(Images: Pearson International Airport/Facebook)
There’s good news and not-so-good news for jet-setting Torontonians. First, the positive: after languishing behind other travel hubs for decades, Pearson International’ s extreme makeover is nearly complete. The once-dowdy airport is now flush with high-end amenities, including a massive fitness centre, a raft of top-tier restaurants and, most recently, a 6,000-square-foot retail pavilion to replace Terminal 1’s sterile duty-free emporium.
The huge new shopping zone, which is set up like a chic department store, gained its most opulent occupants in late December, when swank Italian brands Ferragamo, Gucci and Bulgari joined existing retailers like Burberry and Coach.
The not-so-good news? If current weather patterns are an indication, this winter’s would-be passengers will have more time than expected to browse the boutiques’ luxe leather goods and premium timepieces. Here, a photographic preview of Pearson’s newer, posher duty-free.
253486 The revamped Terminal 1 shopping zone is 6,000 square feet (Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook) Pearson’s Posh Duty-Free https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson7.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/ferragamo-gucci-bulgari-now-open-pearson-international-airport/slide/pearson7/ pearson7 0 0
(Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook)
253491 The <strong>Burberry</strong> boutique (Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook) Pearson’s Posh Duty-Free https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson13.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/ferragamo-gucci-bulgari-now-open-pearson-international-airport/slide/pearson13/ pearson13 0 0
(Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook)
253489 Shoulder bags in classic <strong>Burberry</strong> plaid (Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook) Pearson’s Posh Duty-Free https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson11.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/ferragamo-gucci-bulgari-now-open-pearson-international-airport/slide/pearson11/ pearson11 0 0
(Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook)
253480 The <strong>Salvatore Ferragamo</strong> boutique (Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook) Pearson’s Posh Duty-Free https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson1.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/ferragamo-gucci-bulgari-now-open-pearson-international-airport/slide/pearson1/ pearson1 0 0
(Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook)
253482 The <strong>Salvatore Ferragamo</strong> boutique (Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook) Pearson’s Posh Duty-Free https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson3.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/ferragamo-gucci-bulgari-now-open-pearson-international-airport/slide/pearson3/ pearson3 0 0
(Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook)
253481 A colourful selection of <strong>Salvatore Ferragamo’</strong>s bold clutches and printed silk scarves (Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook) Pearson’s Posh Duty-Free https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson2.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/ferragamo-gucci-bulgari-now-open-pearson-international-airport/slide/pearson2/ pearson2 0 0
(Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook)
253483 The <strong>Gucci</strong> outlet stocks watches, bags and sungasses stamped with the brand’s signature interlocking Gs (Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook) Pearson’s Posh Duty-Free https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson4.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/ferragamo-gucci-bulgari-now-open-pearson-international-airport/slide/pearson4/ pearson4 0 0
(Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook)
253484 Italian brand <strong>Bulgari</strong> specializes in dramatic statement pieces set with colourful stones (Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook) Pearson’s Posh Duty-Free https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson5.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/ferragamo-gucci-bulgari-now-open-pearson-international-airport/slide/pearson5/ pearson5 0 0
(Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook)
253485 Swiss watchmaker <strong>Rado</strong> and luxury pen manufacturer <strong>Montblanc</strong> (Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook) Pearson’s Posh Duty-Free https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson6.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/ferragamo-gucci-bulgari-now-open-pearson-international-airport/slide/pearson6/ pearson6 0 0
(Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook)
253487 <strong>Victoria’s Secret’</strong>s signature pink display. The airport outlet sells accessories and cosmetics rather than undergarments (Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook) Pearson’s Posh Duty-Free https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson9.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/ferragamo-gucci-bulgari-now-open-pearson-international-airport/slide/pearson9/ pearson9 0 0
(Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook)
253488 A selection of miniature nylon purses from French brand <strong>Longchamps</strong> (Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook) Pearson’s Posh Duty-Free https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/ferragamo-gucci-bulgari-now-open-pearson-international-airport/slide/pearson10/ pearson10 0 0
(Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook)
253490 Outerwear on display at the <strong>Coach</strong> boutique (Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook) Pearson’s Posh Duty-Free https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pearson12.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/ferragamo-gucci-bulgari-now-open-pearson-international-airport/slide/pearson12/ pearson12 0 0
(Image: Pearson International Airport/Facebook)
It’s a bit odd to call this a “huge shopping zone.” It’s actually pretty modest compared to most new airport terminals. Heathrow has about 20x the size of retail (although, they are really in their own league with that admittedly). It’s also still a mystery why retail wouldn’t have been better incorporated into a new(ish) terminal though. It’s now therefore encroaching on space that was designed for passengers to assemble for their flights, etc.