Dead Malls of Canada

[Djeffery]

I used to go to the former Penhorn Mall in Dartmouth a lot as a kid too, especially for movies. I think it was larger than Mic Mac by sq footage (largest in the Maritimes at the time maybe?).

[JonHiseler]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

I used to go to the former Penhorn Mall in Dartmouth a lot as a kid too, especially for movies. I think it was larger than Mic Mac by sq footage (largest in the Maritimes at the time maybe?).

It was the largest single story mall in the province

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by ue

I think that the main distinction for whether or not a downtown mall is 'successful' is if the downtown of a city was already vibrant or had some pull in some way. That, or it's the only real mall in town (like Saskatoon). Downtown malls were conceived of to 'save' downtown but they really failed at doing that and the only successful ones were in downtowns that were already healthy (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal).

Also a lot of the downtown malls that failed were government-led projects, where malls were built without an economic reason for being there.

I wonder how much of it is must the decline of malls in general. A lot of these downtown malls seemed to be doing well when I was a kid in the late 80s and early 90s in SW Ontario.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

I used to go to the former Penhorn Mall in Dartmouth a lot as a kid too, especially for movies. I think it was larger than Mic Mac by sq footage (largest in the Maritimes at the time maybe?).

I have memories of Penhorn, West End Mall, Downsview, and Bayers Road all being successful in the 90's. Around that time, it felt like Halifax had a lot of mall-style retail. There also used to be large Sunday flea markets in some of these malls before the era of legal Sunday shopping.

The malls followed a standard trajectory. HSC managed to become the one specialty higher end mall for the region, Mic Mac Mall sort of hangs on as the larger mid-range mall on the Dartmouth side, and Downsview/Penhorn had more discount retailers (like Kmart) and are completely gone. WEM and Bayers are quasi-office space complexes now that don't really qualify as malls.

Downtown Halifax also has/had a large number of malls of what you might call "mini malls" with maybe a dozen shops. The Maritime Mall was a near-dead mall for a while (though with some businesses like the used book store) but it's being redeveloped. The ones around Spring Garden Road seemed decently successful last time I saw them.

[JustForTheHalibut]

Originally Posted by JustForTheHalibut
I'm a bit surprised peninsular or downtown Halifax never built any 'real' malls in it's history. I'm not sure what constitutes a 'real' mall to be honest.

Besides the Halifax Shopping Centre there aren't any real malls in Nova Scotia apparently.

Originally Posted by ue

Micmac Mall? Also has the only Bay store in the Maritimes.

really, I didn't know that.
would a Bay store constitute a retail area being a 'real' Mall then, what about other core department or anchor stores, or does number of stores in a retail area matter?
I'm fascinated by peoples impressions of retail environment, I use to work in marketing in retail.

Here's a mall with a Bay store, so it must be a 'real' mall then?




Would any of these retail areas still be malls even though they don't have a Bay store?



























thank's for your input ue

[MolsonExport]

The hallmark of a truly upscale mall is when it is anchored by ARDENE.

[megadude]

Excellent observations at Jane and Finch Mall. Makes me want to go now. Have passed by several times but have never been in. 10 years ago my coworker woke up to find his car was stolen. It was found later that day abandoned and Jane and Finch Mall.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLSo1WxK/

[MolsonExport]

It is "the most beautiful mall in North York", apparently. Evidently Honeydale Mall rules the beauty roost in next door Etobicoke.

[Djeffery]

Kind of boring, some of those floor plans above. London's White Oaks Mall is easy to get lost in. I look at it and can visualize each addition being put on over the years. I believe they expanded this mall 4 times over the course of 25-30 years.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by megadude

Excellent observations at Jane and Finch Mall. Makes me want to go now. Have passed by several times but have never been in. 10 years ago my coworker woke up to find his car was stolen. It was found later that day abandoned and Jane and Finch Mall.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLSo1WxK/

Never seen so many knocked off names.

[JustForTheHalibut]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Kind of boring, some of those floor plans above. London's White Oaks Mall is easy to get lost in. I look at it and can visualize each addition being put on over the years. I believe they expanded this mall 4 times over the course of 25-30 years.

Interesting looking Mall,
sort of looks like a down sized version of Kelowna's Orchard Park.

Walmart as an anchor suggests a certain cliental.

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

The hallmark of a truly upscale mall is when it is anchored by ARDENE.

oh but look, it does have an Ardene as an anchor for the Mall, like where MildewExpert likes to shop for more upscale feel
But i'd have to look at the 2nd level of White Oaks to make a better determination...

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by JustForTheHalibut

Interesting looking Mall,
sort of looks like a down sized version of Kelowna's Orchard Park.

Walmart as an anchor suggests a certain cliental.




oh but look, it does have an Ardene as an anchor for the Mall, like where MildewExpert likes to shop for more upscale feel
But i'd have to look at the 2nd level of White Oaks to make a better determination...

Yeah, the Walmart was one of the original Woolco stores. The mall was pretty nice back in the Woolco days. The Bay was a Simpsons back then as well. The original mall was basically Woolco, Simpsons and the space between. Then they threw that finger on that ends at The Gap, which used to be a Marks and Spencers. Then they gradually added to either side of that wing.

