Park Royal Shopping Centre
A major shopping centre and transit hub in West Vancouver and X̱wemelch'stn, British Columbia.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Park Royal Shopping Centre is a large retail complex in West Vancouver and X̱wemelch'stn, British Columbia, Canada. Opened in 1950, it is widely identified as Canada's first covered shopping mall. The centre was developed alongside the Guinness family's British Properties residential project and took its name from Park Royal, a district of London associated with the Guinness brewery. Its location on Marine Drive, close to the Lions Gate Bridge approach and the communities of West Vancouver and North Vancouver, helped establish it as a major commercial destination on the North Shore. The property is divided by Marine Drive into two principal sections: Park Royal North and Park Royal South. The North Mall represents the original portion of the centre. Its early anchor was Woodward's, supported by Woodward's Food Floors. The South Mall was added in 1962, bringing SuperValu and Eaton's into the complex, and was expanded again during the mid-1970s. That later development added a second level and introduced a Hudson's Bay department store. The physical separation created by Marine Drive is bridged through major intersections at Main Street and Marine Drive and at Taylor Way and Marine Drive, together with a pedestrian overpass near Shoppers Drug Mart. Park Royal's tenant and physical configuration changed substantially over time. When Woodward's closed in 1993, Hudson's Bay moved into its former location. The former Food Floors space was subsequently adapted for other uses, including a government liquor store, London Drugs and Rogers Video, the latter of which is no longer present. In late 2004, the centre opened The Village, a 238,000-square-foot open-air expansion designed for the relatively affluent West Vancouver market. The project cost approximately C$30 million according to the cited reference material and was intended to provide a lifestyle-centre experience, with a design influenced by Whistler Village. It replaced a bowling alley and golf practice range. Beginning in 2013, Park Royal entered another period of substantial renovation and repositioning. The programme added or refreshed a mixture of fashion, lifestyle, home, electronics, sporting-goods, food-service and value-oriented tenants. Retailers associated with the newer environment include Urban Outfitters, Zara, H&M, Aritzia and Anthropologie. The South Mall's food court was moved to the second floor in 2015, with operators such as Booster Juice, Freshii and Chatime. That year, Simons opened in space previously occupied by Extra Foods, adding a major Canadian department-store and fashion anchor. In 2017, Miniso replaced The Canpets. A Cineplex VIP cinema opened above The Brick in April 2019, extending the centre's entertainment offer. The centre's retail mix includes large-format anchors such as Best Buy, Staples, La Maison Simons, Sport Chek and Dollarama, alongside specialty stores, restaurants and services. Park Royal also functions as the Park Royal Exchange, a principal transit interchange for West Vancouver. It is the western terminus of TransLink's R2 Marine Drive RapidBus and accommodates additional TransLink and West Vancouver Blue Bus routes. This combination of enclosed and open-air retail, major anchors, services, entertainment and public transport makes Park Royal both a shopping destination and an important everyday commercial node for the North Shore. Ownership details, current executive leadership and precise present-day tenant totals are not established by the supplied reference material.
History
Park Royal Shopping Centre emerged in the postwar development of West Vancouver. Its creation was linked to the Guinness family's British Properties residential development, and its name referenced Park Royal in London, where the Guinness brewery had a significant presence. The centre opened in 1950 and is described in the cited reference as Canada's first covered shopping mall. Its initial North Mall was anchored by Woodward's, with a separate Woodward's Food Floors operation providing grocery retail. The property grew through successive additions. In 1962, development on the south side of Marine Drive introduced the South Mall and brought SuperValu and Eaton's into the centre. A further expansion in the mid-1970s added a second floor and a Hudson's Bay store. Marine Drive continued to divide the complex physically, with connections provided through key road intersections and a pedestrian overpass. The centre therefore developed as two related but distinct retail environments rather than as one uninterrupted building. The Guinness family sold the property in 1986. A major tenant transition occurred in 1993, when Woodward's ceased operating. Hudson's Bay subsequently occupied the former Woodward's department-store premises. The former Food Floors area was adapted for a government liquor store, London Drugs and Rogers Video, although Rogers Video later closed. In late 2004, Park Royal added The Village, a 238,000-square-foot lifestyle-centre district. The approximately C$30 million project was designed by F+A Architects of Pasadena and Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership of Vancouver. Rather than extending the traditional enclosed-mall format, The Village emphasized outdoor circulation and sought to evoke the visitor experience of Whistler Village. The development targeted mid-market to upscale lifestyle shopping for West Vancouver and replaced a bowling alley and golf practice range. A new redevelopment cycle began in 2013. The centre refreshed its physical appearance and retail mix, adding brands such as Urban Outfitters, Zara, H&M, Aritzia and Anthropologie. In 2014, West Vancouver approved a permit for the removal of storefront fabric canopies, faux columns and related nautical-themed design elements. The work was intended to create a more unified visual relationship between Park Royal North and Park Royal South. Other changes followed: the South Mall food court moved to the second floor in 2015; Simons took over the former Extra Foods premises that year; Miniso replaced The Canpets in 2017; and Cineplex VIP opened above The Brick on April 3, 2019. Park Royal is also an important transportation facility. The Park Royal Exchange serves as West Vancouver's main bus exchange and sits on Marine Drive. It is the western endpoint of the R2 Marine Drive RapidBus and accommodates other TransLink and West Vancouver Blue Bus services. The centre's current identity therefore combines historic mall infrastructure, open-air lifestyle retail, large anchors, food and entertainment uses, and transit connectivity. The supplied sources do not establish a current owner, operating company, executive roster or complete present-day tenant directory.
