Rockland Centre
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedAn upscale enclosed shopping centre in Mount Royal, Quebec, serving the Montreal metropolitan area.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Rockland Centre, also known in French as Centre Rockland, is an upscale shopping centre in the town of Mount Royal, Quebec, Canada. It occupies a prominent site at the junction of Metropolitan Boulevard, Chemin Rockland and Acadie Boulevard, near Montreal's Park Extension neighbourhood. The centre is positioned as a fashion, lifestyle, food and everyday-services destination, combining international apparel brands with supermarkets, pharmacies, fitness, sporting goods, restaurants and other specialty retailers. The property originated in 1959 as an open-air shopping centre. Its initial tenant mix included Steinberg's, Morgan's, Woolworth's, Holt Renfrew, United Cigars and several dozen smaller businesses. Designed by Victor Prus and Ian Martin, the original centre was notable for introducing a mall-style retail concept to Quebec through a central open walkway lined with stores. Morgan's operated a substantially larger multi-storey department store, while the surrounding centre included retailers such as Reitmans, Laura Secord, Browns Shoes and banking services. Morgan's Montreal stores were converted to The Bay banner in 1972. During the early 1980s, however, Rockland faced increasing competition from newer and larger shopping centres. Its relatively small scale and open-air format were seen as weaknesses, particularly given the affluent character of Mount Royal and the opportunity to serve that market with a more ambitious retail environment. A major redevelopment began in August 1982. Most of the original centre was demolished, while selected buildings and tenants, including Steinberg's and The Bay, were retained or incorporated into the new project. Rockland reopened on August 24, 1983, as a three-level enclosed mall with approximately 175 stores and about 700,000 square feet of space. The redevelopment introduced or expanded major department-store anchors including The Bay, Eaton's, Steinberg's and Holt Renfrew. The project was developed by a group comprising Westcliff Developments, Ivanhoe and Ringold Enterprises, with institutional participation including the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. The reconstruction cost was reported at $65 million at the time. New or enlarged facilities included a Holt Renfrew store, a large Nautilus fitness location, expanded pharmacy space, a multi-level parking structure and a food court. Rockland's tenant composition subsequently changed as Canadian department-store and supermarket businesses evolved. Steinberg's became Metro in 1992, and the former Steinberg's area was later divided among Pharmaprix, a relocated Bank of Montreal branch and other uses. Eaton's remained at the centre until the retailer's 1999 collapse. Its former premises were progressively reallocated to businesses including Linen Chest, Laura, Sports Experts, Renaud-Bray, SAQ and, later, IGA Extra. Sports Experts and the food court exchanged locations in 2005, while the food-court area underwent a major renovation and reopened in early 2019 under the name La Cuisine. An IGA supermarket opened in part of the former Eaton's space in spring 2020. The contemporary centre includes brands such as H&M, Vero Moda, Jack & Jones, Rudsak, Massimo Dutti, Michael Kors, Stuart Weitzman, Zara and Guess. Smaller anchors and service-oriented tenants include IGA Extra, Pharmaprix, Sports Experts, Atmosphere, Nautilus Plus and Dollarama. Hudson's Bay was historically Rockland's largest contemporary tenant, but its store closed in 2025. The centre remains active as a mixed-use retail destination, with boutiques concentrated on the second and third floors, everyday and fitness uses on the first floor, and food-service space on the upper level. The exterior of the former Morgan's/The Bay structure also remains visible from the parking facility, preserving a physical trace of the original centre.
History
Rockland Centre opened in 1959 in Mount Royal, Quebec, as an open-air shopping centre. The original development was designed by architects Victor Prus and Ian Martin and used a central pedestrian corridor lined with shops, a format described as an early introduction of the mall concept in Quebec. The initial centre included Steinberg's, Morgan's, Woolworth's, Holt Renfrew, United Cigars and approximately 35 to 40 other tenants. Reitmans, Laura Secord, Browns Shoes and financial-service businesses were among the smaller occupants. Morgan's was the most substantial building in the original complex. In June 1972, Morgan's Montreal stores were rebranded as The Bay. The Rockland location became one of the retailer's largest Montreal stores outside its downtown branch and continued as a major anchor as the centre developed. By 1982, the open-air centre was losing ground to newer shopping developments. Rockland was considered relatively small and lacked an enclosed format, but its location in the prosperous town of Mount Royal offered a strong redevelopment opportunity. Construction began in August 1982. Most of the original centre was removed, although Steinberg's, The Bay and a limited number of smaller tenants were preserved or integrated into the project. The Bay temporarily closed on January 15, 1983, to renovate its premises. The redeveloped centre reopened on August 24, 1983, with three levels, approximately 175 stores and around 700,000 square feet of space. The new enclosed mall was anchored by The Bay, Eaton's, Steinberg's and Holt Renfrew. The $65 million project was undertaken by Westcliff Developments, Ivanhoe and Ringold Enterprises, with investment from the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and other institutions. The project also included a new Eaton's building, a larger Holt Renfrew store, expanded pharmacy and fitness facilities, and a multi-level parking structure. The former Morgan's/The Bay structure was retained in adapted form, and portions of its exterior remain visible from the parking area. The centre's tenant structure changed repeatedly after the redevelopment. Steinberg's became Metro in 1992. Eaton's was one of the remaining Montreal-area stores when the chain failed in 1999. Its space was progressively occupied by retailers and services including Linen Chest, Laura, Sports Experts, Renaud-Bray and SAQ. Linen Chest moved from the basement to the former Eaton's premises in December 2001, while Sports Experts moved in 2005 and exchanged locations with the food court. The food court was renovated during 2018 and relaunched as La Cuisine in early 2019. An IGA supermarket opened in part of the former Eaton's area in spring 2020. In its contemporary form, Rockland Centre has three floors, although its principal shopping activity is concentrated on the second and third levels. The first floor contains Sports Experts, Nautilus Plus and Dollarama, while the second floor combines boutiques with the IGA Extra anchor. The third floor contains further boutiques and the food court. Fashion tenants have included H&M, Vero Moda, Jack & Jones, Rudsak, Massimo Dutti, Michael Kors, Stuart Weitzman, Zara and Guess. Hudson's Bay remained a major tenant for many years before closing its Rockland store in 2025. The centre continues to operate as an active regional shopping destination for Mount Royal and the Montreal area. In popular culture, the mall was used as a filming location for the first-season finale of the children's television series Are You Afraid of the Dark? in 1992.
