Scarborough Town Centre
A major enclosed shopping centre in Toronto's Scarborough district, serving as a retail and transit-oriented landmark in the Scarborough City Centre area.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Scarborough Town Centre, commonly abbreviated STC, is a large enclosed shopping centre in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario. It occupies a central position in the Scarborough City Centre district, opposite the Scarborough Civic Centre and beside Albert Campbell Square. The complex is close to Highway 401, McCowan Road, Progress Avenue and Brimley Road, and has historically been closely integrated with Toronto's public-transit network through Scarborough Centre station and the Scarborough Centre Bus Terminal. The mall opened on May 2, 1973, with approximately 130 stores. Its original department-store anchors included Simpson's and Eaton's, alongside a Miracle Food Mart supermarket and Miracle Mart discount department store. The centre was developed as part of the commercial and civic core of the former Borough of Scarborough, providing a major gathering place and retail destination in a suburban area that was then undergoing rapid development. A major expansion opened on August 8, 1979. The project added approximately 22,000 square metres of retail space, a northern wing and another department-store component. For a period, the centre contained Simpson's, Eaton's and The Bay, making it one of the few Canadian malls to host all three major department-store banners at the same time. In 1991, Simpson's stores were rebranded as The Bay. The former Bay space was subsequently refurbished and reopened as Sears on September 25, 1991. Sears later moved into the former Eaton's space in July 2000, becoming one of the retailer's largest Canadian stores. The mall expanded again during 1998 and 1999. Walmart opened a large store at the centre in July 2001, strengthening the property's mass-market retail offer. A major modernization program branded “Lighten Up” was completed in 2010 and supported the arrival or expansion of fashion and specialty retailers, including Victoria's Secret, PINK, Forever 21, Aritzia and Zara. The centre's tenant mix has continued to change as department stores and specialty chains have entered, relocated or closed. Scarborough Town Centre has more than 121,000 square metres of retail area and more than 250 stores and services, according to commonly cited descriptions of the property. Its principal current anchors have included Walmart and Cineplex Cinemas, although the anchor configuration has been changing. Sears closed in late 2017 following the liquidation of Sears Canada. The former Sears premises have since been used for a sequence of redevelopment and temporary or replacement retail concepts, including a COVID-19 vaccination clinic, IKEA, Decathlon and Toys “R” Us. Hudson's Bay, which had operated at the centre for decades, permanently closed its store on June 1, 2025, during the company's liquidation process. The centre also functions as a community and cultural venue. The Scarborough Walk of Fame was inaugurated in 2006 to recognize prominent people connected with Scarborough, including athletes, educators, scientists, artists, public figures and community leaders. Its plaques are located near the mall's central atrium. Oxford Properties has proposed a broader redevelopment of the mall and surrounding transit infrastructure. The concept includes changes to the former Sears property, a replacement cinema, new retail units and a pedestrian connection to an improved transit hub. The planned Scarborough Subway Extension, which would extend Line 2 Bloor–Danforth from Kennedy station toward McCowan Road and Sheppard Avenue, is intended to replace the former Line 3 Scarborough service and include a station serving the town-centre area. As a result, Scarborough Town Centre remains both a retail property and an important piece of Scarborough's evolving civic, transportation and urban-development framework.
History
Scarborough Town Centre was conceived as the commercial centre of the rapidly developing suburban municipality of Scarborough, then a borough separate from the City of Toronto. Construction began in 1972, and the mall opened on May 2, 1973, beside the developing civic complex. Its initial tenant roster contained approximately 130 stores, with Simpson's and Eaton's serving as major department-store anchors. A Miracle Food Mart supermarket and Miracle Mart discount department store also operated in the original complex. The first major enlargement opened on August 8, 1979. The project added a northern wing, another department-store component and approximately 22,000 square metres of retail area. For a time, the centre hosted Simpson's, Eaton's and The Bay, an unusual concentration of Canada's principal department-store banners. The mall's role expanded beyond shopping as the surrounding Scarborough City Centre developed around the civic buildings, Albert Campbell Square and major roads. The department-store landscape changed substantially during the 1990s. Simpson's was converted to The Bay in 1991. The former Bay premises were extensively refurbished and reopened as Sears on September 25 of that year. During 1998 and 1999, the mall underwent another expansion intended to accommodate additional anchors and specialty retail. After Eaton's failed and its Canadian assets were reorganized, Sears moved into the former Eaton's location on July 17, 2000. Walmart opened a 160,000-square-foot store on July 26, 2001, reinforcing the property's broad consumer appeal. A further modernization program, branded “Lighten Up,” was undertaken in 2010. It updated public areas and helped position the mall for newer fashion and lifestyle tenants. Victoria's Secret opened one of Canada's early PINK stores at the centre in July 2010. Other notable changes included the arrival or expansion of retailers such as Forever 21, Aritzia and Zara. The centre has subsequently hosted a changing mix of international, national and local tenants, including MUJI and MINISO. Food and leisure facilities have also evolved. On August 4, 2016, the lower-level TASTE MRKT food court opened. The former upper-level food-court setting was later adapted into additional mall and dining space. Cineplex Cinemas has remained an important entertainment anchor, while the mall's