First of two new Zellers stores set to open this week in southern Ontario

The first of two new Zellers stores in Ontario is scheduled to open this week.

The company said earlier this month that its initial rollout in Ontario involves two stores, with one in Toronto and the other in Windsor.

The Toronto store, located at 80 Orfus Road in North York, in the area of Dufferin Street and Highway 401, is scheduled to open this Thursday.

The Ontario expansion comes after Zellers opened in Londonderry Mall in Edmonton last October. That store has “exceeded expectations and reinforced demand for Zellers’ return,” the company said.

The Toronto location will be a 25,000 square-foot standalone store.

“Following the incredible response we saw in Edmonton, we’re excited to bring Zellers back to Ontario in a meaningful way,” Zellers’ chief operating officer Joey Benitah said.

“Customer feedback has been instrumental in shaping our evolution — from what categories resonate most to how we deliver value and discovery in-store. Sales have been strong, engagement has exceeded expectations, and we’re just getting started.”

Zellers said the new stores offer a “a smaller-format, highly curated retail experience,” and customers can expect to find a dynamic and evolving mix of the following:

• Apparel, footwear, and accessories
• Home décor, soft furnishings, tabletop, and everyday home essentials
• Toys, licensed goods, gifts, and family-focused products
• Food, snacks, specialty grocery, and grab-and-go drinks
• Seasonal, holiday, party, and specialty items
• Zellers-branded merchandise, nostalgic moments, and frequent new product discoveries

“Each visit is designed to feel fresh, with continuous new product drops and evolving assortments based on customer feedback,” Zellers said.

The company said that it is in discussions with multiple landlords across Canada and expects to announce new locations in Ontario and elsewhere over the coming year.

The new Zellers in Windsor is scheduled to open sometime in July at Tecumseh Mall, which Zellers previously called home.

“We’re listening closely, adapting quickly, and building something that feels both nostalgic and new. Ontario is a major step forward, but this is only the beginning,” Benitah said.

Meanwhile, INsauga.com asked our readers earlier this month if they plan on going to the new Zellers once it opens in Toronto.

We asked, “Will you shop at the new Zellers when it opens in Toronto this month?”

The poll received more than 2,200 responses as of Monday afternoon and the results were mixed.

There were 1,210 “no” responses, or approximately 55 per cent; 991 said yes, or about 45 per cent.

Zellers has a long history in Canada dating back to 1928.

In 2019, HBC announced that the final two Zellers stores, in Etobicoke and Ottawa, would permanently close in early 2020.

Quebec-based retailer Les Ailes de la Mode Inc. acquired the Zellers trademarks from Hudson’s Bay Company Inc. in August 2025.

Poll disclaimer: The poll reflects the views of participating readers and is not a scientific sample. Participation was voluntary and limited to the publication’s audience.