Metropolis at Metrotown
A large three-storey shopping-centre complex in Burnaby, British Columbia, and one of Canada's largest retail destinations.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Metropolis at Metrotown, commonly known as Metrotown, is a large shopping-centre complex in the Metrotown district of Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. The complex is built around the original Metrotown Centre and later retail expansions, and includes more than 450 shops and services, office buildings, restaurants, entertainment venues, and extensive transit connections. It is adjacent to Metrotown station on the Expo Line of Vancouver's SkyTrain rapid-transit system and is also served by a major bus exchange, making it a regional destination for shoppers arriving from Burnaby, Vancouver, Richmond, New Westminster, and other nearby communities. The first Metrotown Centre opened in 1986 on a large former industrial site. The land had previously been associated with a Ford Canada factory, warehouses, other light-industrial uses, a supermarket, and infrastructure connected with the former Vancouver Interurban railway corridor. The opening coincided with the arrival of a new Woodward's department store, while a Sears Canada store that had operated on part of the site since the early 1950s continued as one of the principal anchors. The centre's development was closely related to the construction of the SkyTrain system and helped accelerate the transformation of the surrounding area into one of Burnaby's principal urban and commercial districts. The complex grew through successive expansions and renovations. A Hudson's Bay store and an additional expansion wing were introduced in 1992. Nearby, Eaton Centre and Station Square developed as separate commercial properties. Pedestrian bridges connected portions of these destinations and the Metrotowers office buildings, creating a broader retail and office environment around the transit station. In 1998, Eaton Centre added Metropolis, a younger-skewing retail collection that included the SilverCity cinema and, for a period, the Rainforest Cafe. After Eaton's ceased operations in 1999, the Metropolis name became associated with that part of the retail complex. A major project completed in 2005 joined Metrotown and Metropolis into a single large retail destination. The enlarged property adopted the name Metropolis at Metrotown and gained many additional stores and what was described as Western Canada's largest food court at the time. Station Square remained a separate development and was not part of the merger. The complex has continued to combine mainstream apparel, department-store-style retail, groceries, books, sporting goods, home products, specialty retail, food service, and entertainment. Its tenant mix has included national and international chains alongside services aimed at the diverse population of the Lower Mainland. The surrounding office component also expanded. Metrotower III began construction in 2008, experienced a pause, and was completed in April 2014, fulfilling the original plan for the Metrotower office complex. The mall experienced another significant tenant change when Sears Canada closed in January 2018 following the retailer's bankruptcy and liquidation. In October 2024, Toys "R" Us closed at the site to make way for planned towers. These changes reflect the continuing redevelopment and reconfiguration of the broader Metrotown district. Metropolis at Metrotown remains a major regional shopping and transportation destination, with approximately 27 million customer visits annually according to cited reference material. Its long-term future is linked to a master plan approved by Burnaby City Council in 2019. That plan envisions the eventual replacement of the existing mall configuration with a mixed-use downtown neighbourhood containing high-rise buildings, retail space, new streets, and pedestrian plazas. The approved planning direction does not mean that the entire existing centre has already been replaced; rather, it establishes a long-range framework for transforming the site while retaining a substantial commercial and urban role in the Metrotown area.
History
Metropolis at Metrotown developed from Metrotown Centre, which opened in 1986 in Burnaby, British Columbia. The site had previously contained a Ford Canada factory, warehouses, light-industrial properties, a supermarket, and land associated with the former Vancouver Interurban railway route. Its location beside the newly developing SkyTrain network gave the centre unusually strong regional accessibility. At opening, the centre was connected with a new Woodward's department store and an existing Sears Canada store that had operated on the site since the early 1950s. The centre expanded in 1992 with a Hudson's Bay store and an additional wing. During the 1990s, the surrounding area acquired several related commercial and office developments, including Eaton Centre, Station Square, and the Metrotowers. Pedestrian overpasses linked parts of these properties. Eaton Centre added a collection called Metropolis in 1998, targeted in part at younger shoppers and featuring a SilverCity cinema and a Rainforest Cafe. When Eaton's closed in 1999, the Metropolis name continued to identify that retail component. A substantial redevelopment completed in 2005 combined Metrotown and Metropolis into one large shopping complex. The unified destination was named Metropolis at Metrotown and received a major increase in retail space, new stores, and a large food court. Station Square was not included in this merger and remained a separate neighbouring development. The resulting complex became one of British Columbia's largest shopping destinations, with a tenant base spanning apparel, groceries, home goods, books, sporting goods, restaurants, entertainment, and services. The office component continued to grow after the retail merger. Construction of Metrotower III began in 2008, was later paused, and resumed sufficiently for completion in April 2014. This completed the original Metrotower plan. Retail composition subsequently changed as individual tenants left or were replaced. Sears Canada closed its Metrotown store in January 2018 after the company's bankruptcy and liquidation. In October 2024, Toys "R" Us also closed at the centre to enable planned tower construction. The mall is closely integrated with regional transportation. Metrotown station is immediately adjacent and serves the Expo Line, while a bus exchange connects the area with communities across Burnaby and nearby municipalities. The broader Metrotown district has also experienced major redevelopment, including the reconstruction of the separate Station Square site. In 2019, Burnaby City Council approved a long-term master plan that anticipates transforming the mall property into a mixed-use downtown neighbourhood with high-rise buildings, retail, new streets, and public plazas. The plan represents a long-range redevelopment direction rather than a completed replacement of the existing shopping centre.
