Retail Insider continues its Photo Tour series of Canadian malls to provide a window into shopping centres which may be less frequented lately due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This edition takes us to Guildford Town Centre in Surrey, near Vancouver, which is the third largest mall in the province after Metropolis at Metrotown (see our Metropolis and Metrotown photo tour) in Burnaby and Park Royal Shopping Centre (see our video tour of Park Royal) in West Vancouver.
History of Guildford Town Centre
Guildford Town Centre was built in 1966 and has undergone several renovations. Under the ownership/management of Ivanhoe Cambridge, the latest modernization renovation began in 2010 and in 2014 across three phases. The first phase focused on a new Walmart Supercentre and a two story parkade and completed in 2011. The second and third phases focused on modernizing the existing interiors as well as adding 200,000 square feet to the south end, including a 1,034-seat food court and 75 new stores.
The Guildford Shopping Centre has two retail shopping levels. To separate the shopping centre into manageable pieces, we’ll divide the centre into five zones for each floor/level. Based on the map above, the quadrants break down to the ‘right addition’, ‘lower centre’, ‘upper centre’, ‘upper left’ and ‘lower left’.
Upper Level ‘Right’ Zone tour at Guildford
To start off the tour, we arrived and parked in the north parking lot and entered through entrance number nine on the lower level (ground level). To access the upper level, there is a very small entrance hall that hosts the BC Liquor Store, a Lyft ride share kiosk area and the anchor tenant, Life Instyle Furniture on the bottom floor of the large building at the extreme north end of the shopping centre.
There are very few retailers on the ground level in this area as the majority of it is located on the upper level right accessible by escalators right inside of the doors. Urban Behavior occupies the floor above the furniture store and is located at the top of the escalators.
What was unique about the second floor extension was that the retail was within an overpass above 104th Avenue. Once shoppers reach the Urban Behavior entrance, it is not readily noticeable that one is walking above a busy street below.
Stretching from Urban Behavior anchor to the Hudson’s Bay Store, notable retailers in this overpass zone include:
- Mobile Klinik (see related article “Mobile Klinik Professional Smartphone Repair Plans Major Expansion Post-TELUS Acquisition” from July 2020)
- LensCrafters (see related article “Ray-Ban Opens 1st Standalone Store in Canada” from September 2020)
- Nutrition House
- American Eagle Outfitters
- TipTop
- Miniso (see related article “Miniso Canada Investors Protest Chinese Parent Company” from October 2020)
- Garage (see related article “Groupe Dynamite Files for and Obtains Creditor Protection Amid Pandemic Struggles” from September 2020)
- Bellissima
Atrium at the Guildford Shopping Centre
Once visitors trek over the overpass, the main shopping centre generally follows the shape of a square; however, there are some additional twists that keep this square ‘thinking outside of the box’. The centre atrium at the core of the shopping centre is a wide open space with living, green walls and provides a perfect space for events in a non-COVID era.
Upper Level ‘Lower Centre’ Zone Tour at Guildford
Continuing the tour, the ‘lower-center’ zone has the historic and major anchor of Hudson’s Bay, but other major tenants in the area include UNIQLO, Old Navy, Atmosphere and Lululemon.
See related articles for these major tenants:
- Hudson’s Bay: Hudson’s Bay Receives Eviction Notices from Malls for Unpaid Rent from October 2020
- UNIQLO: Uniqlo Opens Massive Downtown Montreal Flagship as it Enters the Quebec Market [Photos] in October 2020
- Old Navy: Old Navy Marks Successful Canadian Store Expansion with 100th Location in November 2019
- Lululemon: Lululemon Expanding Robson Street Flagship in Vancouver in September 2020
Other retailers amongst the larger retailers include:
- L’Occitane en Provence (related article “L’Occitane en Provence Unveils First-of-its-Kind Digital Experience Flagship” from December 2017)
- Pandora (related article “Pandora Jewellery Launches First-in-Canada Concept Store in Montreal” from July 2020)
We continued onward towards the lower left zone, passing by the side of UNIQLO with a view of the skylights and red ribbon to soften the aesthetics.
