Promenades St-Bruno is planning a $49.5-million redevelopment that will double the shopping centre’s food court seating capacity while creating 20,000 square feet of new retail space.
The project will relocate the existing lower-level food court to the current Marché des Promenades location, allowing the former food court area to be converted into retail space. Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-September 2026, with the new food court expected to open in fall 2027 and the former food court space expected to reopen as retail space in November 2028.
“Our vision for Promenades St-Bruno is to continually enhance the customer experience while creating long-term value for our retailers, visitors, and stakeholders,” said Julie Morin, General Manager, Promenades St-Bruno. “This investment will transform an already successful dining destination into a modern gathering place with substantially more seating, improved comfort, and a more vibrant atmosphere. At the same time, it will create opportunities to introduce new retail concepts in the former food court space, further strengthening the overall offering at the property.”
The new food court will retain a similar number of food vendors but will have about 1,100 seats, roughly twice the existing capacity.
The redesigned space will also include a direct-access outdoor terrace and a dedicated exterior entrance. The entrance is intended to allow for extended hours as well as takeout and delivery services outside the shopping centre’s regular operating hours.
The redevelopment is designed to provide additional space for dining while making use of the existing food court area for new retail tenants. Promenades St-Bruno said the project will support its food service offering while adapting the space to changing consumer preferences.
The shopping centre will remain operational during construction, including the existing food court. Measures will be implemented to limit disruption to shoppers and retailers during the work.
Once the food court relocation is completed, the former food court will be converted into 20,000 square feet of retail space, adding to the centre’s available merchandising area.
Promenades St-Bruno, located on Montreal’s South Shore, has more than one million square feet of leasable area. The centre reports annual total CRU sales volume of approximately $290 million and annual same-store sales productivity of more than $1,000 per square foot.
The shopping centre is owned by Primaris Real Estate Investment Trust, which describes itself as Canada’s only enclosed shopping centre-focused REIT. Primaris has ownership interests in enclosed shopping centres in Canadian markets, with a portfolio totalling 14.6 million square feet and valued at approximately $5.2 billion at the REIT’s share.
The redevelopment will proceed in stages, with the new food court scheduled to open in fall 2027 before the former food court area is converted into retail space for an expected November 2028 opening.
In an interview with Retail Insider, Morin talked about the initiative.
Question: What is driving the decision to invest $49.5 million in Promenades St-Bruno at this point, and how does the project fit into Primaris’s broader strategy for the property?
Answer: Promenades St-Bruno is a dominant shopping centre, with annual CRU sales of approximately $290 million and same store sales productivity exceeding $1,000 per square foot. This investment reflects our confidence in the long-term strength of the property and our commitment to continually enhancing the customer experience. The redevelopment allows us to modernize and right-size the food court while unlocking approximately 20,000 square feet of new retail space, creating opportunities to further strengthen the centre’s merchandising mix and long-term value. The project aligns with Primaris’ strategy of owning and operating leading enclosed shopping centres in growing Canadian markets.
Q: What types of retailers or retail concepts do you envision filling the 20,000 square feet of space being created by relocating the food court, and are you already in discussions with potential tenants?
A: The new space creates flexibility to introduce high-quality retail concepts that complement the existing tenant mix and respond to customer demand. Our focus is on securing retailers that enhance the overall shopping experience and further strengthen Promenades St-Bruno’s position as the leading retail destination on Montreal’s South Shore. We are actively evaluating opportunities and are in discussions with prospective tenants. We are eager to share specific retailers with you once the timing is right.
Q: The centre reports annual CRU sales of about $290 million and same-store sales productivity above $1,000 per square foot — how has that performance influenced the decision to reinvest in the property?
A: Strong sales performance is an important indicator of the health of a shopping centre and the strength of its customer base. The results at Promenades St-Bruno demonstrate sustained demand from both shoppers and retailers, giving us confidence to make a significant long-term investment in the property. This redevelopment is intended to build on that success by enhancing the customer experience, supporting our existing retailers, and creating additional leasing opportunities that will further strengthen the centre over time.
Q: What changes in consumer behaviour or dining preferences are behind the decision to roughly double food-court seating capacity and add an outdoor terrace, dedicated entrance, takeout and delivery access?
A: The existing food court at Promenades St-Bruno is not meeting the level of demand we are seeing from our shoppers. Despite the centre’s strong performance and high traffic levels, the current food court offers limited seating capacity and lacks many of the features customers increasingly expect today. The redevelopment will nearly doubling seating capacity, introducing an outdoor terrace, creating a brighter and more welcoming environment, and add a dedicated entrance that supports extended operating hours as well as convenient pickup and delivery access.
Together, these enhancements will better align the food court with how our customers use the centre today and position it to serve future demand.
Q: With construction beginning in September 2026 and the new food court opening in fall 2027, what impact do you expect the redevelopment to have on existing retailers, leasing activity and overall traffic at Promenades St-Bruno during the construction period?
A: Promenades St-Bruno will remain fully operational throughout construction, including the existing food court. We have developed the project with a focus on minimizing disruption to shoppers and retailers, and we will implement measures to maintain a positive customer experience during the construction period. We expect leasing interest to remain strong, if not accelerate, given the quality of the asset and the introduction of 20,000 square feet of new retail space. Over the longer term, the redevelopment is expected to enhance the centre’s appeal, support traffic growth, and create additional opportunities for retailers.
More from Retail Insider:
