Complexe Les Ailes
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedA former downtown Montreal shopping mall created from the redevelopment of Eaton's historic flagship store.
Last updated August 24, 2026
Overview
Complexe Les Ailes was a downtown shopping mall and office complex in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It occupied the historic former Eaton's department-store building at 677 Saint Catherine Street West, one of the most prominent retail addresses in central Montreal. The property was created after Eaton's closed its Montreal flagship in 1999. Ivanhoé Cambridge acquired the building and carried out an extensive redevelopment between 2000 and 2002, retaining the exterior façade and portions of the historically significant ninth floor while substantially gutting and rebuilding the interior. The resulting mall opened as Complexe Les Ailes in 2002. The name referred to Les Ailes de la Mode, a Montreal-based department-store chain that occupied approximately one-third of the new mall and served as its principal anchor. The project formed part of Ivanhoé Cambridge's downtown Montreal retail portfolio, alongside the Montreal Eaton Centre and Place Montreal Trust. Its location gave it direct or nearby connections to Montreal's Underground City and the McGill metro station, helping position the complex as a transit-linked shopping destination for downtown workers, residents, students and visitors. The building had a long retail history before becoming Complexe Les Ailes. It was originally constructed for Goodwin's department store in the early twentieth century and was sold to Eaton's in 1925. Eaton's expanded the structure in stages during the late 1920s and early 1930s, later extending it toward De Maisonneuve Boulevard in 1958–1959. The celebrated Eaton's Ninth Floor Restaurant, designed in an Art Deco style inspired by the dining room of the SS Île-de-France, was among the building's best-known historic features. The site also gained access to the Montreal Metro network in connection with the opening of McGill station in 1967. Complexe Les Ailes' identity changed after its anchor retailer encountered difficulties. Les Ailes de la Mode closed its store in 2016 and subsequently ceased operations, leaving a substantial area of the mall without its original principal tenant. Ivanhoé Cambridge later repositioned the property within a larger downtown retail complex. In 2018, Complexe Les Ailes was absorbed into the adjacent Montreal Eaton Centre, and the combined property retained the Montreal Eaton Centre name. The former Complexe Les Ailes building therefore continued as part of the enlarged Montreal Eaton Centre rather than operating under its former name. In 2019, Decathlon occupied the former Les Ailes de la Mode space, creating a new major retail use within the merged property. Complexe Les Ailes is consequently best understood as a former mall identity and redevelopment phase of a larger historic downtown property, rather than as an independently operating shopping centre today.
History
The building associated with Complexe Les Ailes stands at 677 Saint Catherine Street West in downtown Montreal. Its retail history began with Goodwin's department store in the early twentieth century. Eaton's acquired the property in 1925 and progressively enlarged it. The architectural firm Ross and Macdonald completed an initial three-floor expansion in 1927 and a second three-floor expansion between 1930 and 1931. The building later expanded toward De Maisonneuve Boulevard in 1958–1959, becoming the Montreal flagship of Eaton's and one of the city's most important department stores. A notable feature was Eaton's Ninth Floor Restaurant, whose Art Deco interiors were developed from plans by Jacques Carlu and drew inspiration from the dining room of the ocean liner SS Île-de-France. The property was also connected to Montreal's metro system through McGill station in 1967, reinforcing its role in the city's downtown retail and transit network. After Eaton's closed its chain's Montreal store in 1999, Ivanhoé Cambridge acquired the property. Between 2000 and 2002, the former department store underwent a comprehensive redevelopment. The interior was largely removed and rebuilt, while the exterior façade and parts of the ninth floor were preserved. The renovated property opened in 2002 as Complexe Les Ailes, named for Les Ailes de la Mode, the department-store retailer that occupied about one-third of the complex and served as its main anchor. The new mall was developed as part of Ivanhoé Cambridge's downtown Montreal portfolio. Together with the Montreal Eaton Centre and Place Montreal Trust, it formed part of the owner's coordinated group of central-city shopping properties. Complexe Les Ailes benefited from its proximity to the Montreal Eaton Centre, the Underground City and McGill station, and was designed to serve a broad urban customer base rather than a narrowly specialized retail segment. The mall's original operating model weakened after Les Ailes de la Mode closed its store in 2016 and subsequently ceased operations. The loss of the namesake anchor created a significant vacancy and reduced the rationale for maintaining Complexe Les Ailes as a separate branded property. Ivanhoé Cambridge had announced plans in 2014 to combine the mall with the adjacent Montreal Eaton Centre. Although early plans contemplated a new name and the removal of the Eaton Centre identity, the eventual decision was to merge the two properties while retaining the Montreal Eaton Centre name and harmonizing their appearance. The merger took effect in 2018. Complexe Les Ailes ceased to operate as a distinct mall name, but its building remained part of the expanded Montreal Eaton Centre. In 2019, Decathlon moved into the former Les Ailes de la Mode space, giving the former anchor area a new sporting-goods and outdoor-retail use. The site's history therefore links several major phases of Montreal retail: the historic Eaton's department store, the early-2000s Complexe Les Ailes redevelopment, and the later consolidation into the Montreal Eaton Centre.
