Square One Shopping Centre; Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Square One Shopping Center in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Located in the sprawling megasuburb of Mississauga, Ontario, Square One Shopping Centre is one of the largest malls in Canada and the second largest in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), behind Eaton Centre downtown.  As a mega-regional mall, Square One draws from an impressive trade area encompassing the entire Golden Horseshoe, a term for the highly populated arc of provincial Ontario surrounding the shores of Lake Ontario from Greater Toronto to Fort Erie, also including Hamilton, Niagara Falls, and St. Catharines.  With over 8 million people, one out of four Canadians lives within the Golden Horseshoe and thus Square One’s trade area, making it a very important mall.  The mall itself is a monster melange of stores and services in a very unique floorplan, as a result of many different updates and expansions throughout the years, but we’re also interested in how the mall has functioned as the centerpiece for the City of Mississauga since its inception in 1974.

Indeed, the City of Mississauga’s existance is relatively recent, and moreso amazing is the fact that it has grown to a population of over 700,000 residents and has more than doubled in the past 20 years.  Mississauga emerged from the amalgamation of several existing communities, some of them over a century old themselves, such as Port Credit, Streetsville, Malton, Cooksville and Clarkson.  However, most of present-day Mississauga was agricultural until even the first half of the 20th century.  

Square One Shopping Center Hudson's Bay Company in Mississauga, Ontario, CanadaBy the 1960s, however, a lot of post-WWII suburban-growth had spilled over from Toronto and many settlements had sprung up such as Meadowvale and Erin Mills, so a provincial decree set up the Town of Mississauga in 1968, which amalgamated many of these towns into one geographic giant.  Then, in 1974, Mississauga incorporated as a city, and with it came the plans for the new city center which was to feature government offices, as well as a gigantic mall.  Are we loving this already?

Square One Shopping Centre opened in late 1973, just a few months prior to Mississauga being officially incorporated, in order to provide a centerpiece for the newly formed city.  It is located at Highway 403 and Hurontario Street.  Square One opened anchored by Dominion, Woolco, The Bay, and Sears.  Today, however, only a shadow of the original mall exists as it has expanded many times into the piecemeal success story it is today.

As mentioned, Mississauga grew rapidly as a bedroom suburb for Toronto during the 1980s and 1990s, and is still growing rapidly even today.  To accomodate this sprawl, Square One was expanded several times during the 1980s, adding over 80 stores and a million more square feet in selling space.  Woolco closed in the 1990s as that chain went out of business, and it was replaced by a 220,000 square-foot Wal-Mart store.  When Eatons closed in 1999, it was replaced with Canada’s largest Zellers.  In 2000, the most recent expansion occurred.  Called Cityside, it added a Cineplex Odeon theatre as well as a more upscale, modern wing featuring many fashion designer boutiques as well as stores from the ‘States.  Then, most recently, the entire center was given the once-over and remodeled, culminating in late 2006.  Three distinct neighborhoods exist within the mall with carpeted transitional areas. 

Square One Shopping Center in Mississauga, Ontario, CanadaThe overall design and decor of Square One definitely reflect how the mall has changed in pieces over the years.  The modern, most recent addition features marbled floors and an overall whitewashed look which has been popular in malls as of recent.  The older wings vary, from the Milanese Galleria-style glass enclosure popular in the 1980s to darker 1970s tones with dark tiled flooring.  Really, the mall is amazing because it has nearly every period of decor imaginable.  In addition, the way the mall is set up is similar to that of the Mall of America, only modified and not as tall.  A square perimeter of enclosed space connects all four anchors on the upper level, with a triangular series of hallways appended onto one end.  The lower level is more curiously set up, with hallways zig-zagging off a main corridor connecting Zellers to the food court area.

So what’s next for the future of Square One?  Today, Mississauga has over 700,000 residents and is Canada’s sixth largest city.  Yet Toronto, the country’s largest city, is only 20 minutes away.  So albeit a giant, Mississauga lives in the shadows of its older big brother next door.  However, Mississauga is currently in the process of repositioning its image from suburban bedroom community to a city with its own legs, and its own real urban downtown.  As such, the city has forged a relatively new downtown skyline centered near the mall featuring skyscrapers of 30 to 50 stories.  In 2006, a design competition was held to build another 50-story condominum tower, which will be visually shocking and called Absolute World.  In addition, numerous community festivals are centered around this new urban core of Mississauga, which once again was originally predicated on a mall which still thrives. 

