The Yorkdale Shopping Centre is being redeveloped with an investment of C$28m ($20.8m). Credit: Oxford Property Group.
The shopping centre renovation will add new spaces for luxury brands. Credit: Canmenwalker/Wikimedia Commons.
The renovation also includes the expansion of the shopping centre’s food court. Credit: Rberchie/Wikimedia Commons.

Yorkdale Shopping Centre is an enclosed shopping mall in midtown Toronto, Canada. It is considered to be the first shopping mall in Canada with the highest productivity of $2,226 per ft², according to the 2023 International Council of Shopping Centers.

The shopping mall is co-owned by Oxford Property and Alberta Investment Management, an institutional investor. Oxford Property, the mall’s operator, is a Canada-based real estate investment and development company

Oxford Property is investing C$28m ($20.8m) in the mall’s redevelopment to bring new luxury brands and expand the dining area. The redevelopment is expected to be completed in 2025.

Location

Yorkdale Shopping Centre is centrally located at the intersection of two major highways in Dufferin Street, Toronto. It is accessible from Yorkdale station on the Yonge-University Spadina line of the Toronto subway.

The shopping centre has a total trade area population of 2.95 million people and attracts more than 16 million shoppers per year.

Yorkdale Shopping Centre redevelopment details

The Yorkdale Shopping Centre redevelopment includes the renovation of the mall’s Centre Court, which will anchor more than a dozen leading luxury brands.

The existing stores in the corridor have been relocated to other areas of the property to facilitate the renovation.

The redevelopment also includes the expansion of Yorkdale’s food court, Dine on 3, to accommodate 18 million shoppers and 7,000 employees working at the shopping centre.

The expanded food court includes seating for 1,200 diners and nine new restaurant concepts. increasing the total number of restaurants at the mall to 23.

Restaurants and dining options already open include Bingz, Holy Chuck, Loaded Pierogi, Osmow’s Shawarma, Pi Co, Roywoods and Szechuan Express with Booster Juice, Midori and Salus Fresh Foods scheduled to open soon.

Yorkdale Shopping Centre details

Opened in 1964, the Yorkdale shopping centre spans an area of approximately two million ft² (185,806m²) and houses 270 stores. The mall is home to designer labels and luxury brands including Acme Studios, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Coach, Diptyque, Emporio Armani, Fendi, Furla, Gianni, Louis Vuitton Mango, NIKE, Nordstrom, Rolex, Valentino and Vinfast.

New retailers at the mall include Dolce & Gabbana, World of Ralph Lauren, Chinese jewellery brand Qeelin, and Anine Bing.

Casper, Crate & Barrel, Fox Home, Miele, Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware are some of the home decor and furnishing brands available at the mall. Other retailers include Aldo, Browns Shoes, Holt Renfrew, Hudson’s Bay, Lululemon, Peloton and Sporting Life.

The shopping mall features 12 conventional restaurants including Aburi Tora, Cafe Ladwer, iQ FOOD CO, JOEY Yorkdale, Konjiki Ramen/Saryo Cafe, MICHEL’s Bakery Cafa, Moxie’s Grill & Bar, RH Courtyard Restaurant and The Cheesecake Factory. Earls opened its Toronto flagship restaurant at the mall in 2023, increasing the dining options to 35.

The Dine on 3 food court houses additional dining options including Japan’s cult-favourite coffee shop %Arabica, A&W, Chick-fil-A, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Hattendo and Holy Chuck.

Sustainability initiatives

Yorkdale Shopping Centre was awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification by the US Green Building Council for its sustainable features.

The shopping mall’s design allows natural light into the corridors and shared spaces, thereby conserving energy. It is also equipped with low-flow toilets to conserve water and a greywater system that collects and stores rainwater for the irrigation of the centre’s landscaping. The mall incorporates a food waste organic compost programme and utilises compostable dishware at Dine on 3.

The 150,000ft² green roof of the mall reduces atmospheric heating and air pollution and controls surface water run-off. The shopping centre is also equipped with one of the largest rooftop solar panel installations in the city, consisting of more than 600 panels.