[officedweller]

That's interesting.
If I recall correctly, Woodward's was the original developer of Oakridge - so whatever lease they put in place when the centre was developed, redeveloped and/or sold (and subsequently inherited by The Bay) would likely have been very favourable to Woodward's (now The Bay) - so that suggests there would have been an exclusivity clause (to be the only department store in the mall unless consent was obtained. Presumably Zellers would have been allowed as an affilate of The Bay (and maybe Target because The Bay sold the lease to Target?)