Aberdeen Centre

Aberdeen Centre is a shopping centre in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, situated in the Golden Village district on Hazelbridge Way near Cambie Road. It developed as one of the region's early purpose-built Asian-oriented malls and remains associated with the commercial and cultural life of Metro Vancouver's Chinese Canadian community. The first Aberdeen Centre opened in 1989. Its concept anticipated increased migration from Hong Kong before the 1997 transfer of sovereignty and sought to create a retail environment reflecting Asian consumer preferences, businesses and food culture. The idea was unusual in the North American retail market at the time, and the developer, Thomas Fung, initially found it difficult to attract tenants. To reduce the risk for prospective businesses, Fung offered to acquire a 50 percent equity interest in participating stores, with an arrangement allowing successful tenants to repurchase the shares without interest. According to the centre's historical account, approximately 95 percent of the participating businesses bought back those interests within a year of opening. The original centre contained approximately 50 to 75 stores. Competition from newer Asian-oriented developments, including Yaohan Centre and President Plaza, highlighted the limitations of the original building. Aberdeen Centre was therefore demolished in 2001 and rebuilt at an estimated cost of approximately C$100 million. The replacement opened in 2003 at roughly three times the size of the first centre and provided space for about 100 stores. The present complex combines specialty retail, restaurants and public-oriented entertainment features rather than functioning solely as a conventional enclosed mall. A prominent attraction is an indoor musical fountain located near the centre of the mall. It was designed as a smaller-scale counterpart to the fountain outside the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas and presents scheduled shows. Restaurants occupy upper floors, adding a food and gathering component to the retail offer. The centre's Chinese and Asian identity is also reflected in its original Chinese name, 香港仔中心, a reference to Aberdeen in Hong Kong. Aberdeen Centre expanded its role beyond shopping in 2006 when it became the Vancouver-area operating base for Fairchild Group's Chinese-language television and radio activities. Fairchild Radio and the Fairchild television operations have used studio and newsroom facilities within the complex, helping make the centre a recognizable media and community location. In August 2008, it hosted what was described as the largest viewing party in the Vancouver area for the Beijing Summer Olympics, attracting thousands of spectators. The development continued with Aberdeen Square, the project's third phase, which opened in 2013. Aberdeen Square contains three retail levels and three office levels. It is directly linked to Aberdeen Station on the Canada Line by an overhead walkway to the northbound platform, strengthening the centre's role as a transit-accessible destination. TransLink bus services also connect the complex with Richmond and New Westminster. Today, Aberdeen Centre is best understood as a mixed-use shopping and community destination whose identity is rooted in Asian retail, dining, media and public-event programming.

Aberdeen Centre originated in Richmond's Golden Village district during a period when developers were responding to the growth of Asian Canadian communities and anticipated migration from Hong Kong. The original centre was built in 1989 and carried the Chinese name 香港仔中心, referring to Aberdeen in Hong Kong. Its proposed identity was that of an Asian mall: a concentrated destination for specialty retail, food and services shaped around Asian consumer demand. The concept faced an uncertain start. During the 1980s, Asian-oriented enclosed malls were not yet an established North American format, so prospective tenants were cautious. Developer Thomas Fung used an unusual risk-sharing arrangement to encourage occupancy. He offered to take a 50 percent equity stake in participating stores and allowed tenants to buy those interests back without interest if their businesses performed well. The historical account of the centre states that almost 95 percent of the businesses completed the buyback within the first year, indicating that the initial leasing challenge did not prevent the project from establishing a viable tenant base. The first Aberdeen Centre contained approximately 50 to 75 stores. Its scale soon became a competitive limitation as other Asian-oriented developments, including Yaohan Centre and President Plaza, opened in the surrounding Richmond market. In response, the original building was demolished in 2001. A replacement was constructed at an estimated cost of approximately C$100 million and opened in 2003. The rebuilt centre was about three times the size of its predecessor and accommodated around 100 stores. The rebuilt complex broadened the centre's role. In addition to retail stores, it included restaurants on its upper floors and an indoor musical fountain intended to provide a notable visitor attraction. The fountain was described as a smaller-scale analogue to the fountain outside Las Vegas's Bellagio Hotel, with performances scheduled throughout the day. These features helped position the property as a destination for dining and leisure as well as shopping. In 2006, the centre became associated with Fairchild Group's Chinese-language media presence in the Vancouver area. Fairchild Radio and Fairchild's television operations used facilities on the second and third floors, respectively. This gave the mall a role in broadcasting and community communication in addition to its commercial function. The property also supported large public events. On August 8, 2008, it hosted a major viewing party for the Summer Olympics in Beijing, attracting thousands of people, some of whom reportedly arrived in the early morning. The development expanded again through Aberdeen Square, which opened in 2013 as its third phase. Aberdeen Square added three retail levels and three office levels, extending the project into a mixed-use format. Its direct overhead connection to Aberdeen Station on the Canada Line linked the shopping centre to rapid transit, while TransLink bus routes provided additional connections to Richmond and New Westminster. Aberdeen Centre's history therefore reflects several overlapping developments: the emergence of Asian-focused retail in suburban Metro Vancouver, the commercial impact of Hong Kong migration, the consolidation and redevelopment of a smaller first-generation mall, and the increasing integration of retail, food, media, office and transit uses. Its present identity remains tied to Asian-oriented shopping and dining, but its importance also comes from its public events, cultural associations and position within Richmond's Golden Village and regional transportation network.

