Galeries de la Capitale
A large enclosed shopping and entertainment centre in Quebec City, anchored by major retailers and the Méga-Parc indoor amusement park.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Galeries de la Capitale is a major enclosed shopping and entertainment centre in Quebec City, Quebec, situated in the Les Rivières borough. Opened in August 1981, the centre was developed from an idea associated with businessman Marcel Adams and originally brought together several major Canadian department-store and grocery operators. Its first ownership structure combined Les Développements Iberville, the real-estate company associated with Adams, with Eaton Properties and Markborough Properties, the latter connected with the Hudson’s Bay Company. The property has grown into one of Quebec’s largest shopping centres. It contains approximately 1.35 million square feet of space and has been described as Quebec City’s largest mall, the second-largest in Quebec after Carrefour Laval, and one of Canada’s largest enclosed malls. The centre has historically included roughly 280 stores and 35 restaurants, although tenant counts and composition change over time. Its retail mix combines department stores, fashion, sporting goods, electronics, housewares, toys, food and beverage, and leisure attractions. The mall’s most distinctive feature is Méga-Parc, an indoor amusement park first opened in 1988. After nearly three decades of operation, the park closed in 2017 for a comprehensive redevelopment and reopened in January 2019 with a steampunk-inspired design. The renewed attraction includes 18 rides and attractions, including renovated versions of several earlier rides and new installations. Its Zénith wheel was promoted as the first Ferris wheel in North America without conventional spokes. Méga-Parc also includes Patinarium, an indoor skating circuit designed to surround the amusement area and equipped with colour-changing LED lighting. The attraction draws visitors from outside the immediate Quebec City market as well as local shoppers. Galeries de la Capitale also contains Quebec City’s only IMAX theatre. The theatre has been described as having Canada’s largest IMAX screen, giving the centre an entertainment role beyond conventional retail. Other notable anchors and major tenants have included Hudson’s Bay, Simons, Sports Experts and Atmosphère, Toys “R” Us, Best Buy and IMAX, while a RONA l’Entrepôt operates in the surrounding parking area. The exact tenant roster has changed through department-store closures, relocations and expansions. The property has experienced several important retail transitions. Woolco joined the original tenant group in 1981 and was converted to Walmart in the 1990s. Walmart later moved to a nearby standalone location, and the former in-mall space was occupied by Zellers from 2002. Zellers was replaced by Target in 2013, but Target exited Canada in 2015. Simons subsequently expanded and relocated into the former department-store space in 2018. Eaton’s also underwent a major transition: its Galeries de la Capitale store survived the company’s late-1990s contraction, was acquired by Sears Canada after Eaton’s bankruptcy in 1999, and operated under the Sears banner until Sears Canada’s liquidation in 2017. Ownership has likewise changed several times. The mall was sold in 2005 to a consortium led by the Canada Pension Plan, with Osmington and Westerkirk as minority partners. In 2013, Oxford Properties and the Canada Pension Plan each acquired a 50 percent interest, with Oxford assuming management responsibilities. On October 1, 2024, Primaris REIT acquired the property for a reported C$325 million. Galeries de la Capitale remains an active regional shopping and entertainment destination serving Quebec City and surrounding communities.
History
Galeries de la Capitale was conceived as a large regional shopping centre for Quebec City by businessman Marcel Adams. It opened in August 1981 in an area that was then relatively undeveloped. The initial ownership combined Les Développements Iberville, Adams’s real-estate company, with Eaton Properties and Markborough Properties. The centre opened with about 190 stores and a group of important anchors, including Eaton’s, The Bay, Provigo, Cooprix and Simons. Woolco joined the tenant mix later in the same year. The centre expanded its role beyond conventional retail in 1988 with the opening of Méga-Parc, an indoor amusement park. The attraction included approximately 20 rides and facilities, including a Ferris wheel, roller coasters and an ice rink. Its presence helped distinguish Galeries de la Capitale from other enclosed malls and contributed to its development as a family-oriented destination. Tenant changes during the 1990s and 2000s reflected broader transformations in Canadian department-store retail. Woolco became Walmart in 1994 following Walmart’s entry into Canada. Walmart later left the mall and moved to a nearby standalone location. The former in-mall premises were subsequently occupied by Zellers, which opened there in July 2002 after relocating from another Quebec City-area site. Eaton’s considered the Galeries de la Capitale store during its nationwide downsizing in 1997, but the location remained open. When Eaton’s entered bankruptcy in 1999, Sears Canada acquired the store, which changed to the Sears banner without an intervening closure. Sears Canada later announced the closure of all of its remaining stores, including this location, in 2017. The property changed hands in December 2005 in a transaction reported at C$358 million. The buyers were a consortium consisting of the Canada Pension Plan, with an 80 percent interest, and Toronto-based Osmington and Westerkirk, each with 10 percent. Redcliff Realty Management was appointed to manage the mall. In June 2013, Oxford Properties and the Canada Pension Plan acquired equal 50 percent interests, and Oxford assumed management. The mall continued to add and reorganize retail space. A new section opened in 2011 between the upper-level McDonald’s and the IMAX theatre, bringing Best Buy, Sports Experts and a new Toys “R” Us. In 2013, Zellers was replaced by Target. Target withdrew from Canada in 2015, after which Simons expanded its presence and moved into the former space in March 2018, taking approximately 80,000 square feet. Other portions of the vacant premises were divided among smaller retailers. Further renovations took place during the 2010s. The Bay received a major refurbishment in 2016, while tenants such as Urban Planet, Sephora, Old Navy, Browns Shoes and Mountain Equipment Company were added. The food court was moved to the second floor near Méga-Parc, and Dollarama returned to the centre. Méga-Parc closed in September 2017 after almost 30 years of operation for a major redesign. It reopened on January 18, 2019, with a steampunk theme and 18 attractions, 14 of them new. Four earlier rides—the Force G gravity ride, Condor aircraft ride, Carrousel and Électro roller coaster—were renovated and retained. The redesigned park introduced Zénith, described as the first Ferris wheel in North America without spokes, and Patinarium, an illuminated skating circuit surrounding the amusement area and described as Canada’s longest trail of its type. In 2023, the Zellers name returned to the centre in a smaller format inside the Hudson’s Bay store. On October 1, 2024, Primaris Real Estate Investment Trust acquired Galeries de la Capitale for a reported C$325 million. The property remains an active Quebec City retail and entertainment destination, combining large-format shopping, restaurants, cinema and indoor attractions.
