TORONTO – Real estate firm Oxford is fighting to keep Fairweather Ltd. from reviving the defunct Les Ailes de la Mode department store at Yorkdale Shopping Centre.
In new court documents, Oxford is arguing Fairweather is not suitable for the former Hudson’s Bay space measuring more than 300,000 square feet because most of its other locations are about three per cent of that size.
Oxford also says Fairweather is not a financially healthy retailer and its stores look and feel temporary and downmarket, which is the antithesis of the luxury vibe Yorkdale projects.
Oxford says if it has to accept Fairweather as a tenant, it would create a cascading and negative effect for the other businesses at the mall.
In a statement to The Canadian Press, Oxford alleges Fairweather is being put forward as a tenant because RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust wants Oxford to buy out the lease instead. In that scenario, Oxford would get to control who moves in and RioCan could put the money toward the $75 million loan it has on the property.
RioCan and HBC held the Yorkdale store and 12 others the retailer used in a joint venture, until earlier this year when HBC collapsed and FTI Consulting was appointed a receiver of the joint venture.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 17, 2025.
Companies in this story: (TSX:REI.UN)