• 2013

  Aberdeen Square opens

  [1]Aberdeen Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The third development phase opens with retail and office levels and a direct overhead connection to Aberdeen Station on the Canada Line.

• 2008

  Large Summer Olympics viewing party

  [1]Aberdeen Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Aberdeen Centre hosts a major public viewing event for the 2008 Summer Olympics, drawing thousands of spectators.

• 2006

  Fairchild media operations move into the complex

  [1]Aberdeen Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The centre becomes the Vancouver-area base for Fairchild Group Chinese-language television and radio operations.

• 2003

  Rebuilt Aberdeen Centre opens

  [1]Aberdeen Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The rebuilt centre opens after an approximately C$100 million project, at around three times the original size and with about 100 stores.

• 2001

  Original centre is demolished

  [1]Aberdeen Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The original building is removed to make way for a substantially larger redevelopment intended to compete with newer Asian-oriented malls.

• 1989

  Original Aberdeen Centre opens

  [1]Aberdeen Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The first Aberdeen Centre opens in Richmond with approximately 50 to 75 stores and an Asian-oriented retail concept.

A culturally focused Asian-oriented shopping and dining destination serving Richmond and the wider Metro Vancouver region, differentiated by its community role, specialty retail mix, entertainment features, media presence and direct Canada Line access.

• Shopping centre · 1989

  Aberdeen Centre retail mall

  The core Aberdeen Centre complex is an enclosed shopping destination in Richmond's Golden Village district. Its tenant concept is oriented toward Asian retail, specialty goods, dining and consumer services. The rebuilt centre opened in 2003 after the original 1989 building was demolished, and it was designed at approximately three times the scale of the first facility, with around 100 stores.

• Food and beverage · 2003

  Restaurants and dining facilities

  Restaurants occupy upper floors of the centre and form an important part of its Asian-oriented destination positioning. The dining offer complements the mall's specialty retail and contributes to its role as a social and community gathering place.

• Entertainment attraction · 2003

  Indoor musical fountain

  The centre includes an indoor musical fountain designed on a smaller scale than the fountain outside the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. It provides scheduled performances and functions as a visual attraction within the mall.

• Mixed-use development · 2013

  Aberdeen Square

  Aberdeen Square is the third phase of the Aberdeen development. Opened in 2013, it contains three retail levels and three office levels and is connected directly to Aberdeen Station on the Canada Line by an overhead walkway.

• 20082008 Summer Olympics viewing party

  Richmond · Metro Vancouver

  Aberdeen Centre hosted a large public viewing event for the 2008 Summer Olympics. The event brought thousands of spectators to the mall and reinforced its role as a community and cultural gathering venue.

  Outcome. The viewing party became one of the centre's documented large-scale public events, attracting substantial local attendance.

  Source

• 2013

  Expansion into a mixed-use and transit-connected developmentStrategy

  Background

  The centre pursued a third development phase to add further retail and office capacity and strengthen access to regional transportation.

  Action taken

  Aberdeen Square opened with three retail levels, three office levels and an overhead link to Aberdeen Station on the Canada Line.

  Aftermath

  The development became more integrated with Richmond's rapid-transit network and expanded beyond a single shopping-centre building.

  Source

• 2001

  Redevelopment through demolition and reconstructionStrategy

  Background

  The original centre was considered too small to compete effectively after newer Asian-oriented malls opened in the Richmond market.

  Action taken

  The original building was demolished and replaced by a much larger complex, which opened in 2003.

  Aftermath

  The rebuilt centre expanded to approximately three times the original size and accommodated around 100 stores.

  Redevelopment cost. Approximately C$100 million (2001-2003 redevelopment)

  Source

• 2013

  Aberdeen Square opens as the development's third phase[1]Aberdeen Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  The third phase added three retail levels and three office levels and connected the development to Aberdeen Station on the Canada Line through an overhead walkway.

• 2008

  Aberdeen Centre hosts major 2008 Summer Olympics viewing event[1]Aberdeen Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  The centre hosted a large Vancouver-area public viewing party for the 2008 Summer Olympics, drawing thousands of spectators.

• 2006

  Fairchild Group establishes Chinese-language media operations at Aberdeen Centre[1]Aberdeen Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Fairchild Group's Vancouver-area Chinese-language television and radio operations began using studio and newsroom facilities within Aberdeen Centre.

• 2003

  Aberdeen Centre opens its rebuilt shopping complex[1]Aberdeen Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The replacement for the original Aberdeen Centre opened after the 2001 demolition and an approximately C$100 million redevelopment. The new centre was about three times the size of the original and contained roughly 100 stores.

1. 1Aberdeen Centreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Aberdeen Centre official websiteaberdeencentre.com