Vancouver’s Oakridge Centre to Get Complete Overhaul + New Anchor Store

Date:

Oakridge (Image: Floorplan: Henriquez Partners Archetects. Red Lettering by Retail Insider)

Share post:

Floorplan: Henriquez Partners Archetects. Red Lettering by Retail Insider 

Today we received plans for the overhaul of the retail component of Vancouver’s Oakridge Shopping Centre. Mall space will double in size, and a new anchor tenant will be included. We’ll give you a quick rundown of the project’s new retail:

1) A new Hudson’s Bay department store will be constructed at the North End of the mall. We have been told by Hudson’s Bay management that it will include a stunning interior and will include a substantial roster of designer merchandise that will rival the recently renovated Yorkdale Shopping Centre store in Toronto. The current store will be demolished for expanded mall space

2) A new Target store will be constructed next to Hudson’s Bay, while the existing Zellers store will be demolished both for the new Target and some new mall space. 

3) A completely new anchor store will be constructed at the Southern portion of the site. We will discuss this further, below.

4) A relocated, new-build Safeway grocery store at the south-end of Oakridge.

5) New indoor and outdoor-oriented retail will be created, while the rest of the existing retail space will be substantially renovated.

Floorplan: Henriquez Partners Archetects. Red Lettering by Retail Insider

Speculation is running rampant regarding who the new anchor tenant will be. After being provided the floorplans this morning (see below), we attempted to identify who the new anchor might be. We received two very interesting suggestions, and two less-likely suggestions. Our insider suggests that they think the new anchor tenant could either be la Maison Simons, or possibly (we’re only speculating at the moment),  Bloomingdale’s. Hudson’s Bay has been in talks to bring the Bloomingdale’s label to Canada and we’ve been told negotiations have stalled. An Oakridge Bloomingdale’s might be what brings them to Canada.

Floorplan: Henriquez Partners Archetects. Red Lettering by Retail Insider

It has also been speculated that the space might go to either Nordstrom or Holt Renfrew. Our Holt Renfrew insider was unable to confirm an Oakridge location and phone calls to Nordstrom Management were not returned at press time. We note that Holt Renfrew already has its 137,000 square foot store at the North end of Pacific Centre while Nordstrom will open its 230,000 square foot store at Pacific Centre’s southern end. One retail expert we consulted tells us he thinks Oakridge is too close to Downtown to duplicate Holt Renfrew or Nordstrom stores, especially given the rather large size of the proposed Oakridge anchor store. 

We will be watching this retail development very carefully and will provide you with updates on this project as information becomes available.

Oakridge Centre website: www.oakridgecentre.com

Retail Insider on twitter: @retailinsider_

Retail Insider on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RetailInsider 

Got any retail insider info? insider@retail-insider.com

RELATED ARTICLES

Load more

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required

RECENT articles

Canada/U.S. trade talk collapse to lead to immediate and significant impact on small business: CFIB

"A full 40% of small Canadian exporters will be directly hit by these tariffs and nearly one-third expect their revenues will drop by 50% or more as a result."

Joe Mimran Outlines Product and Global Growth Plans for Roots

Joe Mimran discusses plans for Roots product, stores and U.S. growth as Marquee Brands and Roots CEO Meghan Roach point to significant international expansion.

Shoppa.ca launches online marketplace for Canadian-owned businesses

The marketplace includes businesses from across the country and products in categories including beauty and skincare, apparel, home and living, pets, kids and baby, food and wellness.

Canadian retail sales surpass $74 billion in June: Statistics Canada

Core retail sales rose 1.2% in June, posting their second consecutive monthly gain.

Good Earth Coffeehouse opens new location at Indigo Metrotown in Burnaby

The opening adds another location to Good Earth's network of more than 50 coffeehouses across Canada.

TJX Says Winners, Marshalls and HomeSense Are Gaining Major Market Share in Canada

TJX says Winners, Marshalls and HomeSense are gaining major market share in Canada as customer transactions rise and the retailer expands in prominent malls and downtown locations.

Home Depot Canada Sales Accelerate Despite Challenging Housing Market

Home Depot Canada outperformed the broader company in Q2 as comparable sales, transactions and unit growth improved despite a subdued housing market.

AutoCanada Sees Canadian Auto Market Remaining Challenging

AutoCanada says affordability pressures continue to weigh on Canadian vehicle buyers as it improves dealerships, used sales and collision operations.

Canadian sponsorship spending reaches $4.7B as industry study marks 20 years

Professional sport continues to account for the largest and most significant sponsorships, but the study found that brands are spreading spending across a broader range of categories.

Daily Synopsis: August 20, 2026

FreshCo expands in Nova Scotia, Circle K promotes customized drinks, downtown Ottawa retail expected to return to pre-pandemic levels, Kiokii and opens in Windsor, and other news.

Roots to Go Private as Joe Mimran Takes Key Operating Role

Roots has agreed to go private in a $4.10-per-share deal that will see Joe Mimran and Frank Rocchetti’s JM&A take a central operating role in the Canadian retailer.

Cargojet Sees E-Commerce Growth as Retail Shifts in Smaller Canadian Markets

Cargojet says e-commerce is driving growth in secondary Canadian markets as store closures and changing inventory strategies reshape retail distribution.

Boston Pizza Accelerates Canadian Restaurant Renovations, Adds New Locations

Boston Pizza is ramping up investment across Canada with more than 40 restaurant renovations possible in 2026 and three new locations under construction.

HelloFresh Expands Factor Across Canada as Ready-to-Eat Strategy Grows

HelloFresh is expanding Factor across Canada as it invests in ready-to-eat meals, new distribution channels and a broader convenience-food strategy.

Public safety and construction deal heavy blows to Edmonton downtown businesses

"The once vibrant pulse of Edmonton’s downtown is fading further, leaving behind a landscape that feels increasingly desolate.”

Empire to acquire nine Morelli’s pharmacies in Ontario

The pharmacies will be brought into Sobeys’ National Pharmacy operations as part of the transaction.

Canadian Tire Prepares for AI Shopping as Retail Strategy Evolves

Canadian Tire is using AI to reshape merchandising, back-to-school assortments and digital content as shoppers increasingly turn to AI for product discovery.

Healthy Planet expands to Yonge and Eglinton with 45th Ontario location

Launches Annual Good Food Drive to help fight food insecurity across Canada

Skin Excellence Medspa offers 30% discount as it launches influencer partnership program

The initiatives give the clinic two approaches to attracting customers: a price reduction across its service menu and a partnership program designed to generate promotional content through local creators.

Fizz expands retail presence through EB Games Canada partnership

The agreement marks an expansion of Fizz’s in-store presence as the company continues to build its wireless business beyond its original Quebec market.