Port Place Shopping Centre

Port Place Shopping Centre is a hybrid indoor and outdoor retail complex in downtown Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. The property began in 1952 as a two-store strip mall on the former Nanaimo Sports Grounds site. Its original anchor tenants were Simpsons-Sears and Safeway, reflecting the department-store and grocery-led format common to postwar Canadian retail development. In 1967, the site was expanded with an enclosed shopping-mall section and renamed Harbour Park Mall. Safeway moved into the new mall area, while Fields occupied its former space and Cunningham Drug joined the tenant mix. Cunningham Drug was acquired by Shoppers Drug Mart in 1971, linking the centre to one of Canada's major pharmacy chains. The property expanded again in the early 1980s. During the subsequent years, its tenant and spatial configuration changed considerably. Safeway and Shoppers Drug Mart eventually left, and the Sears operation moved to Rutherford Mall in north Nanaimo. Thrifty Foods replaced Safeway as the supermarket anchor in 1988, while London Drugs opened beside it. The former Sears premises were used temporarily as a bingo hall before being subdivided for Liquidation World, a fitness facility, and other retail uses. In 1997, Liquidation World and most occupants of that former department-store area were required to leave so that the Great Canadian Casino could move into the space; Subway remained because of its long-term lease. A refurbishment programme began in 2000 under the ownership of First Capital Corporation. One of the most visible elements was the removal of several older retail spaces near Fields to create a food court. Delays affected the project, but the food court opened in 2004. The complex was also renamed Port Place after the renovation programme was completed that year. This change marked a transition from the older enclosed Harbour Park format toward a more flexible retail property combining indoor and outdoor components. In 2009, First Capital announced a broader redevelopment concept for the site. The plans retained London Drugs and Thrifty Foods in their existing general locations while proposing new arrangements for the BC Liquor Store, Medical Arts Centre, CIBC, and Subway. Other businesses were expected to close or relocate. Beginning in early 2010, much of the former enclosed mall area between the London Drugs-Thrifty Foods block and the older Safeway-Fields section was demolished. The proposed replacement programme included a strip-mall format, freestanding retail premises, low-rise office and residential space, and a 26-storey condominium tower. The redevelopment was expected to take as long as a decade. Phase Two, consisting of a two-storey retail and office building, was completed in autumn 2013. The centre's principal documented anchor tenants are London Drugs and Thrifty Foods. Its history illustrates the evolution of downtown Canadian shopping property from a mid-century strip mall, to an enclosed regional retail centre, and then to a mixed-use redevelopment with retail, office, and residential ambitions. The available reference material does not identify a current owner, current tenant roster beyond the documented anchors, operating financials, or a standalone corporate management structure.

Port Place originated in 1952 as a two-store strip mall constructed on the site of Nanaimo's former Sports Grounds in the downtown area. Simpsons-Sears and Safeway were the initial anchors, giving the property a department-store and supermarket foundation. The development reflected the early postwar growth of automobile-accessible retail while remaining close to Nanaimo's urban centre. The first major transformation came in 1967, when an enclosed mall section was attached to the original strip development. The enlarged complex became Harbour Park Mall, described in the reference material as Nanaimo's second indoor shopping mall after Northbrook Mall. Safeway moved into the newly created enclosed portion, Fields occupied the former Safeway premises, and Cunningham Drug became another tenant. Cunningham Drug was acquired by Shoppers Drug Mart in 1971, after which the pharmacy presence continued under the Shoppers banner. Harbour Park was expanded again during the early 1980s. Its tenant mix subsequently changed as several long-standing occupants departed. Safeway and Shoppers Drug Mart closed their locations, while Sears relocated to Rutherford Mall in north Nanaimo. Thrifty Foods assumed the supermarket role in 1988, and London Drugs opened next to it. The former Sears space experienced several interim uses, including a bingo hall, before being divided and renovated for Liquidation World, a gym, and other retail businesses. In 1997, Liquidation World and most other businesses in the former Sears area were required to vacate to permit the Great Canadian Casino to enter the space. Subway remained because it held a long-term lease. This episode further altered the balance between conventional retail and entertainment or service uses within the property. The owners began planning a refurbishment in 2000. The project included demolishing a number of older spaces near Fields to create a food court. Although completion was delayed, the food court opened in 2004. The property was renamed Port Place after the renovation programme concluded, establishing the name used today. A more extensive redevelopment was announced in 2009 by owner First Capital Corporation. The proposal kept London Drugs and Thrifty Foods in the general arrangement while moving the BC Liquor Store and Medical Arts Centre to new locations opposite the principal anchors. CIBC and Subway were also expected to relocate within the London Drugs-Thrifty Foods block, and other retailers were expected either to close or move elsewhere in Nanaimo. Starting in early 2010, much of the former interior mall between the London Drugs-Thrifty Foods block and the older Safeway-Fields area was demolished. The redevelopment concept called for a new strip-mall and freestanding-retail arrangement, low-rise office and residential space, and a 26-storey condominium tower. The full programme was projected to take up to ten years. Phase Two, a two-storey retail and office hybrid, was completed in autumn 2013. Port Place therefore represents several generations of Nanaimo retail development: a 1950s strip centre, a 1960s enclosed mall, an expanded 1980s shopping property, and a later mixed-use redevelopment. London Drugs and Thrifty Foods are identified as the principal anchor tenants in the available material. The references do not provide a complete current tenant list, current ownership details, management roster, or financial information.

