Galeries d'Anjou

Galeries d'Anjou is a large enclosed shopping mall in the Anjou borough of Montreal, Quebec. With more than 1.1 million square feet of retail space, it is one of eastern Montreal's two super-regional shopping centres, alongside Place Versailles. The mall serves Anjou and surrounding parts of the east end of the Island of Montreal, drawing customers through a broad mix of department stores, fashion retailers, home-furnishing businesses, sporting-goods stores, restaurants and services. The centre was conceived during the major postwar expansion of suburban retail in the Montreal region. Construction began in spring 1967, and the surrounding portion of Radisson Street was renamed Galeries d'Anjou Boulevard in anticipation of the project. The mall opened on August 8, 1968, with 85 stores. Its original anchor combination included Simpsons and Eaton department stores, together with Steinberg's and Dominion supermarkets. At opening, it was the second-largest shopping mall in Canada after Toronto's Yorkdale Shopping Centre and was jointly owned by Simpsons Limited and Cemp Investments. Galeries d'Anjou expanded substantially in the 1970s. A project announced in 1975 increased the centre from approximately 700,000 to 920,000 square feet and added 65 stores. The new wing opened in March 1976, followed by a Sears anchor later that year. The mall remained an important regional destination through the 1970s and much of the 1980s, when it was described as the largest shopping mall on the Island of Montreal by a wide margin. The ownership and tenant structure changed repeatedly as Canada's department-store and real-estate sectors consolidated. Cadillac Fairview became associated with the property, while the former Simpsons ownership interest passed through Markborough Properties. Simpsons was converted to The Bay in 1989 after Hudson's Bay Company acquired the chain. Eaton's later disappeared following its 1999 bankruptcy; part of its former space became a Zellers store in 2000, while The Brick subsequently occupied the second floor. The former supermarket spaces also changed identities, including transitions involving Dominion, Provigo, Steinberg's and Maxi. A major $18 million renovation in 1993 refreshed the 25-year-old mall, introduced approximately 30 new stores and created a new food court without expanding the building's footprint. In 2001, Ivanhoe Corporation and Cambridge Shopping Centres combined to form Ivanhoé Cambridge, bringing the property into the current ownership group's portfolio. A further expansion completed in 2013 added approximately 150,000 square feet, including a Simons department store and around 15 additional retailers. The food court was relocated as part of that redevelopment. Galeries d'Anjou also reflects the volatility of Canadian retail. Target opened in the former Zellers space in October 2013 but withdrew from Canada in 2015. The vacant area was subsequently redeveloped for Winners, Saks Off 5th and Old Navy in 2017, with smaller external-facing businesses later occupying remaining portions. Sears closed its Canadian stores in January 2018, and Aubainerie opened in the former Sears location in November 2022. Since May 2021, Ivanhoé Cambridge has been the mall's sole owner after exchanging its interest in Fairview Pointe-Claire for Cadillac Fairview's share of Galeries d'Anjou. The centre is operated by JLL. Its future accessibility is linked to the planned eastern extension of Montreal's Blue Line metro. Ivanhoé Cambridge and the Société de transport de Montréal announced an agreement in February 2023 concerning a future Anjou terminus near the mall, with a projected opening in 2029 and a planned pedestrian connection. The station project is expected to require the expropriation and relocation of some affected mall businesses during construction.

