Decathlon, the largest worldwide sporting goods chain, is expanding to Western Canada with its first store in Calgary.
The 70,000-square-foot store and distribution center will occupy the second floor of the former Sears store at Southcentre Mall. The location will be the first Decathlon sports location in Canada west of Ontario.
The company said that the store would have “an automated warehouse to service e-commerce deliveries in Western Canada and one of the country’s largest selections of Decathlon products for more than 65 sports. The store will feature an experiential and showroom-based shopping journey, as well as a café, a co-working space, after-sale service workshops and a multi-sport area where activities and classes will be held by local coaches.”
The French chain has eight stores in Canada. Currently, there are five Decathlon Canada stores in Quebec, one in Nova Scotia and two in Ontario. Upcoming openings include locations in Brampton and Toronto.
Founded in France in 1976, Décathlon opened its first store in Canada, in Brossard Quebec in April 2018. Décathlon also in recent years returned to the U.S. with the opening of stores in Emeryville, CA and San Francisco.
Decathlon has more than 1,600 stores in over 50 countries. It designs, manufactures, tests, and sells apparel and equipment for over 65 different sports. Decathlon employees offer a complete sports experience through in-store gyms, product test areas, sports classes, training apps, and physical and virtual activities within the community where the stores are located.
Photo courtesy Decathlon