- 2019
Decathlon becomes a major tenant
[1]Decathlon took over the former Les Ailes de la Mode space within the merged property.
- 2018
Property absorbed into Montreal Eaton Centre
[1]Complexe Les Ailes was incorporated into the adjacent Montreal Eaton Centre, which retained its name.
- 2016
Namesake anchor closes
[1]Les Ailes de la Mode closed its store and later permanently ended operations.
- 2014
Merger proposal announced
[1]Ivanhoé Cambridge announced plans to combine Complexe Les Ailes with the adjacent Montreal Eaton Centre.
- 2002
Complexe Les Ailes opens
[1]The redeveloped former Eaton's building reopened as Complexe Les Ailes, anchored by Les Ailes de la Mode.
- 1999
Eaton's flagship closes
[1]The Eaton's chain closed its Montreal flagship, clearing the way for a major redevelopment.
- 1967
McGill metro connection added
[1]The property gained access to Montreal's metro network through McGill station.
- 1958
Expansion toward De Maisonneuve Boulevard
[1]The building was enlarged toward De Maisonneuve Boulevard during 1958–1959.
- 1930
Second major Eaton's expansion
[1]A further three-floor expansion was completed between 1930 and 1931.
- 1927
First major Eaton's expansion
[1]Ross and Macdonald completed the first three-floor expansion of the Eaton's building.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Products and positioning
A centrally located, transit-connected urban shopping complex created through the adaptive reuse and modernization of Montreal's former Eaton's flagship department store.
Department store · 2002
Les Ailes de la Mode
Les Ailes de la Mode was the principal anchor and namesake retailer of Complexe Les Ailes. Its department-store format occupied roughly one-third of the complex and provided fashion, apparel and general merchandise during the mall's initial operating period. The store closed in 2016, and the retailer subsequently ceased operations.
Sporting-goods retailer · 2019
Decathlon
Decathlon took over the former Les Ailes de la Mode premises in 2019. Its presence introduced a large sporting-goods and outdoor-equipment format to the former Complexe Les Ailes space after the property had been incorporated into the Montreal Eaton Centre.
Brand decisions
2018
Absorption into Montreal Eaton CentreM&ABackground
Complexe Les Ailes had lost its namesake anchor after the closure of Les Ailes de la Mode, while the adjacent Montreal Eaton Centre offered an opportunity to operate the properties as one complex.
Action taken
Ivanhoé Cambridge combined the two shopping centres and continued operations under the Montreal Eaton Centre name.
Aftermath
The former Complexe Les Ailes building remained in use as part of the expanded Montreal Eaton Centre.
2014
Plan to combine Complexe Les Ailes with Montreal Eaton CentreStrategyBackground
Ivanhoé Cambridge sought to integrate the two adjacent downtown shopping properties and create a more unified retail destination.
Action taken
The owner announced a plan to merge the properties and renovate them with a coordinated appearance. Although an alternative naming approach was considered, the final property retained the Montreal Eaton Centre name.
Aftermath
The consolidation was completed in 2018, ending Complexe Les Ailes as a separate mall identity.
Recent events
- 2019
Decathlon takes over former Les Ailes de la Mode space[1]
Product launch · Other
Decathlon occupied the former anchor-store area within the building, becoming one of the largest tenants of the expanded Montreal Eaton Centre.
- 2018
Complexe Les Ailes absorbed into Montreal Eaton Centre[1]
M&A
The adjacent Complexe Les Ailes and Montreal Eaton Centre properties were combined into one shopping complex operating under the Montreal Eaton Centre name.
- 2016
Les Ailes de la Mode closes its Complexe Les Ailes store[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
Les Ailes de la Mode, the mall's principal anchor and namesake retailer, closed its store and later permanently ceased operations, prompting a major change in the property's tenant mix.
- 2002
Complexe Les Ailes created through redevelopment of former Eaton's flagship[1]
Other
Ivanhoé Cambridge completed a major redevelopment of the former Eaton's department-store building, creating the Complexe Les Ailes shopping mall while preserving the exterior façade and elements of the historic ninth floor.
Sources1 sources
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