Galeries d'Anjou emerged from Montreal's postwar suburbanization and the rapid growth of enclosed shopping centres in the 1960s. In 1967, the municipality renamed part of Radisson Street Galeries d'Anjou Boulevard in anticipation of the development. Construction began that spring, and the centre was completed in May 1968, although interior work continued before the public opening. Galeries d'Anjou welcomed shoppers on August 8, 1968, with 85 stores. Its initial anchor lineup consisted of Simpsons, Eaton, Steinberg's and Dominion. Simpsons and Eaton occupied opposite ends of the mall, while the two supermarkets faced one another on the north side. The project was jointly owned by Simpsons Limited and Cemp Investments and was the second Montreal-area centre developed by that partnership. At opening, the mall was the second-largest in Canada after Yorkdale in Toronto. It became a dominant retail destination for the east end of Montreal and remained the Island of Montreal's largest shopping mall during the 1970s and much of the 1980s. In 1975, Cadillac Fairview, then manager and co-owner, announced an expansion that would increase the centre from about 700,000 to 920,000 square feet. The new wing opened on March 25, 1976, adding 65 stores. Sears joined the project as an anchor on August 18 of that year. The 1980s and 1990s brought major changes among both owners and tenants. Hudson's Bay Company acquired the Simpsons chain in 1979 and later transferred Simpsons-owned shopping centres, including Galeries d'Anjou, to its real-estate subsidiary Markborough Properties in 1984. Simpsons continued operating at the mall until the store was converted into The Bay in March 1989. Dominion became Provigo in 1981, while the former Steinberg's location later passed through a short Provigo phase before becoming Maxi in 1992. In 1993, the mall underwent an $18 million refurbishment. The project added approximately 30 stores, introduced a new food court and modernized the interior without increasing the overall size of the centre. Markborough's ownership interest passed into Cambridge Shopping Centres in 1997. Cambridge and Ivanhoe Corporation merged in 2001, creating Ivanhoé Cambridge. Tenant turnover continued as traditional department-store formats weakened. Eaton's ceased operations in 1999; Hudson's Bay Company used part of the former space for a Zellers store that opened in spring 2000, and The Brick took over the second floor in 2004. The centre's retail offer consequently became more diversified, with specialty and value-oriented chains taking a larger role. A substantial redevelopment was introduced in August 2013. The project created a new 150,000-square-foot section, placing a Simons store on part of the parking area and adding roughly 15 smaller retailers. The original food-court building was demolished and the food court moved to another part of the mall. The former Zellers space was leased to Target, which opened on October 18, 2013. Target's departure from Canada in April 2015 left the large space vacant for about two years. In 2017, Winners and Saks Off 5th opened on August 3, followed by Old Navy in October. Additional smaller occupants, including Cacao 70 and Copper Branch, used portions accessible from outside, while Dollarama occupied space associated with a downsized The Brick area. Sears closed its Galeries d'Anjou store on January 14, 2018, as the chain ended Canadian operations. Aubainerie later opened in the former Sears location on November 2, 2022. On May 19, 2021, Ivanhoé Cambridge became the sole owner by acquiring Cadillac Fairview's share in an exchange involving Fairview Pointe-Claire. JLL operates the property. The mall's next major development issue is transportation. The planned extension of Montreal's Blue Line is intended to reach an Anjou terminus near Galeries d'Anjou, potentially improving access and strengthening the centre's regional role. In February 2023, Ivanhoé Cambridge and the Société de transport de Montréal announced an agreement related to the station. Construction-related expropriation and business relocations were expected to affect part of the mall site, with the station projected for opening in 2029. The project may eventually provide a pedestrian connection between the transit facility and the shopping centre.

• 2023

  Blue Line station agreement

  [1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  An agreement concerning a future Anjou Blue Line terminus near the mall was announced.

• 2021

  Ivanhoé Cambridge becomes sole owner

  [1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  Ivanhoé Cambridge acquired Cadillac Fairview's remaining interest in the mall.

• 2017

  Former Target space reopens

  [1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  Winners, Saks Off 5th and Old Navy filled much of the former Target location.

• 2013

  Simons expansion opens

  [1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  The mall added approximately 150,000 square feet, including Simons and other retailers.

• 2001

  Ivanhoé Cambridge is formed

  [1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  Ivanhoe Corporation and Cambridge Shopping Centres merged, placing the mall within the newly formed Ivanhoé Cambridge group.

• 1993

  Renovation completed

  [1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  An $18 million renovation introduced a food court, new stores and interior improvements.

• 1989

  Simpsons becomes The Bay

  [1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  The mall's Simpsons department store was converted to The Bay.

• 1976

  First major expansion

  [1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  A new wing added 65 stores, and Sears opened as an anchor later in the year.

• 1968

  Public opening

  [1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  Galeries d'Anjou opened on August 8 with 85 stores and four principal original anchors.

• 1967

  Construction begins

  [1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the shopping centre began in spring 1967, and part of Radisson Street was renamed Galeries d'Anjou Boulevard.

A large, established super-regional retail destination serving eastern Montreal, combining department-store anchors, national specialty retailers, food and services, and convenient road access. Its scale and tenant mix position it as a major enclosed shopping centre rather than a neighbourhood retail plaza.

• Department store · 2013

  Simons

  Simons is one of the mall's principal contemporary anchors. Its Galeries d'Anjou location opened as part of the 2013 expansion, which placed the store in a newly built section on the former parking area. The retailer contributes a broad department-store assortment centred on fashion, accessories and home merchandise, complementing the mall's other national chains and reinforcing its regional-shopping positioning.

• Furniture and home furnishings · 2004

  The Brick

  The Brick occupies part of the former Eaton's department-store complex. Its presence gives Galeries d'Anjou a substantial home-furnishings and appliance offer in addition to apparel and general merchandise. The store took over the second floor of the former Eaton's space in 2004 and has remained part of the mall's anchor mix, although the available area was later described as having been reduced.

• Consumer electronics

  Best Buy

  Best Buy is a major electronics-oriented tenant serving shoppers seeking computers, entertainment technology, appliances and related services. Its presence broadens the centre beyond fashion and department-store shopping and helps maintain Galeries d'Anjou's role as a destination for comparison shopping across several retail categories.