Upper Level ‘Lower Left’ Zone Tour at Guildford
Continuing the tour to the ‘lower-left’ zone, this area is accessible by the two-level parkade through entrance 10. The major anchor retailers in this area are on either side of entrance 10, being Thrifty’s by Bluenotes and Aritzia. Select other retailers amongst the larger retailers include:
- Kiehl’s (related article “Kiehl’s Partners with Sephora in Canada” from August 2018)
- Steve Madden (related article “Steve Madden Launches New Concept Store in Canada” from October 2015)
- Browns Shoes (related article “Browns Shoes Maps Out Early 2019 Store Expansion Amid Continued Success” from January 2019)
- La Senza
- Guess?
- Bikini Village (related article “Bikini Village Launches Multi-Location Store Expansion” from August 2018)
- Apple Store (related article “Apple Opens Massive Store at CF Toronto Eaton Centre” from December 2019)
- Victoria’s Secret (related article “L Brands to Permanently Shutter 13 Victoria’s Secret Stores in Canada” from May 2020)
Upper Level ‘Upper Left’ Zone Tour at Guildford
Continuing the tour to the ‘upper-left’ zone, this area is accessible by the two-level parkade through entrance 11. The major anchor retailer in this area just inside of entrance 11 is H&M.
Related H&M articles include “H&M continues Canadian store expansion as it looks to sustainability” from October 2019.
Other select retailers amongst the larger retailers include:
- The Latest Scoop (related article “The Latest Scoop to Open New Pop-up Store at Guildford Town Centre” from August 2020)
- Roots (related article “Roots Continues Multi-Year Global Expansion with New Stores in Canada and Abroad” from May 2019)
- Fossil (related article “Fossil to Expand Canadian Operations as it Prepares to Open 2nd ‘Maker’ Concept Store” from June 2019)
- Saje Natural Wellness (related article “Saje Natural Wellness Continues with Store Openings After Rapid Expansion” from April 2019)
- Aldo (related article “Canadian Footwear Retailer ALDO Files for and Obtains Creditor Protection” from May 2020)
- La Vie En Rose (related article “La Vie En Rose Bucks Trend as it Rapidly Expands Storefronts” from April 2019)
- Torrid (related article “Plus-Sized Retailer Torrid Plans Up to 50 Canadian Locations” from September 2015)
- Ever New (related article “Australian Fashion Brand ‘Ever New’ Opening 2 Canadian Stores this Spring” from April 2019)
The corridor along the upper level between the left and center zones is quite open and expansive.
Upper Level ‘Upper Centre’ Zone Tour at Guildford
The last area of the mall the ‘upper-center’ zone, this area is accessible by the two-level parkade through entrance 6. The major anchor retailers in this area are London Drugs as well as Muji Canada. Related articles for the major anchor retailers for this area include:
- London Drugs: London Drugs Offering Shelf Space in Stores to Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 from May 2020
- Muji Canada: MUJI Opens 2nd Largest Store in Canada at Surrey’s Guildford Town Centre from June 2020
Other select retailers amongst the larger anchor retailers included:
- Le Chateau (related article “Le Chateau Shutting Operations After CCAA Filing” from October 2020)
- The Gap (related article “The Gap to Close Bloor Street Flagship Store in Toronto in January 2021” from December 2020)
- Le Maison Birks (related article “Q&A with Jean-Christophe Bedos, CEO of Birks, on His Career and the Future of Retail in Canada” from June 2020)
- Soft Moc
- Below the Belt
- Ann Louise
- Change Lingerie (related article “Change Lingerie Announces 4 More Canadian Locations Amid Expansion” from September 2019)
- Bath & Body Works
- MAC Cosmetics
Before we leave the upper level, the high ceilings provide a theatrical and airy feel to the shopping centre.
Lower Level at the Guildford Shopping Centre
Heading down the escalators in front of Birks, we found ourselves on the lower level at the Artium. We could see grand views of the Hudson’s Bay and the architecture truely shone in the winter afternoon sunlight.
