Landlord QuadReal announced this week that Oakridge Park in Vancouver, set to open next year, will feature annual seasonal events aiming to create a sense of community while driving foot traffic. Ahead of Canada Day, several Canadian retailers are also being announced for Oakridge, adding to an impressive series of tenant announcements earlier this year that included some of the world’s top luxury brands that will open in the centre in 2025.
Irene Quan, VP of Marketing at QuadReal, said that Oakridge Park will host a series of events every summer to activate the mixed-use centre, which will include a large retail component as well as offices, a park, residential towers and other uses. The goal of the summer activations, according to Quan, is to create a sense of community and build memories with a variety of activities available.
Activities will become part of the Oakridge Park experience, ranging from music to wellness to crafts. The concept makes sense from a psychological standpoint – locals will become familiar with the newly reopened Oakridge Park, and will be more likely to make repeat visits given that familiarity. The expectation is that visitor traffic will also drive retail sales in Oakridge Park’s shopping centre component, which will include a strong offering of luxury brands and other big-name retailers.
“The Oakridge Summer Social is designed for Vancouverites to kick off the season by celebrating the distinctive beauty of Vancouver, with a focus on wellness, nature, and cultural harmony,” said Chrystal Burns, EVP of Canadian Retail at QuadReal, in a statement. “The team at Oakridge Park is creating an unforgettable experience for the community by establishing itself as the city’s go-to place for unique events and activities. We look forward to welcoming everyone to celebrate the best of what Oakridge Park has to offer, this summer, and for years to come.”
To get Vancouverites ready for Oakridge’s annual events, Quan and her team at QuadReal are hosting summer social activities in downtown Vancouver at the Oakridge Park x Pac Rim Patio at 1067 W. Cordova Street. The activities begin on July 4 with the Wimbledon Happy Hour, where attendees can watch recaps and replays in a tennis-inspired environment (July 4, 5, 11, 12 from 4pm-7pm). From July 12 to August 7, Canadian films will be screened on the patio every Friday starting at 8:30pm. And for three days in August and one in September, family summer portraits will be available at the downtown activation space ahead of back-to-school — the set will recreate one of the natural public environments that has been planned for the Oakridge Park development.
This summer, the Oakridge Park x Pac Rim Patio will be transformed into an immersive garden featuring custom floral displays and lush greenery, which will follow the Oakridge Garden Club theme. A picnic-themed menu will be offered daily from 11:30am to 8pm during the summer as well.
Ahead of Canada Day, QuadReal is also announcing eight Canadian retailers that will be opening at Oakridge Park next year. They include Lululemon (6000 sq. ft.), Harry Rosen (16,460 sq. ft.), Aritzia (9,850 sq. ft.), Arc’teryx (approx. 4,450 sq. ft.), Canada Goose (4,200 sq. ft.), GreenTee Golf Shop (2,800 sq. ft.), BC Liquor (24,800 sq. ft.) and a Safeway grocery store. Aritzia’s very first store opened at Oakridge Centre in 1984.
Harry Rosen’s Oakridge Park store will feature its newest retail design that will soon be unveiled in an exclusive article in Retail Insider. Shop-in-stores for luxury brands will include Tom Ford, Zegna, and Canali.
The 28-acre Oakridge Park is set to open in the Spring of 2025 with a large retail component with a Time Out Market food hall, residential and office space, a community centre, ballet school, the largest library on Vancouver’s West Side, a nine-acre park, a one-kilometre running loop, a senior and day centre and more.
The 650,000 square foot shopping centre will become home to more than 100 premium retailers with previously announced brands including Louis Vuitton, Prada, Brunello Cucinelli, Moncler, Versace, Max Mara, Maison Margiela (a first in Canada), Miu Miu, Christian Louboutin, Alexander Wang, Rolex (the largest in North America), Bulgari, Tiffany & Co., Chow Tai Fook, TUDOR, Chaumet (a first in Canada), David Yurman, Jacob & Co. (a first in Canada), and TAG Heuer.
