Decathlon to Close Five GTA Stores This Summer

French sporting goods retailer Decathlon has announced that it will be closing its five Greater Toronto Area stores this summer. The locations affected by the closures are in Brampton, Burlington, Markham, Scarborough, and Vaughan.

While Decathlon did not provide a specific reason for the closures, it is believed that the company is considering alternative strategies such as opening smaller locations or utilizing a wholesale distribution model in place of its large-scale stores in the GTA.

It is uncertain how many employees will be affected by the closures and the exact date of the shutdown has not been announced yet.

Following the closure of the GTA stores, Decathlon will maintain its presence in Ontario with a single store in Ottawa. The company has a total of 14 stores in Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Quebec.

Decathlon first entered the Canadian market in 2018 with a store in Brossard, Quebec. Since then, the company has gradually expanded its presence, competing with established domestic retailers like Canadian Tire and its SportChek banner.

CBC News has reached out to a spokesperson for Decathlon for further information on the closures and the company’s future plans in the Canadian market.