Decathlon is shutting down all five of its Greater Toronto Area stores by July 31, 2025, a regional retreat that leaves Toronto-area shoppers without a nearby brick-and-mortar option. Whether you’re hoping to catch a closing sale or just trying to figure out where to buy affordable gear, here’s what’s happening, why, and what it means for Canadian shoppers.

Stores closing in GTA: 5 ·
Closure date: July 31, 2025 ·
Remaining Ontario store: Ottawa ·
Total Canadian stores after closures: 15 ·
Parent company: Decathlon SE (France)

Quick snapshot

1Closure Locations
  • Brampton
  • Burlington
  • Markham
  • Scarborough
  • Vaughan (all confirmed by Retail Insider)
2Timeline
  • Announcement: June 25, 2025
  • Final day of operation: July 31, 2025 (Retail Insider)
3Timeline signal
  • From March 2018 entry to regional retreat in 2025 — a 7-year arc in Canada’s largest market (Retail Insider)
4What’s next
  • Decathlon continues operating 15 stores across Canada, plus online at Decathlon.ca (Retail Insider)

Six key facts about the closures, one pattern: the GTA retreat is a sharp, regional pullback, not a full Canadian exit.

Fact Detail
Total GTA stores closing 5
Closure date
Official reason Change in retail landscape
Owner Decathlon SE (France)
Canada employees affected Undisclosed (estimated hundreds)
Decathlon India net loss FY25 Rs 65 crore

Why Are Decathlon Stores Closing?

Decathlon Canada said the closures were part of a “strategic evolution” of its retail strategy in the GTA, according to a report by Retail Insider. The company pointed to a change in the retail landscape as the official reason for shutting all five GTA locations simultaneously.

Change in the retail landscape

  • Decathlon cited a shift in how consumers shop for sporting goods as a key factor. A YouTube broadcast report noted the company plans to shift focus toward online shopping and same-day shipping.
  • The closures affect all five GTA locations at once, which suggests a coordinated strategy rather than store-by-store performance issues.

Strategic realignment by Decathlon Canada

  • The company framed the decision as a strategic retail reallocation rather than an insolvency or liquidation announcement, according to Retail Insider.
  • Decathlon continues to operate 14 other stores in Canada outside the GTA, indicating the move is regional, not national.
The trade-off

Decathlon is betting that online and same-day delivery can replace the foot traffic of five suburban locations. For shoppers who valued the in-store try-before-you-buy experience, that’s a real loss.

Cost pressures and shifting consumer behavior

  • Globally, Decathlon India reported a net loss of Rs 65 crore in FY25, suggesting the company faces regional financial pressure in some markets.
  • The company’s global revenue was approximately €15.6 billion in 2023, per its financial filings.

The implication: Decathlon is pulling out of Canada’s biggest retail market not because it’s failing as a company, but because its large-format stores in the GTA weren’t delivering the returns expected in a crowded sporting goods landscape.

Which Decathlon Stores in the GTA Are Closing?

All five GTA locations are listed on the official Decathlon closure page, confirmed by Retail Insider. The list spans suburbs across the region, not just Toronto proper.

Brampton

  • Located at 60 Resolution Drive, Brampton, ON.

Burlington

  • Located at 900 Maple Avenue, Burlington, ON.

Markham

  • Located at 5000 Hwy 7 East, Markham, ON.

Scarborough

  • Located at 1900 Eglinton Avenue East, Scarborough, ON.

Vaughan

  • Located at 1 Bass Pro Mills Drive, Vaughan, ON.

What this means: every Decathlon within a 50-kilometer radius of downtown Toronto will be gone by August 2025. The nearest brick-and-mortar option becomes the Ottawa store, a 4-hour drive away.

Is Decathlon Closing in Canada?

No — Decathlon is not exiting Canada entirely. The closures are limited to the Greater Toronto Area, a regional rather than national restructuring, per Retail Insider.

Remaining stores in Canada

  • Decathlon continues to operate 15 stores across Canada after the GTA closures — 14 outside Ontario (in Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Quebec) plus the Ottawa location.

Ottawa location status

  • The Ottawa store at 2269 Riverside Drive remains open and unaffected.

Future of Decathlon in Canada

  • A broadcast report from YouTube suggested Decathlon might consider returning to brick-and-mortar stores in the GTA later with a smaller footprint, though no timeline was given.

The pattern: Decathlon is shrinking its physical footprint in Canada’s largest market while keeping its presence in smaller cities and other provinces. It’s a hedge — hold the country, lose the biggest city.

What Country Owns Decathlon?

Decathlon is a French company, owned by Decathlon SE (Société Européenne), headquartered in Lille, France. The company is one of the world’s largest sporting goods retailers, operating over 1,700 stores globally.

French multinational ownership

  • Decathlon SE is the corporate entity that owns and operates all Decathlon stores worldwide, including the Canadian locations.
  • The company is privately held, founded by Michel Leclercq in 1976.

Decathlon SE corporate structure

  • Decathlon SE operates as a European company (Société Européenne) with its main corporate offices in Lille, France.
  • The Canadian subsidiary, Decathlon Canada, reports into the global structure.

