Forever 21, Bluenotes exit CF Polo Park; Thrifty’s steps in

Toronto-based retail conglomerate YM Inc. is closing its Forever 21 and Bluenotes stores in CF Polo Park to make way for Thriftys.

It will mark the second time in seven years Forever 21 has exited Winnipeg’s largest shopping centre.

In 2019, when Forever 21 was headquartered in Los Angeles, the low-price “instant fashion” chain closed all 44 of its Canadian stores — including two in Winnipeg — as it restructured under U.S. and Canadian bankruptcy protection.

YM Inc. revived Forever 21 in Canada two years later, opening standalone branded stores and selling Forever 21 merchandise through its other retail chains, such as Urban Planet.

Now, massive red-and-yellow signs in the window of Forever 21’s 37,000-square-foot location near CF Polo Park’s Empress Street entrance advertise “Every item must go” amidst a “Total inventory blowout.” The store’s last day will be July 12.

“Even up until recently, people didn’t even know that (Forever 21) was back…”

Forever 21 has not been as popular in recent years as other YM Inc. brands, said Lucy D’Elia, district sales manager.

“It’s unfortunate that it’s closing,” she said. “Even up until recently, people didn’t even know that (Forever 21) was back … I think that contributed to the downfall.”

The Thriftys Family of Brands — an 84-year-old Canadian company that operates the Aéropostale, Bluenotes, Thriftys and West49 banners — will take over Forever 21’s space, opening a Thriftys location on July 22.

The Bluenotes store on CF Polo Park’s second floor will close on July 27 as part of the transition.

The store’s 20 employees will join Thriftys, said Darian Ruddock, a district manager with the brand. Many of the roughly 35 people who worked at Forever 21 have been offered jobs at Thriftys or reassigned to other YM Inc. stores in Winnipeg, she added.

It will mark the return of Thriftys to Manitoba’s capital after it closed its store near Outlet Collection Winnipeg four years ago.

“We’re excited to welcome the customers in.”

The new store will carry Aéropostale and West49 merchandise alongside Bluenotes products. A grand opening event is in the works. “We’re excited to welcome the customers in,” Ruddock said.

More moves, renovations

Meanwhile, Montreal-based luxury outerwear chain Moose Knuckles reopened last month in CF Polo Park after renovating its store. Victoria’s Secret is currently renovating its 12,700-sq.-ft. space, which is scheduled to reopen in the next few days, said Peter Havens, general manager of CF Polo Park.

“They’re bringing (their) latest concept to Winnipeg,” he said. “It’s going to be a nice refresh of that space, which, surprisingly, was 10 years old.”

Additionally, the Body Shop is preparing to move from the mall’s main level to a second-floor location between Aldo and Coach. The move allows the brand to bring its latest global store design to Winnipeg, a spokesperson for the 50-year-old company said in an email.

“Every element of the new space has been designed to create a more welcoming, interactive and inspiring experience for both new and loyal customers.”

According to Havens, other stores in the shopping centre will undergo renovations later this year. Many brands are now getting around to doing the remodelling that they deferred during the COVID-19 pandemic and the years that followed, he said.

“It’s great to see that they’re doubling down on in-person retail and really enhancing the customer experience,” Havens said.

Elsewhere in the mall, Abercrombie & Fitch quietly opened its first Manitoba store last month. The Ohio-based lifestyle retailer did not respond to multiple interview requests.

Havens said the store is “a wonderful addition” to Polo Park. “The reception (has) been very strong.”

Now that Abercrombie & Fitch is open, Camryn Kangas finds herself visiting CF Polo Park more than usual. The 25-year-old was eagerly anticipating the store’s arrival, and has visited twice in the past week alone.

“It’s great. I could have (used) even a bigger store, honestly,” she said. “There’s a great selection so far, but I’m excited to see how it progresses.”

CF Polo Park receives 11.5 million visitors annually. Last year, it was one of the 10 highest-performing shopping centres in Canada, according to a report by the International Council of Shopping Centers.

aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca

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Aaron Epp
Reporter

Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. Read more about Aaron.

Every piece of reporting Aaron produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.