London's Malls

[MolsonExport]

Argyle "Mall" (now a big box dumbcentre) is getting a Toys R Us.

http://www.smartcentres.com/sites/default/files/summary_pdfs/LONDON-ARGYLE_0.pdf

[K85]

Shared a few months ago that there'd be a TRU there, just didn't have any plans or such of it. Argyle is a crapshoot turning into Hyde Park. At least the WM will be getting larger.

[ssiguy]

Maybe I'm really aging myself, but is Northgate Mall still around?

[MolsonExport]

^Northland mall is indeed still around. Inside the mall, it is deader than Elvis, except at the polish southern section (barbershop and delicatessen) in front of the no frills. The rest of the mall interior is bereft of stores.

http://www.20vic.com/propertyPDFs/0609/NorthlandMall.pdf

despite website, mall is definitely on life support: http://www.thenorthlandmall.com/

[Blitz]

I was just in that mall the other day. It's like walking into a time warp - it's obvious that absolutely nothing has been done to update it since it opened in the mid '60s.

[MolsonExport]

Has anyone checked out the interior of Oxbury mall recently? I keep meaning to go to take in the wretchedness but I always forget when I am in the area. Worse or the same as Northland mall? Probably worse.

[haljackey]

Last time I was there was 3 years ago. It's exactly what you expect.

I also miss the Wonderland Mall. It was converted to the now-abandoned Angelos bakery.

[manny_santos]

http://www.bestchoicereviews.org/10-incredibly-desolate-dead-shopping-malls/

Out of all the possible dead malls in Canada, this website chose Westmount as its only Canadian entry. Um, congratulations?

[haljackey]

That's pretty surprising, thanks for sharing!

To be honest Westmount is doing a decent job trying to survive. New stores like Target and SuperKing Supermarket are in the mall (well SuperKing is isolated now thanks to the partial demolition), along with Cineplex in the back and new stores on Wonderland Road's frontage show progress. I think practically all the second floor is used for offices/clinics with the exception of the second levels for Target and Sears.

At one point, the Westmount Library had a temporary location in the mall. Too bad it didn't stay, as it could have really benefited the mall/community. It's new home is not even technically in Westmount anymore and is among the sprawl in Bigboxville.

[GreatTallNorth2]

Speaking of malls, from what I am hearing, Masonville won't be getting a big shiny new department store to fill the Sears spot, but instead that space will be cut up into smaller spaces and filled with other stores. I can think of a lot of stores that the mall doesn't have that make sense for Masonville. Stores like H&M, Urban Outfitters, Sephora seem to make sense. Hopefully we hear firm details soon.

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by haljackey

That's pretty surprising, thanks for sharing!

To be honest Westmount is doing a decent job trying to survive. New stores like Target and SuperKing Supermarket are in the mall (well SuperKing is isolated now thanks to the partial demolition), along with Cineplex in the back and new stores on Wonderland Road's frontage show progress. I think practically all the second floor is used for offices/clinics with the exception of the second levels for Target and Sears.

At one point, the Westmount Library had a temporary location in the mall. Too bad it didn't stay, as it could have really benefited the mall/community. It's new home is not even technically in Westmount anymore and is among the sprawl in Bigboxville.

I was in Westmount over Christmas, and it's definitely not the worst mall in London. That prize could easily go to Oxbury, or that other one on Highbury. London Mall at least is mostly filled, lousy as it may be.

[ericlewis91]

Sears is closed at Masonville

Im surprised they haven't announced any plans yet

[ericlewis91]

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

Speaking of malls, from what I am hearing, Masonville won't be getting a big shiny new department store to fill the Sears spot, but instead that space will be cut up into smaller spaces and filled with other stores. I can think of a lot of stores that the mall doesn't have that make sense for Masonville. Stores like H&M, Urban Outfitters, Sephora seem to make sense. Hopefully we hear firm details soon.

The only thing I heard that the Bay was moving into sears space and the old bay space would be redeveloped into new stores....

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

I was in Westmount over Christmas, and it's definitely not the worst mall in London. That prize could easily go to Oxbury, or that other one on Highbury. London Mall at least is mostly filled, lousy as it may be.

Yes. Oxbury and Northland are far worse. And Superstore Mall, which I believe is shuttered. http://retailtheblog.blogspot.ca/2013/01/superstore-mall-london-ontario-december.html I heard that Forest City Velodrome takes up some space there.

But Westmount is not improving. On the contrary, I see that several stores (e.g., Laura Secord) have exited in the past year without replacement. A real shame, as Westmount is far nicer, aesthetically-speaking than the wretched White Oaks Mall. The latter is the next to start dying (a process already begun, as evidenced by the explosion of junk/bling stores and vacant storefronts), especially once the super Walmart goes up at Wonderland Rd. and Exeter and the mall location shutters.

Soon there will be but one decent indoor mall in London. And that will be (is) Masonville.

[MolsonExport]

Photo gallery of the long-gone Oakridge Mall: http://www.geocities.ws/mjlarochelle/oakridge/photos/20030924/walking.html

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Yes. Oxbury and Northland are far worse. And Superstore Mall, which I believe is shuttered. http://retailtheblog.blogspot.ca/2013/01/superstore-mall-london-ontario-december.html I heard that Forest City Velodrome takes up some space there.

But Westmount is not improving. On the contrary, I see that several stores (e.g., Laura Secord) have exited in the past year without replacement. A real shame, as Westmount is far nicer, aesthetically-speaking than the wretched White Oaks Mall. The latter is the next to start dying (a process already begun, as evidenced by the explosion of junk/bling stores and vacant storefronts), especially once the super Walmart goes up at Wonderland Rd. and Exeter and the mall location shutters.

Soon there will be but one decent indoor mall in London. And that will be (is) Masonville.

I was last inside Superstore Mall in 2005. It made London Mall look like a happening place.

Its claim to fame, of course, was that the London Knights played there - quite fittingly, during the worst years of that team's life.

[manny_santos]

Anyone with Facebook should check out the Vintage London group...there's been some photos and posts about the old London Mews, which has been discussed at length here.

[MolsonExport]

I'd like to see pictures of the mews. It was before my time in London. Alas I am not on Facebook...

[HillStreetBlues]

Originally Posted by haljackey

At one point, the Westmount Library had a temporary location in the mall. Too bad it didn't stay, as it could have really benefited the mall/community. It's new home is not even technically in Westmount anymore and is among the sprawl in Bigboxville.

It was a bit upsetting to see the Beer Store leave to relocate somewhere where it's accessible to virtually nowhere on foot or by bus. Really disappointing to see the library go to Big Box Hell.

I often muse about the fact that malls used to seem like a lamentable innovation that helped spur the decline of many downtowns, but now have been made to seem positively sustainable and liveable compared to the new Stupid Centres and the like on the outskirts.

[MolsonExport]

everything is moving to car-land except the residents.