Les Ailes de la Mode prepares for Quebec openings at ex-HBC stores this year: docs

A Quebec department store dating back to the 1990s is plotting a revival at two former Hudson’s Bay properties in the province, court documents suggest.

The recent filings say Les Ailes de la Mode will take over ex-HBC stores in the Montreal and Quebec City areas and is targeting openings in the first half of this year.

Les Ailes de la Mode is a Canadian department store founded in 1994. It was purchased by the Fairweather Group in fall 2005 but faltered and now exists as a small handful of shops selling deeply discounted clothing.

A representative for Fairweather, which is owned by the retailing Benitah family, did not immediately provide a comment.

The company has been trying to revive Les Ailes de la Mode as a mid- to high-end department store since at least last year, when it began pushing to take over a lease HBC and RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust held at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto.

Mall owner Oxford Properties is fighting the possibility of Les Ailes de la Mode becoming its tenant because it feels the brand is too “downmarket” for the luxury atmosphere it has built at Yorkdale. RioCan supports Les Ailes de la Mode moving in.

A judge heard arguments about the matter last week, but has yet to decide whether Oxford should be forced to accept Les Ailes de la Mode as a tenant.

Court documents RioCan filed in the case say Fairweather recently “finalized arrangements” with landlord Primaris for two stores in Quebec that it will take possession of on Feb. 1.

Primaris CEO Alex Avery did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Primaris owns Les Galeries de la Capitale in Quebec City and announced plans to buy Promenades St-Bruno, which is just south of Montreal, from Cadillac Fairview last year. Both malls had HBC locations until the company collapsed last March.

RioCan’s court filings, which includes an affidavit from its chief financial officer Dennis Blasutti, say the new Les Ailes de la Mode stores will have departments for men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, footwear, housewares and home decor, accessories like stationary, luggage and seasonal toys and confectionary items.

The documents say the stores will be equally split between house brands and goods from companies including Reebok, Chaps, Steve Madden, DKNY and Billabong.

Tahari, French Connection, Laura Ashley, Geoffrey Beene and Perry Ellis also have all committed to supplying Les Ailes de la Mode.

Blasutti says RioCan has been told Fairweather intends to use the Les Ailes de la Mode brand in Quebec and the shortened Ailes name in Ontario, including for the proposed Yorkdale store.

Small stores under the Les Ailes de la Mode name, including locations at Place Vertu and Carre Decarie in Quebec, have had their signage removed recently as Fairweather prepares to transition them to other brands, the documents say.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 19, 2026.