Guildford Town Centre
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA major enclosed shopping centre in Surrey, British Columbia, serving communities south of the Fraser River.
Last updated August 24, 2026
Overview
Guildford Town Centre is a large enclosed shopping centre in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. It opened on November 8, 1966, and has developed into one of the principal retail and leisure destinations in the Lower Mainland south of the Fraser River. The centre is owned by Ivanhoé Cambridge, a Quebec-based real estate company and shopping-centre owner. The property contains more than 250 stores, services, restaurants, and entertainment businesses. Its gross leasable area is approximately 111,816.6 square metres, or about 1.2 million square feet. The tenant mix combines major department and discount retailers, fashion chains, sporting-goods stores, furniture, pharmacy and electronics-related services, restaurants, and a multiplex cinema. Anchors and prominent tenants identified in reference material include Walmart, Life InStyle Furniture, Urban Behavior, Thriftys by Bluenotes, London Drugs, Old Navy, Uniqlo, and Sport Chek. The centre's scale places it among the largest shopping malls in British Columbia and makes it a regional destination rather than a purely neighbourhood-oriented retail property. Guildford underwent a substantial three-phase redevelopment beginning in June 2010. The first phase, completed in October 2011, delivered a new Walmart Supercentre and a two-level parking structure. Later phases refurbished the interior and added approximately 19,000 square metres of space on the south side of the existing building. The expansion introduced 75 additional stores and a food court with seating for approximately 1,034 people. The expansion opened on August 28, 2013, while the broader modernization program was completed in the fourth quarter of 2014. The project strengthened the centre's role as a contemporary regional mall and increased its capacity for both retail and dining traffic. Entertainment has been part of the complex's identity since the opening of its cinema in 1986. The theatre began as a four-screen Famous Players cinema, underwent major renovation in the late 1990s, and subsequently operated under the SilverCity name. After Cineplex Entertainment was required to sell the theatre, Empire Theatres operated it until October 29, 2013. Landmark Cinemas reopened the venue two days later and operates a 12-screen cinema at the centre. Guildford Town Centre is also integrated with public transit. The Guildford Exchange transit facility is located beneath a portion of the mall that is structurally built over 104 Avenue, and 12 bus routes connect the centre with areas throughout Surrey. A proposed Surrey light-rail system would have included a terminating station at Guildford Town Centre, but Surrey City Council voted in 2018 to favour extending the Expo Line of the SkyTrain system farther into Surrey; the light-rail proposal was subsequently suspended indefinitely. For its 50th anniversary in 2016, the centre staged an attempt to set the Guinness World Record for the world's largest carrot cake. The event illustrates the mall's role not only as a retail property but also as a venue for public celebrations and promotional programming.
History
Guildford Town Centre opened on November 8, 1966, in Surrey, British Columbia. It was established as a major enclosed retail destination serving the growing suburban communities of Surrey and the broader Lower Mainland south of the Fraser River. Over time, the centre expanded beyond conventional shopping functions to include restaurants, personal services, public transportation access, and cinema entertainment. The centre's movie theatre opened in 1986 as a four-screen Famous Players venue. It received major renovations during the late 1990s and reopened under the SilverCity brand in November 1998. Following a later ownership and operating transition in the Canadian cinema industry, Cineplex Entertainment was required to sell the theatre. Empire Theatres operated the venue until October 29, 2013. Landmark Cinemas reopened it two days later, and the complex subsequently operated as a 12-screen cinema. A major redevelopment began in June 2010 and was carried out in three phases. The first phase was completed on October 28, 2011, and included a new Walmart Supercentre together with a two-level parking structure. The subsequent phases modernized the existing interior and added a 19,000-square-metre extension on the south side of the property. The extension accommodated 75 new stores and a food court designed for approximately 1,034 diners. It opened on August 28, 2013, while completion of the overall redevelopment program was reported for the fourth quarter of 2014. Following the redevelopment, Guildford Town Centre offered more than 250 stores, services, and restaurants across approximately 111,816.6 square metres of gross leasable area. Its tenant profile included mass-market and specialty retail, apparel, furniture, pharmacy, sporting goods, dining, and entertainment. Prominent anchors and major tenants included Walmart, Life InStyle Furniture, Urban Behavior, Thriftys by Bluenotes, London Drugs, Old Navy, Uniqlo, and Sport Chek. The centre is closely connected to Surrey's transportation network. Guildford Exchange is located beneath part of the property, which is structurally built over 104 Avenue, and 12 bus routes serve the exchange. A proposed Surrey light-rail network would have included a terminal at Guildford Town Centre. That proposal was suspended indefinitely after Surrey City Council passed a 2018 resolution supporting a SkyTrain Expo Line extension farther into Surrey instead. Guildford Town Centre celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2016. Anniversary programming included an attempt to create the world's largest carrot cake under Guinness World Records rules. The event reflected the centre's continuing use as a community and promotional venue in addition to its commercial role. The property remains an active regional shopping centre owned by Ivanhoé Cambridge.
- 2018
Surrey LRT proposal suspended
[1]The proposed light-rail line terminating at Guildford Town Centre was suspended after Surrey Council supported an alternative SkyTrain expansion.
