By Craig Patterson

Landlord Oxford Properties has announced new details pertaining to its Square One shopping centre property in Mississauga, which will be expanded westward into the mall’s former Target space. The new west wing will feature an entertainment centre, a food market, as well as retailers.

Target vacated its Canadian stores in the spring of 2015 and the 164,000 square foot Square One space has sat vacant since. Prior to opening as Target, the space housed a Zellers store and prior to that, Eaton’s.

The two-level space will see a new hallway span it as per the plan below, and will house several interesting tenants. Cineplex-owned ‘The Rec Room’ entertainment concept will open a 47,200 square foot location in the spring of 2019 over two levels — the Rec Room is expanding across Canada, with several locations opening in shopping centres. Square One’s ‘The Rec Room was announced in the spring of 2017.

Image links to Square One mall floor plan

'Level 1' of Square One's West Expansion in the former Octagon-shaped Target box. Lease PLan via Oxford Properties.

'Level 2' of Square One's West Expansion in the former Octagon-shaped Target box. Lease PLan via Oxford Properties.

A 19,850 square foot Uniqlo store will open on the second level of the former Target space. Uniqlo, which announced its Square One store earlier this month, will be joined by a yet-to-be-named 26,000 square foot retailer across the hall. While it hasn’t been confirmed, a source says that Indigo store signage was present on a rendering of the former Target space in a presentation to City Council in Mississauga (a standalone 'Chapters' store currently operates across the street and the Chapters nameplate is said to be on its way out).

Oxford Properties is also now announcing that it will open The Food District in the spring of 2019, which will span more than 34,000 square feet on one level. It’s being described as “offering local, handmade and high-quality foods in a setting that embraces both new- and old-world food emporiums”. It will feature “ an outstanding array of specialty products as well as a space to meet, explore and share the love of food through tastings, cooking classes, dinner parties, book signings and other special events”, according to a press release.

"In the coming months, we will reveal more details surrounding the West Expansion," says Square One director and general manager Greg Taylor. "Square One continues to be a premier location for world-class retailers and for the discerning consumer. The Food District will provide an inspired, fulfilling and unforgettable experience for food lovers and adventurers in a setting that encourages discovery, community, and culinary indulgence."

Square One is one of Canada’s largest, busiest and most productive malls, according to Retail Council of Canada’s latest Canadian Shopping Centre Study. The centre does more than $1-billion in sales annually, and is one of only two Canadian malls to boast such numbers (Yorkdale is said to do about $1.6-billion in yearly sales). Square One’s annual sales per square foot are $1,082 according to Oxford Properties, in a 2.2-million square foot retail destination that sees more than 23-million annual visitors. Its $580-millon redevelopment over the past several years is said to be one of the most ambitious in North America.

In the summer of 2016, Holt Renfrew unveiled a nearly 140,000 square foot store in the mall, anchoring a luxury retail wing that now houses Harry Rosen, Salvatore Ferragamo, Rolex, COS, Urban Decay Tory Burch and other upscale retailers, which will soon be joined by a standalone Links of London. Canadian fashion brand SOIA and KYO will open its first store in the world in the mall this fall. La Maison Simons operates its only store in the GTA at Square One, which also is anchored by an updated Hudson’s Bay store, a Sport Chek flagship, and a Walmart store that is said to be one of the top in the chain in terms of sales.

Craig Patterson, now based in Toronto, is the founder and Editor-in-Chief Retail Insider. He's also a retail and real estate consultant, retail tour guide and public speaker.

Follow him on Twitter @RetailInsider_, LinkedIn at Craig Patterson, or email him at: craig@retail-insider.com.

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