- 2024
Primaris REIT acquisition
[3]Primaris Real Estate Investment Trust acquires Galeries de la Capitale on October 1.
- 2023
Zellers returns in shop-in-store format
[1]Zellers returns to the mall as a smaller department within the Hudson’s Bay store.
- 2019
Redeveloped Méga-Parc reopens
[1]The redesigned park opens with a steampunk theme, 18 attractions, Zénith and Patinarium.
- 2018
Simons expands and relocates
[1]Simons moves into the former Target space and expands to approximately 80,000 square feet.
- 2017
Méga-Parc closes for redevelopment
[1]The original amusement park closes after nearly three decades for a major renovation.
- 2015
Target exits and redevelopment of former space begins
[1]Target closes its Canadian operations, leaving the former Zellers space available for later tenant reconfiguration.
- 2013
Oxford Properties becomes co-owner and manager
[1]Oxford Properties and the Canada Pension Plan acquire equal ownership interests, with Oxford taking over management.
- 2011
New retail wing opens
[1]The centre adds a retail section featuring Best Buy, Sports Experts and Toys “R” Us.
- 2005
Ownership transfers to pension-led consortium
[1]A consortium led by the Canada Pension Plan acquires the property, with Osmington and Westerkirk as minority partners.
- 1999
Eaton’s location becomes Sears
[1]Sears Canada acquires the Galeries de la Capitale Eaton’s store after Eaton’s bankruptcy and converts it to the Sears banner.
Products and positioning
A regional destination mall combining large-scale shopping with distinctive indoor entertainment, particularly Méga-Parc and an IMAX cinema.
Indoor amusement park · 1988
Méga-Parc
Méga-Parc is the mall’s signature indoor entertainment attraction. Originally opened in 1988, it was extensively rebuilt after closing in 2017 and reopened in 2019 with a steampunk visual identity. The current attraction includes 18 rides and activities, including the Zénith Ferris wheel, the Électro roller coaster, Force G, Condor, Carrousel and the Patinarium skating circuit.
Cinema and entertainment
IMAX theatre
The IMAX theatre is a major entertainment component of Galeries de la Capitale and has been identified as Quebec City’s only IMAX venue. Reference material describes its screen as the largest IMAX screen in Canada, although screen specifications and operating details may change over time.
Shopping mall · 1981
Retail and dining centre
Galeries de la Capitale provides a broad mix of department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants and services. Major or notable tenants have included Hudson’s Bay, Simons, Sports Experts and Atmosphère, Toys “R” Us, Best Buy and other fashion, beauty, home and sporting-goods retailers.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Best Buy opening concert
Quebec City
The opening of Best Buy’s first Quebec City store at Galeries de la Capitale was supported by a free in-store concert by Simple Plan on September 19, 2011.
Outcome. The event accompanied the launch of the new retail section and generated a public-facing entertainment moment for the mall.
Brand decisions
2024
Primaris REIT acquisitionM&ABackground
The property had previously been jointly owned by Oxford Properties and the Canada Pension Plan since 2013.
Action taken
Primaris Real Estate Investment Trust acquired Galeries de la Capitale on October 1, 2024.
Aftermath
The mall became part of Primaris’s Canadian shopping-centre portfolio.
Reported acquisition price. C$325 million (Transaction completed October 1, 2024)
2018
Simons expansion into former Target spaceStrategyBackground
Target’s departure from Canada in 2015 left a large department-store unit available for redevelopment.
Action taken
Simons relocated within the mall and expanded its footprint to approximately 80,000 square feet, while the remaining space was divided among smaller retailers.
Aftermath
The change preserved a major department-store presence in the centre and diversified the former Target premises.
2017
Decision to redevelop Méga-ParcGeneration changeBackground
The original indoor amusement park had operated for almost 30 years and was closed for a major renovation.
Action taken
The park was redesigned around a steampunk theme, with new rides and renovated versions of selected legacy attractions.
Aftermath
Méga-Parc reopened in January 2019 with 18 attractions, including Zénith and Patinarium.
Sources3 sources
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