There are other large malls in the GTA, but only Square One has become the realized centerpiece for an entire community.  With a great central location between the City of Toronto and the rest of the Golden Horseshoe, Square One will continue to dominate well into the future.  I took the pictures featured with this post in January 2006.  As always, comments and more information is always appreciated.      

Square One Shopping Center Downtown Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Square One Shopping Center in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Square One Shopping Center in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Square One Shopping Center in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Square One Shopping Center in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Square One Shopping Center in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Square One Shopping Center in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Square One Shopping Center in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Square One Shopping Center Bay in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Square One Shopping Center in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

56 thoughts on “Square One Shopping Centre; Mississauga, Ontario, Canada”

  1. Hmmm….what a varied mix of styles…but I do like it. I think you described it perfectly — the mall seems to encapsule the “best”/”worst” of each decade. (Personally, I would put those glass curved skylights in the worst category — sooooooo 80s/90s. But I digress.)

    I also found the two Bay entrances amusing in that the upper is somewhat modern and open, and the lower is much more formal and restrained with the name spelled out without the “Bay” logo.

    And they do like their zig-zags…reminds me of Rideau Centre in Ottawa.

  2. To be technical: Woolco didn’t close, Wal-Mart simply bought the chain out.

    If I’m not mistaken, this is now the only mall in Canada with both a Zellers and a Wal-Mart. There used to be a few others (Joliette QC comes to mind), but Wal-Mart has closed a lot of its ex-Woolco mall locations recently in favour of larger standalone stores nearby.

  3. That mall reminds me of “Galeries de la Capitale” in Quebec City. The Bay has the same kind of entrance, the upper with “The Bay” logo, the lower with the full company name, less open, more dark. Wal-Mart also opened in a Woolco there. Like JP said, that Wal-Mart store has also left the mall in favour of a standalone store. Zellers replaced it!

  4. Woolworth sold all their stores to Wal-Mart, then became Foot Locker Inc.

  5. I grew up with this mall and know quite alot about it. The main reason why alot of the ceilings on the main level are low and seem kind of dark are because the fact that long time ago during the mid 80’s when they were renovating and expanding, the centre was only 1 floor and that main floor was the upper level that we see today. That’s why the mall levels are so awkward and confusing (as someone said to me before “and then comes Square One where realiy hits you, and somehow the parking lot is ontop and you shop underground”)
    This is truely a real Canadian Mall, even though nowadays everything in it is American, even some of the styling, but it’s very unique in it’s own way.
    Oh yeah but those pictures you took, you really took them during a bad time lol. That was right when they were in the middle of renovations where they changed each hallway into a different neighborhood to make walking around the mall easier. Now the change is 100%….so it’s pretty sad that alot of the decor and fixtures that I saw in the mall from the 70’s are now gone.

  6. *tear* sigh, I wish malls were still like this in the US, it’s so beautiful!

    Nothing uptight, upscale, or snooty about this mall, just a good old shopping area for regular people, sigh how malls used to be before they were “trend-ized”.

    The mall looks like fun,rare these days.

  7. Replying to what Mark said

    This mall is anything but fun nowadays. It’s very hectic and confusing. The pictures shown are from more than a year ago, trust me the mall looks absolutly nothing like this now. The ceilings that you see with the mirrored octagons and the huge curves with the skylights are all gone and you could never tell that it’s the same mall. The whole mall got this hugeeee revamp and almost everything that was there before is totally gone. The only signs of the 70’s in this mall are the brown tiled floors leading to one of the washroom areas…and their about to renovate that too. Now it’s very very very modern looking. It’s so weird seeing how this mall changed 100% since it opened in the 70’s. You should come down here to Mississauga and see what I’m talking about. Or ask any other frequant Square One-goers

  8. They got to this mall too !?

    F***! d**** it! can’t they leave things well enough ALONE!?

    Why does every building have seem to be so soulless these days?

    SFGDB!!!!!

  9. Lol Mark…it’s not as bad as you think. The stores in here are a little pricey though. I can guarentee that an Abercrombie or Hollister is going to come within months. Almost all the stores in this mall are upscale…excluding a few (and if they aren’t, they look upscale on the outside). And you may think that it doesn’t have soul but you’d be glad to know that the exterior is still the same as it was in the 70’s in alot of parts of the mall…but like the the first photo shown….everything will be changed within months (by the way the first photo with the Ciniplex and the large window are apart of the expansion that took place a few years ago, not renovations).

