Hermès has reopened its Toronto flagship, in a retail space that is considerably larger than its former location up the street. Designed by the Parisian architecture agency RDAI, new Toronto flagship includes about 5,800 square feet of retail space. In total, the store occupies almost 12,000 square feet with about 4,000 square feet on the ground-floor, as well as an additional 8,000 square feet on the second level. The expanded Hermès marks a milestone in the transformation of Bloor Street West, as it continues to attract global flagships.
“The opening of our new store at 100 Bloor Street West in Toronto reaffirms Hermès’ commitment to Canada, and salutes the refinement and vitality of this special city,” said Jennifer Carter, President and CEO, Hermès Canada. “The deep and authentic bond between Hermès and Canadians is emotional – built on shared values, inspired by the energy to keep innovating, and a love for hand crafted objects made for living.”
Inside, and beyond the Hermès ex-libris set within the familiar Faubourg mosaic, the space reveals a thoughtful arrangement of the Hermès universes. At the heart of the store is an oval staircase that winds upwards, paved in white marble, encompassed in cherry wood, and accented with a leather handrail.
On the ground floor, the silk universe has been given pride of place around this staircase and nearby is the jewellery area. Just beyond is the space dedicated to the full range of fragrances, behind which is the men’s universe. At the top of the stairs, customers will arrive at the home universe, which will introduce Hermès’ furniture and lighting to Toronto. Also new to the store are wallpapers and textiles, which round out the offering of tableware, plaids, and objects for the home. The women’s and leather universes share the upper level windows. The second floor also includes a personalized space that can be closed off for privacy.
The new Hermès’ exterior includes a simple beige rose brickwork facade with beveled windows and large, recessed windows. The original Williams Sonoma store interior was stripped to the studs and rebuilt the complicated and disruptive process took months.