Decathlon, the world’s largest sporting goods retailer, plans to close all five of its Toronto-area stores late this summer.
The French retailer has stores in Brampton, Burlington, Markham, Scarborough and Vaughan.
“The retail landscape is changing with consumers valuing variety across online and in-store formats,” Decathlon’s website says. “We are adapting our approach in key markets to deliver great value, quality gear and inspire more Canadians to enjoy the wonders of sport.”
An exact closing date has yet to be announced.
Fifteen other locations across Canada — the closest of which is in Ottawa — will remain open, the company said. It is also considering a “return to brick-and-mortar stores with a smaller footprint in the GTA.”
“We will continue to stay agile and adapt our retail offerings to best serve Canadian sport enthusiasts,” Jérôme Morice, Decathlon Canada’s chief operation officer, said in a statement to the Star. “Decathlon Canada is committed to making sport more accessible to everyone no matter where they live, and this means exploring all avenues that meet our customers where they are and continuing to provide quality service.”
Decathlon, which says it operates in 72 countries and has over 1,700 stores, previously opened a small store inside Union Station in Toronto. That location closed in April.
The company said it will “consider all employees (affected by closures) who want to apply for open positions in other markets.”
In recent years, many retail companies have shrunk operations in Canada.
Hudson’s Bay, with 80 stores across the country and another 16 run under the Saks brand, also filed for creditor protection in March and all locations have since closed.
The Body Shop, a British cosmetic and skin care company, filed for bankruptcy protection last year and closed at least 33 stores across the country, while Nordstrom closed its 13 locations in 2023. Bed Bath & Beyond, The Source, Foot Locker, Mastermind, Old Navy and H&M have also shuttered stores in recent years.
Correction – June 25, 2025
This article was updated from a previous version that mistakenly said The Body Shop closed all its stores in Canada last year. In fact, it closed at least 33 of its stores.
