lingerie & Sleepwear brands include Natori, La Perla, *Chelsea28, *Halogen and Moschino. Legwear brands include Commando, Spanx, Wolford and *Treasure & Bond, and the third-floor Active and Swim department includes Maaji, Nike, Patagonia, Robin Piccone, Ted Baker London and *Zella. (brands with asterisks are exclusive to Nordstrom)

Bar Verde restaurant on 3 (we sampled food and it was terrific). Photo: Devon Johnson

The store features a clean, single-surface floor throughout, giving Nordstrom the flexibility to adjust and evolve departments depending on what Toronto customers want over time. The store also features a grand central escalator with an atrium, featuring a hanging display of movable lights. 

The store includes Canada's fourth Sugarfina concession -- a luxury candy shop featuring 150+ sweets from around the world. 

Photo: Devon Johnson

The store employs about 850 staff and features many of the same amenities and services as the Vancouver flagship which opened in September of 2015, including: 

  • Personal Stylist 
  • Concierge
  • Alterations/Tailor Shop 
  • Service Bar
  • Pop-In@Nordstrom 
  • Beauty Concierge 
  • Beauty Stylist
  • Mobile Checkout 
  • Studio Services
  • Shoe Shine Stand
  • Certified Shoe Fitters 
  • Certified Bra Fitters
  • Family Restrooms 
  • Mother’s Lounge
  • Complimentary Gift Boxes 
  • Nordstrom Gift Cards
  • Debut Rewards 
  • Free Wi-Fi

For those interested in seeing CF Toronto Eaton Centre's Nordstrom flagship prior to its September 16 pubic grand openings, there are two opportunities:

On Friday, September 9 and Saturday, September 10 between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm, Nordstrom will be hosting its 'Nordstrom BFF (Beauty + Fragrance + Friends)' event. Makeup artists will be on hand, and attendees can take a master class and explore some of the special services the beauty department has to offer. To schedule an appointment, sign up for a class or for more information, you may call 1 (800) 967-0592.

As well, tickets are still available for Nordstrom's store opening charity gala, taking place on Wednesday, September 14 between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm. The evening will include fashion, shopping, cocktails, gourmet fare and live entertainment. Attendees will see the latest collections from the top designers live during two tented runway shows in Dundas Square at 8 and 9 p.m.Tickets are $150 per person and 100% of tickets proceeds will benefit Covenant House TorontoHumber River Hospital FoundationPediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO), SickKids FoundationSt. Michael’s Foundation and Women’s College Hospital Foundation. Complimentary valet parking will be provided. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit nordstromrsvp.com/Toronto.

On Friday, October 21, Nordstrom will open its second Toronto location at Yorkdale Shopping Centre. The store will be 199,000 square feet (larger than first anticipated) and will also host similar opening events as well as a gala prior. We'll be reporting more on this location and events prior to its opening.

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web: September 8, 2016