Dead Malls of Canada - Page 85

Djeffery · #**1681** Posted **Jul 24, 2025, 10:05 PM**

Sad watching that Galleria London video to what it's become. Was funny seeing how busy the parking garage was compared to no people around though, and that they took the elevator up the one flight from the garage to the main level. I will say the city has done a good job with the library in there and I'm sure the health unit is happy with their space. I don't think the university has any space in there anymore (Molson, you would know better than me) and Citi Bank, who the mall was renamed for, I believe is long gone as well. Don't know what will ever happen to the place, they probably have enough money coming from the city and the surprising number of office tenants in there (especially in the Wellington Square part, which is a 4 floor former Eaton's store, where the guy just walked over the door but didn't go in) to pay the bills.

MolsonExport · #**1682** Posted **Jul 25, 2025, 3:15 PM**

Town Centre Mall, Brandon (MB).

The video is dated. Has it gotten any better? worse?

• Video Link

MolsonExport · #**1683** Posted **Jul 25, 2025, 3:20 PM**

Whitby Mall

• Video Link

MolsonExport · #**1684** Posted **Jul 25, 2025, 3:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Galleria in London continues its abysmal decline

• Video Link

Found another video (this one is more dated: it has gone downhill ever since) for the zombie mall that is the Galleria (aka Citiplaza), London

• Video Link

Here's another

• Video Link

MolsonExport · #**1685** Posted **Jul 25, 2025, 3:32 PM**

First came the malls (first suburban, then urban) that killed the downtown retailing in many large and most not-so-large cities. Then came the power centres, which killed the malls. Will online shopping kill the power centres?

Malls may have sucked, but at least there was a gathering place on inclement days for people. All that is left are Tim Hortons, with their filthiness and incessant buzzers.

itom 987 · #**1686** Posted **Jul 25, 2025, 3:43 PM**

At least West Edmonton Mall is thriving!

MolsonExport · #**1687** Posted **Jul 25, 2025, 5:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by itom 987

At least West Edmonton Mall is thriving!

The upscale, super regional malls are still thriving in the biggest cities. Last weekend, I was at Square One (Mississauga), the second largest mall in Canada, and it felt like it was two days before Christmas...so busy.

MonctonRad · #**1688** Posted **Jul 25, 2025, 6:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

The upscale, super regional malls are still thriving in the biggest cities. Last weekend, I was at Square One (Mississauga), the second largest mall in Canada, and it felt like it was two days before Christmas...so busy.

There is usually room for at least one successful mall in most medium sized cities as well.

Halifax - Halifax Shopping Centre,
Moncton - Champlain Place
Saint John - McAllister Place (a little on the weak side)
Fredericton - Regent Mall
St. John's - Avalon Mall

Charlottetown never had a large regional successful mall. The Charlottetown Mall is too small. There were plans for a big regional mall across the street way back in the 1980s, but it got held up in planning hell because of NIMBYs.

Mayflower Mall in Sydney is hanging on by the skin of it's teeth. It exists principally because there is no alternative within a four hour drive.

The big three malls in Atlantic Canada that get the best stores are Halifax Shopping Centre, Champlain Place and the Avalon Mall. They are located in the three largest cities.

MolsonExport · #**1689** Posted **Jul 25, 2025, 6:24 PM**

The quadruple whammy of Costco, Walmart, online shopping, and the death of Department stores, has devastated so many formerly successful malls.

Innsertnamehere · #**1690** Posted **Jul 25, 2025, 6:43 PM**

London has to be one of the more, if not the most, over-retailed cities in Ontario. It not only has 4 major malls (Galleria, Westmount, White Oaks, Masonville), but also dozens of major commercial shopping areas spread all around the city. All for a city of 400-500k.

Hamilton comparatively has 3 malls (Lime Ridge, Eastgate, Jacksonville Square) and only really 3-4 major commercial shopping areas (Meadowlands, Barton Centre, Heritage Greene, Centennial), and all for a city with 100-150,000 more people.

niwell · #**1691** Posted **Jul 25, 2025, 7:16 PM**

I was in Barrie a couple months ago visiting a friend and he actually took us to a couple dead malls in the North end of the city. Ever since he lived near Honeydale Mall for a bit we've enjoyed exploring these types of almost liminal spaces.

Anyways, both Bayfield Mall and another that doesn't seem to even have a proper name anymore a few blocks North fit the bill perfectly. Lots of weird random stores, "technical" colleges of questionable repute, adding exterior entrances to places that previously would have only been accessible from inside the mall. Fun times. And a bowling alley with cheap beer in Bayfield Mall, so that's a plus. Both have enough businesses that they aren't quite "dead" but the interior facing retail is largely vacant.

