Bayshore Shopping Centre
A major regional shopping centre in Ottawa, Ontario, serving the city and the surrounding National Capital Region.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Bayshore Shopping Centre is a large regional shopping mall in the Nepean district of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Located near the junctions of Ontario Highways 417 and 416 and adjacent to Bayshore Transitway Station, it serves shoppers from western Ottawa, the wider National Capital Region and surrounding communities. The centre is described as one of the busiest malls in the region, attracting almost eight million visits annually, and is the second-largest shopping mall in the National Capital Region according to the referenced Wikipedia material. The mall opened in 1973 as a two-level shopping centre with Steinberg, Miracle Mart, The Bay and Eaton's as its principal anchors. Its early configuration reflected the department-store and supermarket-led mall model of the period: Miracle Mart occupied the level above Steinberg's, while The Bay and Eaton's provided large general-merchandise destinations. The property expanded and modernized repeatedly as Canadian retail patterns changed. The Bay enlarged its premises in 1982, adding a third floor and increasing its space from approximately 123,000 to 181,000 square feet. A major mid-1980s redevelopment added a third storey to the mall, upgraded vertical transportation, expanded the exterior parking structure and replaced much of the original interior design. The renovation introduced a green-and-tan marble palette, glass railings and prominent peaked glass ceiling panels. The third floor opened on September 14, 1987. The project added 65 stores, bringing the centre's total to 165, while retaining the existing anchor lineup, although Miracle Mart had by then been rebranded as M. The tenant mix changed substantially during the 1990s and 2000s. Steinberg's withdrawal from eastern Ontario led to the supermarket being converted to Loblaw's Your Independent Grocer banner in 1992. By 1994, the mall was a roughly 760,000-square-foot, three-level regional centre anchored by Eaton's, The Bay and Zellers. Eaton's closure in 1999 prompted Zellers to move into two floors of the former Eaton's space in 2000. Les Ailes de la Mode subsequently opened in August 2001 in the former Steinberg location, but closed in 2003. Its departure led to the creation of new corridors, entrances, retail areas and a small food-oriented seating zone. The 2000s brought a succession of smaller-format tenant changes and building upgrades. HomeSense occupied the former specialty-food space in 2009 after the departures of Market Fresh and Savory's Fine Foods. Build-A-Bear Workshop, retail fashion stores, personal-care businesses, restaurants and other specialty tenants were added or relocated during the period. The parking deck also underwent a substantial structural renovation in 2006. The third major development phase began in 2012 and added approximately 300,000 square feet of retail space, while also renovating existing areas and relocating the food court. H&M opened in October 2013 in the redeveloped former Zellers area. Victoria's Secret and PINK opened on October 23, 2013, marking the brands' first presence in the Ottawa region; the opening attracted more than 500 attendees, including people who had queued overnight. Forever 21 opened on September 27, 2014. A Target Canada store was constructed as part of the expansion and was intended to become a new anchor, but Target Canada entered bankruptcy proceedings on January 15, 2015 and announced that all of its stores would close. The Bayshore location had not opened. Walmart Canada announced in May 2015 that it intended to acquire the site, and a new Walmart Supercentre opened on the mall's third level on January 28, 2016 after relocating from Lincoln Fields. The centre's current anchor profile includes a combined Winners/HomeSense operation and Walmart Supercentre, alongside a broad mix of fashion, beauty, food, entertainment and service tenants.
History
Bayshore Shopping Centre opened in 1973 as a two-storey mall in Ottawa's Nepean district. Its original anchor tenants were Steinberg, Miracle Mart, The Bay and Eaton's. Miracle Mart occupied the floor above Steinberg's, creating an early arrangement combining a supermarket with a mass-market department store. The Bay expanded in 1982, increasing its premises from approximately 123,000 to 181,000 square feet by adding a third floor. The first major redevelopment took place in the mid-1980s. The project added a third storey, upgraded the passenger lift, installed an escalator connecting the ground floor directly with the upper level, expanded the exterior parking deck and replaced the original interior finishes. The revised design used green and tan marble, glass railings and large peaked glass ceiling panels. The new third floor opened on September 14, 1987, and the project added 65 stores, bringing the total to 165. The original anchor lineup remained broadly intact, although Miracle Mart had become M. Tenant changes accelerated in the 1990s. After Steinberg announced its withdrawal from eastern Ontario, the supermarket was converted to Loblaw's Your Independent Grocer banner effective March 14, 1992. By 1994, the approximately 760,000-square-foot, three-level centre was anchored by Eaton's, The Bay and Zellers. Eaton's closed in 1999, and Zellers moved into two of the three floors of the former Eaton's premises in 2000. Les Ailes de la Mode opened in August 2001 in the former Steinberg location, but closed in 2003. The closure of Les Ailes de la Mode led to a substantial internal reconfiguration. Parts of the south side of the first and second levels were rebuilt with new corridors, an additional mall entrance, new retail units and a small eating area. New or relocated tenants during this period included GNC, EB Games, The Body Shop, Cinnabon, Booster Juice, La Cremière, Winners, Swarovski, Mexx, Cleo and other specialty retailers. Build-A-Bear Workshop opened on June 15, 2006. The centre also added a passenger elevator serving the food-court level and improved connections between floors. The parking deck was extensively renovated during the summer of 2006. Specialty-food retail in the former supermarket-related area proved unstable. Market Fresh was replaced by Savory's Fine Foods, which opened on June 15, 2006, while Pet World opened nearby on July 13. Savory's closed on August 19, 2007, and HomeSense later occupied the vacant space in fall 2009. These changes illustrate the continuing adjustment of the mall's tenant mix toward national apparel, home and specialty retailers. A third development phase began in 2012, adding approximately 300,000 square feet of retail space. The project also renovated existing sections and moved the food court. H&M opened in October 2013 in the redeveloped former Zellers area. Victoria's Secret and PINK opened on October 23, 2013, marking their first Ottawa-region locations; their launch attracted more than 500 people, with some attendees arriving the previous night. Forever 21 followed on September 27, 2014. Target Canada was planned as a new anchor and a store structure was built at Bayshore, but Target Canada filed for bankruptcy on January 15, 2015 and announced the closure of its Canadian stores. The Bayshore store therefore never opened under the Target banner. On May 8, 2015, Walmart Canada announced its intention to acquire 13 Target Canada locations, including Bayshore. Walmart's new Supercentre opened on January 28, 2016 on the mall's third level after moving from Lincoln Fields. Bayshore is connected to the broader Ottawa transportation network through nearby Highway 417 and Highway 416 interchanges and is served by numerous routes at Bayshore Transitway Station immediately west of the mall. The centre remains an active regional destination with major anchors including Walmart Supercentre and a combined Winners/HomeSense operation, together with fashion, beauty, food, home, entertainment and service tenants. The property has also been the site of several serious criminal incidents, including shootings in 1983 and 1984 and fatal or near-fatal stabbings in the 1990s; these events are part of the site's documented history but are not presented as brand scandals.
