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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. Mark’s has 21 new-format locations, and the company expects 40 of its 387 stores to be new or converted to the format by the end of 2028.
Canadian Tire Corporation plans to invest $200 million in Mark’s stores through 2028, expanding the retailer’s Bigger, Bolder, Better format as it updates its store network and shopping experience. The latest opening is Mark’s largest store to date, in Thunder Bay, Ontario; the company expects 40 of the chain’s 387 stores to be new or converted to the format by the end of 2028.
The investment builds on Canadian Tire’s report that the format has produced strong growth and helped attract customers to Mark’s. The company did not provide specific sales, profit or return figures in the source report. It said the larger stores give the banner more room for casual apparel while retaining its established industrial workwear business, with broader assortments and space for national and owned brands.
Mark’s currently operates 21 new-format locations in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. Stores opened during 2026 in Calgary, Edmonton, Lloydminster, Sarnia, Guelph, North Bay and Thunder Bay, according to the report. The company plans to open one more by year-end. Its target of 40 new or converted locations by the end of 2028 would put the format in a little over one-tenth of the current 387-store network, based on the figures provided.
The Thunder Bay location measures more than 36,000 gross square feet. Features include expanded casualwear and workwear, upgraded fitting rooms, a new service model and greater omnichannel convenience. The store also has dedicated shop-in-shop areas for Columbia, Silver Jeans, Carhartt, Timberland and Levi’s. Mark’s describes itself as Canada’s largest seller of Levi’s denim; that characterization is the company’s claim in the report.
A Bigger Bet on Mark’s Casualwear
The investment signals that Canadian Tire sees room to grow Mark’s beyond its established workwear base. A larger footprint and expanded casual assortments could help the chain appeal to shoppers who may not have previously considered it for everyday clothing, while giving existing customers more brands and product choice. Those outcomes are the company’s stated aims; the report does not provide independent evidence of future results.
The rollout also matters to customers and local markets because it could change where and how Mark’s serves shoppers. Stores in both major urban centres and regional markets are included in the planned expansion. More fitting-room capacity, broader product ranges and omnichannel services may affect the in-store experience, although the company has not named every future location or described the service model in detail.
For Canadian Tire, the project is one part of a broader capital plan. The corporation’s True North strategy is a four-year growth plan that includes $2 billion in capital investment, with priorities such as core retail growth, data-driven customer relationships, the Triangle Rewards loyalty ecosystem and focused capital allocation. The $200 million Mark’s commitment sits within that wider strategy; the report does not specify how the amount will be divided among locations or types of work.
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From Pilot Stores to National Rollout
The Bigger, Bolder, Better format is part of Canadian Tire’s effort to transform Mark’s stores and its omnichannel customer experience. The company says the initial locations have become a key growth driver and that their broader assortments support Mark’s casualwear business alongside industrial workwear. It also reports a particularly strong response from women and younger customers, but provides no survey details or demographic breakdown in the source report.
Canadian Tire says new-customer acquisition at the new-format stores is up nearly 50%, compared with 7.5% across the rest of Mark’s store network. These are company-reported figures; the report does not state the measurement period, define how a new customer is counted or provide the underlying store-level data. The figures therefore indicate the company’s reported comparison, not a fully specified performance measure.
Mark’s has operated for nearly 50 years, according to president PJ Czank. The format’s larger stores and added brand areas are intended to extend that existing business, not replace its workwear focus. The announced expansion follows the opening of multiple locations during 2026 and sets a quantified target for the next phase: 40 of 387 stores by the end of 2028.
“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 Costs and Results Still Unspecified
The report does not break down how the $200 million will be spent, how many stores will be built from the ground up versus converted, or which communities are next. It also does not provide a year-by-year investment schedule or say whether all planned work depends on financial or operational conditions.
Canadian Tire’s performance claims are not accompanied by a defined measurement period or detailed financial figures. In particular, the nearly 50% new-customer-acquisition figure lacks a stated baseline period and explanation of the calculation. It is also unclear how the planned stores will perform over time or whether the company will revise the rollout target.
More 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 40 of Mark’s 387 locations to be new or converted to the format by the end of 2028, bringing the concept to both major urban centres and regional markets.
The company has not yet identified all future store locations or provided dates for individual openings and conversions. Further announcements may clarify where the next stores will be, how the capital will be allocated and whether the company will publish more detailed performance measures as the rollout proceeds.
Key Questions
How much is Canadian Tire investing in Mark’s?
Canadian Tire Corporation says it will invest $200 million through 2028 in Mark’s stores. The source report does not provide a breakdown of the spending.
How many Mark’s stores use the new format?
Mark’s currently has 21 new-format locations across Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, according to the report.
What is the target for the rollout?
By the end of 2028, Canadian Tire expects 40 of Mark’s 387 stores to be new or converted to the Bigger, Bolder, Better format.
What is different about the Thunder Bay store?
The Thunder Bay location is Mark’s largest to date, at more than 36,000 gross square feet. It includes expanded apparel assortments, upgraded fitting rooms, a new service model, omnichannel features and shop-in-shop areas for several apparel brands.
Has Canadian Tire published detailed results for the format?
The company reports strong growth and nearly 50% higher new-customer acquisition at new-format stores compared with 7.5% for the rest of the network. The report does not specify the measurement period, calculation method or detailed sales and profit figures.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
