Freiman Mall
Encyclopedia
Freiman Mall is an enclosed arcade
between Rideau
and George Streets in Downtown Ottawa
, Canada
, east of Sussex Drive
and west of William Street. For practical purposes, "Freiman Mall" often refers not only to this walkway but also the building immediately west, collectively a shopping mall
owned and almost exclusively occupied by the Hudson's Bay Company
.
The mall is considered a separate entity from The Bay
department store
, although The Bay occupies the vast majority of the building. Hence it is possible to enter the building (which has entrances reading "Hudson's Bay Company") without entering the store itself (which has separate entrances, most with the nameplate "The Bay / La Baie").
A separate store, the Pharmamart grocery store
/ pharmacy
also owned by HBC, occupies much of the bottom floor, while various Bay "mini-stores" (not directly accessible from within the main department store) occupy the central first-floor mall area as well as an overhead walkway over Rideau Street connecting the building to Rideau Centre
. There are a limited number of third-party retailers, namely Maritime Travel and Godiva
, although both occupy spaces within many traditional Bay stores.
The mall was built upon Freiman Street which used to run between Rideau Street and George Street. An agreement was made between the owners of the mall and the City of Ottawa
that the mall would remain open 24 hours a day for the benefit of pedestrians. This makes it a pedestrian right-of-way
like the Rideau Centre across the street.
The flagship Freimans
department store operated in this location prior to its acquisition by HBC in 1972. The mall replaced a public street, once named Mosgrove Street but later renamed Freiman Street (to honor the Freiman family), which was adjacent to the Byward Market
and the former Metropolitan department store.
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
between Rideau
Rideau Street
Rideau Street is a major street in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and one of Ottawa's oldest and most famous streets running from Wellington Street in the west to Montreal Road in the east where it connects to the Vanier district...
and George Streets in Downtown Ottawa
Downtown Ottawa
Downtown Ottawa is the central area of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Like other downtowns it is the commercial and economic centre of the city. It is sometimes referred to as the Central Business District and contains Ottawa's financial district. It is bordered by the Ottawa River to the north, the...
, 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...
, east of Sussex Drive
Sussex Drive
Sussex Drive is a major street in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and one of the city's major ceremonial and institutional routes....
and west of William Street. For practical purposes, "Freiman Mall" often refers not only to this walkway but also the building immediately west, collectively a shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
owned and almost exclusively occupied by the Hudson's Bay Company
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...
.
The mall is considered a separate entity from The Bay
The Bay
The Bay is a chain of 91 department stores that operate across parts of Canada. It is the main brand of Hudson's Bay Company , North America's oldest company. It has its headquarters in the Simpson Tower in Toronto. In French, the chain is known as la Baie, short for "Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson"...
department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
, although The Bay occupies the vast majority of the building. Hence it is possible to enter the building (which has entrances reading "Hudson's Bay Company") without entering the store itself (which has separate entrances, most with the nameplate "The Bay / La Baie").
A separate store, the Pharmamart grocery store
Grocery store
A grocery store is a store that retails food. A grocer, the owner of a grocery store, stocks different kinds of foods from assorted places and cultures, and sells these "groceries" to customers. Large grocery stores that stock products other than food, such as clothing or household items, are...
/ pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
also owned by HBC, occupies much of the bottom floor, while various Bay "mini-stores" (not directly accessible from within the main department store) occupy the central first-floor mall area as well as an overhead walkway over Rideau Street connecting the building to Rideau Centre
Rideau Centre
Rideau Centre is a three-level shopping centre on Rideau Street in Downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It borders on Rideau Street , the Rideau Canal, the Mackenzie King Bridge, and Nicholas Street....
. There are a limited number of third-party retailers, namely Maritime Travel and Godiva
Godiva (chocolatier)
Godiva Chocolatier is a manufacturer of premium chocolates and related products. Godiva, founded in Belgium in 1926, was purchased by Turkish Yıldız Holding, owner of the Ülker Group, on Nov 20th, 2007...
, although both occupy spaces within many traditional Bay stores.
The mall was built upon Freiman Street which used to run between Rideau Street and George Street. An agreement was made between the owners of the mall and the City of Ottawa
City of Ottawa
The City of Ottawa is the corporate entity of municipal government in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The corporation is responsible for provision of services to the public as well as enforcement of municipal by-laws...
that the mall would remain open 24 hours a day for the benefit of pedestrians. This makes it a pedestrian right-of-way
Right of way (public throughway)
Right of way is a term first used to describe the right to travel unhindered, to access a route regardless of land ownership or any other legality.The right of way may be limited...
like the Rideau Centre across the street.
The flagship Freimans
Freimans
A.J. Freiman Limited, or Freimans, was a landmark department store on Rideau Street in Ottawa, Canada, founded in 1918 by Archibald J. Freiman.Archibald Jacob Freiman was born in Lithuania in 1880, and emigrated to Hamilton, Ontario...
department store operated in this location prior to its acquisition by HBC in 1972. The mall replaced a public street, once named Mosgrove Street but later renamed Freiman Street (to honor the Freiman family), which was adjacent to the Byward Market
Byward Market
ByWard Market is a district in Lower Town located east of the government & business district, surrounding the market buildings and open-air market on George, York, ByWard and William Streets.The district is bordered on the west by Sussex Drive, on the...
and the former Metropolitan department store.