  10. Wow… frreedom AND kick-a*s malls… I love Canada.
    Scott

  11. Here’s the department stores and major stores of the mall over the years

    On Opening, October 1973
    Dominion (Large grocery store)
    The Bay (Kind of a Canadian version of Macy’s)
    Woolco (A subsidiary of Woolworth’s)
    Sears

    15 Years later,

    Dominion
    The Bay
    Woolco
    Sears (New store layout, renovated)
    Eatons (Kind of a Canadian version of Macy’s mixed with Bloomingdale’s, opened in 1988ish)

    Present day, 2007

    The Bay (Renovated multiple times)
    Wal-Mart (Woolco made a huge transformation in 1994 after Wal-Mart entered Canada)
    Sears (Renovated somewhat, mostly interior)
    Zellers (The closest thing to Target in Canada, it’s like there the same exact store but with different names, Converted in early 2000 after Eatons went bankrupt)
    Home Outfitters (Canadian version of Bed Bath and Beyond, part of the new mall addition)
    Ciniplex Odeon Cinemas (Part of the new mall addition)

    Dominion left sometime either during the late 80’s or early 90’s if I can recall. A few other large stores came in and out of the mall, I’m not so sure but I really remember a JC Penny here in the early 90’s after Dominion left, also a smaller movie theatre was here and then demolished before the expansion in 1999-2000) Now to this day the mall has been completely “Americanized”.
    Here’s a picture of the mall in the 70’s before the centre court was enclosed in the mid-late 80’s.

    http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/citycentregallery?paf_gear_id=13200032&imageId=39300021&index=127&returnUrl=%2Fportal%2Fresidents%2Fcitycentregallery%3Fstart%3D121

  12. There wouldn’t have been a JCPenney – they’ve never had stores in Canada.

  13. As far as I can remember, the mall was always 2 levels. During the ‘transition years” in the late 80’s there was a Bretton’s and s bath and bedding store (I forget the name) that went in where Dominion was. There’s a groups about the old square one on Facebook.

    http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2529816909

  14. I’ve only been to Square One a couple of times, but always found it (at least the older lower level) the most claustrophobic of the Toronto area’s malls, especially when packed with weekend shoppers.

  15. Square One’s renovation/transformation is nearly complete. As of August 2007, they are just finishing the transition area between Cityside and the centre corridor leading to Sears. And though I like the mall’s trendy new look and decor, the mix of stores leaves something to be desired. Where are Lacoste, Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch? Instead we get junk like International Clothiers, TWO separate dollar stores (Dollarama and Everything For A Dollar Store) and a host of independent retailers no one really cares for (Brogue, Apollon, Unicus). Oh well, at least Sherway Gardens is nearby.

  16. The picture of the court is great, and there probably is a perimeter hallway inside the mall. So what I see? There’s a ramp or stairs in the background, a carousel, then there’s an escalator in some trees and some sort of large gray hole or wall that appears to be relatively popular.

    The mall is not “Americanized”…it’s just retail trends.
    What is CitySide anyway?

  17. Cityside is one of Square One’s three new neighbourhoods or “districts” designed to make finding your way around the mall easier. The other two neighbourhoods are Northside and Centre Walk. They are differentiated by flooring, lighting and decor. Before the mall was one large maze. Now it’s been divided into three distinct areas.

  18. Are there any A&F or Hollister stores in Canada? I remember hearing some plans for expansion up north but nothing about any stores actually opening. Of course, living in the last region of the country that any of these chains come to, I may be out of the loop…

  19. Never mind, just found out that A&F is at (or at least coming to) Sherway Gardens and Yorkdale…

  20. ummm i would like to request a modification to the information up above. the largest mall in Canada, which is located in the GTA, is located in Vaughn, next to Canada’s Wonderland. so Square One is in fact, the third largest within the GTA.

  21. The largest mall in Canada is by far West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton Alberta with 800 stores and millions of square feet.

  22. I usally avoid this mall these days. It’s way too crowded for me and it has a claustrophobic feek to it with the low ceilings. A lot of people are wondering when it will get A&F, Hollister, Lacoste, etc but considering how close it is to Sherway Gardens, I’m not sure if those companies will want to open new stores so close to another mall where they already have locations. They have line ups outside the entrance to get into Hollister at Sherway Gardens, so maybe they could open one up at Erin Mills or another mall further west.

  23. Its a hangout for hoodlums. Easy to see with the bus terminal being outside. Not like it used to be with the over population of Mississauga. Its turning into Brampton. Shootings right out front of the mall while people wait in their cars, muggings etc.

