Anyone who’s trekked through a Decathlon store on a weekend knows the drill: aisles of affordable tents, bikes, and running gear, all under one roof. That experience is about to disappear for Greater Toronto Area shoppers. Decathlon Canada announced in June 2025 that it will shut five GTA locations by July 31, 2025. Here’s what we know about the closures, the reasoning, and what it means for customers who relied on those stores.

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Stores closing in GTA: 5 · Affected locations: Brampton, Burlington, Markham, Scarborough, Vaughan · Final closure date: July 31, 2025 · Remaining Ontario stores: 1 (Ottawa) · Total Canada stores post-closures: 15

Quick snapshot

1Affected Stores
  • Brampton
  • Burlington
  • Markham
  • Scarborough
  • Vaughan
2Key Dates
  • Announcement: June 2025
  • Closures: July 31, 2025
3Canada Impact
  • 1 Ontario store left
  • 15 total remaining
4What’s Next
  • Online and same-day shipping
  • Wholesale partnerships
  • Possible smaller-format return

The table below consolidates the verified details from Decathlon Canada’s official announcement and corroborated media reports.

Detail Information
Stores closing 5 in GTA
Closure date July 31, 2025
Owner country France
Ontario stores post-closure 1 (Ottawa)

Why are Decathlon stores closing?

Decathlon Canada framed the GTA pullout as part of a broader strategic transformation. According to Retail Insider (industry trade publication), the company is shifting away from large-format physical retail toward an omnichannel model built around e-commerce, same-day shipping, and wholesale partnerships. Decathlon Canada stated it is considering options for quicker, more efficient service in the GTA, including wholesale distribution, new strategic partners, and smaller format stores.

Strategic reasons for GTA exit

  • Decathlon Canada is exploring wholesale opportunities with new strategic partners as an alternative to large-format retail
  • The company is considering a return to brick-and-mortar stores with a smaller footprint in the GTA
  • GTA customers can continue shopping through Decathlon.ca following store closures
  • Same-day shipping is available where products leave the warehouse the day customers in select regions place online orders
The upshot

Decathlon is not exiting Canada entirely—it’s exiting large-format retail in its largest market. The bet is that online sales, same-day delivery, and wholesale deals can serve the GTA more efficiently than five warehouse-sized stores.

The implication: Decathlon is essentially treating its GTA presence as a real estate experiment that ran its course. If the omnichannel pivot works elsewhere, don’t be surprised if smaller-format stores reappear in the Toronto area within a few years.

Which GTA stores are affected by closures?

Five locations are shutting down: Brampton, Burlington, Markham, Scarborough, and Vaughan, according to Decathlon Canada (official corporate statement). The company did not specify precise timelines for each individual store’s final day of operations.

Store locations

  • Brampton: One of five GTA locations affected
  • Burlington: One of five GTA locations affected
  • Markham: One of five GTA locations affected
  • Scarborough: One of five GTA locations affected
  • Vaughan: One of five GTA locations affected

All five impacted GTA stores are located in high-traffic retail centers, as reported by Economic Times (international business news).

The catch: “high-traffic” location is cold comfort when the nearest store is now Ottawa. For GTA customers, geography is the real loss.

What is the closure timeline?

The announcement came on June 25, 2025, per Winnipeg Free Press (major Canadian newspaper). All five GTA stores are set to shut down by July 31, 2025.

Announcement and shutdown dates

  • June 2025: Decathlon Canada and media outlets announce GTA closures
  • July 31, 2025: All GTA stores shut down

The pattern: The announcement-to-closure window is roughly five weeks. That’s fast by retail standards and suggests Decathlon has already made the decision internally—this announcement formalizes an already-determined exit.

Is Decathlon closing stores across Canada?

Not at this time. The closures are concentrated in the GTA, leaving one Ontario store in Ottawa intact, per Winnipeg Free Press. Decathlon Canada did not indicate whether other provinces will see similar closures.

National store count

  • Remaining Canadian stores: 15 after GTA closures
  • Ontario after closures: 1 (Ottawa)
  • Stores elsewhere: 14 across Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Quebec

The implication: Ontario takes the biggest hit—going from six stores to one. Every other province keeps its current footprint.

Is Decathlon in financial trouble?

Decathlon Canada has not disclosed specific revenue or profit figures for the affected stores. The company cited changes in the retail landscape as context for the closures, though it did not provide detailed financial data, per YouTube news reporting (independent video journalism). Decathlon Canada continues to assess its operations to ensure alignment with long-term goals and customer demand.

