Devonshire Mall

Devonshire Mall is a regional shopping centre in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and the largest mall in the city by store count. It opened in August 1970 on the former Devonshire Raceway site, a horse-racing venue that had operated from 1935. The original centre was developed by Windsor-based Cambridge Leaseholds Ltd. and opened with approximately 497,200 square feet of retail space. Its initial anchor lineup included Simpson-Sears on the north side and Miracle Mart, together with an adjacent Miracle Food Mart, on the south side. The opening complex also provided banking branches, a community auditorium and a two-screen Famous Players cinema, giving the property a combination of retail, entertainment and civic functions. The centre expanded repeatedly as Windsor's retail market developed. A major east-side addition was completed in 1973 and provided space for Simpson's and C.H. Smith, a local department-store name also known as Smith's of Windsor. Marks & Spencer acquired Smith's in 1975 and removed the original nameplate. Further work in 1985 added retail space and a food court. A 1995 project created a southeast entrance by reducing the footprint of the former Miracle Mart building; the remaining area was subsequently used by Zellers until that retailer left in 2012. Between 1999 and 2002, Devonshire added a 12-screen cinema and accommodation for approximately 15 stores. Additional changes were made in 2008 and 2018. Ownership and management have changed as the property matured. Ivanhoé Cambridge sold its 50 percent interest in 2015 to the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan, which already held the other half. In 2016, the pension plan announced a substantial modernization program intended to refresh the centre, introduce new tenants and enlarge the food court. The redevelopment was expected to take about two years and was publicly described as costing approximately C$70 million. The former Zellers space was also used for a Target store before Target exited Canada. The mall's anchor portfolio has continued to evolve. Sears operated a major store at Devonshire until the location closed in 2018. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the vacant or shuttered Sears premises were repurposed in 2021 as a mass vaccination site through cooperation among Windsor Regional Hospital, the City of Windsor and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. In 2022, the property was sold by the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan to H&R REIT and has been operated by Primaris REIT. In 2024, management announced another redevelopment concept for the former Sears site. The plan called for demolishing the mostly vacant building and creating a new entrance incorporating relocated Sport Chek and Mark's stores. Primaris indicated that additional uses under consideration could include hotels, residential accommodation or entertainment facilities. The mall also experienced a temporary Hudson's Bay closure in July 2024 because of an air-conditioning failure. Hudson's Bay later announced broad liquidation activity in March 2025 amid financial difficulties, with liquidation sales beginning at the Devonshire location in late March. Devonshire Mall remains an active regional retail and services destination with more than 175 stores and a long-standing role in Windsor's commercial landscape.

Devonshire Mall opened in August 1970 in Windsor, Ontario, on land formerly occupied by Devonshire Raceway. The raceway had operated since 1935, and its redevelopment reflected the shift toward enclosed suburban retail centres in the region. Cambridge Leaseholds Ltd. developed the project at a reported construction cost of approximately C$15 million. The original 497,200-square-foot centre was anchored by Simpson-Sears and Miracle Mart, with Miracle Food Mart nearby. It also included financial institutions, a community auditorium and a two-screen Famous Players cinema. The first major expansion followed in 1973, when the east side was enlarged by approximately 250,000 square feet. The addition accommodated Simpson's and C.H. Smith, also known as Smith's of Windsor. Marks & Spencer acquired Smith's in 1975 and removed the local store identity. In 1985, Devonshire added more retail space and a food court. A 1995 project reshaped the south side, creating a southeast entrance and reducing the former Miracle Mart footprint. The residual space was later occupied by Zellers, which remained until 2012. From 1999 through 2002, another major phase added a 12-screen cinema and space for about 15 additional stores. Subsequent alterations took place in 2008 and 2018. These successive projects allowed Devonshire to accommodate changing department-store formats, new specialty retailers and evolving expectations for dining and entertainment. With more than 175 stores, it became the dominant enclosed shopping centre in Windsor. The property was jointly owned by Ivanhoé Cambridge and the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan until 2015, when Ivanhoé Cambridge sold its half to the pension plan. In 2016, the new sole owner announced a major renovation intended to modernize the interior, expand the food court and attract additional tenants. The program was expected to last approximately two years and was publicly estimated at about C$70 million. The former Zellers premises also became a Target location before Target withdrew from Canada. Sears was a significant anchor at Devonshire but closed its store in 2018. In 2021, the vacant Sears space gained a temporary public-health function when Windsor Regional Hospital, the City of Windsor and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit established a mass COVID-19 vaccination site there. The property changed hands again in 2022, when H&R REIT acquired it from the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan. Primaris REIT operates the centre. In 2024, Primaris and mall management outlined a further redevelopment approach centred on the former Sears building. Because the structure had been mostly vacant since 2018, the proposal involved demolition and a new entrance containing relocated Sport Chek and Mark's stores. Other possible components mentioned by the operator included hotels, residences and entertainment uses, although these were described as possibilities under review rather than confirmed tenants or developments. The Hudson's Bay store temporarily closed for roughly one week in July 2024 after an air-conditioning failure. In March 2025, Hudson's Bay announced liquidation activity at numerous locations because of financial conditions, and sales began at its Devonshire store later that month. The mall remains an active regional retail property.