    Go to Sherway for a hood-free shopping experience… There is no bus terminal there! Enough said…

  24. The Cineplex Odeon cinemas at Square One have been taken over by Empire Theatres.

  25. The parking lot doesn’t seem to be quite as packed as Yorkdale’s on the weekend but inside the mall Square One is usually jam-packed, people travelling or walking by bus I guess. Also, finding a spot to sit in the Food Court is a nightmare.

    On the other hand, Square One is apparently moving upscale. They are closing smaller stores like Below the Belt and Rodeo Jewellers while bringing in a whole slew of new stores later this year: Coach, Spence Diamonds, bebe, Okaidi, GEOX, and BCBG MaxAzria among others. On the north side in the parking lot across Wal-Mart they’re also adding a Boston Pizza, the Running Room and an LCBO. The renovations in regards to Cityside, Northside and Centrewalk are complete now it’s just a matter of bringing in more exciting stores.

    Dunno why they still don’t have an A&F or Hollister here. Square One is a huge regional mall – bigger than Sherway and Yorkdale and the largest mall in Ontario – that draws shoppers from all over the place. They are missing out on a lot of potential sales by not opening a location here.

  26. Shane S. Is right about Hudson’s Bay Company! Call me Crazy! Zoom on the picture with the Hudson Bay Company store, and focus on the black square with white letters…INC! That’s a Macy’s “Exclusive” brand! :O What gives!? I work at a Macy’s, and i’ve found a bath rugh which said “Exclusive for the Hudson Bay Company”, a towel that said “Made in the USA For Zellers” and a Macy’s “Exclusive” blanket with a price tag from “The Hudson Bay Company” What’s up with that???!!!! 😛

  27. Some very good collection of pictures you have. Personally, I feel Square One mall is the best in the world. I have no facts. I have no figures. I just FEEL its the best.

  28. Yo this mall is whack damn u canadians haven’t been out much this shit is the gayest mall i have ever seen in my life. Go see Walden Galleria Mall in Cheektowaga outside buffalo now thats a fucken mall even Vaughan Mills out does this mall. The girls in this mall are stuck up bitches who don’t know what travel and real life is about.

  29. @Rohit Gupta,

    U must be very confused to think this is actually a mall its got the worlds most unfriendly chicks do some traveling dude.

  30. This mall most likely would have a hollister and abercrombie except its not owned by cadillac fairview which seems to be the group getting them in their malls, pacific centre, eaton centre, fairview , sherway gardens etc.

    Is it just me or is the annoying thing about toronto is there is no mall with everything you want. Every mall has a few unique stores they dont have at other malls but no mall has them all. Abercrombie , Hollister, Bench , Lascoste, Urban Outfiters, Aeropostale, Holts, AX, etc.

  31. walden galleria is a dump. i remember when square 1 was really a square and the middle of it (now the foodcourt) was outdoors. 70’s to early/mid 80’s

  32. The Walden Galleria is a pretty good mall, although I haven’t been there in several years, it looks as if it has changed tremendously.

  33. Walden Galleria has every store you could possibly want, but something about it bothers me it seemed so sprawling and characterless. It also has a lot of empty stores right now, which is sort of weird cause it looks like they just put on a big expansion

  34. Having lived in Mississauga all my life, Square One was a mall I visited frequently, *especially* in highschool. In grades 9 and 10, the end of the week was marked by a gaggle of us girls going to Square One for nothing in particular. There was nothing else to do in Mississauga, and it was easy to get to. Now that I’m out of university, I don’t know how I managed to go there every week without wanting to kill myself!

    It’s always insanely crowded, disorienting, and…oh yeah, overrun with highschool kids! It’s the go-to place for a lot of first-time-part-time job hunters in Mississauga (the bus terminal provides easy access for those without their drivers’ licenses), so the service at most stores is less than stellar. One movie theatre (Empire Theatres, formerly Cineplex Odeon) is connected to the mall, and a rather seedy Famous Players is across the street, so you run into a lot of young loiterers. Many of the stores in general feel like all-ages clubs.

    However, the mall does have its good points, particularly when it comes to certain stores. The H&M is decent, perfect for those who don’t feel like high-tailing it to the slightly more distant Erin Mills Town Centre, and more distant downtown Toronto to get their cheap on (the nearby Sherway Gardens has no H&M). The dimly lit foodcourt is a nightmare, but located just above is the lovely (and well-lit, thanks to the huge skylights!) Richtree Cafe. I could be wrong, but I believe that this is the only Richtree outside of downtown Toronto (in the area). So again, it’s a pleasant substitute. There are also some nice non-food court restaurants in the mall, such as Moxie’s, Earl’s, and Lemongrass. Just across the street is also a Spring Rolls.

