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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. The company expects 40 of Mark’s 387 stores to be new or converted to the format by the end of 2028; it says new-format locations have recorded stronger customer acquisition than the rest of the network.
Canadian Tire Corporation plans to invest $200 million in Mark’s stores through 2028, expanding its Bigger, Bolder, Better format as the retailer opens its largest location to date in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The investment is part of the company’s broader retail strategy and is intended to extend the updated store experience to more communities.
Canadian Tire said Mark’s currently has 21 new-format locations across Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. The company expects 40 of the banner’s 387 stores to be new or converted to the format by the end of 2028. The plan includes both openings and conversions, rather than a commitment to build 40 entirely new stores.
Several 2026 openings have taken place in Calgary, Edmonton, Lloydminster, Sarnia, Guelph and North Bay, in addition to Thunder Bay. Mark’s plans to open one more new-format store by year-end, according to the source report. The company did not provide a full list of future locations or a year-by-year schedule for the remaining rollout.
The Thunder Bay store measures more than 36,000 gross square feet. Its features include broader casualwear and workwear assortments, upgraded fitting rooms, a new service model and added omnichannel convenience. Dedicated shop-in-shop areas feature brands including Columbia, Silver Jeans, Carhartt, Timberland and Levi’s. Canadian Tire describes Mark’s as Canada’s largest seller of Levi’s, an assertion presented by the company rather than independently verified in the source report.
A Larger Bet on Mark’s Growth
The investment signals that Canadian Tire is directing more capital toward a store format it says is producing strong results. For customers, the planned changes may mean larger locations, more apparel choices and expanded access to the updated shopping experience. The company says the format gives Mark’s more room to grow casualwear while retaining its established workwear business.
Canadian Tire also reported that new customer acquisition is up nearly 50% at new-format stores, compared with 7.5% across the rest of Mark’s network. The figures suggest the newer locations are attracting customers at a higher rate, but the company did not specify the measurement period, the calculation method or whether the comparison controls for differences between stores. They should be read as company-reported results, not as a guarantee that every location will perform similarly.
The store plan is part of Canadian Tire’s True North strategy, a four-year growth plan that includes $2 billion in capital investment. The company says the plan focuses on customer relationships, core retail growth, the Triangle Rewards loyalty ecosystem and targeted capital spending. The Mark’s commitment is one component of that broader program, not the full $2 billion investment.
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How the Format Fits the Rollout
Mark’s has operated for nearly 50 years, according to company president PJ Czank, and has traditionally been known for industrial workwear. Canadian Tire says the updated concept builds on that base while expanding casual apparel and giving more space to national and owned brands such as Wind River and Denver Hayes.
The company says the Bigger, Bolder, Better format is already a key growth driver for Mark’s and has generated strong returns. Those descriptions come from Canadian Tire and Mark’s executives; the source material does not include store-level sales, profit figures or independent performance data. The planned investment reflects management’s decision to extend the concept following the results it has reported.
The planned 40 locations would represent a portion of Mark’s 387-store network, with the company aiming to bring the format to both major urban centres and regional markets. The Thunder Bay opening illustrates the regional-market part of that approach. The available information does not identify which existing stores may be converted or how the company will select communities for future openings.
“The strong response to our new stores gives us confidence to bring the experience to even more Canadians.”
— PJ Czank, president of Mark’s
Store Locations and Results Ahead
Canadian Tire has not released a complete schedule for spending the $200 million, nor has it detailed how much will go to new stores, conversions, renovations or other parts of the store experience. The company has also not named the communities expected to receive future locations beyond the openings identified for 2026.
The reported customer-acquisition figures lack a stated time window and calculation details in the source material. Canadian Tire has not supplied comparable figures for sales, margins or customer retention at the new-format stores, so the financial returns behind the investment cannot be assessed from the available information. It is also unclear how many of the 40 targeted locations will be new stores versus conversions of existing Mark’s sites.
Further Openings Through 2028
Mark’s plans to open one additional new-format store by the end of 2026, according to the report. Canadian Tire says it expects the number of new or converted locations to reach 40 by the end of 2028. Future announcements can clarify where those stores will be, how the investment will be divided and whether the company’s reported customer response continues as the format expands.
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. The source report does not break down the spending by year or by project type.
How many Mark’s stores will use the new format?
The company expects 40 of Mark’s 387 stores to be new or converted to the Bigger, Bolder, Better format by the end of 2028. The target includes both new locations and conversions.
What is different about the Thunder Bay store?
At more than 36,000 gross square feet, it is Mark’s largest store to date. The location features broader workwear and casualwear assortments, upgraded fitting rooms, shop-in-shop areas and added omnichannel convenience.
What results has Canadian Tire reported for the new format?
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 source does not state the measurement period or methodology, so the figures are company-reported and their comparison basis is not fully detailed.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