- 2019
Cineplex VIP opens
[1]Cineplex opened a VIP cinema above The Brick on April 3.
- 2017
Miniso replaces The Canpets
[1]Miniso took over the location previously occupied by The Canpets.
- 2015
Food court relocation and Simons arrival
[1]The South Mall food court moved to the second floor, and Simons opened in the former Extra Foods location.
- 2014
Exterior design modernization approved
[1]West Vancouver approved changes removing nautical-themed façade elements and creating a more cohesive appearance across the two mall sections.
- 2013
Redevelopment programme begins
[1]Park Royal began major renovations and introduced a newer mix of fashion and lifestyle retailers.
- 2004
Opening of The Village
[1]The Village open-air lifestyle expansion opened with approximately 238,000 square feet of retail and service space.
- 1993
Woodward's closure and Hudson's Bay relocation
[1]After Woodward's closed, Hudson's Bay moved into the former Woodward's premises.
- 1986
Sale by the Guinness family
[1]The Guinness family sold the shopping centre.
- 1975
Mid-1970s expansion
[1]A further development added a second floor and a Hudson's Bay store.
- 1962
South Mall expansion
[1]The centre expanded south of Marine Drive with SuperValu and Eaton's as anchors.
Products and positioning
A major North Shore shopping destination combining traditional enclosed-mall retail, an open-air lifestyle district, large-format anchors, restaurants, entertainment and regional transit access.
Enclosed shopping mall · 1950
Park Royal North
The original side of the centre, located north of Marine Drive. It developed around Woodward's and Woodward's Food Floors and later accommodated Hudson's Bay and other retail and service uses after Woodward's closed.
Enclosed shopping mall · 1962
Park Royal South
The southern section developed through the 1962 expansion and later additions. It contains major anchors, specialty retail, restaurants and the relocated food court, and has been a principal focus of later renovation activity.
Open-air lifestyle centre · 2004
The Village
An approximately 238,000-square-foot open-air expansion opened in 2004. It was designed to provide a lifestyle-oriented shopping environment with outdoor circulation and a character influenced by Whistler Village.
Transit interchange
Park Royal Exchange
The transit facility at Park Royal serves as West Vancouver's main bus exchange. It is the western terminus of the R2 Marine Drive RapidBus and supports additional TransLink and West Vancouver Blue Bus services.
Entertainment venue · 2019
Cineplex VIP
A premium Cineplex cinema located above The Brick. Its opening expanded Park Royal's role beyond shopping into food, leisure and entertainment.
Brand decisions
2014
Modernize the centre's façadesOtherBackground
The two mall sections had different visual treatments, including fabric canopies, faux columns and nautical-themed elements.
Action taken
West Vancouver approved a permit allowing those storefront elements to be removed and the buildings to be refaced.
Aftermath
The stated objective was a more cohesive visual identity between Park Royal North and Park Royal South.
2013
Launch a major renovation and retail repositioningStrategyBackground
Park Royal entered a redevelopment period intended to modernize the property and strengthen its fashion and lifestyle offering.
Action taken
The centre refreshed its buildings and introduced retailers including Urban Outfitters, Zara, H&M, Aritzia and Anthropologie.
Aftermath
The renovation programme continued through subsequent tenant, food-service and façade changes.
2004
Develop an open-air lifestyle districtStrategyBackground
Park Royal sought to expand beyond its traditional enclosed-mall format and target the mid-market to upscale lifestyle segment associated with West Vancouver.
Action taken
The centre created The Village, an approximately 238,000-square-foot open-air expansion modeled in part on the outdoor experience of Whistler Village.
Aftermath
The Village became an additional retail and service district within Park Royal and broadened the centre's physical and commercial format.
Development cost. Approximately C$30 million (2004 opening)
Recent events
- 2019
Cineplex VIP cinema opens above The Brick[1]
Product launch
A Cineplex VIP movie theatre opened above The Brick, adding a premium entertainment venue to Park Royal's retail and leisure mix.
- 2015
Simons opens at Park Royal[1]
Product launch
Canadian retailer Simons moved into space formerly occupied by Extra Foods, adding a department-store fashion anchor to the South Mall.
- 2013
Major renovation and tenant repositioning begins[1]
Other
The shopping centre began a broad renovation programme that introduced and refreshed fashion and lifestyle retailers and sought to create greater visual consistency across the property.
- 2004
The Village lifestyle expansion opens[1]
Product launch
Park Royal opened The Village, an approximately 238,000-square-foot open-air lifestyle expansion aimed at the West Vancouver market.
- 1962
South Mall expansion adds major department-store anchors[1]
Other
The first major South Mall expansion introduced SuperValu and Eaton's as anchor tenants and extended the centre beyond its original North Mall footprint.
- 1950
Park Royal opens as Canada's first covered shopping mall[1]
Other
Park Royal opened in West Vancouver as a pioneering covered shopping centre developed in connection with the Guinness family's British Properties project.
Sources2 sources
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