Don Mills Centre
Encyclopedia
The Don Mills Centre was a shopping centre in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. It was located on a 44-acre (178,000 m²) commercial site, at the southwest corner of Don Mills Road and Lawrence Avenue
East in the planned community of Don Mills
. There were at least 98 stores during the height of the mall's existence. The majority of the mall was closed and demolished
in summer 2006 for redevelopment as the Shops at Don Mills
.
was opened with a Dominion Supermarket
, Kofflers Drug Store
(the first Shoppers Drug Mart), Brewers Retail and a dozen other retailers.
Don Mills Centre was primarily intended to serve the local community, centrally located within walking distance of many rental units built around the core of the community. It quickly became a regional centre, drawing people from North York, East York
and Scarborough
. It also served as a meeting place for students from the nearby Don Mills Collegiate Institute
.
As the Don Mills district was developed, the Don Mills Centre expanded to serve the increasing population. Eaton's
opened one of its first suburban department stores in 1961. By 1965, the Dominion supermarket
had relocated into a larger store at the south end, Zellers
moved in and an outdoor mall expanded to 65 stores.
By the mid 1960s, other amenities had been added to the site, such as a post office, curling rink, movie theatres, hockey arena, service stations and a 15-storey office building.
In 1978, a major renovation was undertaken to enclose the mall. The mall was expanded from 400,000 to 462,000 square feet (37,000 to 43,000 m²). The number of tenants grew from 87 to 120. In 1986, the under-utilized curling rink at the south-west corner of the development was demolished. A four-storey office building and a small outdoor plaza were built in its place. In 1989, the service station at the north-east corner of the site was demolished, and replaced by a six-storey office building with retail on the ground floor.
After its closure in the 1990s, the lower level of the Eaton's store was converted to a Sears Canada
outlet store, which later closed. The store once again stood empty for some time until it was leased by a sporting goods store, National Sports. The store then left the site after two years and was replaced by a patio furniture store and a used car dealership.
, proposed a redevelopment of the site to include a lifestyle centre, condos and office space. The redevelopment plans originally called for a phased redevelopment, keeping different portions of the mall open at different times to ensure its continuity as a shopping centre. However, plans changed and the centre was demolished, and the first phase of an urban village consisting of 100 retailers and services opened on April 22, 2009.
In May 2006, the majority of the mall closed, apart from Metro, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
, the TD Canada Trust
bank building, the Royal Bank of Canada
building, and Anthony's Restaurant. Other stores remained open until the end of June. In July 2006, the former Eaton's store was fully demolished. The Don Mills Civitan Arena which is owned by the City of Toronto is still open to the public as the redevelopment is ongoing.
Home Hardware
, has re-located to 49 The Donway West http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=49+The+Donway+West,+toronto&ie=UTF8&ll=43.73191,-79.343777&spn=0.014389,0.042915&om=1, on the south side of the Mall property, where The Beer Store, Blockbuster Video and Royal LePage
Realty have always been located. Shoppers Drug Mart and CIBC built new locations on the north-east corner of Lawrence Avenue East and The Donway West http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Lawrence+Ave+E+%26+The+Donway+W,+North+York,+ON,+Canada&ie=UTF8&ll=43.738329,-79.346566&spn=0.014387,0.042915&om=1. The Shoppers Drug Mart opened in late April 2007, its 1000th store, and the CIBC Branch opened at the same time. As of early October 2008, Jack Astor's
had re-opened, the new mall is now open.
Dominion (now Metro), the Canada Post building and the Royal Bank Building are the only reminders of the old mall.
of the Don Mills Centre included:
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was located on a 44-acre (178,000 m²) commercial site, at the southwest corner of Don Mills Road and Lawrence Avenue
Lawrence Avenue
Lawrence Avenue is a major east-west thoroughfare in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is divided into east and west portions by Yonge Street, the dividing line of east-west streets in Toronto....
East in the planned community of Don Mills
Don Mills
Don Mills is a mixed-use neighbourhood in the North York district of Toronto, Canada. It was developed to be a self-supporting "new town" and was at the time located outside of Toronto proper. Consisting of residential, commercial and industrial sub-districts, it was planned and developed by...