Recent losses

Precise financial details about Decathlon Canada’s GTA operations remain undisclosed. The company has not released figures on revenue, losses, or store-level performance for the five closing locations.

Ownership background

  • Decathlon is a French sporting goods retailer
  • The company operates globally with stores in dozens of countries
  • Decathlon Canada closed its retail store presence in the United States in 2022, per Wikipedia (encyclopedic record)

Why this matters: The U.S. exit in 2022 and the GTA exit in 2025 suggest a pattern of recalibrating North American operations. This isn’t panic—it’s restructuring with a specific model in mind.

Confirmed facts

  • 5 GTA stores closing: Brampton, Burlington, Markham, Scarborough, Vaughan
  • Date: July 31, 2025
  • One Ontario store remains (Ottawa)
  • 15 stores total remain in Canada
  • French-owned retailer
  • Announcement: June 25, 2025

What’s unclear

  • Exact reasons beyond “transformation”
  • Whether other provinces will see closures
  • Specific number of employees affected
  • Employee transition and severance details
  • Potential return date for smaller-format GTA stores
  • Which wholesale partners, if any, are confirmed

“Decathlon Canada is considering options for quicker, more efficient service in the GTA, including wholesale distribution, new strategic partners and smaller format stores.”

— Decathlon Canada (official corporate statement)

“Right now Decathlon Canada leadership is focused on helping employees transition following today’s news, so unfortunately we won’t have anyone available for interview.”

— Decathlon Canada spokesperson (per Retail Insider)

What to watch

Decathlon Canada leadership declined interview requests, stating they were focused on helping employees transition. That silence makes it harder to assess whether the omnichannel pivot is working or whether this is triage.

Bottom line: Decathlon is pulling out of its biggest Canadian market by physical footprint, not because it’s failing, but because it believes a leaner, online-first model can serve the GTA more efficiently. Ontario shoppers lose their most convenient option for now; Quebec, Alberta, BC, and Nova Scotia customers see no change.

Related reading: Chick-fil-A Canada Locations and Expansion · Nike Air Max Plus Guide

Additional sources

halifax.citynews.ca

Decathlon Canada’s closure of five GTA stores draws from strategic reviews, with the detailed GTA closures timeline matching the Brampton, Burlington, Markham, Scarborough, and Vaughan shutdowns by July 31.

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Frequently asked questions

What country owns Decathlon?

Decathlon is a French sporting goods retailer headquartered in Villeneuve d’Ascq, France. It operates stores in dozens of countries worldwide.

Is Decathlon Chinese or Indian?

Decathlon is neither Chinese nor Indian. It is a French company founded in 1976 by Michel Leclerc and François Lemarchand.

Why is Decathlon changing its name?

Decathlon has not announced a name change. The company is undergoing a strategic transformation in how it serves the GTA market, shifting from large-format retail to omnichannel options including e-commerce, same-day shipping, and wholesale partnerships.

Are there Decathlon store closing sales in GTA?

Closing sales have not been officially confirmed. Customers should check Decathlon Canada’s official page for any announcements regarding liquidation sales at the affected GTA locations.

What Decathlon locations remain in Toronto area?

After the GTA closures, there will be no Decathlon physical retail stores in the Toronto area. The nearest location in Ontario will be the Ottawa store.

How many Decathlon stores are in Canada after GTA closures?

Decathlon will have 15 stores remaining in Canada after the GTA closures. Of these, 14 are located in Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Quebec, with one store remaining in Ontario (Ottawa).

Is Decathlon leaving Canada entirely?

No. Decathlon is not leaving Canada. The company is reducing its physical retail footprint in Ontario while maintaining 15 stores across four other provinces. Online shopping and same-day shipping remain available nationwide.

Timeline signal

1June 25, 2025
  • Decathlon Canada and media outlets announce GTA closures
2July 31, 2025
  • All GTA stores shut down
3Post-closure
  • Ottawa remains sole Ontario store
  • Online and same-day shipping continue for GTA customers

For GTA shoppers who’ve relied on those five stores, the choice is straightforward: adapt to online ordering with same-day shipping, or make the drive to Ottawa. Decathlon is betting that its digital and wholesale pivot is enough to keep those customers—even without a single store in Canada’s largest metropolitan area.