Walmart has talked about leaving this mall for years, but a couple years ago, they did a major renovation, got rid of the automotive service department and turned the store into a Supercentre. Which indicates I guess that they plan to stay. I remember talking to the mall manager 10 or maybe 15 years ago, and mentioned the story in the news of the day that Walmart was building a new store and closing the mall store. He said "God I hope they leave, we can do so much with that space, and the mall would be a lot better without a Walmart". He didn't get his wish obviously and the mall was sold soon after, to apparently Walmart-friendly owners.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by JustForTheHalibut

Interesting looking Mall,
sort of looks like a down sized version of Kelowna's Orchard Park.

Walmart as an anchor suggests a certain cliental.




oh but look, it does have an Ardene as an anchor for the Mall, like where MildewExpert likes to shop for more upscale feel
But i'd have to look at the 2nd level of White Oaks to make a better determination...

Justforthegoblinshark!

Sneaks into the thread and goes ad hominem.



What was your previous username? Obviously you have an ax to grind.

I don't get why you would become personally offended by snarky remarks about certain dying malls. Stay out of the fucking thread if it upsets you so.

[WhipperSnapper]

The Ardene mention did have me curious til now. What's wrong with 20 to 30 something women dressing like teenagers?

1. Women in business attire
2. Women in parkas with rosy cheeks
3. Women dressed like teenagers.

[JustForTheHalibut]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Justforthegoblinshark!

Sneaks into the thread and goes ad hominem.

What was your previous username? Obviously you have an ax to grind.

I don't get why you would become personally offended by snarky remarks about certain dying malls. Stay out of the fucking thread if it upsets you so.

paranoid much vomit bag? how many people have you insulted in the last month, let alone past 20 years you've been on this forum.

I'm not personally offended by anything you say, but you do seem overly traumatized. You can dish it out, just can't take it back.

I just can't tell if you're juvenile name calling behaviour is based on your exceedingly young age or that you're a retired grumpy old gentleman that seems to be on Skyscraperpage 24/7

My guess is since the fact you don't remember name calling me a month ago that you're just very old, and possibly senile.

Second time for me to ask,
Is there a moderator on this forum that keeps trolls like MildewExpert in check?

[JustForTheHalibut]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Yeah, the Walmart was one of the original Woolco stores. The mall was pretty nice back in the Woolco days. The Bay was a Simpsons back then as well. The original mall was basically Woolco, Simpsons and the space between. Then they threw that finger on that ends at The Gap, which used to be a Marks and Spencers. Then they gradually added to either side of that wing.

Walmart has talked about leaving this mall for years, but a couple years ago, they did a major renovation, got rid of the automotive service department and turned the store into a Supercentre. Which indicates I guess that they plan to stay. I remember talking to the mall manager 10 or maybe 15 years ago, and mentioned the story in the news of the day that Walmart was building a new store and closing the mall store. He said "God I hope they leave, we can do so much with that space, and the mall would be a lot better without a Walmart". He didn't get his wish obviously and the mall was sold soon after, to apparently Walmart-friendly owners.

Great explanation of your mall, I do love learning
about the evolution of malls and the retail environment in Canada.

A bit of a muse for me, WestEdMall in Edmonton had always been a marvel of those times when it had been built and the city of Edmonton during those times.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by JustForTheHalibut

paranoid much vomit bag? how many people have you insulted in the last month, let alone past 20 years you've been on this forum.

I'm not personally offended by anything you say, but you do seem overly traumatized. You can dish it out, just can't take it back.

I just can't tell if you're juvenile name calling behaviour is based on your exceedingly young age or that you're a retired grumpy old gentleman that seems to be on Skyscraperpage 24/7

My guess is since the fact you don't remember name calling me a month ago that you're just very old, and possibly senile.

Second time for me to ask,
Is there a moderator on this forum that keeps trolls like MildewExpert in check?

Puck off, hole ass.

20 years, but you just joined a few months ago? What was your previous username before you were banned? Justfortherancidfish

[ssiguy]

Originally Posted by JustForTheHalibut

paranoid much vomit bag? how many people have you insulted in the last month, let alone past 20 years you've been on this forum.

I'm not personally offended by anything you say, but you do seem overly traumatized. You can dish it out, just can't take it back.

I just can't tell if you're juvenile name calling behaviour is based on your exceedingly young age or that you're a retired grumpy old gentleman that seems to be on Skyscraperpage 24/7

My guess is since the fact you don't remember name calling me a month ago that you're just very old, and possibly senile.

Second time for me to ask,
Is there a moderator on this forum that keeps trolls like MildewExpert in check?

If there was a moderator to keep trolls in check, YOU wouldn't be on this forum. Personal attacks are not tolerated and YOU just gave us a whole post doing nothing but and YOU started it by referring to him as MildewExport.

While I have called out Molson over his use of profanity before, which he always politely acknowledges, I have found him to be a positive member of the forum and offers a bit of fun levity to it. Clearly many agree {including the moderators}, or he wouldn't have been on the forum for 20 years.

If you have an issue with some of his posts or input then fine. You could resolve this by intelligent feedback of which I am sure he will respect and NOT by an insulting personal attack.

[MolsonExport]

^Thanks for the support and commentary. I appreciate it

that seems to be on Skyscraperpage 24/7

Posts Per Day (me): 5.73 I am hardly spending 24/7 on this site.

[Harrison]

So I visited New Horizon Mall (an Asian mall like Pacific Mall in Markham) outside Calgary over the weekend and it's a very strange place. Only opened in 2018, it's maybe 40% occupied at the most and was built next door to Crossiron Mills (I don't get why the NHM developers thought they could compete).

There is a large children's indoor playground on the second floor that was busy but otherwise there weren't many people inside. I wonder if it's completely dead on a weekday morning?