    Square One is a bit of a chaotic mess, but it fills a niche, that niche being narcissistic, rude, overly-sexualized Mississauga kids. I’m kidding (kinda). I don’t recommend going on a Friday night, or worse, during holiday season. However, if you go on a quiet Tuesday or Wednesday evening, or know exactly what you’re looking for, then it’s just fine.

    Also, Square One is the largest shopping mall in Ontario (it’s generally believed that the Toronto Eaton Centre is). http://shopsquareone.com/04cu_toin.html

  35. I’ve been searching all over for all of this post. Thankfully I just discovered this in Bing.

  36. @JP,
    Sorry to disagree but there is a Zellers and Wal-Mart in the Georgetown Mall, Halton Hills, ON

  37. Not only is there square One& Erin Mills, Mississauga also has Westwood Mall & South Common Mall as well. The nice thing is it’s all connected by the cities transit system, wich connects to both GO & Islington Subway station in Toronto.

    A few posts up the thred people were knocking on the bitchyness of canadians, & let me tell you I had the good fortune of meeting several of them while I was in Las Vegas in 2008. Each one I met was nicer than the prior one.

    One particulare young woman from Vancouver named Gina I got a real kick out of. When she told me that she & her friend with her were from Canada*Edmonton*, a fella standing behind me says “oh Canada EH”! Gina turned around & ever so polightly raises her voice loud enough for all to hear & told him off on a city bus full of passengers. He didn’t say another word after that. As for me, I high fived her & her friend. Too this day I have a lot of respect for Gina. The funny thing was I cant recall what she said, but it was effective. No explatives or anything of that sort were nessessary. I guess her not putting up with snide remarks plus her good looks were enough to get the message across.

  38. And Square One continues its journey towards a more upscale look. The Disney Store has been recently renovated (it looks more like it should be called The Disney Club, now. All darkness and little flashing lights.), and a rather large-looking Zara is opening up on the top floor near Wal-Mart. There actually was a Zara at Square One about 8 years ago, and it was located in the Cityside section, right across from where H&M is, now. It closed, but Zara’s popularity in Toronto must have prompted them to move back into the suburbs. I’m pretty excited about this, actually.

    Development outside the mall is also soaring. A Crate and Barrel opened up at the end of last year, and Whole Foods is slated to open this summer (which means that I don’t have to haul my butt to Oakville, anymore!). Sheridan College’s brand new business campus is also going up across the street, right in front of Mississauga City Hall. And CelebratiON Square, next to the library, looks complete.

    It’s pretty amazing to see how quickly Mississauga has grown in such a short time.

  39. @Nina, That’s amazing with all that development. Zara is a common retailer in Canada, so seeing them leave Square One is a surprise.

    What other new development projects are happening around Square One?

  40. Latest stores that will be joining Square One include Zara and Armani Exchange.

    HMV has closed its store on the upper level and will reopen on the lower level in a smaller space beside Urban Behaviour in August.

    Whole Foods Market looks like it’s almost finished and Wal-Mart is undergoing extensive renovations.

  41. @JDT, Ouch, HMV is probably going in where Starstruck used to be, right? That’s a TINY location. It’s only a matter of time before HMV disappears altogether.

  42. Target anounced it’s first 24 stores in Canada. All are in Onterrio including Square One.

  43. U.S. Chains Continue to Look at Canada, but Space Constraints Prove a Major Challenge
    May 3, 2012 12:40 PM, By Elaine Misonzhnik, Senior Associate Editor

    Judging by reports that Bloomingdale’s might be looking into opening stores-within-a-store in Canada, the Great White North continues to be a popular destination for U.S. retailers, but finding space there has not become any easier over the past 12 months.

    This week Canadian news sources report that Bloomingdale’s might be in negotiations with the Hudson’s Bay Co., a Toronto-based firm that owns Lord & Taylor and Zellers, among other chains, to open mini-stores within its The Bay department stores.

    Bloomingdale’s declined to comment on the rumors, but Canadian real estate brokers say that given the market’s tight vacancy rates, using the store-within-a-store model would be the next best entry strategy to buying leases from a local chain, the way Target did with Zellers last year.

    “If they do a store-within-a-store with an iconic brand, they can get some terrific locations in areas they could never duplicate” on their own, says John Crombie, senior managing director of national retail services with Cushman & Wakefield Ltd. in Toronto.

