Bloomingdale's may be coming to Canada: report

Shoppers walked out of Bloomingdale's at the Mall of America Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012 in Bloomington, Minn. (The Star Tribune / Carlos Gonzalez)

Hudson's Bay Co. may be in talks with Bloomingdale's to bring the luxury department store brand to Canada.

The Globe and Mail quotes "industry sources" as saying that the New York-based retailer is planning to create Bloomingdale's boutiques within larger Bay stores, using a "store-within-a-store" model.

Bloomingdale's senior vice-president of public relations, Anne Keating, would not confirm the reports.

"We have a policy where we never disclose where we may or may not be looking for in locations. If we have something to announce, we'd be more than happy to let you know, but until then we have no comment," she told CTVNews.ca from New York.

HBC has already been trying to add higher-end lines to its stores, bringing in boutiques featuring the trendy British fashion line TopShop.

According to The Globe report, The Bay is considering adding the Bloomingdale's shops this fall within one of its Toronto stores, as well as to its largest Vancouver and Calgary stores.

The report comes as another high-end American department store chain is planning its own entry into Canada. Nordstrom Inc. -- one of Bloomingdale's biggest competitors -- told CTV News last week that it's looking for opportunities in Vancouver.

The chain is also speaking to landlords in Canada to find retail space for more stores across Canada. The company is believed to be in negotiations to take over three former Sears stores in Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa.

J. Crew has already arrived in Canada, opening its first Canadian store at Toronto's Yorkdale Shopping Centre. The high-end retailer has plans to open new locations this year at the West Edmonton Mall, Robson St. in Vancouver and Toronto's Eaton Centre, and plans for more than a dozen more are in the works.