• 2025

  Hudson's Bay liquidation begins at the mall

  [1]Devonshire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Liquidation sales began at the Devonshire Hudson's Bay store after the chain announced broad location closures and liquidation activity.

• 2024

  Former Sears redevelopment proposed

  [1]Devonshire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Management announced a concept involving demolition of the former Sears building, a new entrance and relocated Sport Chek and Mark's stores.

• 2022

  Property acquired by H&R REIT

  [1]Devonshire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  H&R REIT acquired the mall from the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan; Primaris REIT operates the property.

• 2021

  Former Sears becomes vaccination centre

  [1]Devonshire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The shuttered Sears site hosted a mass COVID-19 vaccination operation.

• 2018

  Sears closes

  [1]Devonshire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Sears anchor store closed, leaving a large premises that was later used for other purposes.

• 2016

  Major renovation announced

  [1]Devonshire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A modernization program was announced with new tenants and an enlarged food court.

• 2015

  Ivanhoé Cambridge exits ownership

  [1]Devonshire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Ivanhoé Cambridge sold its 50 percent stake to the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan.

• 2002

  Cinema and store expansion completed

  [1]Devonshire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The 1999–2002 expansion period added a 12-screen cinema and accommodation for approximately 15 stores.

• 1995

  Southeast entrance added

  [1]Devonshire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A new southeast entrance was created while the former Miracle Mart footprint was reduced, later allowing Zellers to occupy the remaining space.

• 1985

  Food-court and retail expansion

  [1]Devonshire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The centre expanded again, adding stores and a food court.

• 1973

  First major expansion

  [1]Devonshire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  An east-side addition of approximately 250,000 square feet added space for Simpson's and C.H. Smith.

• 1970

  Devonshire Mall opens

  [1]Devonshire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The mall opened in August with approximately 497,200 square feet and anchors including Simpson-Sears and Miracle Mart.

• 1935

  Devonshire Raceway begins operation

  [1]Devonshire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The site that would later become Devonshire Mall was occupied by Devonshire Raceway, a horse-racing track.

A large regional shopping centre serving Windsor and the surrounding Windsor-Essex area, combining national retailers, department-store anchors, food and services, and periodic entertainment or community uses.

• Retail · 1970

  Specialty retail stores

  Devonshire Mall's core offering is a broad mix of specialty retailers, including apparel, footwear, beauty, jewellery, electronics, home goods and accessories. The centre's regional scale allows it to combine national chains with smaller stores serving Windsor shoppers.

• Retail · 1970

  Anchor department and large-format stores

  Large-format tenants have historically provided the mall's principal anchors, including Simpson-Sears, Simpson's, Marks & Spencer, Zellers, Target, Sears and Hudson's Bay. Anchor occupancy has changed over time as retailers entered, consolidated or exited the Canadian market.

• Food service · 1985

  Food court and dining

  Dining is an established component of the centre's offer. A food court was added during the 1985 expansion and was later targeted for enlargement as part of the modernization program announced in 2016.

• Entertainment · 1970

  Cinema and entertainment

  The original complex included a two-screen Famous Players cinema. A later expansion completed between 1999 and 2002 added a 12-screen cinema, reinforcing the mall's role as an entertainment destination as well as a retail property.

• Community services · 1970

  Community and public-service space

  The original mall included an auditorium available to community groups. In 2021, the former Sears premises were temporarily adapted into a mass COVID-19 vaccination site, demonstrating the property's capacity to support community functions beyond shopping.

• 2024

  Redevelopment of former Sears siteStrategy

  Background

  The former Sears building had been mostly vacant since 2018, creating a large underused area within the mall.

  Action taken

  Management proposed demolishing the building and constructing a new entrance with relocated Sport Chek and Mark's stores. Hotels, residences and entertainment uses were identified as possible additional components under review.

  Aftermath

  The proposal established a new redevelopment direction for one of the property's largest vacant anchor spaces, but the additional uses were not confirmed in the cited material.

  Source

• 2021

  Conversion of former Sears premises into vaccination siteOther

  Background

  The Sears store had closed, and the COVID-19 response required large accessible venues for mass immunization.

  Action taken

  The former anchor space was made available for a vaccination centre operated through cooperation among Windsor Regional Hospital, the City of Windsor and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

  Aftermath

  The mall temporarily served a major public-health function during the pandemic.

  Source

• 2016

  Modernization and food-court expansionStrategy

  Background

  The mall's ownership sought to refresh the property, improve its dining offer and attract new tenants.

  Action taken

  A renovation program was announced, including new tenant space and an expanded food court.

  Aftermath

  The program represented a major repositioning effort as the centre adapted to changing retail formats and anchor-store turnover.

  Expected renovation cost. Approximately C$70 million (2016 announcement; approximately two-year program)

  Source

1. 1Devonshire Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Devonshire Mall official websitedevonshiremall.com