Cedarbrae Centre

Cedarbrae Centre, formerly known as Cedarbrae Mall, is a neighborhood shopping centre in the Cedarbrae area of Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario. The property occupies a prominent intersection at Markham Road and Lawrence Avenue East and serves nearby residential communities through a combination of grocery, household, automotive, service, and food-oriented retail. Its principal anchors have included No Frills and Canadian Tire, while the centre has also accommodated major tenants such as Woolworth's, Zellers, Steinberg's, Simpsons, Hudson's Bay, Toys "R" Us, Walmart Canada, and Jysk at different points in its history. The centre opened in 1962 as a plaza. Its original retail mix reflected the department-store and supermarket formats common to Canadian suburban shopping developments of that period, with Woolworth's, Zellers, Steinberg's, and Simpsons serving as early anchors. Simpsons was later converted to Hudson's Bay in 1991. Subsequent renovations expanded the Zellers space and added retail areas on both the eastern and western sides of the property, gradually transforming the original plaza into a larger enclosed or partially enclosed shopping destination with multiple retail zones. Cedarbrae's tenant and physical configuration changed substantially from the 1990s onward. In August 1996, Centrefund Realty Corporation acquired the property and announced a redevelopment and renovation program with an estimated budget of approximately CA$20 million. The Canadian portion of Centrefund later adopted the name First Capital REIT Corporation in 2001. During this period and afterward, the centre added or accommodated No Frills, Canadian Tire, Toys "R" Us, a food court, and upper- and lower-level retail space. A Jysk location also opened west of No Frills, although that store was described as separate from the mall proper. The former Zellers space changed hands during the Canadian retail realignment of 2012. It was initially acquired by Target, then sold to Walmart Canada, which opened a Walmart store in late 2012. Walmart subsequently closed permanently on January 31, 2019. The vacant space was reported to have been occupied by new tenants in the second quarter of 2024, although the available reference material does not identify all of those tenants. A major renovation took place in mid-2013 under Cinric Construction. The work replaced interior and exterior lighting, introduced automatic and energy-efficient washrooms, renewed floor and ceiling finishes, repaved the parking lot, upgraded the food-court environment, and refreshed the centre's visual identity. Most construction was completed by late 2013, with carpets, seating, and related finishing work completed afterward. The renovated food court, branded Food Emporium, finished somewhat later than the main works. Today, Cedarbrae Centre is best understood as a local convenience and service-oriented retail centre rather than a regional destination mall. Its role is anchored by everyday shopping, groceries, automotive-related retail, prepared food, and neighborhood services. The centre's long operating history and repeated anchor changes illustrate the evolution of Toronto's suburban retail landscape, from mid-century department-store plazas to contemporary convenience-led shopping centres.

Cedarbrae Centre began operating in 1962 as a shopping plaza at the intersection of Markham Road and Lawrence Avenue East in Scarborough, Toronto. Its first generation of anchors included Woolworth's, Zellers, Steinberg's, and Simpsons. These tenants gave the centre a conventional suburban retail profile, combining department-store merchandise with grocery and discount shopping. The centre's anchor history changed over the following decades. Simpsons was converted to Hudson's Bay in 1991. Renovation and expansion work replaced some of the original configuration, enlarged the Zellers store, and added retail space on both the eastern and western sides. The property also developed a larger shopping-centre format, including additional floors and a food-court area. No Frills, Canadian Tire, and Toys "R" Us became important components of the tenant mix. In August 1996, Centrefund Realty Corporation acquired the property. The company announced a redevelopment and renovation program with an estimated budget of approximately CA$20 million. The Canadian portion of Centrefund later changed its name to First Capital REIT Corporation in 2001. The available reference material does not establish the current ownership structure or identify a current named executive for the centre. The former Zellers premises participated in the major Canadian retail changes of 2012. Target first acquired the location, but the space was later sold to Walmart Canada. Walmart opened at the centre in late 2012, adding a large general-merchandise anchor to the property. A Jysk store also opened around the same time west of No Frills, although it was treated as separate from the mall itself. In mid-2013, Cedarbrae underwent a substantial physical renovation carried out by Cinric Construction. The project replaced interior and exterior lighting, installed automatic and energy-efficient washrooms, renewed floor and ceiling finishes, repaved the parking lot, upgraded the food court, and refreshed the centre's branding. Most construction was complete by the end of 2013, with final work involving carpets and seating continuing briefly afterward. The food court, renamed Food Emporium, was completed somewhat later than the main renovation. Walmart closed its Cedarbrae store permanently on January 31, 2019. The former Walmart space was reported to have gained new tenants in the second quarter of 2024, although the available material does not identify them. The centre therefore continues to operate as a local, convenience-led shopping destination whose major role is providing groceries, automotive retail, general merchandise, food, and neighborhood services to Scarborough residents. The property has also been associated with two reported public safety incidents. In December 2008, a young man suffered a knife wound near the mall and a suspect was charged. In June 2017, an individual was arrested after an alleged attempted knife attack outside Canadian Tire. These incidents are recorded as news events rather than as corporate scandals or evidence of a broader institutional controversy.

