A piece of Toronto’s retail past is preparing for its final goodbye. Cumberland Terrace, the 50+ year-old shopping centre in Toronto’s Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood, will officially shut its doors by the end of June. As tenants move out and interior corridors are boarded up, a farewell tour hosted by Liminal Assembly on Saturday, June 21, will offer the public one last opportunity to walk its aging halls and reflect on its unique place in the city’s urban fabric.
“We’re expecting hundreds of people to come and have one last busy day at Cumberland Terrace,” said Aryeh Bookbinder, founder of Liminal Assembly, in an interview with Retail Insider. “It was one of the first revolutionary stroll malls. You could go there on a date, take a walk, or bring the family. It was upscale in its day, and more recently, beloved by the local community, students at Jesse Ketchum, and office workers for its food court.”
A Living Memory of 1980s Toronto
The event, which Bookbinder describes as a re-creation of a 1980s mall day, will feature packed hallways, emotional reunions with longtime tenants, and the opportunity to buy from small businesses facing their final days.
“Let’s fill it with shoulder-to-shoulder traffic. Let’s get lineups outside of some of our favourite stores and see smiles on these vendors’ faces during such an emotional time,” Bookbinder said.
Over the decades, Cumberland Terrace became an unassuming but cherished part of downtown Toronto. While it may not have carried the prestige of nearby luxury retailers, the mall was a daily destination for thousands. Its lower level was especially known for its eclectic food offerings—mostly independent, family-run restaurants.
“People still remember spots like Roasty Jack, Metropolis Café, and Salad Days,” Bookbinder said. “They weren’t chains, and they were deeply rooted in the community. That kind of character is hard to find today.”
Tenants Face Retirement, Relocation
With just weeks left before vacating, tenants are rushing to either wind down or find new spaces. According to Bookbinder, some are planning to retire altogether.
“The owner of Asian Arts and the gentleman who runs BM Framing are both retiring,” he said. “The tailor on the first floor is also likely to retire.”
Others, like 360 Law, are searching for office space. Meanwhile, Bead Dazzled—a beloved boutique that has operated in the mall for years—is debating its future.
“They’re hoping someone will come in on the 21st and buy the entire inventory,” said Bookbinder. “If not, they’ll need to find a space quickly. But with so much small inventory—beads, materials—it’s going to be a challenge.”
A Nostalgic Send-Off With Purpose
Liminal Assembly, known for its immersive events in so-called “liminal spaces,” is encouraging attendees not just to reminisce but to support the mall’s remaining tenants.
“I want to redirect people’s desire to ‘take home a piece of Cumberland Terrace’ away from vandalism like chipping off tiles,” Bookbinder explained. “Buy from the stores. Support the business owners. Help them retire with dignity.”
To commemorate the event and support its organization, Liminal Assembly will sell a limited-edition poster and tote bag. The poster is a detailed homage to the mall’s history, featuring rare and often unseen archival photographs, including a shot of Druxy’s Famous Deli and vintage mall renderings.
“It includes the different stages of the mall, how it evolved, and what’s coming next. Some of the images haven’t been seen by the public before,” said Bookbinder. “It’s our way of letting people take home a piece of history, without harming the space.”
The commemorative items can be purchased via Eventbrite with an RSVP to the event.
What Comes Next for Cumberland Terrace?
Opened in 1974, Cumberland Terrace was once a modern marvel of midtown Toronto retail, nestled between the Mink Mile and the Bay-Bloor corridor. It offered underground access to the subway, a protected pedestrian experience, and a convenient location. But over the past two decades, it declined into what urbanists have termed a “dead mall”—a retail complex in slow decay despite its central location.
Redevelopment has long been in the works. As early as 2001, a 34-storey residential proposal was awarded and praised but ultimately shelved. “They said they were going to sit on it,” Bookbinder recalled. “It was mostly townhouses then, and it looked like they were making use of the existing structure.”
Today, new plans appear to be advancing. Walls are going up inside the shopping centre to create construction corridors. Although not all tenants have been publicly informed of final plans, sources indicate that redevelopment will likely include residential towers, street-facing retail, and potentially a public plaza.
Liminal Assembly’s Mission: Honouring What’s Lost
Liminal Assembly has become a powerful force in Toronto’s cultural scene, offering walking and bus tours of what Bookbinder describes as “spaces between what was and what’s next.” Past tours have included PATH corridors, suburban plazas, and other transitional environments, often evoking nostalgia, eeriness, and emotion.
“We don’t visit landmarks,” said Bookbinder. “We visit places that you wouldn’t normally think of as destinations—corridors, walkways, buildings that are fading into memory.”
Their first event at Cumberland Terrace took place in March 2025 and sold out quickly. It brought renewed attention to the mall’s dwindling presence and prompted many to share memories and photos online.
A Moment to Remember—and Let Go
As June 21 approaches, Bookbinder hopes the community will come out not only to remember but to be part of a moment of transition. “It’s not just a mall that’s closing. It’s a space that holds decades of stories—first jobs, lunch breaks, family outings,” he said.
“I hope people will see this as an opportunity to say goodbye in a meaningful way. It’s easy to forget places like Cumberland Terrace when they’re gone, but for so many, it was part of everyday life.”
He then added, “And if you’re going to take anything home, let it be something from a local store. Or one of our posters. That way you’re helping preserve the memory while supporting the people who made the space what it was.”
