CICI Détail · Retail Inc.

Our history

A retail legacy. A new chapter.

CICI Retail’s corporate roots date to 1996, but the retail experience behind the organization reaches further back. An important chapter was Bentley’s growth from a regional luggage retailer into a national network known for expansion, new concepts, operational development and community involvement.

These milestones reflect the adaptability, discipline and customer focus that continue to inform CICI Retail’s approach today.

54stores by 1990
100stores by 1993
200stores by 1999
300stores by 2003

The journey

Decades of building, learning and evolving.

  1. Chapter 011987—1993

    Bentley archival retail milestone

    From regional beginnings to national growth

    Bentley opened at Avalon Mall in St. John’s in August 1987, becoming the region’s first luggage store and serving a market of more than 500,000 people. Eight additional stores and the first Unic kiosk followed within a year. The network reached 54 stores nationally by 1990. In 1991, experienced retailer Jacques Pouliotte acquired eight Bentley franchises and helped accelerate growth. The 100th store opened at Niagara Square in Ontario in 1993.

    1. 1987First Bentley opens in St. John’s
    2. 199054 stores across Canada
    3. 1993100th store opens in Ontario
  2. Chapter 021996—2004

    Bentley archival retail milestone

    Building for greater scale

    Bentley moved its head office from Montréal to London, Ontario, in 1996 to expand operations. The first Voyageur store opened in Pointe-Claire in 1997, the 200th Bentley opened in Saint-Jérôme in 1999, and head office returned to Saint-Laurent in 2000. The company acquired Access from the Aldo Group and more than 60 stores in 2001. By 2003, Bentley had opened its 300th location at Mapleview Centre in Burlington and acquired EVEX. Xcetera and a China office followed in 2004.

    1. 1997The first Voyageur store opens
    2. 1999The 200th Bentley opens
    3. 2001Access acquisition adds more than 60 stores
    4. 2003—04300th store, EVEX and Xcetera
  3. Chapter 032006—2011

    Bentley archival retail milestone

    A broader retail and operating network

    The Handy banner was acquired in 2006 as Bentley refreshed its identity and established a corporate sales division. In 2010, Satchel, JB Bags and Valise joined the group. A new distribution centre opened in Hawkesbury in 2011, strengthening the network behind the stores. That same year, Bentley made its first significant contribution to the Dreams Take Flight foundation.

    1. 2006Handy joins the group
    2. 2010Satchel, JB Bags and Valise are added
    3. 2011Hawkesbury distribution centre opens
  4. Chapter 042012—2014

    Bentley archival retail milestone

    Modernizing the customer experience

    Bentley refreshed its identity in 2012 and entered a new ownership chapter when Novacap acquired the group and John Gunn was appointed CEO in 2013. The following year brought another brand evolution, a new-concept store at Square One in Mississauga and the first Blackbook store at Toronto’s Exchange Tower.

    1. 2012Brand identity renewed
    2. 2013A new ownership chapter begins
    3. 2014Square One concept and Blackbook launch
  5. Chapter 052015—2017

    Bentley archival retail milestone

    Montréal, community and digital growth

    The head office moved to 6125 Chemin de la Côte-de-Liesse in Montréal in 2015. Bentley launched a Running Club, donated $175,000 to Dreams Take Flight and celebrated a new-concept flagship at Carrefour Laval in 2016. In its 30th-anniversary year, shopbentley.com became the company’s first store to surpass $2 million in sales, and Bentley announced a partnership with Céline Dion.

    1. 2015Head office moves to Montréal
    2. 2016$175,000 community contribution
    3. 2017Online store surpasses $2 million
    4. 2017Céline Dion partnership announced

How growth happened

Built by people who went further.

Bentley founder Andy Chelminski credited the company’s growth and ability to capture the market to the dedication and devotion of its employees—people who consistently went beyond expectations. That people-first lesson remains one of the most important parts of the story.

Andy Chelminski · Founder of Bentley

The CICI chapter

The experience carried forward.

Every retail chapter brought new lessons in expansion, operations, brand development and customer service. CICI Retail carries that experience forward through Continental, combining a disciplined head-office structure with an agile value-retail model.

From Montréal, the organization now supports more than 50 stores across five Canadian provinces—and continues to build its next chapter.

Discover ContinentalReturn to CICI Retail

Historical Bentley milestones are based on the company timeline shown in archival materials and are presented as context for the retail experience behind CICI Retail.