To organize the photo tour for the lower level, we separated the floor into three zones (upper zone, middle zone and lower zone) which we will run through for major tenants as well as the select retailers amongst them.
Lower Level “Upper” Zone Tour at Guildford
Continuing the tour to the ‘upper-left’ zone, this area is accessible by ground level through entrance 5. Walmart Canada is the major tenant which isn’t directly accessible through the inside of the mall, but the lower floor of H&M is the other major tenant. Related articles for the major tenant (besides H&M which we previously covered) include:
- Walmart Canada: Walmart Canada Announces Major Investment to Integrate Ecommerce with In-Store from November 2020
Select other retailers amongst the larger retailers include:
- Swarovski (related article “Swarovski Unveils First Canadian Crystal Studio Retail Location at CF Sherway Gardens in Toronto” from October 2020)
- Boathouse
- Champs Sports
- Bluenotes (related article “US Retailer Aéropostale to Re-Enter Canada Appearing in Bluenotes Stores” in November 2019)
- Naturalizer (related article “Naturalizer Shoes to Close All Canadian Stores” from November 2020)
- Sunrise Records (related article “Canadian Music Retailer Sunrise Records Bids on UK-Based HMV” from February 2019)
- Carter’s Oshkosh (related article “Biway will carry Carter’s Oshkosh in Store” from August 2020)
- Stokes (related article “Stokes to Permanently Close 40 Store Locations in Canada” from May 2020)
- Suzy Shier (related article “Engaging in a Noisy World: the Case for Suzy Shier” from October 2019)
- Ardene (related article “Canadian Fashion Retailer ARDENE Launches 1st Menswear Line” from August 2020)
- The Praguery
- The Body Shop (related article “The Body Shop Launches New Eco Store Concept in Canada” from March 2020)
- Skechers
- Call it Spring (related article “ALDO Footwear Brand ‘Call It Spring’ Announces it has Gone Vegan” from June 2019)
Lower Level “Middle” Zone Tour at Guildford
Continuing the tour to the ‘middle’ zone, this area is to the left of the main atrium and above the main food court. Muji Canada and Sport Chek are major tenants. Select other retailers amongst the larger retailers include:
- Boys’Co (related article “Boys’Co to Relocate Flagship from Downtown Vancouver to Coquitlam” from July 2018)
- Mountain Warehouse (related article “Mountain Warehouse to further expand into Canada” from January 2014)
- Just Cozy
- Bootlegger (related article “Parent Companies for Jack & Jones, Bootlegger, Cleo, and Ricki’s File for Bankruptcy Protection in Canada” from June 2020)
- Michael Hill (related article “Michael Hill Jewellers on Track for 100 Canadian Stores” from August 2017)
- Disney Store
- Lego (related article “LEGO to Open Experiential Retail Space at West Edmonton Mall this Fall” from October 2020)
- Bentley (related article “Bentley Leathers Exits Court Protection After Successful Restructuring Proceedings” from December 2019)
- Reitmans (related article “Reitmans Files for and Obtains Bankruptcy Protection” from May 2020)
- RW&Co (related article “RW&CO Launches New Store Design” from July 2017)
- Vans
- Nike Store (related article “Nike to Open Massive Flagship at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre” from September 2019)
- Foot Locker (related article “Foot Locker Opening 2 “Community Power Store” Flagships in Canada” from December 2020)
- Jack and Jones (related article “Parent Companies for Jack & Jones, Bootlegger, Cleo, and Ricki’s File for Bankruptcy Protection in Canada” from June 2020)
- Hot Topic
Lower Level “Lower” Food Court Zone Tour at Guildford
The final area in our Guildford Town Centre tour is the food court area in the lower zone on the lower level.
We had a very interesting photo walk around Guildford Town Centre, and we hope you enjoyed coming along with us. Don’t forget to check out the Yorkville photo tour in Toronto that came out earlier this month.
