New Sudbury Centre

New Sudbury Centre is a shopping mall in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Developed from a mid-century strip-mall format, it evolved through repeated expansions and renovations into an enclosed regional shopping centre serving the city and surrounding communities. The centre has approximately 562,619 square feet, or 52,269 square metres, of retail space and about 110 stores. The property began operating in the 1950s as an open-air shopping centre whose stores were accessed from an exterior perimeter. Early anchor businesses included Woolworth and Loblaws, positioned at opposite ends of the complex. A later enclosed section known as Rue La Ronde introduced a more conventional indoor mall environment, including a fountain and seating area. Over time, the centre's layout and tenant mix changed substantially as retail formats, anchors and consumer habits evolved. New Sudbury Centre has historically combined department-store, grocery, apparel, electronics, pharmacy, optical, specialty retail and food-service uses. Former facilities at the site included a bowling alley, a Cochrane's hardware store and a Loblaws grocery store in the area now associated with the food court. During the 1970s and 1980s, the Little Joe's pinball arcade operated near the former bowling alley and became a notable youth-oriented entertainment venue. The Family Vision Centre is identified as the only service or business remaining from the mall's original 1972 tenant group. The centre's anchor history reflects broader changes in Canadian retail. In 1994, Wal-Mart acquired and occupied the former Woolco location. In 2005, Walmart opened a new addition behind the former store, which was subsequently demolished as part of a site reconfiguration and parking redesign. The Walmart operation later became a Walmart Supercentre, helping New Sudbury Centre regain recognition as the largest shopping mall in Northern Ontario by retail area. Other major tenants have included LensCrafters, Urban Planet, American Eagle Outfitters and Shoppers Drug Mart. Future Shop originally operated inside the mall before moving to a location in the wider complex associated with the former Sears Garage. Following Future Shop's 2015 closure, that space was taken by Dollarama and Ardene. Sears Canada's liquidation led to the closure of the mall's Sears store on January 14, 2018; the former Sears space was subsequently occupied by Sport Chek and H&M. The food court was renovated for the first time since 1984, with the updated facility opening in February 2017. This project formed part of the centre's continuing modernization as it adapted its customer amenities and tenant mix. New Sudbury Centre remains an active retail destination in Northern Ontario, with its identity built around accessible shopping, large-format anchors, fashion and specialty stores, services, dining and family-oriented convenience.

New Sudbury Centre developed in the 1950s as an open-air shopping centre in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. Its original configuration used a strip-mall layout, with customers entering stores from the exterior perimeter. Woolworth and Loblaws were among the early anchor businesses and occupied opposite ends of the centre. This format reflected the automobile-oriented retail development common in the postwar period. The property later gained an enclosed component known as Rue La Ronde. That area included a fountain and resting space, providing a more traditional indoor shopping environment. The centre was subsequently renovated and reconfigured several times as new retail formats replaced earlier stores and as customer expectations shifted toward enclosed malls, larger anchors and integrated parking. Several former uses illustrate the site's changing commercial history. The food-court area once contained a Loblaws grocery store, while a bowling alley operated in the area later associated with The Source. A Cochrane's hardware store also occupied space in that part of the complex. After the bowling alley closed, Little Joe's pinball arcade opened opposite the former bowling facility and became a popular destination for local youth during the 1970s and 1980s. The Family Vision Centre is identified as the only service or business remaining from the original mall tenants recorded in 1972. The centre's anchor strategy changed significantly in the 1990s and 2000s. In 1994, Wal-Mart purchased and occupied the former Woolco location. In 2005, Walmart built a new addition behind the old store. The former building was demolished, and the parking area was redesigned to improve circulation and usability. The later conversion to a Walmart Supercentre expanded the site's general-merchandise and grocery role and helped New Sudbury Centre regain the distinction of being the largest shopping mall in Northern Ontario. The wider complex also accommodated major specialty and department-store operations. Future Shop first operated within the main mall before moving to a location associated with the former Sears Garage. Future Shop closed in 2015, after which Dollarama and Ardene occupied the space. Sears remained an important anchor until January 14, 2018, when its store closed during the liquidation of Sears Canada's operations. The former Sears premises later became home to Sport Chek and H&M. New Sudbury Centre has continued to update its customer facilities. Its food court underwent a major renovation planned as the first such upgrade since 1984, and the renewed area opened in February 2017. The centre's current role combines large-format retail, fashion, pharmacy and optical services, sporting goods, discount retail, dining and other everyday shopping needs. With approximately 110 stores and 562,619 square feet of retail space, it functions as a significant retail destination for Greater Sudbury and the surrounding Northern Ontario market.