- 2024
Toys "R" Us closes
[1]The tenant closes in October to make way for planned towers.
- 2019
Long-term redevelopment plan approved
[1]Burnaby approves a master plan for eventually transforming the mall site into a mixed-use downtown neighbourhood.
- 2018
Sears Canada closes
[1]The Sears Canada anchor closes following the retailer's bankruptcy and liquidation.
- 2014
Metrotower III is completed
[1]The third office tower is completed after construction began in 2008 and was later paused.
- 2005
Metrotown and Metropolis merge
[1]A major project unifies the two shopping centres under the Metropolis at Metrotown identity.
- 1998
Eaton Centre adds Metropolis
[1]The adjacent Eaton Centre introduces a Metropolis retail section with a SilverCity cinema and Rainforest Cafe.
- 1992
Hudson's Bay expansion
[1]A Hudson's Bay store and an expansion wing are added to the centre.
- 1986
Metrotown Centre opens
[1]The original shopping centre opens in Burnaby with Woodward's and Sears Canada as key anchors.
Products and positioning
A large, transit-connected regional shopping and entertainment destination serving Burnaby and the wider Metro Vancouver area, with a broad mass-market and specialty tenant mix.
Retail destination · 1986
Shopping-centre retail
The complex contains more than 450 shops and services covering apparel, footwear, beauty, books, sporting goods, home products, electronics, groceries, general merchandise, and specialty retail. Named tenants cited in reference material include H&M, Indigo Books and Music, MUJI, Old Navy, Real Canadian Superstore, Sport Chek, T&T Supermarket, Uniqlo, Urban Behavior, Walmart, Winners/HomeSense, Zara, and Aritzia.
Food service · 2005
Food and dining
Food service is a major part of the complex, including restaurants, quick-service venues, and a large multi-vendor food court added through the 2005 expansion. The food offer supports both everyday local visits and the centre's role as a regional shopping destination.
Entertainment · 1998
Cineplex Cinemas
The cinema component originated with the SilverCity theatre introduced in the adjacent Metropolis retail section in 1998 and is now identified among the complex's anchor offerings as Cineplex Cinemas.
Commercial property service · 1986
Transit-connected shopping destination
Metropolis at Metrotown provides a retail and entertainment destination integrated with regional transportation. It is adjacent to Metrotown SkyTrain station and a major bus exchange serving Burnaby and surrounding municipalities.
Brand decisions
2019
Approval of long-term mixed-use redevelopment frameworkStrategyBackground
Burnaby's Metrotown district has undergone sustained densification and redevelopment around the SkyTrain station and surrounding commercial properties.
Action taken
Burnaby City Council approved a long-term master plan that envisions replacing the existing mall configuration with high-rise buildings, retail space, streets, and pedestrian plazas.
Aftermath
The plan established a future redevelopment direction for the site; the existing shopping centre remained in operation while individual tenant and development changes continued.
2005
Unification of Metrotown and MetropolisM&ABackground
The original Metrotown Centre and the adjacent Metropolis retail property operated as separate but connected shopping destinations.
Action taken
A major expansion project combined the two centres into a single shopping complex under the Metropolis at Metrotown name.
Aftermath
The enlarged property became one of the largest shopping centres in British Columbia and gained additional stores and a large food court.
Sources2 sources
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