Apple Store Sainte-Catherine: New flagship store in Montréal

This address, 1255 Sainte-Catherine Ouest, was the first Ogilvy store (now Holt Renfrew Ogilvy) on Sainte-Catherine Street, in 1896, the year the building opened. The prestigious store, which at the time was the largest store in Canada exclusively dedicated to the sale of dry goods at low prices, occupied the building for 16 years, until 1912, when it moved across the street. Dry goods historically refer to non-perishable products sold in old stores, including textiles (fabrics, clothing), haberdashery, and dry foods (flour, sugar, coffee), as opposed to fresh or liquid products. In the 1920s, Ogilvy became what is known as a department store. The architect of the building was none other than David Ogilvy, the son (and architect) of the department store’s owner, James Ogilvy, who also designed what is now Holt Renfrew Ogilvy.

Apple Store Sainte-Catherine: The brand doubles its floor space in downtown Montréal

For several years now, ever since Forever 21 closed and Ardene took its place, I would walk past this building and think, especially after seeing the one on Regent Street in London, that this would be the perfect location for an Apple store, whose previous, overly modern shop did not fit in as well with Montréal’s historic landscape. This major investment by Apple demonstrates its ongoing commitment to downtown Montréal, which still does not have a store at Royalmount, unlike several other high-end boutiques.

“For nearly 20 years, we’ve been proud to be part of the downtown Montréal community, whose spirit of creativity and innovation continues to inspire us,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail and People. “We’re incredibly excited to build on this long-standing relationship and create a destination where our customers can experience the very best of Apple, from our innovative products to the expert care and support of our amazing team.”

The Apple Store Sainte-Catherine store has been carefully designed to offer a welcoming space for everyone. From the double doors at the entrance, which reduce the cold inside the store, to the tables and chairs of varying heights, as well as access routes that provide more space for wheelchair users, making it inclusive for all.

Note that the façade has been rebuilt according to the original plans, combining historic Saint-Marc stone from Québec with local granite, and local copper work specialists have thoroughly restored the building’s cornice, which you can see in the photo above. Despite undergoing extensive renovations, the exterior of the establishment remains remarkably similar to its appearance upon its founding in 1896, which is nothing short of astonishing. 

A bright interior

When you step inside the store, you are transported into a world of light. With windows on two of the four sides, the shop invites you into its brand new space. It is a pleasure to shop in this space filled with natural light, which is very different from the one that opened in 2008. With wood panelling everywhere, you feel warmth and a sense of welcome.

If you have recently set foot in the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue in New York, you may find yourself feeling right at home. The same fresh design, with distinctly labelled areas (Arcade, Apple Watch, Apple TV, etc.) greets you, all aimed at simplifying your shopping experience, gentlemen.

At the back of the store, the Apple Pickup Zone allows people to easily shop at the Apple Online Store and pick up their products in-store at their convenience, while the Genius Bar, now on the first level (no more stairs to climb), offers support from trusted Apple specialists.

In addition, customers can enjoy the Apple Store’s exclusive support, including personalized shopping sessions with Apple specialists, flexible monthly financing options, competitive trade-in values, and expert advice.

The public area is located solely on the first floor, while the repair workshop is in the basement, and areas for employees and management are on the upper floors.

Thanks to the free “Today at Apple” sessions, you can learn how to frame a photo, draw a picture on your iPad, edit a video, or even familiarize yourself with Apple Intelligence on iPhone, iPad and Mac. “Today at Apple” also offers workshops to learn the basics of certain technologies and assistive features, such as VoiceOver on iPhone and iPad. These workshops are perfect for people who want to get the most out of their devices or simply understand how to use certain features.

The team of nearly 200 specialists at the Apple Store Sainte-Catherine speaks dozens of languages, but they all speak French, which seems really important to Apple, especially in the commercial environment of Sainte-Catherine Street.

Conclusion

It is truly inspiring to see Apple strengthening its presence and believing in the vitality of downtown Montréal. This building was in dire need of a tenant like Apple, and this is excellent news for Montréal customers, who will finally be able to shop for Apple products in a setting worthy of the brand.

Address:

1255, rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest
Montréal, QC
H2S 2J5

Opening Hours:

Monday 10:00 – 20:00
Tuesday 10:00 – 20:00
Wednesday 10:00 – 20:00
Thursday 10:00 – 21:00
Friday 10:00 – 21:00
Saturday 10:00 – 18:00
Sunday 10:00 – 17:00

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