• 2018

  Sears closes

  [1]New Sudbury Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The Sears store closes on January 14 during the liquidation of Sears Canada's operations; Sport Chek and H&M later occupy the former space.

• 2017

  Food-court renovation completed

  [1]New Sudbury Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The renovated food court opens in February after an upgrade described as the first since 1984.

• 2015

  Future Shop closes

  [1]New Sudbury Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The Future Shop operation in the complex closes, with the space later occupied by Dollarama and Ardene.

• 2005

  New Walmart building and parking reconfiguration

  [1]New Sudbury Centreen.wikipedia.org

  A new Walmart addition is built behind the former location; the old building is later demolished and the parking area redesigned.

• 1994

  Wal-Mart takes over the former Woolco location

  [1]New Sudbury Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Wal-Mart acquires the former Woolco space and establishes an anchor presence at the centre.

• Centre opens in a strip-mall format

  [1]New Sudbury Centreen.wikipedia.org

  New Sudbury Centre begins operating in the 1950s with exterior-facing stores, including Woolworth and Loblaws.

A regional, multi-category shopping centre serving Greater Sudbury and Northern Ontario through a combination of large-format anchors, fashion retailers, essential services, specialty stores and food-court amenities.

• General merchandise and grocery anchor

  Walmart Supercentre

  The Walmart Supercentre is a major anchor at New Sudbury Centre, combining general merchandise with grocery and everyday household shopping. Its development followed Walmart's occupation of the former Woolco location and the construction of a newer store addition in the 2000s.

• Apparel

  Fashion and apparel retailers

  The centre's fashion offer includes retailers such as Urban Planet, American Eagle Outfitters, H&M and Ardene. Together, these stores provide casual clothing, youth-oriented fashion, accessories and value-focused apparel across different customer segments.

• Services and specialty retail

  Health, pharmacy and optical services

  Health-related and personal-service businesses have been part of the centre's tenant mix, including Shoppers Drug Mart and LensCrafters. The Family Vision Centre is noted as the only service or business remaining from the original 1972 tenant group.

• Sporting goods

  Sport Chek

  Sport Chek occupies part of the former Sears space and extends the centre's offer into sporting goods, athletic apparel, footwear and related equipment.

• Dining · 2017

  Food court

  The food court is a customer amenity serving quick-service dining and refreshments. It was substantially renovated in the mid-2010s, with the updated facility opening in February 2017.

• 2017

  Modernize the food courtOther

  Background

  The food court had not received a major upgrade since 1984.

  Action taken

  New Sudbury Centre renovated the food-court area and opened the updated facility in February 2017.

  Aftermath

  The project refreshed a central customer amenity and supported the centre's broader modernization.

  Source

• 2005

  Replace the former Walmart building with a newer additionStrategy

  Background

  Walmart had occupied the former Woolco location since 1994. The centre and retailer subsequently pursued a larger, newer configuration behind the original building.

  Action taken

  A new Walmart addition was built, the former building was demolished, and the parking layout was reconfigured.

  Aftermath

  The expanded Walmart Supercentre strengthened the site's anchor role and contributed to New Sudbury Centre's recognition as the largest shopping mall in Northern Ontario.

  Source

1. 1New Sudbury Centreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2New Sudbury Centre official websitenewsudburycentre.ca