MISSISSAUGA, Ontario (15 August 2011) - Crate & Barrel will open its second store in Alberta in October and its first store in Quebec next spring, bringing its Canadian network to a total of five stores.

The contemporary furniture, home décor and kitchen specialist will open a 24,430 square foot store in Edmonton's Southgate Mall in October, followed with a 25,000 square foot store at the Carrefour Laval mall, located in the Montreal suburb of Laval.

Crate & Barrel's other Canadian stores are located here as well as in Toronto and Calgary.

Construction began on the Laval store last week and when completed, it will have a staff of approximately 50 associates. According to a report in the Edmonton Journal, the store there will have 40 associates.

Founded in 1962 and headquartered in Chicago, Crate & Barrel entered the Canadian market with its first store in Toronto's Yorkdale Shopping Centre in 2008. This was followed the following year with the unit in Calgary's Southcentre mall. The one located in Mississauga's Square One opened a few months later.

According to the report in the Journal, Crate & Barrel - along with its sister brand CB2 - plans to open eight or nine stores in Canada over the next two years, including at least one store in British Columbia.

Crate & Barrel is among a growing group of U.S. retailers looking to establish a presence in Canada. Among those with strong furniture, home décor and appliance businesses are Target, Big Lots, Lowe's, and Restoration Hardware, to name just a few.