- 2025
Hudson's Bay store closes
[1]Hudson's Bay closes its Rockland Centre location, ending the tenure of a long-standing major anchor.
- 2020
IGA opens
[1]An IGA supermarket opens in spring in space associated with the former Eaton's building.
- 2019
La Cuisine launches
[1]The renovated food court reopens under the La Cuisine name after a multi-month closure and refurbishment.
- 2005
Sports Experts and food court exchange locations
[1]Sports Experts moves to the former food-court area, while the food court is relocated to former Eaton's space.
- 2001
Linen Chest moves into former Eaton's space
[1]Linen Chest relocates from the basement to the former Eaton's location on December 5, substantially expanding its footprint at the centre.
- 1999
Eaton's collapses
[1]Rockland's Eaton's store is affected by the retailer's bankruptcy and collapse, beginning the gradual repurposing of its premises.
- 1992
Steinberg's becomes Metro
[1]The Steinberg's supermarket at Rockland changes to the Metro banner.
- 1983
Redeveloped Rockland Centre reopens
[1]The centre reopens on August 24 as a three-level enclosed mall with approximately 175 stores and about 700,000 square feet of space.
- 1982
Major enclosed-mall redevelopment begins
[1]A substantial redevelopment starts to replace the aging open-air format with a larger enclosed shopping centre.
- 1972
Morgan's stores become The Bay
[1]Morgan's Montreal stores, including the Rockland location, are rebranded under The Bay banner.
Products and positioning
An upscale, fashion-oriented regional shopping centre that combines premium and international brands with supermarkets, sporting goods, fitness, pharmacy and food-service offerings for Mount Royal and the wider Montreal market.
Fashion retail
Fashion and luxury boutiques
Rockland Centre's fashion offer includes international fast-fashion and premium labels alongside Canadian and specialty boutiques. Named tenants have included H&M, Zara, Massimo Dutti, Guess, Vero Moda, Jack & Jones, Rudsak, Michael Kors and Stuart Weitzman, giving the centre a mix of accessible fashion, contemporary apparel, accessories and luxury footwear.
Grocery retail · 2020
IGA Extra
IGA Extra provides supermarket and everyday grocery services within the mall. Its opening in spring 2020 broadened Rockland's role beyond fashion and specialty retail and added a major food-shopping anchor to the former Eaton's-area space.
Sporting goods
Sports Experts and Atmosphere
The sporting-goods offer serves outdoor, fitness and athletic needs, including equipment, footwear and apparel. Sports Experts is one of the centre's smaller anchor tenants, with Atmosphere identified as part of the contemporary sporting-goods mix.
Food service · 2019
La Cuisine
La Cuisine is Rockland Centre's renovated food-court concept. It launched in early 2019 after the former food court was closed for a major refurbishment, providing prepared meals and refreshments on the top shopping level.
Fitness services · 1983
Nautilus Plus
Nautilus Plus is a fitness-club tenant on the first floor. The location traces back to the redevelopment era, when Nautilus opened what was described as its largest facility at the centre.
Brand decisions
2018
Food-court refurbishmentOtherBackground
The existing food-court area required a substantial update as Rockland refreshed its customer amenities and dining offer.
Action taken
The food court was closed for several months during 2018 for a major renovation.
Aftermath
The refreshed La Cuisine food court opened in early 2019.
2005
Reallocation of Sports Experts and food-court spaceStrategyBackground
The centre adjusted its floor plan after the former Eaton's premises became available for new uses.
Action taken
Sports Experts moved into the former food-court area, while the food court moved into the space previously occupied by Sports Experts.
Aftermath
The revised arrangement remained part of the centre's subsequent tenant layout and preceded the later food-court renovation.
1982
Redevelopment into an enclosed upscale mallStrategyBackground
The original open-air centre had become relatively small and faced competition from newer shopping developments. Its location in an affluent municipality was considered suitable for a larger, more premium retail proposition.
Action taken
The ownership and development group began a major reconstruction, demolishing most of the original centre while retaining or incorporating selected anchor buildings and tenants.
Aftermath
Rockland reopened in August 1983 as a three-level enclosed mall with approximately 175 stores and about 700,000 square feet of space.
Reported reconstruction cost. $65 million (1982-1983 redevelopment)
Sources2 sources
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