Lawrence Allen Centre

Lawrence Allen Centre is a shopping centre in Toronto, Ontario, formerly known as Lawrence Square Shopping Centre. The property is situated on Lawrence Avenue West, immediately west of Allen Road, in the Lawrence Heights area of North York. Its location places it near the Lawrence West station on the Toronto Transit Commission's subway network and provides access to several local bus routes. The centre also forms a terminating vista for Marlee Avenue, giving it a notable position within the surrounding street pattern. The centre is owned by RioCan, a major Canadian owner and operator of retail properties. It is described as one of Toronto's twenty largest shopping malls. Its tenant mix is oriented toward practical, everyday shopping rather than luxury retail. The first two floors are devoted primarily to retail and dining, while the third and fourth floors contain office space. Major anchors include Canadian Tire on the west side of the property and Fortinos, operated by Loblaw Companies Limited, on the northwest side. Other significant tenants have included Dollarama, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, The Source, Showcase, Structube, Toys "R" Us, and Babies "R" Us. The centre's retail composition changed substantially after the closure of Zellers. Plans to introduce Target Canada into the former Zellers space were abandoned when Target withdrew from the Canadian market. The space remained vacant until April 2016, when Marshalls, HomeSense, and PetSmart opened there. These additions broadened the centre's appeal across off-price apparel and home goods, pet supplies, and general household shopping. A former Payless ShoeSource unit was later replaced by a BMO branch and a Pizzaville location after Payless exited the market. Lawrence Allen Centre also includes a second-floor food court with KFC and smaller independent food vendors. A McDonald's location formerly operated there. The centre has undergone several rounds of physical and commercial change. Renovations in 2015 and 2016 prepared the former Zellers area for its replacement tenants. A broader redevelopment began in September 2017 and was completed in phases by the end of 2018, including work on the two retail levels, an expanded food court, and new public washrooms. The property was renamed Lawrence Allen Centre on October 3, 2019, in connection with the shopping centre's thirtieth anniversary. The new name links the property more directly to the surrounding Lawrence Heights and Allen Road area. A community-oriented indoor recreation concept called Rio Play, consisting of two small artificial-turf soccer fields, was subsequently operated in a converted first-floor retail unit across from Fortinos. That space has since been replaced by an LCBO location. The centre is approximately 2.0 kilometres south of Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Although the two malls are unusually close to one another for major suburban Toronto shopping centres, their tenant mixes and positioning have historically differentiated them rather than placing them in direct competition. Lawrence Allen Centre therefore functions primarily as a neighbourhood and convenience-oriented retail hub serving nearby residents, transit users, office occupants, and the broader North York community.

Lawrence Allen Centre is a Toronto shopping centre located on Lawrence Avenue West, west of Allen Road, in the Lawrence Heights district of North York. It was originally known as Lawrence Square Shopping Centre and later adopted its present name on October 3, 2019. The renaming was associated with the property's thirtieth anniversary and gave the centre a name more closely connected to the surrounding Lawrence and Allen-area geography. The property is owned by RioCan and has developed as a practical, community-serving retail centre rather than a luxury or destination mall. Its first two floors contain retail space and a food court, while the third and fourth floors are used for offices. Canadian Tire occupies the west side as one of the main anchors, while Fortinos, part of Loblaw Companies Limited, anchors the northwest side. The centre is accessible from Lawrence West station on the Toronto Transit Commission subway system and by multiple bus routes. Its position at the end of Marlee Avenue also gives it a distinctive urban presence. A major change to the tenant mix followed the decline and closure of Zellers. Zellers formerly occupied space on the east side of the centre and became vacant in early 2013. There were plans to use a smaller-format Target Canada store in the space, but those plans were cancelled after Target withdrew from Canada. The area remained vacant until April 14, 2016, when Marshalls, HomeSense, and PetSmart opened. The three tenants introduced off-price clothing and home goods alongside pet-related retail and helped replace the role of the former department-store space. The centre's other tenants have included Dollarama, the LCBO, The Source, Showcase, Structube, Toys "R" Us, and Babies "R" Us. Payless ShoeSource formerly operated on the lower floor near the main entrance, but its unit was later replaced by a BMO branch and a Pizzaville location after the footwear chain exited the market. The second-floor food court includes KFC and smaller independent eateries; McDonald's previously operated in the food-court area. Renovations to the former Zellers space took place from 2015 to 2016. A more extensive redevelopment began in September 2017 and was completed in stages by the end of 2018. The work focused on the two retail levels, expansion of the food court, and installation of new public washrooms. At one point, a converted first-floor unit across from Fortinos hosted Rio Play, an indoor community recreation facility with two small artificial-turf soccer fields. Rio Play was named for and operated by the mall's operators, and the unit has since been replaced by an LCBO store. The centre has also been part of broader debates about redevelopment in Lawrence Heights. An earlier twenty-year neighbourhood plan, initiated in 2007, contemplated demolishing Lawrence Square to permit a northward extension of Marlee Avenue and new public-housing-related development. The proposal also envisioned changes affecting two nearby public schools and the use of land for retail. After the retirement of local councillor Howard Moscoe, subsequent consultations under councillor Josh Colle produced a revised direction. The city ultimately moved away from demolishing the mall and instead supported retaining Lawrence Allen Centre in place. The property lies roughly 2.0 kilometres south of Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Although their proximity is unusual among Toronto's major suburban malls, they have generally served different shopping needs because of their distinct tenant mixes. Lawrence Allen Centre's combination of groceries, hardware, discount merchandise, home goods, pet products, food, and local services gives it a convenience and neighbourhood-retail role within North York.

