HAZELTON LANES TO RENOVATE FOR LUXURY RETAIL

Image: Kasian/First Capital

Toronto's Hazelton Lanes shopping centre is looking to get back into the luxury retail game. Landlord First Capital Realty is said to be negotiating with some of the world's top luxury retailers (rumours include Salvator Ferragamo, among others). If successful, Hazelton Lanes could once again rival neighbouring Bloor Street as one of Toronto's luxury shopping addresses.

Image: Kasian/First Capital

For those unfamiliar, Hazelton Lanes is an upscale retail complex located in Toronto's affluent Yorkville neighbourhood. Hazelton Lanes' first phase (55 Avenue Road) was built in 1976 and was constructed specifically to be a small (60,000 square foot) luxury mall. Because it opened before the Toronto Eaton Centre, it managed to secure perhaps more upscale retailers than it otherwise would have. At the time, Toronto lacked luxury retail, save for Holt Renfrew (in a 60,000 square foot store at 144 Bloor Street West, now Burberry), womenswear retailer Creeds, and The St. Regis Room (now 'The Room' at Hudson's Bay) at Simpsons, Queen Street.

Image: Kasian/First Capital

We've got Hazelton Lanes renderings, a video presentation and lease plans. We'll post the renderings and video today and the lease plans tomorrow, to keep this article relatively brief.

Above is a video provided by First Capital showing their vision for the new Hazelton Lanes. Thank you to pw20 of Urban Toronto for locating the video.

Image: Kasian/First Capital

Hazelton Lanes almost tripled in size in 1988 (adding address '87 Avenue Road' as its north portion) and became host to even more luxury retailers. The recession that hit Toronto a couple of years later resulted in many luxury stores closing at Hazelton Lanes. The mall's awkward configuration, low ceilings and inconveniently-located entrances didn't help things, either.

Image: Kasian/First Capital

Hazelton Lanes eventually became more of a neighbourhood shopping centre (albeit an upscale one) of almost 237,000 square feet with anchors including Whole Foods, Andrews department store, an 18,000 square foot fashion retailer called TNT, Equinox Fitness and Rexall Drugs.

Image: Kasian/First Capital - Click to enlarge

Things are about to change in a big way for Hazelton Lanes. First Capital will renovate the entire Hazelton lanes and modernize the complex to include an oval-shaped central atrium as well as reconfigured entrances. An entirely new entrance will be located on Yorkville Avenue, providing better pedestrian access to the mall from affluent Yorkville.

We'll post and discuss Hazelton Lanes' lease plans tomorrow. Thank you to a source who wishes not to be named for providing us with renderings and lease plans for Hazelton Lanes.

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