- 2016
50th anniversary
[1]The centre marked its 50th anniversary with public programming that included a Guinness World Record carrot-cake attempt.
- 2014
Redevelopment program completed
[1]The remaining modernization work was completed in the fourth quarter.
- 2013
South-side expansion opens
[1]The 19,000-square-metre expansion opened on August 28 with 75 additional stores and an expanded food court.
- 2011
First redevelopment phase completed
[1]The first phase delivered a Walmart Supercentre and a two-level parkade.
- 2010
Three-phase redevelopment begins
[1]A comprehensive redevelopment program began in June, covering new retail space, parking, interior modernization, and dining facilities.
- 1998
Cinema renovation and SilverCity relaunch
[1]Major cinema renovations culminated in a November reopening under the SilverCity brand.
- 1986
Cinema opens
[1]A four-screen Famous Players cinema opened as part of the shopping-centre complex.
- 1966
Shopping centre opens
[1]Guildford Town Centre opened in Surrey on November 8, establishing a major enclosed retail centre in the region.
Products and positioning
A large, transit-connected regional shopping centre combining mass-market retail, fashion, dining, entertainment, and essential services for Surrey and the wider Lower Mainland south of the Fraser River.
Shopping centre retail · 1966
Retail stores and services
Guildford Town Centre brings together more than 250 stores, services, and restaurants. The mix spans apparel, footwear, furniture, pharmacy, sporting goods, beauty, general merchandise, dining, and other everyday consumer services. Major named tenants include Walmart, Life InStyle Furniture, Urban Behavior, Thriftys by Bluenotes, London Drugs, Old Navy, Uniqlo, and Sport Chek.
Mass merchandise and grocery · 2011
Walmart Supercentre
The Walmart Supercentre was introduced as part of the first phase of the 2010–2014 redevelopment. It expanded the property's mass-market offer by combining general merchandise and grocery-oriented shopping within the regional mall.
Cinema entertainment · 1986
Landmark Cinemas
The cinema is a 12-screen entertainment venue at Guildford Town Centre. It originated as a four-screen Famous Players theatre in 1986, later operated under the SilverCity and Empire Theatres names, and was reopened by Landmark Cinemas in October 2013.
Dining · 2013
Food court
The redevelopment added a substantially enlarged food court with seating for approximately 1,034 people. It forms a central dining component of the south-side expansion and supports the centre's role as an all-day regional destination.
Marketing campaigns
- 201650th Anniversary Guinness World Record Carrot Cake Attempt
Canada · Surrey, British Columbia
For its 50th anniversary, Guildford Town Centre attempted to create the world's largest carrot cake under Guinness World Records rules, using the event as a public-facing celebration and promotional activity.
Outcome. The reference material records the attempt but does not establish whether the record was officially achieved.
Brand decisions
2018
Shift away from the proposed Surrey LRT alignmentStrategyBackground
A proposed Surrey light-rail system would have included a terminating station at Guildford Town Centre.
Action taken
Surrey City Council passed a resolution favouring an Expo Line SkyTrain extension farther into Surrey rather than proceeding with the proposed light-rail plan.
Aftermath
The Surrey LRT project was suspended indefinitely, leaving the proposed Guildford Town Centre terminus unrealized.
2013
Cinema operator transition to Landmark CinemasOtherBackground
Empire Theatres closed the existing cinema on October 29, 2013, following changes in the Canadian cinema-ownership and operating landscape.
Action taken
Landmark Cinemas reopened the venue on October 31 and operated it as a 12-screen cinema.
Aftermath
Cinema entertainment continued at the shopping centre under a new operator.
2010
Launch of comprehensive redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The established shopping centre required expanded retail capacity, updated interiors, improved parking, and stronger dining and tenant amenities.
Action taken
Ivanhoé Cambridge proceeded with a three-phase redevelopment beginning in June 2010, including a new Walmart, a two-level parkade, interior refurbishment, and a south-side extension.
Aftermath
The expansion opened in 2013 and the remaining modernization work was completed in 2014, resulting in a larger centre with 75 additional stores and an expanded food court.
Recent events
- 2018
Surrey Council favours SkyTrain extension over proposed Surrey LRT[1]
Regulation · Other
A proposed Surrey light-rail route that would have terminated at Guildford Town Centre was suspended after council favoured extending the Expo Line farther into Surrey.
- 2016
Guildford Town Centre marks its 50th anniversary with a record-setting carrot-cake attempt[1]
Campaign · Other
The shopping centre attempted to establish a Guinness World Record for the world's largest carrot cake as part of its anniversary programming.
- 2013
Guildford Town Centre opens its south-side expansion[1]
Other
A 19,000-square-metre expansion opened with 75 new stores and a substantially enlarged food court.
- 2013
Landmark Cinemas takes over Guildford Town Centre theatre[1]
M&A · Other
Empire Theatres closed the cinema on October 29, and Landmark Cinemas reopened the venue on October 31 as a 12-screen theatre.
- 2011
Guildford Town Centre opens a new Walmart Supercentre and parking structure as redevelopment phase one concludes[1]
Other
The first phase of a major three-phase redevelopment was completed, adding a new Walmart Supercentre and a two-level parkade.
Sources2 sources
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