• 2013

  Phase Two completed

  [1]Port Place Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  A two-storey retail and office building forming Phase Two of the redevelopment is completed in autumn.

• 2010

  Former enclosed mall section is demolished

  [1]Port Place Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Demolition begins on much of the former indoor mall area to make way for the redevelopment.

• 2009

  Comprehensive redevelopment plan announced

  [1]Port Place Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  First Capital Corporation announces plans for a major reconfiguration involving retail, office, residential, and high-rise condominium components.

• 2004

  Food court opens and property is renamed

  [1]Port Place Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  A delayed refurbishment culminates in the opening of a food court, and the complex adopts the Port Place name.

• 1997

  Former Sears area is converted for casino use

  [1]Port Place Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Most businesses in the former Sears premises leave to make room for the Great Canadian Casino, while Subway remains under a long-term lease.

• 1988

  Thrifty Foods becomes supermarket anchor

  [1]Port Place Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Thrifty Foods takes over the supermarket role previously associated with Safeway.

• 1980

  Further expansion in the early 1980s

  [1]Port Place Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Harbour Park receives another expansion that adds retail space.

• 1971

  Cunningham Drug becomes Shoppers Drug Mart

  [1]Port Place Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Cunningham Drug is acquired by Shoppers Drug Mart, changing the pharmacy tenant's brand identity at the centre.

• 1967

  Harbour Park Mall expansion

  [1]Port Place Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  An enclosed mall section is added and the expanded property is named Harbour Park Mall. Safeway moves into the new area, Fields takes over the former Safeway space, and Cunningham Drug joins the centre.

• 1952

  Original strip mall opens

  [1]Port Place Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  A two-store strip mall opens on the former Nanaimo Sports Grounds site, with Simpsons-Sears and Safeway as anchor tenants.

A downtown Nanaimo mixed-use shopping destination combining grocery, pharmacy, general merchandise, food, services, and office-oriented space in an evolving indoor/outdoor format.

• Pharmacy and general merchandise anchor

  London Drugs

  London Drugs is identified as one of Port Place's current anchor tenants in the reference material. Its typical offer combines pharmacy services, health and personal-care products, household goods, consumer electronics, photographic services, and other general merchandise. At Port Place, the store forms part of the principal retail block alongside Thrifty Foods.

• Supermarket anchor · 1988

  Thrifty Foods

  Thrifty Foods serves as the centre's supermarket anchor and replaced Safeway in 1988. The format generally focuses on groceries, fresh food, prepared foods, household essentials, and related supermarket services. Its continued presence is central to Port Place's everyday-needs positioning.

• Food service · 2004

  Food court

  The food court was created as part of the refurbishment programme begun around 2000 and opened in 2004 after delays. It represented an effort to add dwell-time-oriented dining and strengthen the enclosed mall component before the later redevelopment and demolition of much of that area.

• 2009

  Mixed-use redevelopment planStrategy

  Background

  First Capital proposed a substantial reconfiguration of the existing shopping-centre site.

  Action taken

  The plan retained London Drugs and Thrifty Foods while proposing new retail, office, residential, and freestanding commercial space, including a planned 26-storey condominium tower.

  Aftermath

  Demolition began in 2010, and a two-storey retail and office phase was completed in 2013.

  Source

• 2000

  Refurbishment and food-court strategyStrategy

  Background

  The owners sought to modernize Harbour Park and improve its tenant and visitor mix after years of changes among the department-store, grocery, and pharmacy anchors.

  Action taken

  Several older spaces near Fields were removed to create a food court, which ultimately opened in 2004.

  Aftermath

  The refurbishment was completed and the property was renamed Port Place, although a larger redevelopment followed later in the decade.

  Source

• 2013

  Phase Two of the Port Place development is completed[1]Port Place Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The second phase of the redevelopment, a two-storey retail and office hybrid, was completed in autumn 2013.

• 2010

  Demolition begins for the Port Place redevelopment[1]Port Place Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Demolition began on much of the former enclosed mall area to enable a new configuration of retail, office, residential, and freestanding commercial space.

• 2009

  First Capital announces redevelopment plans for Port Place[1]Port Place Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  First Capital Corporation disclosed plans to substantially reorganize and redevelop the Port Place site, retaining London Drugs and Thrifty Foods while relocating or closing several other occupants.

1. 1Port Place Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org