• Off-price apparel and home goods · 2017

  Winners

  Winners opened in the former Target area in 2017 after Target exited the Canadian market. The off-price retailer adds value-oriented apparel, accessories and home merchandise to the mall's tenant mix and helped reactivate a large vacant portion of the centre.

• Sporting goods and outdoor equipment

  Sports Experts and Atmosphere

  The Sports Experts and Atmosphere retail offer serves sporting, fitness and outdoor-recreation needs. Together, these banners provide a category-focused destination within the mall and diversify the centre's assortment beyond conventional fashion, department-store and home-goods categories.

• Apparel · 2022

  Aubainerie

  Aubainerie opened in the former Sears location on November 2, 2022. The Quebec-based apparel retailer occupies a prominent former anchor site and helps replace some of the floor area lost through the collapse of the traditional department-store format.

• 2023

  Coordinate with the Blue Line extensionStrategy

  Background

  Montreal's planned Blue Line extension is intended to improve transit access to Anjou and the surrounding retail district.

  Action taken

  Ivanhoé Cambridge and the Société de transport de Montréal agreed on arrangements related to a future Anjou terminus near the mall, including anticipated site impacts and a potential pedestrian connection.

  Aftermath

  The station is projected to open in 2029; construction is expected to require expropriation and relocation affecting some mall businesses.

  Source

• 2021

  Consolidate ownership under Ivanhoé CambridgeM&A

  Background

  Galeries d'Anjou had previously been jointly owned by Ivanhoé Cambridge and Cadillac Fairview.

  Action taken

  Ivanhoé Cambridge acquired Cadillac Fairview's share in an exchange involving Ivanhoé Cambridge's share of Fairview Pointe-Claire.

  Aftermath

  Ivanhoé Cambridge became the mall's sole owner, while JLL operates the property.

  Source

• 2013

  Add a new retail section anchored by SimonsStrategy

  Background

  The centre sought to update its offer and add new national retailers.

  Action taken

  A new approximately 150,000-square-foot section was built, including Simons and around 15 other retailers; the food court was relocated.

  Aftermath

  The expansion increased the mall's contemporary department-store and specialty-retail capacity.

  Source

• 1993

  Modernize without enlarging the footprintStrategy

  Background

  The 25-year-old mall had become dated and was reportedly losing younger customers to Place Versailles.

  Action taken

  The owners invested $18 million in interior upgrades, a new food court and approximately 30 new stores.

  Aftermath

  The centre was refreshed without an increase in total building size.

  Renovation investment. $18 million (1993)

  Source

• 1975

  Approve a major enlargementStrategy

  Background

  The original centre was approximately 700,000 square feet and required additional capacity to retain its regional position.

  Action taken

  Management announced an expansion that would raise the centre to approximately 920,000 square feet and add 65 stores.

  Aftermath

  The new wing opened in March 1976, followed by a Sears anchor in August.

  Source

• 2023

  Blue Line Anjou terminus agreement announced[1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  Ivanhoé Cambridge and the Société de transport de Montréal announced an agreement concerning construction of a future Blue Line terminus near the mall, projected to open in 2029.

• 2022

  Aubainerie opens in the former Sears location[1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Aubainerie opened at the former Sears site on November 2.

• 2021

  Ivanhoé Cambridge becomes sole owner[1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Ivanhoé Cambridge acquired Cadillac Fairview's interest in the mall in exchange for its interest in Fairview Pointe-Claire.

• 2018

  Sears closes at Galeries d'Anjou[1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy

  The Sears store closed on January 14 during the chain's final day of Canadian operations.

• 2017

  Target space is redeveloped after Canadian withdrawal[1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Following Target's Canadian closure in 2015 and a period of vacancy, Winners and Saks Off 5th opened in August 2017, followed by Old Navy in October.

• 2013

  Simons-led expansion opens[1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  A new approximately 150,000-square-foot section opened in August, including Simons and additional retailers; the food court was relocated.

• 2013

  Target opens in the former Zellers space[1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Target opened a Canadian store at the mall on October 18 after acquiring the lease formerly held by Zellers.

• 1993

  Galeries d'Anjou receives a major renovation[1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  An $18 million renovation added stores, a food court and interior improvements while retaining the existing building footprint.

• 1976

  Major expansion adds 65 stores and a Sears anchor[1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Product generation

  A new wing opened in March after a project increased the mall's area to approximately 920,000 square feet; Sears opened later that year.

• 1968

  Galeries d'Anjou opens with 85 stores[1]Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The shopping centre opened on August 8 with Simpsons, Eaton, Steinberg's and Dominion among its original anchors.

1. 1Galeries d'Anjouen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Galeries d'Anjou official websitegaleriesdanjou.com