    No rooms to rent

    In 2011, the overall vacancy for retail properties in Canada averaged slightly above 6 percent, according to Cushman & Wakefield research. The national vacancy for superregional centers—the most popular shopping format among Canadians, according to Crombie—stood at 3.5 percent. Vacancy at power centers was under 3 percent.

    Average net rents for street front retail ranged from $30 to $120 per sq. ft.—a 20 percent increase from 2010. Rents for new pads went up about 7 percent between 2010 and 2011, averaging $32 to $50 per sq. ft.

    In certain markets, conditions are even tighter. In Toronto, the most popular entry point for U.S. retailers, vacancy at regional malls has ranged between 1 percent and 3 percent in recent months, according to a survey of local brokers conducted by Colliers International. Net rents range between $60 per sq. ft. and $145 per sq. ft. In Victoria, Vancouver, Regina and Winnipeg, brokers report that regional malls have vacancy levels as low as 0 percent.

    “Even though there is a lot of retail development under way, in most Canadian markets there is very low vacancy and there has been an increase in lease rates,” says James Smerdon, Vancouver-based director of retail and consulting with Colliers. “So U.S. retailers are still having to be patient and, in some cases, creative with their space requirements in order to open stores in major Canadian markets.”

    For example, Target, which is opening its first Canadian locations in former Zellers stores this year, has had to become comfortable with operating largely within malls, in some cases in two-level spaces and on occasion in stores that are smaller than its prototype in the U.S. Retailers that are used to stores in the 30,000-sq.-ft. range at home might have to work in stores that are almost half that size in Canada, says Crombie. Those that have always insisted on a square layout have to become open-minded about leasing rectangular spaces.

    Plus, U.S. chains have to keep in mind that handling distribution logistics tends to be more challenging up North because major urban centers are located so far away from each other, notes Smerdon.

    Beating a retreat?

    The difficulty of finding appropriate real estate, along with improving conditions in the U.S. market, has been putting a damper on some retail chains’ enthusiasm about entering Canada, according to Crombie. He notes that Kohl’s has still not opened a store there, in spite of poking around the market for more than a year. Neither has Dick’s Sporting Goods. When U.S. retailers heard about the sales volumes Crate & Barrel and Victoria’s Secret were achieving in Canada, many thought they could capitalize on the same degree of consumer demand, he explains.

    “But then reality sets in when they look at how hard it is to get into the market. When shopping center sales are rising and you can take over a Borders location in your own backyard, why wouldn’t you be doing that, instead of trying to get into the Canadian market, which is a tight, expensive market to get into? So I think there is a pause.”

    Even Bloomingdale’s might be looking to go into Canada largely because of rumors that Nordstrom plans to open stores there, Crombie adds. Whether upscale department stores will prove a good fit for Canadian consumers is another question, according to both Smerdon and Dave Marcotte, senior vice president and retail market expert for Canada with Kantar Retail, a global consulting firm.

    “You have a substantial middle class that is spending money and that is fashion oriented and, in that context, Bloomingdale’s makes sense,” says Marcotte. “The question is: Is there a need for another department store in Canada? Most of the [specialty] retailers have absorbed demand in key [department store] areas. Personally, I am not sure what value Bloomingdale’s would bring to the Canadian market. It would take a lot of investment.”

    Add in the fact that Canadian consumers have less of a taste for luxury brands than Americans do and having two upscale department stores operating in a market with a population roughly equivalent to that of California makes even less sense, adds Smerdon.

    “Canada is not the same consumer market as the U.S. is. I think that’s spreading it quite thin,” he says. “Those chains will probably [have to] develop mid-price divisions to capture more of the market and broaden the demographic they appeal to.”

  44. @Nina, I miss Starstruck, Car Buffs and Spencer’s Gifts. The HMV store is massively scaled down from what it once was. They don’t carry hard to find items anymore.

    Square One seems to be losing all the unique stores that made it my fav mall to go, replaced by a pastiche of national retailers that you can find in any other mall.

  45. Target opens at Square One, April 2013!

    I’m rather excited to see what Target does with this location. When Zellers opened there in 2000, they simply took over the old Eaton’s space without significantly redesigning the store. Now, the old exterior entrances have been demolished causing me to think that Target is really gonna change the look of this old store.

    Now if they could only do something about Sears….

  46. @JDT, Target may have one of two store formats.

    1. Urban. This style store you will find in such locations as downtown Minneapolis, downtown Brooklyn & Rego Park Queens. These stores are multi-story & carry a wider asortment of items for city residents.

