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Canadian Tire Corporation says it will invest $200 million in Mark’s stores through 2028, expanding the retailer’s Bigger, Bolder, Better format. Mark’s has 21 new-format locations and expects 40 of its 387 stores to be new or converted to the format by the end of 2028.
Canadian Tire Corporation plans to invest $200 million in Mark’s stores through 2028, expanding its Bigger, Bolder, Better format as it seeks to grow the apparel retailer’s reach and improve its in-store and online shopping experience. The announcement coincides with the opening of Mark’s largest store to date, in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Mark’s currently operates 21 stores in the new format across Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. Canadian Tire said the rollout is expected to bring the number of new or converted locations to 40 out of Mark’s 387 stores by the end of 2028. The company did not provide a location-by-location schedule for the remaining conversions.
The Thunder Bay store measures more than 36,000 gross square feet. Its features include a broader selection of casualwear and workwear, upgraded fitting rooms, a new service model and expanded omnichannel convenience. Shop-in-shop areas feature brands including Columbia, Silver Jeans, Carhartt, Timberland and Levi’s. Mark’s also sells its owned brands, including Wind River and Denver Hayes.
Canadian Tire said new-format stores have become a key driver of growth for Mark’s and reported that new customer acquisition is up nearly 50% at those locations. The company compared that result with 7.5% for the rest of the Mark’s network. It did not specify the period covered by those figures or provide more detail on how customer acquisition was measured.
A Bigger Bet on Mark’s Apparel
The investment signals that Canadian Tire intends to expand a store concept it says is producing strong results, rather than limit the format to a small pilot. For shoppers, the larger stores are intended to offer more casualwear and workwear choices, expanded brand displays and improved fitting-room and service features. The rollout could make that experience available in additional urban and regional markets.
For Mark’s, the format supports a strategy that pairs its established position in industrial workwear with a broader push into casual apparel. Canadian Tire says the stores are attracting new customers, particularly women and younger shoppers, although it did not provide customer demographic figures. The reported acquisition comparison suggests the format may be helping Mark’s reach beyond its existing customer base, but the company has not published the underlying methodology or results by store.
The $200 million commitment is part of a larger corporate plan, so it also reflects a choice about where Canadian Tire is directing capital. The company says modern store formats are meant to support sales, margins and customer experience. Those are stated objectives; the announcement does not give projected returns or a breakdown of how the Mark’s investment will be divided among construction, renovations, technology or other costs.
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How the Rollout Fits True North
The store investment sits within Canadian Tire’s True North strategy, a four-year growth plan that includes $2 billion in capital investment across the corporation. The plan focuses on data-driven customer relationships, growth in core retail operations, expansion of the Triangle Rewards loyalty ecosystem and focused capital allocation. The $200 million for Mark’s is one component of that broader program, not the total investment in the strategy.
Canadian Tire says Mark’s has opened new-format locations in Calgary, Edmonton, Lloydminster, Sarnia, Guelph and North Bay during 2026, in addition to Thunder Bay, and plans to open one more by year-end. The company describes the rollout as a way to bring the updated brand experience to both major Canadian urban centres and regional markets. Mark’s has operated for nearly 50 years, according to its president, and the new format is intended to build on that history while expanding its casualwear offer.
“The strong response to our new stores gives us confidence to bring the experience to even more Canadians.”
— PJ Czank, president of Mark’s
Costs, Locations and Results Ahead
Canadian Tire has not disclosed how the $200 million will be allocated, which specific stores will be converted, or the schedule for reaching 40 new-format locations. It also has not stated whether the investment covers only store construction and renovations or includes other expenses associated with the format.
The company’s reported customer-acquisition figures lack a stated measurement period and methodology in the announcement. No store-level sales, margin results or return-on-investment projections were provided. The stated strong results and customer response are company claims, and the announcement does not independently establish how the format performs across the full network.
More Openings Through 2028
Mark’s plans to open one additional new-format store by the end of 2026, according to Canadian Tire. The company expects to continue adding new or converted stores through 2028, when the format is projected to reach 40 locations. Further updates on the rollout could clarify which communities are included and how the investment is phased.
As the expansion proceeds, the key indicators to watch are the pace of openings, the company’s reported performance at converted stores and whether Mark’s continues to attract customers beyond its established workwear base. Canadian Tire has not announced specific targets for sales, margins or customer growth tied to the $200 million plan.
Key Questions
How much is Canadian Tire investing in Mark’s?
Canadian Tire Corporation says it will invest $200 million in Mark’s stores through 2028. It has not published a detailed breakdown of the spending.
How many Mark’s stores use the new format?
Mark’s currently has 21 new-format locations. Canadian Tire expects 40 of the banner’s 387 stores to be new or converted to the format by the end of 2028.
What is different about the Bigger, Bolder, Better format?
The format uses larger stores with broader casualwear and workwear assortments, upgraded fitting rooms, a new service model and more omnichannel convenience. The Thunder Bay location is more than 36,000 gross square feet.
Where will the next new-format Mark’s stores open?
Canadian Tire said one more store is planned by the end of 2026 but did not name its location. It also has not provided a complete list or schedule for openings and conversions through 2028.
What customer results has Mark’s reported?
Canadian Tire says new customer acquisition is up nearly 50% at new-format stores, compared with 7.5% across the rest of Mark’s network. The announcement does not state the measurement period or explain the calculation.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