. There were at least 98 stores during the height of the mall's existence. The majority of the mall was closed and demolished
Demolition
Demolition is the tearing-down of buildings and other structures, the opposite of construction. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for re-use....
in summer 2006 for redevelopment as the Shops at Don Mills
Shops at Don Mills
The Shops at Don Mills is a lifestyle centre - type shopping centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located at Don Mills Road and Lawrence Avenue East.There are 72 retail stores with a total floor space of 47,550 square metres ....
.
History
E.P. Taylor of Argus Corporation originally bought the land for a brewing plant, but decided to make the site the focal point of the 2,100 acre (8.35 km²) planned community. Initial construction of the Don Mills Centre began in 1954. In 1955, a strip plazaStrip mall
A strip mall is an open-area shopping center where the stores are arranged in a row, with a sidewalk in front. Strip malls are typically developed as a unit and have large parking lots in front...
was opened with a Dominion Supermarket
Dominion Stores (Ontario)
Dominion Stores was once a national chain of supermarkets in Canada, which was still known as the Dominion of Canada at the time of the company's founding. The chain was founded in 1919 in Ontario and was later acquired by Conrad Black's Argus Corporation...
, Kofflers Drug Store
Shoppers Drug Mart
Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation is Canada's largest pharmacy chain with more than 1,241 stores operating under the names Shoppers Drug Mart in nine provinces and two territories and Pharmaprix in Quebec as well as in Hawkesbury, Ontario....
(the first Shoppers Drug Mart), Brewers Retail and a dozen other retailers.
Don Mills Centre was primarily intended to serve the local community, centrally located within walking distance of many rental units built around the core of the community. It quickly became a regional centre, drawing people from North York, East York
East York
East York can refer to:*East York, Pennsylvania, United States*East York, Ontario, Canada...
and Scarborough
Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
. It also served as a meeting place for students from the nearby Don Mills Collegiate Institute
Don Mills Collegiate Institute
Don Mills Collegiate Institute is a high school in the community of Don Mills in Toronto. It serves an ethnically diverse student population of approximately 1000. As of 2006, 66% of students speak a first language other than English...
.
As the Don Mills district was developed, the Don Mills Centre expanded to serve the increasing population. Eaton's
Eaton's
The T. Eaton Co. Limited was once Canada's largest department store retailer. It was founded in 1869 in Toronto by Timothy Eaton, an Irish immigrant. Eaton's grew to become a retail and social institution in Canada, with stores across the country, buying offices across the globe, and a catalogue...
opened one of its first suburban department stores in 1961. By 1965, the Dominion supermarket
Dominion Stores (Ontario)
Dominion Stores was once a national chain of supermarkets in Canada, which was still known as the Dominion of Canada at the time of the company's founding. The chain was founded in 1919 in Ontario and was later acquired by Conrad Black's Argus Corporation...
had relocated into a larger store at the south end, Zellers
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
moved in and an outdoor mall expanded to 65 stores.
By the mid 1960s, other amenities had been added to the site, such as a post office, curling rink, movie theatres, hockey arena, service stations and a 15-storey office building.
In 1978, a major renovation was undertaken to enclose the mall. The mall was expanded from 400,000 to 462,000 square feet (37,000 to 43,000 m²). The number of tenants grew from 87 to 120. In 1986, the under-utilized curling rink at the south-west corner of the development was demolished. A four-storey office building and a small outdoor plaza were built in its place. In 1989, the service station at the north-east corner of the site was demolished, and replaced by a six-storey office building with retail on the ground floor.
After its closure in the 1990s, the lower level of the Eaton's store was converted to a Sears Canada
Sears Canada
Sears Canada Inc. is a retailer, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, that operates in all provinces and territories across Canada with a network of 196 corporate stores, 195 dealer stores, 38 home improvement showrooms, 108 Sears Travel offices and a nationwide home maintenance, repair, and...
outlet store, which later closed. The store once again stood empty for some time until it was leased by a sporting goods store, National Sports. The store then left the site after two years and was replaced by a patio furniture store and a used car dealership.
Demolition and redevelopment
The owner of the mall, Cadillac FairviewCadillac Fairview
Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited is a North American investor, owner, and manager of commercial real estate.The name "Cadillac Fairview" came into existence in 1974 as a result of the merger between Cadillac Development Corporation Ltd and Fairview Corporation...
