Alexis Nihon Complex

Alexis Nihon Complex, originally called Alexis Nihon Plaza, is a large mixed-use development at the intersection of Atwater Avenue, Sainte-Catherine Street West, and De Maisonneuve Boulevard West in Quebec. Although its principal public entrance and much of its commercial identity are associated with Montreal, more than 80% of the site is located in the neighbouring city of Westmount. The complex combines a shopping centre, two office towers, and a residential building within a development of approximately 223,000 square metres, or about 2.4 million square feet. The complex is named after Alexis Nihon, the Canadian inventor and businessman. Its initial construction began in September 1965, during a period of major urban and commercial expansion in Montreal. The shopping centre opened on April 17, 1967, although most retailers began trading the following day. It was notable at the time for being North America's first shopping centre designed with three retail levels. The original mall included a very large Miracle Mart department store and a substantial Steinberg's supermarket. The development was planned from the outset as more than a retail property: office and residential towers were intended to be added in later phases. Alexis Nihon is closely integrated with Montreal's public-transit and pedestrian infrastructure. The mall has a direct connection to Atwater metro station on the Green Line, and underground links connect it with Dawson College and, through a longer passage, Westmount Square. The site is also served by numerous bus routes, nearby bicycle infrastructure, BIXI, automobile access from the Ville-Marie Expressway, and on-site parking. This connectivity has helped establish the complex as a daily-use commercial centre for residents, students, office workers, commuters, and visitors rather than solely as a destination shopping mall. The retail component has hosted several significant Canadian and international chains over its history. The centre has housed Miracle Mart, later the M-Store, Steinberg's, Zellers, a Cineplex Odeon three-screen cinema, and Montreal's first IKEA store, which operated there from 1982 until 1986 before relocating because the available space was insufficient. Au Printemps also opened its first location outside France at the complex. Current anchor tenants identified in reference material include Canadian Tire, IGA, Sports Experts, Winners, and Pharmaprix. The centre also contains a food court and a broad range of services and smaller shops. The property has experienced several major incidents and periods of change. A serious fire on October 26, 1986 severely damaged a sixteen-storey office building, destroying at least six floors and becoming one of Montreal's most significant high-rise fires. The damaged office accommodation was subsequently replaced or supplemented by taller towers at 3400 and 3500 De Maisonneuve Boulevard West. The 1986 event also led to litigation by the federal government against the then-owner and later criticism of Montreal's fire service by the Quebec Court of Appeal in 2002. The entire complex was evacuated during the Dawson College shooting incident in September 2006. A smaller fire near the food-court roof in April 2017 caused limited damage. Today, Alexis Nihon Complex functions as a prominent urban mixed-use property whose identity rests on convenience, transit access, diversified tenants, and proximity to downtown Montreal, Westmount, Dawson College, and Westmount Square. Its commercial offer combines grocery, sporting goods, home and general merchandise, pharmacy, restaurants, and services, while its office and residential components broaden the site's role beyond conventional retail.

The site now occupied by Alexis Nihon Complex was formerly associated with Atwater Park, which hosted the Montreal Royals baseball team until 1927. The property was later selected for a large urban commercial and mixed-use development named after Alexis Nihon, an inventor and businessman. Designed by Montreal architect Harold Ship, the original architectural plans are held by the Canadian Centre for Architecture. Construction of Alexis Nihon Plaza began in September 1965. The shopping-centre component opened on April 17, 1967, while stores generally commenced regular business on April 18. Its three-level retail layout was presented as a major innovation: it was described as the first three-level shopping centre in North America. The opening configuration included a three-storey, approximately 270,000-square-foot Miracle Mart department store, then the retailer's largest location, together with one of Steinberg's largest supermarkets. Although only the mall opened in the first phase, office and residential additions had already been contemplated. The centre became an important part of Montreal's emerging downtown retail and transit network. Its direct connection to Atwater metro station gave it a strong commuter and neighbourhood role, while underground pedestrian connections extended to Dawson College and Westmount Square. Over the years, the retail mix changed as major tenants came and went. The complex once hosted Au Printemps's first location outside France, a three-screen Cineplex Odeon cinema, Steinberg's, Zellers, and Miracle Mart, later renamed the M-Store. Montreal's first IKEA store operated at Alexis Nihon from 1982 to 1986 before moving to a larger site. A defining event in the property's history occurred on October 26, 1986, when fire severely damaged a sixteen-storey office building. At least six floors were destroyed, making the incident one of the most serious skyscraper fires in Montreal. The federal government, which occupied space in the building, brought a claim against the then-owner in August 1988, alleging failures in maintenance. In 2002, the Quebec Court of Appeal assigned substantial blame to the Montreal fire service for negligence and incompetence in its response to the event. The original office structures were subsequently superseded or supplemented by taller towers, now identified at 3400 and 3500 De Maisonneuve Boulevard West. The complex was completely evacuated during the Dawson College shooting on September 13, 2006, reflecting its physical and operational proximity to the college. A separate, much smaller fire occurred near the food-court roof on April 5, 2017 and caused limited damage. In its current form, Alexis Nihon Complex is a mixed-use urban property of roughly 223,000 square metres. Its shopping component is anchored by Canadian Tire, IGA, Sports Experts, Winners, and Pharmaprix, alongside smaller retailers, services, and a food court. The property continues to combine commercial, office, residential, transit, and pedestrian functions at the Montreal–Westmount boundary. Reference material also describes a food-court renovation beginning in March 2025, with reopening information requiring verification.