- 2016
Walmart Supercentre opens
[1]Walmart opens a Supercentre on the third level after relocating from Lincoln Fields.
- 2015
Planned Target anchor is replaced
[1]Target Canada's bankruptcy prevents the planned Bayshore store from opening; Walmart later announces plans to acquire the site.
- 2014
Forever 21 opens
[1]Forever 21 opens on September 27 as the expansion continues.
- 2013
H&M, Victoria's Secret and PINK open
[1]The expansion attracts major international fashion tenants, including the Ottawa-region debuts of Victoria's Secret and PINK.
- 2012
Third expansion phase begins
[1]Construction starts on approximately 300,000 square feet of additional retail space and broad renovations.
- 2006
Parking structure renovation begins
[1]The parking deck receives a major structural renovation during the summer.
- 2003
Les Ailes de la Mode closes
[1]The retailer's departure prompts the construction of new corridors, retail areas and an additional mall entrance.
- 2001
Les Ailes de la Mode opens
[1]Les Ailes de la Mode opens in August in the former Steinberg location, its first store outside Quebec.
- 1999
Eaton's closes
[1]Eaton's leaves the centre, setting up the later relocation of Zellers into part of the former department-store space.
- 1992
Supermarket changes to Your Independent Grocer
[1]The supermarket adopts Loblaw's Your Independent Grocer banner after Steinberg exits eastern Ontario.
Products and positioning
Regional shopping centre
Retail and services · 1973
Shopping-centre retail mix
Bayshore's core offering is access to a broad collection of stores rather than a proprietary product line. The centre combines fashion and apparel, beauty, home goods, electronics, toys, specialty food, restaurants and personal services. Its regional-mall format is supported by major anchors and national specialty retailers, giving visitors both routine shopping and destination-oriented fashion and lifestyle options.
General merchandise and grocery · 2016
Walmart Supercentre
The Walmart Supercentre is one of Bayshore's principal current anchors. It occupies the former planned Target space on the mall's third level and combines Walmart's general-merchandise assortment with supermarket operations. The store opened in 2016 after Walmart acquired the site as part of its expansion into former Target Canada locations and relocated from Lincoln Fields.
Off-price fashion and home retail
Winners/HomeSense
The combined Winners/HomeSense operation functions as another major anchor, pairing off-price apparel, accessories and footwear with discounted home furnishings, décor and housewares. Its presence broadens Bayshore's appeal beyond fashion and department-store shopping and contributes to the centre's everyday and destination retail mix.
Food and beverage
Food court and dining
Food and beverage facilities are an important part of the mall's visitor proposition. During the 2000s reconfiguration, a small eating area and several snack outlets were added, and the later expansion relocated the main food court. The documented tenant history includes quick-service and beverage concepts such as Booster Juice, La Crèmiere, Cinnabon and Timothy's World Coffee.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013Victoria's Secret and PINK regional launch
Ottawa · Ontario · Canada
Bayshore supported the opening of Victoria's Secret and PINK on October 23, 2013, presenting the arrival as a major addition to the Ottawa retail market. More than 500 people attended the launch, and some shoppers reportedly formed a queue the night before.
Outcome. The openings marked the first Ottawa-region locations for both brands and generated substantial launch-day foot traffic.
Brand decisions
2015
Replace the unopen Target anchor with WalmartM&ABackground
Target Canada filed for bankruptcy and announced the closure of its Canadian stores before its purpose-built Bayshore location opened.
Action taken
Walmart Canada announced its intention to acquire the Bayshore site among 13 former Target Canada locations.
Aftermath
Walmart opened a Supercentre at Bayshore on January 28, 2016, replacing the intended Target anchor.
2012
Launch a major expansion and food-court relocationStrategyBackground
The regional centre pursued additional retail capacity and a broad modernization of its existing areas.
Action taken
Construction began on approximately 300,000 square feet of new retail space, alongside renovations and relocation of the food court.
Aftermath
The project enabled new large-format and international fashion tenants, including H&M, Victoria's Secret, PINK and Forever 21.
1987
Add a third floor and modernize the original mallGeneration changeBackground
The original two-level centre required additional capacity and a contemporary physical design after more than a decade of operation.
Action taken
Bayshore added a third storey, upgraded lifts and escalators, expanded parking and replaced the interior finishes and railings.
Aftermath
The completed project added 65 stores and increased the mall's total to 165 stores.
Sources2 sources
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