The Bay Centre | Downtown Victoria

The Bay Centre begins enhancements in advance of welcoming new tenant

New services to help augment the heart of downtown Victoria’s shopping district

Feb. 26, 2018, Victoria, BC – The Bay Centre has begun undertaking interior enhancements in preparation of welcoming a 20,000 square foot, multi-level store, scheduled to open in spring 2019.  Located on levels 1 and 2, the addition of the soon to be named tenant is part of an overall remerchandising program currently underway at The Bay Centre.

“Our goal is to become a shoppers’ first destination by welcoming new tenants, events, and partners as we embrace the overall growth of downtown,” says Darlene Hollstein, General Manager of The Bay Centre. “Over the long-term, the realignment of the stores and services that are in The Bay Centre is intended to further enhance the shopping experience for those who live, work, and play downtown.”

Additional shopping centre enhancements planned for 2018 include entryway upgrades, interior and exterior lighting improvements, and redesigned marquee signs designed to strengthen the guest experience and attract new, long-term tenants to the downtown Victoria marketplace. As part of the new store opening, some tenants will move to new locations.

The shift in the merchandising mix of The Bay Centre reflects the ongoing changes to the city’s downtown core. With an increase of residential units – both market and rental – in the last few years, with buildings such as the Sovereign, Escher, Era, Janion, and the Hudson District completed and welcoming residents, more Victorians now call downtown their home.

Overall, the city is growing; the recent population estimate for Victoria saw an increase of 7.2 per cent (Canada Census, 2016). In addition, the City of Victoria’s Downtown Core Area Plan identifies that with increased residential growth, commercial stores, services, and dining establishments will also need to shift to fit the needs of residents.

“We’re growing up as a city, and it shows,” says Hollstein. “We continue to see more and more people choose to live downtown and seek out services, shopping, and restaurants that make an urban environment vibrant and welcoming.”

As part of normal industry practice, the name of the new tenant will be released when the retailer is prepared to make an announcement.

For more information about The Bay Centre, visit www.thebaycentre.ca

About The Bay Centre

Covering one full city block in the centre of Victoria's shopping district, The Bay Centre has a mix of over 90 street front and interior shops where you'll find unique, quality brands, diverse dining options, and exceptional service in an urban shopping environment.

Featured retailers include: the Hudson's Bay Company, Le Chateau, GoodLife Fitness, Eco Chic AVEDA Salon & Spa, L'Occitane En Provence, Urban Planet, Sport Chek, The Tuscan Kitchen, Below the Belt and so much more.

The Bay Centre is owned by Manulife Real Estate and managed by Cushman & Wakefield Asset Services Inc.

Awesome! Given the number of Bay Centre stores closing, relocating within the mall, or relocating to storefronts on Government St in the past few months, I had been wondering (and hoping) if it was a strategic shape-up to make way for a larger retailer within the mall.

Very excited to hear who the tenant will be. Any early speculation? (first person to shout "Ikea!" gets an Arkelstorp thrown at them)

I believe there are eight vacancies in the mall at this time.

Could it be a downtown H&M? They like two-level stores.

Very excited to hear who the tenant will be. Any early speculation? (first person to shout "Ikea!" gets an Arkelstorp thrown at them)

Costco!

Tesla?

Could it be a downtown H&M? They like two-level stores.

That was my first thought too. I have a friend who's a manager at the Uptown store but he says he hasn't heard anything.

 

As part of normal industry practice, the name of the new tenant will be released when the retailer is prepared to make an announcement...

It might not surprise me if it's Shoppers, rather than them going into the Chapters space.

Holt Renfrew? or Saks?

Edited by lanforod, 26 February 2018 - 02:28 PM.

That would be profoundly underwhelming.

EDIT: Shoppers, that is.

Edited by gstc84, 26 February 2018 - 02:29 PM.

Ah, but it would open up that massive block for redevelopment.

That would be profoundly underwhelming.

 

EDIT: Shoppers, that is.

If it included their Fresh Food brand/department it would be more interesting. Groceries would be the one thing that would be most aligned with more folks living downtown.

Nope, it's just one level.

Sportchek is 2 levels right? Maybe its that space and sportchek moves

Sportchek is two levels at Hillside. Just one at the Bay Centre (and on the third floor, while this new mystery tenant will be split between floors 1 and 2) Roughly the same size though - Bay Centre Sportchek is just over 19,000 sq. ft.

Someone on the VV Facebook thread suggested Uniqlo, which would be great. I was just in their new store in Burnaby and bought a ton of new, good quality clothes for dirt cheap prices.

Does anyone else recall that when the Bay Centre first opened (as the Victoria Eaton Centre ca. 1990) that Mark's & Spencer's was on two levels (situated at the NE corner of the 1st & 2nd levels)?

Bay Centre (and downtown) needs an awesome grocery store not before seen in Victoria, like T&T  or Osaka (owned by T&T).  Vancouver travellers will appreciate what i'm talking about here. Two of the most successful malls on the mainland (Park Royal and MetroTown) host huge grocery stores. The current semi-vacant Bay Centre mall is now left with low priced junk clothing stores aimed at teenagers that don't seem to be buying.  And i haven't heard of a  cellphone outlet (of which there are currently 8 (EIGHT!) that will take two floors.

P.S. Yes i remember M&S, i always went there for their oatmeal cookies.  

Edited by JanionGuy, 26 February 2018 - 04:42 PM.

Edited by VicHockeyFan, 26 February 2018 - 04:37 PM.

Bay Centre (and downtown) needs an awesome grocery store not before seen in Victoria, like T&T  or Osaka (owned by T&T).  Vancouver travellers will appreciate what i'm talking about here. Two of the most successful malls on the mainland (Park Royal and MetroTown) host huge grocery stores. The current semi-vacant Bay Centre mall is now left with low priced junk clothing stores aimed at teenagers that don't seem to be buying.  And i haven't heard of a  cellphone outlet (of which there are currently 8 (EIGHT!) that will take two floors.

 

P.S. Yes i remember M&S, i always went there for their oatmeal cookies.  

Save-On already announced a downtown outlet, didn't they?

Save-On already announced a downtown outlet, didn't they?