    2. Greatland. A more tipical suburban format& is tipically one level.

    Interestingly Mississauga as a city, has elements of both urban & suburban within it’s boundries similar to Arlington VA, Burnaby BC & White Plains NY.

  47. First Former Zellers Location to Reopen as a Walmart
    Published Friday, Aug. 24, 2012

    MISSISSAUGA, ON, Aug. 24, 2012 — • Store opens ahead of schedule • First Zellers location nationwide to reopen as a new store • Unique 69,000 square foot Walmart Canada store • 18th of 73 Walmart Canada projects to be completed this year

    MISSISSAUGA, ON, Aug. 24, 2012 /CNW/ – Today at a grand opening ceremony, Walmart Canada opened the first of 39 former Zellers locations that will be converted to a Walmart store. The 69,000 square-foot store located at 1111 Davis Drive, Newmarket, Ontario is a one-stop shopping destination dedicated to every day low prices.

    Customers will appreciate the store’s updated design, which includes easy-to-navigate aisles with directional signage, and a bright interior colour palette, which help define the store’s merchandise areas, and lower shelving throughout for an improved sightline. In addition, a pharmacy has been added to the store making it even easier for customers to find everything they need.

    “This store has an atypical footprint for a Walmart and is much smaller than most of the stores in our network,” said Ken Farrell, vice president of store development at Walmart Canada. “We worked within the existing footprint to design the store to fit the space and look and feel like a typical Walmart.”

    The Newmarket East store is one of 73 projects planned for the company’s current fiscal year, which will add 4.6 million square feet of retail space to its operations by January 31, 2013. The 73 projects include building new stores and expanding, remodelling or relocating existing stores and represent an investment of more than $750 million in Canadian communities. Included in these projects are 39 former Zellers stores. The 73 projects are expected to generate more than 14,000 store, trade and construction jobs.

    “The renovations, hiring and merchandising were all completed ahead of schedule,” said Jim Thompson, chief of operations at Walmart Canada. “This was truly a phenomenal team effort. Our goal is to complete the Zellers conversions as soon as possible to minimize the disruption to former Zellers customers, and the new store team did an outstanding job at our Newmarket location.”

    New Jobs

    The Newmarket East Walmart employs 69 associates. To fill these positions, Walmart received 1,800 applications for roles such as cashiers, sales associates, and other hourly positions. Store Manager David Mann is an example of the professional growth Walmart can offer. He began his career at Walmart as an assistant manager in 2004 and was promoted to store manager earlier this year.

    Commitment to sustainability

    Walmart continues to show its responsibility to energy efficiency, renewable energy and environmental sustainability. The store features LED exterior signage, waste diversion streams including paper and plastic and environmentally-preferable products.

    Community involvement

    As part of Walmart’s mission to helping Canadian families in need, $2,000 in donations will be presented to community organizations including a local women’s shelter and a local food bank. The store will build on these donations with additional charitable and community support and fundraising throughout the year.

    Block party

    Grand opening festivities will continue on Saturday. The store will be hosting its Grand Opening Block Party from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Customers can enjoy live music, children’s face painting, refreshments and samples.

    New store manager

    David Mann is excited to lead the Newmarket East Walmart team as the new store manager. David has worked in retail for more than eight years. David is eager to begin working with local community groups and projects.

    “We have been working around the clock preparing for the arrival of our first customers,” said David Mann, Newmarket East store manager. “We hope that everyone that used to shop here when it was a Zellers will be happy with the changes to the store, merchandise and of course, our low prices.”

    By the numbers

    The Newmarket Store: • 69 associates • 1,800 job applications received • 69,000 square feet of retail space • 337th Walmart Canada store • 75,000 products available in store • 65 days to completely renovate to the store

    Across Canada:

    • 1,500 – 8,000 job applications are received for each new Walmart store in Canada • 4,000 new positions created at Walmart Canada this year. • 73 projects in the company’s expansion plan this fiscal year (ending January 31, 2013) • $750 million invested for the 73 projects • 18 of 73 projects completed to date (including this store) • 156 discount stores and 181 supercentres stores with full complement of fresh groceries • 337 Walmart stores total in Canada • $15.4 billon paid to Canadian suppliers in 2011

    About Walmart Canada

    Walmart Canada was established in 1994 with the acquisition of the Woolco chain. Over the past 18 years, Walmart Canada has more than doubled the number of stores in Canada and more than tripled the number of associates, creating a strong, stable retail chain which offers career opportunities.