Mall of mystery origins:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zWgcfQkLpxTmpcYZ9
https://maps.app.goo.gl/v6SfJGYbG1E3Jirq8

Bayfield Mall:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QiHugFaz9Ub7HXe38
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Vp5dLTJhuFDApUFs7

Weirdly enough there's a larger and successful enough mall just another few blocks North called Georgian Mall (owned by Riocan). I'm not sure the original rationale for having 3 enclosed shopping centres in such close proximity. Maybe last-minute shopping before heading up to cottage country?

elly63 · #**1692** Posted **Jul 25, 2025, 7:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

First came the malls (first suburban, then urban) that killed the downtown retailing in many large and most not-so-large cities. Then came the power centres, which killed the malls. Will online shopping kill the power centres?

It has for me. It's been prepandemic the last time I bought anything in a store. Hard to believe but true. I have everything I want and anything I need I get from Amazon (rare - just bought some sneakers) or PC Express (once every two months)

I pay $4.99 for next day delivery with a 5 or 7 dollar tip, let's say 15 bucks everything included for somebody to pick and deliver me groceries for two months. If you time it right you get sales and offers and buy multiple items on sale. They do all the work for less than $15 dollars once every two months. Before I started four years ago I would gladly have paid $20 because I hate shopping so much. Everything about the experience has been good, even the mistakes were made right. The few times I have had to get a refund for something, I somehow always make out better on the exchange. It's great when something actually works for you instead of making your life harder.

elly63 · #**1693** Posted **Jul 25, 2025, 7:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Charlottetown never had a large regional successful mall. The Charlottetown Mall is too small. There were plans for a big regional mall across the street way back in the 1980s, but it got held up in planning hell because of NIMBYs.

What was the downtown mall called? I used to live in that place. I love me some shopgirls

I'd have to get my weekly grease supplement from Captain Scott's, Edit: Looked it up, Confederation Court Mall. I only recall going into the Charlottetown Mall once. Remember the KMart was a grocery store as well. Buy some romaine, buy a couch.

elly63 · #**1694** Posted **Jul 25, 2025, 7:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Malls may have sucked, but at least there was a gathering place on inclement days for people.

Has the cell phone killed that for young people?

J.OT13 · #**1695** Posted **Jul 25, 2025, 7:39 PM**

Ottawa's first mall, built in 1955, is closing by October 31. One new tower was built on the corner of the site, replacing a stand alone restaurant, around 2021-2022. They had plans for a whole residential redevelopment, but now it sounds like they'll demo the mall, keep the Shoppers and build a grocery store, sit on the rest.

https://kitchissippi.com/elgin-streets-g...er-johns-diner-space-in-wellington-west/

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=220060&page=10

Blitz · #**1696** Posted **Jul 25, 2025, 8:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

There is usually room for at least one successful mall in most medium sized cities as well.

Halifax - Halifax Shopping Centre,
Moncton - Champlain Place
Saint John - McAllister Place (a little on the weak side)
Fredericton - Regent Mall
St. John's - Avalon Mall

Another example is Devonshire Mall in Windsor - it's thriving because of the lack of competition. London's malls are faltering because it's oversaturated.

MolsonExport · #**1697** Posted **Jul 25, 2025, 8:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

London has to be one of the more, if not the most, over-retailed cities in Ontario. It not only has 4 major malls (Galleria, Westmount, White Oaks, Masonville), but also dozens of major commercial shopping areas spread all around the city. All for a city of 400-500k.

Galleria is down to a dollarama, a subway, and a timmies.

Westmount has lost 90% of its retailing, and has mostly been replaced by offices. One entire wing was torn down.

So in reality we are down to two major malls: White Oaks, and Masonville.

MolsonExport · #**1698** Posted **Oct 16, 2025, 7:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanz

Was in Port Elgin via Sauble and came across this gorgeous gem. I didn't find a mall inside, but this place was pure liminal bliss. Anyone know what's going on with it?

FireShot Capture 14972 - 515 ON-21 - Google Maps - www.google.com by F.Stanz, on Flickr

20220731_112217 by F.Stanz, on Flickr

20220731_112850 by F.Stanz, on Flickr

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20220731_112424 by F.Stanz, on Flickr

20220731_112528 by F.Stanz, on Flickr

20220731_112723 by F.Stanz, on Flickr

20220731_112541 by F.Stanz, on Flickr

20220731_112632 by F.Stanz, on Flickr

20220731_112840 by F.Stanz, on Flickr