Vancouver-based women’s fashion boutique Aritzia has unveiled plans to expand its presence on Robson Street. Deecorp Properties VP Jay Lirag, whose firm owns and manages the building at the corner of Robson and Thurlow that Aritzia will be expanding into (above), says the deal is a vote of confidence for the 1100 block of Robson, “arguably one of the busiest retail centres in Vancouver.” He points to the influx of high-profile retailers that have recently opened on that stretch, including Sephora, L'Occitane and Lululemon. And Roots is expanding its flagship there.

Started in Vancouver in 1984, Aritzia has since grown to 60 locations across North America. The corner building it will be moving into, 1100 Robson, formerly housed one of the city’s first Starbucks (the coffee chain vacated those premises in 2012). The Aritzia expansion will see 4,837 SF added to its existing location, making it one of the retailer’s largest in North America. The flagship will stand adjacent to two other stores on Robson operated by Aritzia: Wilfred and Base.