Italian luxury brand Brunello Cucinelli will open a multi-level flagship in Toronto in late 2018. It will be the brand’s second freestanding location in Canada, as Brunello Cucinelli expands its presence with retail stores as well as concessions and shop-in-stores.

Towards the end of 2018, Brunello Cucinelli will open in an almost 8,200 square foot space at 108 Yorkville Avenue, in a new retail development being built by First Capital Realty. The Brunello Cucinelli store will feature three levels of above-ground space — the ground floor will be 2,506 square feet according to lease plans, and the second floor will span 2,569 square feet. A third level will include 1,427 square feet of interior space as well as an adjacent, south-facing outdoor patio that will be 768 square feet. Plans also show a 686 square foot basement level that will likely be used for storage/back of house activities.

Stan Vyriotes and David Wedemire of DWSV Remax Ultimate Realty Inc. acted on behalf of retailer Brunello Cucinelli in the deal with landlord First Capital Realty.

*(Looking past Jimmy Choo towards the new Cucinelli flagship. Chanel, which opens on Friday this week, is located to the right. Image: First Capital Realty)*

Construction is now underway for First Capital Realty’s 102-108 Yorkville Avenue building that will include three street-front retail spaces, as well as a third floor tenant. UK-based footwear brand Jimmy Choo will open a 2,250 square foot two-level space at 102 Yorkville Avenue in late 2018, and innovative social concept Her Majesty’s Pleasure will open on the third floor of the new building, accessed from a side laneway. The two-level 3,000 square foot middle retail space between Jimmy Choo and Brunello Cucinelli is currently available for lease, and sources confirm that luxury brands have been showing interest.

Yorkville Avenue is rapidly becoming one of Canada’s most prestigious retail addresses. French luxury footwear brand Christian Louboutin opened its two-level Canadian 2,625 square foot flagship at 99 Yorkville Avenue in the summer of 2016, and a Richard Mille boutique opened at the base of the Hazelton Hotel in the spring of 2017. Designer Virgil Abloh opened North America’s first standalone Off-White location at 83 Yorkville Avenue in the spring of this year, as well, bringing pricey streetwear to the neighbourhood. Luxury brand Chanel will open an 8,700 square foot flagship this week at 100 Yorkville Avenue, replacing a Bloor Street store that closed at the end of 2016. Mr. Vyriotes and Mr. Wedemire also negotiated the Chanel and Jimmy Choo deals on the street, as well as upscale streetwear brand CNTRBND that opened several months ago at 135 Yorkville Avenue, across from the Yorkville Avenue entrance to the Yorkville Village shopping centre.

Brunello Cucinelli opened its first standalone Canadian store at 765 Thurlow Street in Vancouver in October of 2015. The one-level boutique spans about 2,700 square feet, and is located at the base of the 745 Thurlow Street office building that also houses an adjacent Versace store. Both retailers were also represented by Stan Vyriotes and David Wedemire of DWSV Remax Ultimate Realty Inc.

*(Above and below: Photos of Brunello Cucinelli's vancouver store. Photos: Brunello Cucinelli)*

Brunello Cucinelli, which sources confirm is doing exceptionally high sales in Canada across its various distribution channels, has also been expanding its Canadian operations by opening shop-in-store concessions, while at the same time growing its wholesale business. Cucinelli recently struck a deal with Holt Renfrew to open leased women’s departments in several of Holt’s stores, in attractive large retail spaces similar in aesthetic to Cucinelli’s standalone locations. Cucinelli also has a presence in retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue for men and women in Canada, as well as at Harry Rosen for men — a large Cucinelli shop-in-store recently debuted on Harry Rosen’s renovated second level at its 82 Bloor St. W. store in Toronto, and we’ll be profiling the store’s renovations soon in a separate article.

Founded in 1978, ‘King of Cashmere’ Brunello Cucinelli sells womenswear, menswear and accessories. Although known for its luxurious cashmere apparel, the brand has expanded to include non-cashmere fashions including leather goods, bags, shoes, and sportswear. The company is headquartered in a 14th century castle on the top of a hill in the middle of Italy's Umbria region, and it donates 20% of profits to its charitable foundation, and pays workers wages that are 20% higher than the industry average. According to its website, the brand is "firmly rooted in quality excellence, Italian craftsmanship and creativity".

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web: November 15, 2017