• 2024

  Former Walmart space receives new tenants

  [1]Cedarbrae Centreen.wikipedia.org

  New tenants are reported to occupy the former Walmart space during the second quarter, though their identities are not specified in the available source.

• 2019

  Walmart closes

  [1]Cedarbrae Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The Walmart store closes permanently on January 31.

• 2013

  Major renovation and rebranding

  [1]Cedarbrae Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Cinric Construction completes a broad modernization involving lighting, washrooms, finishes, parking, food-court improvements, and branding.

• 2012

  Former Zellers space becomes Walmart

  [1]Cedarbrae Centreen.wikipedia.org

  After an intervening Target acquisition, Walmart Canada takes over the premises and opens a store in late 2012.

• 2001

  Canadian operating company changes name

  [1]Cedarbrae Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The Canadian portion of Centrefund adopts the name First Capital REIT Corporation.

• 1996

  Centrefund Realty acquires the property

  [1]Cedarbrae Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Centrefund Realty Corporation acquires Cedarbrae and announces a major expansion and renovation plan.

• 1991

  Simpsons becomes Hudson's Bay

  [1]Cedarbrae Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The Simpsons anchor is converted to a Hudson's Bay store.

• 1962

  Cedarbrae opens as a shopping plaza

  [1]Cedarbrae Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The property opens at Markham Road and Lawrence Avenue East with Woolworth's, Zellers, Steinberg's, and Simpsons among its principal anchors.

A community-oriented Scarborough shopping centre focused on everyday retail, grocery shopping, automotive needs, food, and convenient local services.

• Grocery retail

  No Frills

  A major grocery anchor serving routine food and household shopping needs for the surrounding Scarborough community.

• Automotive and general merchandise

  Canadian Tire

  A major anchor associated with automotive products and services, hardware, seasonal goods, sporting goods, and other household merchandise.

• Food court · 2013

  Food Emporium

  The centre's renovated food-court area, completed after the main 2013 renovation work and positioned as a shared prepared-food and casual dining facility.

• 2013Cedarbrae Centre renovation and rebranding

  Toronto · Scarborough · Canada

  The centre modernized its interior and exterior environment, including lighting, washrooms, floors, ceilings, parking, seating, and food-court facilities, while also refreshing its brand identity.

  Outcome. The main construction was substantially complete by late 2013, and the renovated food court operated under the Food Emporium name.

  Source

• 2019

  Walmart closureOther

  Background

  Walmart's store at Cedarbrae had opened in late 2012 after the former Zellers premises changed operators.

  Action taken

  Walmart permanently closed the store on January 31, 2019.

  Aftermath

  The large premises remained part of the centre's redevelopment and leasing activity and were reported to have new tenants by the second quarter of 2024.

  Source

• 2013

  Physical modernization and food-court upgradeStrategy

  Background

  The centre required updates to its aging interior, exterior, infrastructure, and customer areas.

  Action taken

  Cinric Construction replaced lighting, upgraded washrooms, renewed finishes, repaved the parking lot, improved the food court, and supported a centre rebranding.

  Aftermath

  The refreshed centre presented a more modern environment, with the renovated food court operating as Food Emporium.

  Source

• 2012

  Conversion of former Zellers space to WalmartM&A

  Background

  The Canadian retail sector was undergoing major changes involving the disposition of Zellers locations and Target's Canadian expansion.

  Action taken

  The space was acquired by Target and later sold to Walmart Canada, which opened a Walmart store in late 2012.

  Aftermath

  Walmart became a large general-merchandise anchor until its permanent closure in 2019.

  Source

• 1996

  Redevelopment program following acquisitionStrategy

  Background

  After acquiring the centre, Centrefund Realty identified expansion and renovation as priorities for the property.

  Action taken

  The company announced a redevelopment and renovation program with an estimated budget of approximately CA$20 million.

  Aftermath

  The property subsequently expanded its retail space and evolved from its original plaza configuration.

  Announced redevelopment budget. Approximately CA$20 million (1996 announcement)

  Source

1. 1Cedarbrae Centreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Cedarbrae Mall official websitecedarbraemall.ca