Retail Insider continues itsPhoto Tourseries of Canadian malls which began as a result of COVID-19 closures. We have been providing insights into shopping centres coast-to-coast which may otherwise be overlooked. This edition takes us to theWillowbrook Shopping Centrein Langley, BC within the Metro Vancouver area. The one-level shopping centre contains approximately 140 stores spread across around 60,064 square metres (646,520sqft) of retail space. QuadReal Property Group is the owner and management company for the shopping centre.
The main anchors for the shopping center include:
- Hudson’s Bay (131,000-square-feet)
- Nordstrom Rack (30,000 square feet): Opened September 17, 2020 being the first in Metro Vancouver.
- Winners: Opened May 23, 2020
- T&T Supermarket (39,000 square feet – preparing to open later in 2021)
Junior anchor stores for the shopping centre include a 44,000-square-foot Toys R Us store, a 42,000-square-foot Sport Chek store, and a 20,200-square-foot H&M store. All three anchors were recently relocated to a reconfigured space that was once home to a Target store before the US chain exited Canada in early 2015.
History of Willowbrook Shopping Centre
The shopping centre opened in 1979 and has undergone a number of major expansions and renovations, with the last one in 2020 which included the expansion and relocation ofToys R UsandSport Chekto the former Target space.
LandlordQuadRealannounced in July 2021 their expansion plans to add a new 27,500 square foot section called THE COURTYARD. Included will be 10 new food and beverage options and an entertainment area in an outdoor village-like configuration as part of an effort to attract shoppers and increase dwell time at the retail centre.
Willowbrook Shopping Centre is roughly laid out in a racetrack format with a couple additions on the south (bottom) side of the mall. As a result, the simplistic, one level layout was divided into four quarters for the purpose of this retail tour.
- Upper Left (highlighted in Red):Main anchor would be the upcoming T&T Market.
- Upper Right (highlighted in Green):Main anchor Hudson’s Bay
- Lower Right (highlighted in Orange):Main anchors of Nordstrom Rack and Winners.
- Lower Left (highlighted in Purple):Main anchors of Toys R Us, Sport Chek and H&M.
Upper Left section of Willowbrook Shopping Centre
The ‘upper left’ quadrant in the northwest corner is the first tour zone of the shopping centre. T&T Supermarketsis planning on opening a location to anchor this portion of the mall in the fall and will span 39,040 square feet. Job fairs were noted in July 2021 while touring the shopping centre.
Other retailers in this section include Lenscrafters, Purdy’s Chocolates, Boathouse, Blackwell Supply, Lids, Below the Belt, Lululemon Pop-Up, Journeys, Serena, Bentley, Jack & Jones, EB Games, Call It Spring, Nutrition House, Peoples Jewellers and Mountain Warehouse.
Continuing eastward from the first tour zone brings the tour to the northern exit where several stores have shuttered in anticipation of a construction/expansion of THE COURTYARD.
The extreme eastern end of the shopping center is the long-standing anchor tenant, the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Other retailers in this section include Sephora, The Children’s Place, Icing, Anne-Louise Jewellers, Aldo, Little Mountain, Michael Hill, Sirens, Pandora, Golden Tree Jewellers, The Source, The Shoe Company, Bootlegger, Ricki’s and Spencers.
1 of 15
- Plenty: Vancouver-based fashion retaileropened its tenth location in Willowbrook Centre in July 2021.
- Bailey Nelson: Australian eyewear retailerwill be opening a new location being at Willowbrook Mallin September 2021.
Lower Right section of Willowbrook Shopping Centre
The ‘lower right’ quadrant in the southeast corner portion of the shopping centre includes another entrance for the main anchor tenant of the Hudson’s Bay. It is also home to the current food court for the shopping centre.
The first-in-BC Nordstrom Rack opened in September 17, 2020 spanning about 30,000 square feet as well as a Winners store which opened May 23, 2020.
In addition to the food court, the other retailers include American Eagle, Claire’s, Zumiez, Quilts Etc., Urban Kids, The Body Shop, Northern Reflections, Foot Locker, Sunglass Hut, House of Knives, Showcase, Kerrisdale Cameras, Sunrise Records, Artic Fame Diamonds, Ben Moss Jewellers, Bath & Body Works, Soft Moc, Murchies Fine Tea, Coles Bookstore, and T. Kettle.
1 of 19
Food Court at Willowbrook Mall in Langley BC
1 of 3
The ‘lower left’ quadrant in the southwest corner portion of the shopping centre contains several large format retailers which repurposed the former Target space.
We hope you enjoyed this update of Willowbrook Mall in Langley, B.C. and are always excited to see the changes at Canadian shopping centres. Don’t forget to check out our other retail photo tours over the past few months. Thank you for taking this tour with us.
Discover More Related Retail Photo Tours From Retail Insider:
- Retail Profile: Alberni Street ‘Luxury Zone’ in Downtown Vancouver (Summer 2021)
- Retail Profile: Robson Street in Vancouver (Summer 2021)
- Retail Tour Update: The Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby (June 2021)
- Retail Tour Update: Park Royal Shopping Centre in West Vancouver (Spring 2021)
- Retail Profile: CF Market Mall in Calgary (Spring 2021)
- Retail Profile: Chinook Centre in Calgary (Spring 2021)
- Retail Profile: Southcentre Mall in Calgary (Spring 2021)
- Retail Profile: The CORE Shopping Centre in Downtown Calgary (Spring 2021)
- Retail Photo Tour: Retail at The Distillery Historic District in Toronto and What’s to Come
- Retail Photo Tour: Sainte-Catherine Street in Montreal During COVID-19
- Retail Photo Tour: McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver (February 20201)
- Photo Tour: The Ever-Changing Sherwood Park Mall in Sherwood Park, Alberta (February 2021)
- Photo Tour: Big Changes and New Retailers at Avalon Mall in St. John’s, Newfoundland (January 2021)
- Photo Tour: West Edmonton Mall Phase 1 and Phase 2 During COVID-19 (December 2020)
- Photo Tour: West Edmonton Mall Phase 3 and Phase 4 During COVID-19 (December 2020)
- Photo Tour: Guildford Town Centre in Surrey During COVID-19 (December 2020)
- Metropolis at Metrotown Photo Tour (December 2020)
- The Amazing Brentwood Photo Tour (December 2020)
- Yorkville Photo Tour (November 2020)
- Bloor Photo Tour (December 2020)
- The PATH Holiday Photo Tour (December 2020)
