Burlington Centre
Enclosed shopping centre in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Burlington Centre is an enclosed shopping centre in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. The mall occupies approximately 721,000 square feet, or about 67,000 square metres, at the intersection of Guelph Line, Fairview Street and Prospect Street, south of the Queen Elizabeth Way. It is one of Burlington's two major enclosed malls, alongside Mapleview Shopping Centre. The property combines retail stores, food and beverage outlets, services, and professional offices, making it a local shopping and services hub rather than a single-category retail destination. The centre opened in October 1968 as Burlington Mall. It was developed by Cambridge Leasoholds as a roughly 60-store complex anchored by Simpsons-Sears, Dominion, G.W. Robinson and Famous Players. Its tenant and anchor mix changed substantially as Canadian department-store and discount-retail businesses were consolidated. The Simpsons-Sears location was taken over by The Bay on August 14, 1991, after Sears sold the store lease and fixtures. Following Hudson's Bay Company's acquisition of the Robinson's chain in 1995, the Robinson's location was transferred to the company's Zellers subsidiary because The Bay already operated elsewhere in the mall. Zellers closed its Burlington Centre location in September 2012. The former space was subsequently occupied by Target Canada, which opened there in March 2013. Target's Canadian business exited the market in early 2015, after which the space was reorganized for several users, including Denninger's, relocated Winners and Indigo stores, and Starbucks locations. These changes reflected the mall's continuing adaptation to shifts in Canadian department-store, discount, grocery and specialty retail. The property has two floors. The first floor is primarily devoted to retail and customer-facing services, while the second floor includes additional retail space as well as medical, dental and professional offices. The former Hudson's Bay area included upper-level space connected to the mall's food-court wing and portions of the former department-store premises. A Zellers pop-up shop in the former Hudson's Bay store received national attention in 2021, but the Hudson's Bay location itself closed on February 9, 2025, leaving a major vacant anchor space. Burlington Centre is also associated with the Burlington Centre Farmers' Market, held outside the mall to the south. The market has operated since 1959, predating the shopping centre. Ownership and management have changed over time: Ivanhoé Cambridge owned the property until the early 2010s, and the centre is now owned or managed through RioCan Management Inc. Burlington Centre remains an active community-oriented retail property, although its tenant mix and future anchor strategy continue to evolve in response to the broader transformation of enclosed shopping malls.
History
Burlington Centre opened in October 1968 under the name Burlington Mall. Developed by Cambridge Leasoholds, it began as a approximately 60-store enclosed retail complex serving the growing Burlington market. Its original anchor lineup included Simpsons-Sears, Dominion, G.W. Robinson and Famous Players, combining department-store, grocery and entertainment uses. The centre's history has closely followed the restructuring of Canadian retail. Sears sold the lease and fixtures associated with its Burlington store to The Bay, which assumed operation on August 14, 1991. In 1995, Hudson's Bay Company acquired the Robinson's chain. Because The Bay already had a location in the mall, the former Robinson's premises were transferred to Zellers. Zellers remained an important discount anchor until September 17, 2012, when the store closed. Target Canada then occupied the former Zellers space, opening on March 19, 2013. Target's Canadian business closed in early 2015. Burlington Centre responded by dividing and reallocating the space to several retailers and services, including Denninger's, relocated Winners and Indigo stores, and Starbucks locations. The changes demonstrated the centre's shift away from reliance on a single large department or discount anchor. The centre has two levels. Retail stores and customer services are concentrated on the first floor, while the upper floor contains additional retail space and medical, dental and professional offices. The mall's upper-level configuration includes the wing leading to the food court, the area above the food court, and the second floor of the former Hudson's Bay premises. Burlington Centre is located at Guelph Line, Fairview Street and Prospect Street, south of the Queen Elizabeth Way. Its position gives it access to Burlington residents and nearby communities. The site is also connected with the Burlington Centre Farmers' Market, which operates immediately south of the mall and has existed since 1959, before the shopping centre opened. Ownership changed during the early 2010s. Ivanhoé Cambridge owned the property until approximately mid-2011, after which RioCan Management Inc. became associated with its ownership and management. The centre later received national attention when a Zellers pop-up shop opened in the former Hudson's Bay area in 2021. Hudson's Bay eventually closed its Burlington Centre store on February 9, 2025, creating a new vacant anchor space and another major transition in the property's retail history. Burlington Centre remains an active enclosed shopping centre rather than a defunct property. Its present role is based on a mix of national and regional retail tenants, dining, personal and professional services, medical and dental offices, and community-oriented activities such as the nearby farmers' market. Its long-term tenant composition and redevelopment strategy are not fully established in the available reference material.
