A major international retailer is returning to Robson Street after a two-and-a-half year absence from the shopping precinct.
Nike will occupy a two-storey, 4,000-square-foot retail unit previously occupied by Mexx, which closed all of its stores earlier this year after the company filed for bankruptcy. The space is located between the Gap and Plenty stores, directly across the street from Nike’s previous Robson Street location held until January 2013.
According to regional Nike manager Justin Dusanj, the store will reopen in late-August 2016. He also operates a number of other Nike stores in Metro Vancouver on a franchise-basis, including stores at Metrotown, Park Royal, Guildford Town Centre, and Richmond Centre.
“We’re more of a localized small business, so our stores resemble that now,” Dusanj told Vancity Buzz. “If you look at Park Royal, it’s more oriented towards the community… we’re able to get more into the grassroots and store designs.”
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The addition adds to Robson Street’s recent resurgence after a prolonged phase of transition within the retail strip. This includes Aritzia’s new 10,000-square-foot flagship location, which will occupy a number of units including the old Starbucks space at the southwest corner of the intersection of Robson and Thurlow streets. In addition, luxury French baker Laduree recently announced its plans to open its first Canadian flagship on Robson Street.
“This transaction underlines the strength of Vancouver’s Robson Street market which continues to attract the world’s highest profile brands,” said CBRE‘s Martin Moriarty, whose firm handled the lease deal. “With Nike, Aritzia and Ladurée to open Robson flagships on the 1100 block, we are confident of the block’s evolution and long term vision.”
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