CLOSURE: International major retailer closing all stores in Canada

Another retailer has closed up shop in Canada.

In a wave of economic struggles, many businesses are choosing to shutter physical locations.

After only two years, fashion retailer FatFace made the difficult decision to close all brick-and-mortar shops in Canada, a company spokesperson told INsauga.com.

All 23 stores, which sold women and men’s clothing, in North America will close by the end of this year, according to reports in Retailer Insider and FastCompany.

Economic uncertainty and rising operating costs were behind the move—the physical store model is not viable in the region at this time, the spokesperson said.

Approximately 145 jobs across the United States and Canada will be lost, the Retail Insider said.

The closure marks a short-lived expansion for the company—FatFace opened its first stores in Canada in 2023.

It started with three stores in Ontario—Niagara-on-the-Lake, Barrie and Newmarket. Later that year, it launched a Toronto Distillery District pop-up and an outlet location at Toronto Premium Outlets in Halton Hills.

Currently, Ontario stores include locations in Huntsville, Mapleview Centre in Burlington, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Halton Hills, according to the FatFace website.

Stores in Toronto’s Distillery District, Picton and Collingwood appear to have already closed.

The FatFace spokesperson declined to say when stores would close.

Tim Slade, a former policeman, and business graduate Jules Leaver founded FatFace in 1988. The pair bought T-shirts wholesale, had them printed with designs specific to the resort, and sold them to other skiers, at first using the proceeds only to fund their own skiing.

The store’s name was inspired by he black mountain ski run in Val d’Isère, La Face in France.

The shop is now known for everyday clothing for men and women. Styles range from chunky sweaters to casual button-downs or dresses with a bohemian vibe. In 2023, the company became a Certified B Corporation, meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

FatFace will continue to operate an online shopping website for North American customers.

The company joins The Bay, Frank and Oak, and Saks Fifth Avenue in closing. Ricki’s and cleo retail announced it was closing all stores earlier this year, but Putman Investments Inc. stepped in to purchase the company.

Editor’s note: This story was updated with additional information from FatFace.