- 2025
Hudson's Bay location closes
[1]The Hudson's Bay store closes on February 9, leaving a major anchor space vacant.
- 2021
Zellers pop-up receives national attention
[1]A temporary Zellers retail installation in the former Hudson's Bay location attracts national media coverage.
- 2015
Former Target space is divided
[1]Following Target Canada's exit from the market, the former store is divided for Denninger's and relocated Winners, Indigo and Starbucks locations.
- 2013
Target Canada opens
[1]Target Canada opens in the former Zellers space on March 19.
- 2012
Zellers closes
[1]The Zellers store closes on September 17, ending the mall's period as a Zellers-anchored centre.
- 2011
Ownership transition involving RioCan
[1]Ivanhoé Cambridge's ownership period ends around mid-2011, with RioCan Management Inc. subsequently associated with the property.
- 1995
Robinson's premises transfer to Zellers
[1]After Hudson's Bay Company acquires Robinson's, the Burlington location is transferred to Zellers because The Bay already operates elsewhere in the mall.
- 1991
The Bay takes over the Sears location
[1]The Bay assumes the former Simpsons-Sears store after Sears sells the store lease and fixtures.
- 1968
Burlington Mall opens
[1]Cambridge Leasoholds opens the approximately 60-store Burlington Mall in October, anchored by Simpsons-Sears, Dominion, G.W. Robinson and Famous Players.
- 1959
Burlington Centre Farmers' Market begins
[1]The farmers' market associated with the shopping-centre site begins operating, predating the mall itself.
Products and positioning
A community-serving enclosed shopping centre offering everyday retail, services, dining and seasonal market activity for Burlington and surrounding Ontario communities.
Retail property · 1968
Enclosed shopping centre
Burlington Centre provides an enclosed, two-level shopping environment with fashion, home, grocery, specialty retail, dining and everyday services. The first floor is primarily retail-oriented, while the second floor includes further retail space and medical, dental and professional offices. The centre serves Burlington and nearby Ontario communities.
Farmers' market · 1959
Burlington Centre Farmers' Market
The farmers' market operates immediately south of Burlington Centre and has been held since 1959. It provides seasonal access to market goods and community activity connected with the shopping-centre property, although it predates the mall's 1968 opening.
Food and beverage
Food court and dining area
The centre includes a food-court area and related dining facilities integrated into the upper-level mall layout. These facilities support customer visits and complement the centre's retail and service tenants.
Services
Professional and healthcare offices
The second floor includes medical, dental and other professional offices, extending Burlington Centre's role beyond shopping and providing recurring local services within the mall building.
Brand decisions
2025
Respond to Hudson's Bay anchor closureStrategyBackground
The Hudson's Bay location was a long-standing department-store anchor within the mall.
Action taken
Hudson's Bay closed the location on February 9, 2025.
Aftermath
The closure left a major anchor space vacant. A subsequent redevelopment or replacement strategy is not established in the available reference material.
2015
Subdivide the former Target premisesStrategyBackground
Target Canada's withdrawal left a large department-store footprint vacant.
Action taken
The former Target space was divided among Denninger's, relocated Winners and Indigo stores, and Starbucks locations.
Aftermath
The reconfiguration replaced a single large-format tenant with a more diversified mix of grocery, specialty retail and food-service uses.
2013
Lease former Zellers space to Target CanadaProduct launchBackground
Zellers vacated its Burlington Centre location in September 2012, creating a large anchor vacancy in a changing Canadian retail market.
Action taken
Target Canada opened in the former Zellers premises on March 19, 2013.
Aftermath
Target Canada closed its Canadian operations in early 2015, after which the space was subdivided for several retailers and service uses.
Sources2 sources
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