    Walmart Canada operates a growing chain of discount stores and supercentres with 337 locations nationwide serving more than one million customers each day. With 90,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada’s largest employers and is recognized by Waterstone Human Capital as having one of Canada’s top 10 corporate cultures. Walmart Canada is focused on helping Canadian families in need. Since 1994, Walmart has donated and raised more than $160 million to Canadian charities and not-for-profit organizations.

  48. After 20 years, Everything For A Dollar Store will be closing at Square One by mid-September 2012.

  49. Update…

    Lacoste will be opening soon on the upper level beside Michael Kors. A number of lesser known stores (K Barketti, Brogue, etc.) are closing to make way for new retailers.

    The Food Court is expanding into the space formerly occupied by Bowring, the Sony store and Burger King. According to signage, the new Food Court opens summer 2013.

    A number of new escalators are being installed and ceiling, lighting fixtures and flooring are all being upgraded.

    Target is nearing completion and will be opening in April,

    Rumor has it that a new addition will be built between Sears and Target on the current parking lot

    A whole lotta change is going on at Square One!.

  50. Target to open 21 more stores in Ontario.

    Last Updated Monday, Mar. 18, 2013 12:34PM EDT
    MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Target’s expansion into Canada is continuing in big way over the next two weeks as the American retailer opens 21 new stores in Ontario.

    On Tuesday, Target is opening 17 stores in various communities across the province, while four more will be opened on March 28, adding to the three pilot stores launched earlier in Guelph, Milton and Fergus, Ont.

    Overall, Target plans to open 124 stores across Canada throughout 2013.

    Related Stories
    Target’s Canadian launch expected to spark price wars Can Canada’s Joe Fresh revive a sagging U.S. retail giant? “The soft openings follow the launch of three pilot stores and will allow Target to continue to engage in volume testing to ensure stores are prepared to deliver the true Target brand experience to guests ahead of grand opening in early April,” the company said in a release.

    Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) operates almost 1,800 stories in the United States in addition to its new Canadian stores, many of which are at being set up at locations formerly occupied by Zellers stores.

    Locations opening to the public on March 19 include:

    Ajax – Durham Centre

    Aurora – Aurora Shopping Centre

    Brampton – Shoppers World Brampton

    Burlington – Millcroft Centre

    Cambridge – Cambridge Centre

    Etobicoke – Cloverdale Mall

    Hamilton – Centre Mall

    Lindsay – Lindsay Square Mall

    London – Masonville Place

    London – Westmount Shopping Centre

    Newmarket – Upper Canada Mall

    Orillia – Orillia Square Mall

    Toronto – Centrepoint Mall

    Toronto – East York Town Centre

    Waterdown – Flamborough Power Centre

    Whitby – Taunton Road Power Centre

    Windsor – Devonshire Mall

    Locations opening to the public on March 28 include:

    Brampton – Trinity Common

    Burlington – Burlington Mall

    Mississauga – Square One Shopping Centre

    Toronto – Shoppers World Danforth

    .

    Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/target-canada-readies-to-open-21-more-stores-in-ontario-1.1200360#ixzz2O13xaGyr

  51. Simons to open first Ontario store at Square One Shopping Centre

    We’re proud to announce the opening of a 113,000 square foot flagship La Maison Simons store in spring 2016 — the first location of the Quebec fashion specialty retailer to open in Ontario. The 2-level Simons store represents a $52 million investment and will serve as an excellent anchor store at the Centre. Simons marks another first-to-market premium brand acquisition for Square One and will enhance the first-class shopping experience west of Toronto.

    Simons is the newest retailer added to Square One’s $380 million renovation and expansion project. Phase One, an $84 million overhaul of the interior, was completed in November 2013, and construction on Phase Two began in September 2013. Simons joins other flagship stores including a 120,000 square foot Holt Renfrew that is also set to open at Square One in spring 2016.

    New South Expansion coming in Spring 2016

    The southwest expansion to Square One will be anchored by a new 120,000 sq ft Holt Renfrew with another 75,000 sq ft of space for additional aspirational and luxury brands. The flagship Holt Renfrew department store will open at Square One in Spring 2016. Work is now under way at a cost of $320M. Taking up just under half of the ground space of the southwest expansion, the addition of the new department store is further enhancing the premium shopping experience that Square One has to offer. “It is important to us to grow Oxford’s existing long term relationship with Holt Renfrew, and we believe the addition of this world-class luxury retailer will elevate Square One’s offerings and further entrench its outstanding reputation…” Blake Hutcheson, President of Oxford Properties.

    These new anchors replaced Sears & Target.

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