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The story
Founded by Joe Mimran in 1985, in Toronto.1
Club Monaco was founded in 1985 by Canadians Joe Mimran, Saul Mimran, and Alfred Sung powered by the idea of “better basics”. The first Club Monaco store opened in Toronto on Queen Street West in 1985. The approach was simple and clean, mirroring the sensibility of the clothing and featuring a cafe that acted as a place of discovery and community. As the brand grew, new locations continued to open throughout Canada, each retaining its own feel—the Beach store in Toronto featured a lifeguard station display and a small juice bar, while the Eaton Centre store featured a restaurant and flower shop. Each store was a unique expression of the brand with all of the accoutrements.
In 1999, Club Monaco moved to New York City when it was purchased by Ralph Lauren Corporation. Since then, Club Monaco has expanded, opening locations throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.
In June 2021, Ralph Lauren Corporation sold the Club Monaco brand to Los Angeles based private equity firm Regent LP.
After several years of declining sales, Club Monaco faced financial hardship which resulted in the 2026 closure of US stores and the original flagship store on Queen Street West in Toronto. The brand maintains a minimal online presence.
From Wikipedia’s article on Club Monaco, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4