Thousands of shoppers streamed into Oakridge Park on Thursday morning as one of Canada’s most ambitious retail developments officially opened its doors, revealing a shopping centre unlike anything currently operating in the country.
The May 28 opening marked a milestone for the Vancouver project, with approximately 500,000 square feet of retail space opening as part of an eventual 650,000-square-foot shopping centre. Most retailers opened on day one, with several more expected to debut in the coming weeks and months as construction wraps up on additional stores.
Retail Insider attended the opening, which drew civic leaders, retail executives, industry stakeholders and members of the public. The level of interest was evident before doors opened, with a large lineup forming outside the shopping centre ahead of its 11 a.m. public debut.
The broader Oakridge Park development is being delivered by QuadReal Property Group and Westbank and will ultimately form part of a five-million-square-foot mixed-use community combining retail, residential, office, cultural and public amenities.
[See 22-minute walking tour below]
Opening Day Draws Thousands
The morning began with a 9:30 a.m. opening ceremony attended by Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, several city councillors, executives from QuadReal and Westbank, and representatives connected to the project.
Following speeches and a ceremonial ribbon cutting, students from Goh Ballet performed for guests. The ballet school will eventually operate within Oakridge Park, reflecting the broader ambition to create a mixed-use urban district that incorporates culture and community uses alongside retail.
When doors opened to the public at 11 a.m., thousands of shoppers entered the centre to explore the project for the first time. Several luxury retailers drew immediate attention, with lineups forming at Rolex and Miu Miu shortly after opening.
The centre remained busy throughout much of the morning before traffic began to ease in the afternoon. Food and beverage offerings remained especially active, with Time Out Market emerging as one of the busiest areas of the development.
That strong food traffic is notable. Time Out Market was crowded well after other parts of the shopping centre became easier to navigate, suggesting that the food hall will likely become a destination within the project in its own right.
A Shopping Centre That Feels Different
Walking through Oakridge Park on opening day, the scale and finish of the project became apparent almost immediately.
The shopping centre features soaring ceilings, expansive skylights and wide corridors that create a sense of openness. Natural light filters through much of the interior, while premium flooring, refined finishes and generous common areas contribute to a distinctly upscale environment.
The result feels closer to a high-end shopping centre in Asia than a conventional Canadian mall. Even practical elements, including the washrooms, appear to have received a level of design attention that reinforces the project’s premium positioning.
That design helped manage the opening-day crowds. Despite thousands of visitors moving through the property, the wide corridors and spacious common areas prevented much of the centre from feeling overly congested.
The lower level includes additional retailers and services, including Purdy’s Chocolatier, a high-end children’s store and other businesses. Valet parking is also located below grade, reinforcing the centre’s upscale positioning. The lower level will eventually connect directly to the Oakridge-41st Avenue SkyTrain station, providing a transit link into the shopping centre.
Luxury and Premium Retail Define the Mix
Oakridge Park’s tenant roster is one of the most significant aspects of the project.
The centre has assembled an extensive collection of luxury fashion houses, jewellery brands and watch retailers, including Louis Vuitton, Prada, Miu Miu, Chanel, Dior, Loewe, Loro Piana, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Moncler, Maison Margiela, Christian Louboutin, Bulgari and several others.
Several brands represent first stand-alone Vancouver boutiques, reinforcing Oakridge Park’s position as a major new luxury retail node in Western Canada.
At the same time, Oakridge Park is not exclusively a luxury shopping centre. Premium and lifestyle retailers such as Aritzia, Lululemon, Arc’teryx, Sporting Life, Sephora and Harry Rosen broaden the tenant mix while maintaining the project’s higher-end positioning.
The absence of several common mall retailers is also notable. Oakridge Park does not include major fast-fashion retailers such as Zara, H&M or Uniqlo. The merchandising strategy instead leans toward luxury fashion, premium lifestyle brands, jewellery, watches, prestige beauty, fitness, dining and services.
That tenant mix helps distinguish Oakridge Park from other upscale Canadian shopping centres. While luxury-oriented destinations such as Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto and Royalmount in Montreal feature extensive collections of luxury brands, both also include major fast-fashion retailers such as Zara, H&M and Uniqlo. Oakridge Park has largely avoided that approach, instead emphasizing luxury and premium brands throughout much of the project.
A Different Luxury Offering Than Alberni Street
Oakridge Park’s luxury roster immediately positions the project as a major complement to Vancouver’s established luxury corridor along Alberni Street.
The two districts are different. One of the most notable aspects of Oakridge Park’s luxury mix is the absence of brands owned by Kering, one of the world’s largest luxury groups. Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and Balenciaga all maintain a presence in downtown Vancouver, but none have opened stores at Oakridge Park. Richemont brands such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, IWC, Panerai, Vacheron Constantin, and Jaeger LeCoultre, all with stores in downtown Vancouver, are also not present at Oakridge.
That absence is notable given the scale of Oakridge Park’s luxury offering and the presence of other major luxury groups and independent houses within the project. It also shows that Oakridge Park has not replaced Alberni Street. Instead, it has created a second luxury retail destination with a distinct brand mix.
Together, the two areas significantly strengthen Vancouver’s position as a luxury retail market.
Major Flagship Investments Still to Come
Some of Oakridge Park’s most important luxury stores are still under construction.
Chanel is preparing what will become its largest store in Canada. The approximately 13,000-square-foot boutique will include a full beauty offering, treatment rooms, high jewellery and a complete range of Chanel collections. It will be the only Chanel location in Canada to include that full range of categories and services under one roof.
Construction has also started on what will become Giorgio Armani’s first stand-alone Canadian store. The store will include an Armani Café with a patio located within the shopping centre’s common area, adding another experiential element to the project.
Dior is also moving toward opening, with store photography expected to take place in mid-June. Several other retailers are expected to open shortly, while some stores will remain delayed as construction continues.
Among the impressive stores already operating is Harry Rosen, which has opened a substantial new location at Oakridge Park. Retail Insider will explore that store in a separate article.
Former Hudson’s Bay Space to Be Repositioned
Although approximately 500,000 square feet of retail opened on May 28, about 140,000 square feet remains to be delivered.
That space was originally earmarked for Hudson’s Bay before the department store was removed from the project prior to its bankruptcy. The space is now expected to be divided into multiple uses, reflecting a broader shift in how major retail boxes are being repositioned across Canada.
The main floor is expected to be split into several retail units, with about six spaces anticipated. The upper level will be occupied by Altea Active, which is relocating and expanding within the former Hudson’s Bay premises.
More Tenants Still Ahead
Several retail spaces remain vacant or under construction, though the leasing story is still evolving.
Retail Insider spoke with a leasing representative who said additional deals are being negotiated and that more tenant announcements are expected. That means Oakridge Park’s retail mix will continue to change over the coming months.
The phased opening strategy is important for visitors to understand. Although the majority of stores were open on opening day, several retailers are launching on staggered timelines based on construction and fit-out schedules.
A New Chapter for Vancouver Retail
Oakridge Park’s opening represents one of the most significant Canadian retail development milestones in recent years.
The project combines luxury fashion, premium retail, dining, cultural uses, valet parking, transit integration and mixed-use development on a scale rarely seen in North America. It also arrives at a time when many Canadian shopping centres are focused on redevelopment, intensification and the repositioning of former department store space.
Opening day showed the level of public interest in the project. Thousands of visitors arrived before and after the doors opened, luxury boutiques attracted lineups, and Time Out Market remained busy throughout the day.
Yet visitors on May 28 saw only part of what Oakridge Park will ultimately become. With Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Dior, Altea Active and additional retailers still to come, the development’s evolution it not yet complete.