• 2019

  Lawrence Square becomes Lawrence Allen Centre

  [1]Lawrence Allen Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The shopping centre adopted its current name on October 3 as part of its thirtieth-anniversary rebranding.

• 2018

  Redevelopment completed in phases

  [1]Lawrence Allen Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The phased redevelopment was completed by the end of the year, with an expanded food court and new public washrooms among the changes.

• 2017

  Major redevelopment starts

  [1]Lawrence Allen Centreen.wikipedia.org

  A broader centre redevelopment began in September, including improvements to retail areas and common facilities.

• 2016

  Marshalls, HomeSense, and PetSmart open

  [1]Lawrence Allen Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The former Zellers area reopened on April 14 with Marshalls, HomeSense, and PetSmart.

• 2015

  Renovation of former Zellers area begins

  [1]Lawrence Allen Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Work began to adapt the former Zellers space for replacement retail tenants.

• 2013

  Zellers space becomes vacant

  [1]Lawrence Allen Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The former Zellers space on the east side of the centre became vacant after the department store ceased operating there.

A neighbourhood-oriented Toronto shopping centre combining grocery, hardware, discount, home, pet, food, and everyday-service tenants, with convenient subway and bus access.

• Hardware and general merchandise anchor

  Canadian Tire

  Canadian Tire is one of the centre's principal anchor stores and contributes hardware, automotive, seasonal, sporting, household, and general merchandise to the property's everyday-shopping offer.

• Grocery anchor

  Fortinos

  Fortinos, operated by Loblaw Companies Limited, anchors the northwest side of the shopping centre and provides grocery shopping and related food offerings for nearby residents.

• Off-price apparel and home retail · 2016

  Marshalls

  Marshalls occupies part of the former Zellers area and adds off-price clothing, footwear, accessories, and home merchandise to the centre's tenant mix.

• Home furnishings and décor · 2016

  HomeSense

  HomeSense opened in the former Zellers space alongside Marshalls and PetSmart, offering discounted furniture, décor, housewares, and related home products.

• Pet supplies and services · 2016

  PetSmart

  PetSmart forms part of the replacement tenant group introduced in 2016 and serves the local market with pet food, supplies, accessories, and related products.

• Alcohol retail

  LCBO

  The Liquor Control Board of Ontario is among the centre's major tenants and occupies space that previously hosted the Rio Play indoor soccer concept.

• 2019

  Rename Lawrence Square Shopping CentreStrategy

  Background

  The centre marked its thirtieth anniversary and sought an identity associated with its Lawrence and Allen-area location.

  Action taken

  The property was renamed Lawrence Allen Centre on October 3, 2019.

  Aftermath

  The new name became the centre's current public identity.

  Source

• 2017

  Undertake phased shopping-centre redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The property required modernization of its retail areas and common facilities.

  Action taken

  Redevelopment began in September 2017 and included work on the two retail floors, an expanded food court, and new public washrooms.

  Aftermath

  The work was completed in phases by the end of 2018.

  Source

• 2016

  Replace the former Zellers anchor spaceStrategy

  Background

  The former Zellers unit became vacant, and a proposed Target Canada store was abandoned after Target exited the Canadian market.

  Action taken

  The space was renovated and ultimately divided among Marshalls, HomeSense, and PetSmart.

  Aftermath

  The new tenants reopened the area on April 14, 2016, creating a more diversified off-price, home, and pet-retail offer.

  Source

• Retain the shopping centre under the revised Lawrence Heights planStrategy

  Background

  An earlier neighbourhood redevelopment concept proposed demolishing Lawrence Square to extend Marlee Avenue northward and support new development.

  Action taken

  Following further community consultation and a change in local political leadership, the city moved away from demolishing the mall and adopted a plan that left the centre in place.

  Aftermath

  Lawrence Allen Centre continued operating as an established retail property within the neighbourhood.

  Source

1. 1Lawrence Allen Centreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Lawrence Allen Centre official websitelawrenceallencentre.com