NB "Big Mall" Status

[DyAm00394]

Clément is coming to McAllister Place in the former Toys R Us space, opening Spring 2026. Job posting is now on Indeed.

[DyAm00394]

It's posted over on the Retail Talk & Share NB FB group that Laura Secord is closing down at Regent Mall by the end of this month. Liquidation has already begun at 30% off.

[Taeolas]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

It's posted over on the Retail Talk & Share NB FB group that Laura Secord is closing down at Regent Mall by the end of this month. Liquidation has already begun at 30% off.

Was in hte mall today and saw that. All the Ice cream is long gone and not much left of the chocolate to be honest.

Sad to see them gone; they've been a staple in Regent forever. I figured Rocky Mountain would have gone long before Laura Secord went.

It's a pretty high profile corner, I'm sure it won't stay empty for long, if one of their neighbours doesn't just swallow it up.

[KnoxfordGuy]

Chocolate prices have gone up a lot on the last year. I wonder if that is a contributing factor?

[Taeolas]

Hmm, there's a post on FB that seems to indicate that Laura Secord's lease wasn't renewed. Which implies the mall was pushing them out and not that they wanted to leave:

With a heavy heart, I share that Laura Secord , Regent Mall will close at the end of April. We have loved serving you since 1990 in this mall and this decision comes after our lease was not renewed.
Thank you for your trust, your smiles, and for making our shop a bright spot in your days. I will miss each and every one of you. It has been an honor to be part of your lives and to share in your moments of sweetness.
With gratitude,
Marg

So other LS stores are probably safe. And Regent probably has interest in that corner already if they're basically forcing them out.

Still you'd think they could find a different location for LS within Regent itself too; while vacancy is tight, there is one or two spots they could probably have gone to.

If Kings Place was in better shape, I'd almost suggest the store should move down town. But Kings Place needs a lot of work IMO. And I doubt Brookside has the traffic to support LS.

[DyAm00394]

Laura Secord is closing at Halifax Shopping Centre as well at the end of April. Apparently Primaris Reit has chosen not to renew the contract with Laura Secord. Wonder if a single new tenant is being brought in to takeover their spots in all three malls, (Halifax Shopping Centre, Regent Mall, and McAllister Place). Maybe Purdys Chocolatier?

[sailor734]

Heard there was a serious buyer in town last month taking a hard look at McAllister Mall. No idea of who but I was told they were Toronto based.
I wonder if they would have interest in proceeding with the 500+ unit residential development that was talked about for this site?

https://www.retailinvestment.ca/mcallister-place-saint-john-nb.html

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Laura Secord is closing at Halifax Shopping Centre as well at the end of April. Apparently Primaris Reit has chosen not to renew the contract with Laura Secord. Wonder if a single new tenant is being brought in to takeover their spots in all three malls, (Halifax Shopping Centre, Regent Mall, and McAllister Place). Maybe Purdys Chocolatier?

Jeff Boucher over at Retail Talk & Share was in town on the weekend, and asked the staff at Laura Secord at Champlain Place if they were closing too, and they denied this.

Of course, frequently front line staff are that last to know of such things........

[Freddypop]

Originally Posted by KnoxfordGuy

Chocolate prices have gone up a lot on the last year. I wonder if that is a contributing factor?

Lease was not renewed at neither the Regent Mall or Halifax Shopping Centre, both owned by Primaris. Lease rate at both malls continues to increase pushing some businesses aside. As space in both malls is sought after, I suspect that Primaris has options for that space from other retailers. Won't be empty long.

[DyAm00394]

The listing for McAllister Place on JLL National Retail Investment Group's website has changed from "under contract" to now saying "firm".

https://www.retailinvestment.ca/current-offerings.html

Looking that up, "firm" means that an offer to purchase the property has been accepted by the seller (Primaris Reit), and all conditions have been waived or satisfied.

We shall hopefully find out soon who will become the new owners of McAllister Place. The mall was put up for sale back in June 2024.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

The listing for McAllister Place on JLL National Retail Investment Group's website has changed from "under contract" to now saying "firm".

https://www.retailinvestment.ca/current-offerings.html

Looking that up, "firm" means that an offer to purchase the property has been accepted by the seller (Primaris Reit), and all conditions have been waived or satisfied.

We shall hopefully find out soon who will become the new owners of McAllister Place. The mall was put up for sale back in June 2024.

Was Brunswick Square taken off the market, or is that still technically up for sale?

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by bingun

Was Brunswick Square taken off the market, or is that still technically up for sale?

It was taken off the market back in October 2025. The current owner Ravelin Properties decided to keep Brunswick Square instead of selling it after they've restructured the company and rebranded from Slate Office Reit. Now they have a renewed focus on revitalizing Brunswick Square.

[DyAm00394]

Sharing this from the Moncton Retail Thread:

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Warehouse One and Bootlegger are closing down all their stores across Canada. Websites will also be shutting down and liquidation sales will start after May 15th.

This means the closure of Bootlegger in Champlain Place and Warehouse One at Regent Mall in Fredericton.

[DyAm00394]

Beauty 21 Brow Studio is coming soon to McAllister Place and Regent Mall. Job listings are now advertised the malls' websites. Currently Beauty 21 Brow Studio has only have 4 locations, (3 in Ontario, 1 in Saskatoon). https://mybeauty21.ca/

[KnoxfordGuy]

I see demolition work is happening at the old Toys R US at Regent Mall. Clement incoming?

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by KnoxfordGuy

I see demolition work is happening at the old Toys R US at Regent Mall. Clement incoming?

Spirit Halloween is going in there according to new job listings with Regent Mall as the address.

[DyAm00394]

New chatter has popped up saying that apparently Primaris bumped out Laura Secord because Purdys Chocolatier is taking their spots in both Regent Mall and Halifax Shopping Centre.

[DyAm00394]

Miniso is coming to McAllister Place!!!

Building permit was registered to the City of Saint John permit database back on April 7th. “Tenant Fit Up for Miniso”.

https://miniso-ca.com/

[Ire Narissis]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

New chatter has popped up saying that apparently Primaris bumped out Laura Secord because Purdys Chocolatier is taking their spots in both Regent Mall and Halifax Shopping Centre.

Isn't the current tenant of the former Laura Secord space in McAllister Place also closing?

Let's go, Purdys, bring it to Saint John too!

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by Ire Narissis

Isn't the current tenant of the former Laura Secord space in McAllister Place also closing?

Let's go, Purdys, bring it to Saint John too!

There is no current tenant at the old Laura Secord spot in McAllister? No stores at McAllister are closing right now. The old Laura Secord space has been sitting empty ever since they’ve closed a while ago. It’s possible that Primaris has made a deal with them for McAllister too however it might be bit too late. Primaris has recently accepted a deal to sell the mall to new owners. So not sure with Primaris soon being no longer the owner of the mall that Purdys would be interested. This is a multi-property type of deal between Primaris and Purdys. But we shall wait and see.