Kildonan Place in Winnipeg is launching a $30-million redevelopment that it says will elevate the shopping experience for the community, including the relocation and creation of a new zero waste food court, a new redesigned mall entrance, the removal of the former theatre space, and bringing new and exciting retailers to the centre.
This project reflects the centre’s ongoing commitment to offering a welcoming, modern, and community‑focused environment for shoppers and tenants, said the shopping centre.
“Our team is incredibly excited to bring this redevelopment to life for our community,” said Graham Bialek, Regional Manager of Operations, and General Manager at Kildonan Place. “The new food court will be brighter, more spacious, and more welcoming for families and visitors. We’re proud to introduce a zero waste design that reflects our commitment to sustainability, and we look forward to unveiling a space that truly brings people together.”
Kildonan Place has continued to evolve to meet the needs of its shoppers. In 2022, Cineplex relocated to a newly built Cineplex Junxion in the vacated Sears space. In late 2025, Kildonan Place began the food court redevelopment which will include relocation of the food court, creation of a new mall entrance, and the demolition of the former theatre. The project represents an investment of approximately $30 million and will reduce gross leasable area by roughly 30,000 square feet.
The redeveloped food court will offer more variety, more space, and an enhanced dining experience. The number of food units will increase from eight to ten, and seating capacity will grow from 325 to 550 seats. The refreshed food court tenant mix will include both new and returning food vendors, supporting local and national operators. Designed as a zero waste food court, the new space is expected to divert a significant volume of waste from landfill by implementing strategies like composting, recycling, and reducing food and packaged waste. This involves a combination of operational changes such as training staff on food storage and waste tracking, and clearly marked sorting stations for waste and compostables.
Construction preparation is well underway, with hoarding now in place around the former theatre and adjacent retail units. Demolition of the former theatre began on February 9, 2025. The relocated guest services area is scheduled to open in April with a dedicated community event. The new food court is expected to open in early 2027, marking a major milestone in the property’s transformation.
In addition to the redevelopment, Kildonan Place is welcoming Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop which is anticipated to open later this spring, and the newly relocated Soft Moc which will open in April.
Kildonan Place looks forward to welcoming shoppers into the revitalized food court as construction progresses and the centre continues to evolve as a community‑gathering destination.
“The food court is beginning to look a little dated. It’s still a high-performing food court. Sales are about $2,700 a square foot with eight retail vendors. It’s undersized—325 seats in the current iteration of the food court. The last time it was renovated was in the early 2000s, so it’s been 20 years,” explained Bialek.
“So it needs a refresh. The numbers say that it’s a good place to invest and maybe even increase the size of the food court, which is what we’re looking to do. We’re going from eight vendors to 10 vendors, a mix of national and local, and increasing the number of seats from 325 to 550. It’s going to be much bigger, brighter, more spacious, more inviting overall for the community and the customers.
“We are pretty much full now. We have one unit that leases specialty leasing and three currently under construction, but the tenants have already taken possession. Other than that, it’s a really full shopping centre—occupancy in the 90s—and anticipating once the new food court and the CRU opens up that we will be 100% leased in 2027. So it’s an exciting time for Kildonan Place.”
Bialek said the neighbourhood around the mall has really been growing since 2011 and expected for 10 or 12% growth over the next decade or so.
“Growing younger population—average age, I think, is 38—and we experience about 5 million visitors a year. So yeah, it’s been good. Deal activity is up, occupancy is high,” he said.
“We are going to keep the food court open. The first kickoff was Dollarama. Dollarama was right next to the existing food court. It was about 8,000 square feet. It moved and doubled in size, so that kind of kicked it off. Where Dollarama is now is going to be the new and improved washrooms. So that’s kind of the first phase of what’s being constructed right now, while the old Cineplex—30,000 square feet approximately of GLA—is being demolished.
“The food court is remaining open throughout construction. Then early in 2027, one night, we’re just going to close the existing food court and open the new one right across from it, where the existing is now.”
Kildonan Place, is northeast Winnipeg’s largest shopping centre. The centre is 50% owned and fully managed by Primaris Real Estate Investment Trust. Initially developed in 1980, the mall is situated on 56 acres and was last renovated in 2021. Approximately eight acres of the site is undeveloped representing a residential intensification opportunity.
Primaris is Canada’s only enclosed shopping centre focused REIT, with ownership interests in leading enclosed shopping centres located in growing Canadian markets. The current portfolio totals 15.2 million square feet, valued at approximately $5.2 billion at Primaris’ share.
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