• 2025

  Food-court renovation

  [1]Alexis Nihon Complexen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material states that renovation work began on March 1, 2025, with restaurants closed during construction.

• 2017

  Minor food-court-area fire

  [1]Alexis Nihon Complexen.wikipedia.org

  A small fire near the food-court roof causes limited damage.

• 2006

  Evacuation during Dawson College shooting

  [1]Alexis Nihon Complexen.wikipedia.org

  The entire complex is evacuated during the nearby Dawson College shooting incident.

• 2002

  Court of Appeal decision on fire response

  [1]Alexis Nihon Complexen.wikipedia.org

  The Quebec Court of Appeal criticizes the Montreal fire service's conduct during the 1986 incident.

• 1988

  Federal government litigation

  [1]Alexis Nihon Complexen.wikipedia.org

  The federal government files a negligence claim against the then-owner over maintenance allegedly connected with the 1986 fire.

• 1986

  Office-tower fire

  [1]Alexis Nihon Complexen.wikipedia.org

  A major fire damages a sixteen-storey office building and destroys at least six floors.

• 1982

  First Montreal IKEA store opens at the complex

  [1]Alexis Nihon Complexen.wikipedia.org

  Montreal's first IKEA location begins operating at Alexis Nihon before relocating in 1986 because of space limitations.

• 1967

  Shopping centre opens

  [1]Alexis Nihon Complexen.wikipedia.org

  The three-level shopping centre opens in April, with Miracle Mart and Steinberg's among its principal original tenants.

• 1965

  Construction begins

  [1]Alexis Nihon Complexen.wikipedia.org

  Construction starts on the development originally known as Alexis Nihon Plaza.

A centrally located, transit-oriented mixed-use complex serving Montreal and Westmount through everyday retail, dining, office, residential, and urban-access functions.

• Retail property · 1967

  Shopping centre

  The retail heart of the complex offers stores, services, supermarkets, pharmacies, sporting-goods retail, general merchandise, restaurants, and a food court. Its direct connection to Atwater metro station supports high-frequency everyday use by commuters, students, residents, and office workers.

• Commercial real estate

  Office towers

  The office component forms part of the mixed-use development above and around the shopping centre. Following the 1986 fire that heavily damaged an earlier sixteen-storey office building, taller office towers were added at 3400 and 3500 De Maisonneuve Boulevard West.

• Residential real estate

  Residential building

  Residential accommodation is incorporated into the wider complex, allowing the property to combine housing with retail, offices, transit access, and pedestrian connections in a single urban development.

• Food service · 1967

  Food court

  The complex's food court provides a multi-restaurant dining area reported to include more than 25 restaurants. Reference material describes renovation work beginning in 2025; the operating status and reopening date should be independently verified.

• 2025

  Renovate the food courtOther

  Background

  Reference material describes a planned modernization intended to add new restaurants.

  Action taken

  Renovation work reportedly began on March 1, 2025, requiring the existing food-court restaurants to close during construction.

  Aftermath

  The reference material states a November 2025 reopening, but that date and the completed scope require verification.

  Source

• 1986

  Rebuild and expand office accommodation after fireStrategy

  Background

  A major fire severely damaged the original sixteen-storey office building and destroyed at least six floors.

  Action taken

  The damaged office accommodation was replaced or supplemented by taller towers at 3400 and 3500 De Maisonneuve Boulevard West.

  Aftermath

  The complex retained and expanded its office function as part of the rebuilt mixed-use development.

  Source

• 1965

  Develop a phased mixed-use complexStrategy

  Background

  The initial project was conceived as more than a shopping centre, with office and high-rise residential additions planned after the retail component.

  Action taken

  The developers opened the mall first and subsequently expanded the site with office and residential components.

  Aftermath

  Alexis Nihon evolved into a large mixed-use property combining retail, offices, housing, transit connections, and pedestrian links.

  Source

1. 1Alexis Nihon Complexen.wikipedia.org