, proposed a redevelopment of the site to include a lifestyle centre, condos and office space. The redevelopment plans originally called for a phased redevelopment, keeping different portions of the mall open at different times to ensure its continuity as a shopping centre. However, plans changed and the centre was demolished, and the first phase of an urban village consisting of 100 retailers and services opened on April 22, 2009.
In May 2006, the majority of the mall closed, apart from Metro, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is one of Canada's chartered banks, fifth largest by deposits. The bank is headquartered at Commerce Court in Toronto, Ontario. CIBC's Institution Number is 010, and its SWIFT code is CIBCCATT....
, the TD Canada Trust
TD Canada Trust
TD Canada Trust is the personal, small business and commercial banking operation of the Toronto-Dominion Bank in Canada. TD Canada Trust offers a range of financial services and products to more than 10 million Canadian customers through more than 1,100 branches and 2,600 ATM Green Machines...
bank building, the Royal Bank of Canada
Royal Bank of Canada
The Royal Bank of Canada or RBC Financial Group is the largest financial institution in Canada, as measured by deposits, revenues, and market capitalization. The bank serves seventeen million clients and has 80,100 employees worldwide. The company corporate headquarters are located in Toronto,...
building, and Anthony's Restaurant. Other stores remained open until the end of June. In July 2006, the former Eaton's store was fully demolished. The Don Mills Civitan Arena which is owned by the City of Toronto is still open to the public as the redevelopment is ongoing.
Home Hardware
Home Hardware
Home Hardware is a privately held Canadian home improvement, construction materials, and furniture retailer. Co-founded in 1964 by Walter Hachborn and headquartered in St...
, has re-located to 49 The Donway West http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=49+The+Donway+West,+toronto&ie=UTF8&ll=43.73191,-79.343777&spn=0.014389,0.042915&om=1, on the south side of the Mall property, where The Beer Store, Blockbuster Video and Royal LePage
Royal LePage
Royal LePage is a Canadian real estate franchiser and owner-operator with more than 600 locations and over 13,000 Realtors in Canada. Founded in 1913 by Albert E. LePage, Royal LePage is now owned by the Brookfield Real Estate Services Fund.-External links:...
Realty have always been located. Shoppers Drug Mart and CIBC built new locations on the north-east corner of Lawrence Avenue East and The Donway West http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Lawrence+Ave+E+%26+The+Donway+W,+North+York,+ON,+Canada&ie=UTF8&ll=43.738329,-79.346566&spn=0.014387,0.042915&om=1. The Shoppers Drug Mart opened in late April 2007, its 1000th store, and the CIBC Branch opened at the same time. As of early October 2008, Jack Astor's
Jack Astor's Bar & Grill
Jack Astor's Bar and Grill is a chain of 32 restaurants located in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Canada, and New York in the United States. All locations include a restaurant and bar area...
had re-opened, the new mall is now open.
Dominion (now Metro), the Canada Post building and the Royal Bank Building are the only reminders of the old mall.
Former tenants
Former anchor tenantsAnchor store
In retail, an anchor store, draw tenant, anchor tenant, or key tenant is one of the larger stores in a shopping mall, usually a department store or a major retail chain....
of the Don Mills Centre included:
- Home HardwareHome HardwareHome Hardware is a privately held Canadian home improvement, construction materials, and furniture retailer. Co-founded in 1964 by Walter Hachborn and headquartered in St...
- Eaton'sEaton'sThe T. Eaton Co. Limited was once Canada's largest department store retailer. It was founded in 1869 in Toronto by Timothy Eaton, an Irish immigrant. Eaton's grew to become a retail and social institution in Canada, with stores across the country, buying offices across the globe, and a catalogue...
- became Sears CanadaSears CanadaSears Canada Inc. is a retailer, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, that operates in all provinces and territories across Canada with a network of 196 corporate stores, 195 dealer stores, 38 home improvement showrooms, 108 Sears Travel offices and a nationwide home maintenance, repair, and...
clearance centre and later as National Sports - ZellersZellersZellers Inc. is Canada's second-largest chain of mass merchandise discount stores, with locations in communities across Canada. A subsidiary of the Hudson's Bay Company , it has 273 locations across the country....
- closed - Dominion - now Metro