Global footprint of Decathlon

  • Decathlon operates over 1,700 stores in more than 60 countries.
  • The company entered the Canadian market in March 2018 with its first store in Montreal.

Why this matters: Decathlon’s global size — €15.6 billion in revenue in 2023 — means the GTA closures are a local adjustment, not a sign of corporate distress. But for Canadian shoppers, the local impact is real.

Is Decathlon Declining?

Not globally, but there are regional trouble spots. Decathlon India reported a net loss of Rs 65 crore in FY25, indicating challenges in that market. However, the company’s global revenue remained strong at approximately €15.6 billion in 2023, and it continues to open stores in other regions.

Financial performance in India

  • Decathlon India reported a net loss of Rs 65 crore for the financial year 2024-25, according to its regulatory filings.

Global sales trends

  • Decathlon’s global revenue was approximately €15.6 billion in 2023, per company reports.

Comparison with other sporting goods retailers

  • Other sporting goods retailers have also faced pressure in Canada. The GTA market has seen closures from competitors as well, though Decathlon’s pullout is the most notable in 2025.

The catch: Decathlon remains profitable overall but faces regional challenges. The GTA closures look less like a death spiral and more like a strategic recalibration — cutting losses in a market that wasn’t working to protect the rest of the Canadian operations.

The upshot

Decathlon is prioritizing its 15 remaining Canadian stores and its e-commerce operation over the expensive real estate of five suburban GTA locations. For shoppers in Brampton or Vaughan, that means a 4-hour drive to Ottawa — or switching to online delivery.

Timeline: Decathlon in Canada

  • March 2018: Decathlon opens its first Canadian store in Montreal.
  • December 2020: Decathlon expands to the GTA with its Scarborough location.
  • June 25, 2025: Decathlon Canada announces the closure of all five GTA stores, per Retail Insider.
  • July 31, 2025: Final day of operation for GTA stores.
  • Beyond 2025: Decathlon continues operations in Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver, and Halifax.

The timeline shows Decathlon’s seven-year arc in Canada: from entry in 2018 to a decisive regional retreat in 2025.

Confirmed Facts

  • Five GTA stores closing by July 31, 2025 (Retail Insider)
  • Ottawa store remains open (Retail Insider)
  • Official reason is changing retail landscape (Retail Insider)
  • Decathlon is French-owned

These facts are backed by official announcements from Decathlon and industry reports.

What’s Unclear

  • Exact number of jobs affected — Decathlon has not disclosed employee impact numbers
  • Whether store closing sales will be held — no official confirmation from Decathlon Canada
  • Future of Decathlon’s expansion in Canada — no long-term plan announced
  • Financial details of the GTA operations — no profitability data for individual stores

Until Decathlon releases more details, these questions remain open.

Quotes & Perspectives

“The closures were part of a strategic evolution of its retail strategy in the GTA.”

— Decathlon Canada spokesperson, as reported by Retail Insider

“Employees were given notice that the stores would close on July 31.”

— Anonymous employee, via Reddit community post

Summary

Decathlon’s GTA closure isn’t a Canadian exit — it’s a retreat from the country’s most expensive and competitive retail market. The company is betting that 15 stores across smaller Canadian cities plus a stronger online operation can replace the five big-box locations it’s shutting down. Decathlon’s decision leaves Toronto-area shoppers with a clear choice: switch to online delivery or drive to Ottawa for the closest brick-and-mortar option.

Additional sources

retail-insider.com

For a detailed breakdown of the affected locations and reasons behind the decision, see Decathlons GTA closures.

Frequently asked questions

Will there be a Decathlon store closing sale?

Decathlon has not officially confirmed whether store closing sales will be held at the five GTA locations. Shoppers are advised to check Decathlon.ca for updates. As of late June 2025, no discounts had been announced.

What happens to Decathlon employees after the GTA closures?

Decathlon has not disclosed the specific number of employees affected or the severance packages offered. Anonymous employee reports on Reddit suggest workers were given notice of the July 31 closure date.

Is Decathlon closing stores in other Canadian cities?

No. Only the five GTA locations are closing. Decathlon continues to operate 15 stores across Canada, including locations in Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver, and Halifax.

Can I still shop at Decathlon online in Canada?

Yes. Decathlon told customers in the GTA they could continue shopping through Decathlon.ca, which offers delivery across Canada.

When did Decathlon first open in Canada?

Decathlon opened its first Canadian store in Montreal in March 2018. It expanded to the GTA with its Scarborough location in December 2020.

How does the GTA closure affect Decathlon’s global brand?

Minimally. Decathlon operates over 1,700 stores globally and reported approximately €15.6 billion in revenue in 2023. The GTA closures represent a local adjustment, not a global trend.

Are there any other sporting goods stores closing in the GTA?

Several sporting goods retailers have faced pressure in Canada’s retail market, though Decathlon’s five-store closure is the most notable sporting goods exit in the GTA in 2025.

These answers are based on official announcements and available information as of July 2025.