restaurants and food outlets have continued to change with consumer demand. Sears closed in late 2017 during the liquidation of Sears Canada. Its former premises became a focus of phased reuse. In February 2021, part of the second level was prepared as a large COVID-19 vaccination clinic. Later occupiers included IKEA, which opened on the lower level in August 2023; Decathlon, which opened on the upper level in October 2023; and Toys “R” Us, which opened in May 2024. Decathlon closed in July 2025, and IKEA was reported as scheduled to close in January 2026. Hudson's Bay, another historic anchor, closed permanently on June 1, 2025, during the company's liquidation. Transportation has been central to the centre's identity. The adjacent Scarborough Centre station opened in 1985 as part of the Scarborough RT, later known as Line 3 Scarborough. Line 3 service ended permanently in 2023, while the Scarborough Centre area continued to be served by TTC, GO Transit and Durham Region Transit buses. A planned extension of Line 2 Bloor–Danforth is intended to provide a replacement subway connection, with a station serving the town-centre area. Oxford Properties has proposed a redevelopment that would coordinate changes to retail, entertainment and transit infrastructure. The concept includes removing the existing Cineplex structure to enable a new transit connection and hub, constructing a replacement cinema near the former Sears site, dividing and renovating that site into multiple retail units, and providing a pedestrian link between the mall and the new cinema. The plans reflect the property's continuing transition from a conventional department-store mall into a mixed retail, dining, entertainment and transit-oriented urban centre. The mall's civic role is also represented by the Scarborough Walk of Fame. Established in 2006, it recognizes prominent Scarborough-connected figures from fields including education, science, sport, arts, public service and community care. The plaques are displayed near the main atrium. With more than 121,000 square metres of retail space and over 250 stores and services commonly cited in descriptions of the property, Scarborough Town Centre remains one of the largest shopping centres in the Greater Toronto Area.
- 2025
Hudson's Bay closes
[1]The Hudson's Bay store permanently closed on June 1 after decades as a major mall anchor.
- 2024
Toys “R” Us opens
[1]Toys “R” Us opened on May 13 in the former Sears redevelopment area.
- 2023
IKEA and Decathlon open
[1]IKEA opened on August 23 and Decathlon opened on October 14 in different portions of the former Sears space.
- 2021
Former Sears space used as vaccination clinic
[1]Part of the former Sears premises was prepared for large-scale COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
- 2017
Sears closes
[1]The Sears store closed during the liquidation of Sears Canada's Canadian operations.
- 2016
TASTE MRKT opens
[1]The new lower-level food court opened on August 4, adding a refreshed dining destination.
- 2010
Lighten Up renovation
[1]A major modernization refreshed the mall and supported the arrival of fashion and lifestyle tenants.
- 2006
Scarborough Walk of Fame launches
[1]The first annual induction ceremony recognized ten prominent people associated with Scarborough.
- 2001
Walmart opens
[1]Walmart opened a 160,000-square-foot store on July 26.
- 2000
Sears relocates into former Eaton's space
[1]Sears moved into the former Eaton's location on July 17, creating one of its largest Canadian stores.
Products and positioning
A large, transit-oriented regional shopping centre positioned as the retail and community hub of Scarborough City Centre. Its offer combines mass-market anchors, national fashion and specialty retailers, dining, entertainment and civic accessibility.
Mass-market retail anchor · 2001
Walmart
Walmart is one of Scarborough Town Centre's principal anchors, offering groceries, general merchandise, household products, apparel, electronics and everyday consumer goods. Its large footprint gives the centre a strong convenience and value-retail component alongside fashion, dining and entertainment tenants.
Entertainment
Cineplex Cinemas
Cineplex Cinemas provides movie exhibition and entertainment within the shopping-centre complex. The cinema has been treated as an important anchor in redevelopment planning, with proposals contemplating a replacement theatre connected more directly to renovated retail and transit facilities.
Food court and dining · 2016
TASTE MRKT
TASTE MRKT is the mall's lower-level food-court concept, opened in 2016. It provides a collection of quick-service and casual dining options, while associated renovations created more open and upgraded seating areas elsewhere in the former food-court configuration.
Community and cultural program · 2006
Scarborough Walk of Fame
The Scarborough Walk of Fame is a recognition program established at the mall in 2006. Its plaques honour notable people connected with Scarborough, spanning sport, education, science, arts, public service and community work. The display is located near the main atrium.
Marketing campaigns
- 2010Lighten Up
Canada
A major physical and branding renovation program modernized public areas and helped attract contemporary fashion and lifestyle retailers to Scarborough Town Centre.
Outcome. The renovation supported a refreshed tenant mix, including Victoria's Secret, PINK and other prominent fashion retailers.
- 2006Scarborough Walk of Fame
Scarborough · Toronto
The mall launched an annual community-recognition program celebrating prominent people associated with Scarborough.
Outcome. The plaques became a permanent cultural feature near the centre's main atrium.
Brand decisions
2021
Conversion of former Sears space into a vaccination clinicStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic created demand for large, accessible spaces capable of supporting mass vaccination.
Action taken
Part of the second level of the vacant Sears premises was prepared for COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
Aftermath
The mall temporarily served a public-health function while the former anchor space awaited longer-term redevelopment.
2016
Launch of TASTE MRKTProduct launchBackground
The centre sought to update its dining offer and improve the use of its food-court areas.
Action taken
A new lower-level food court branded TASTE MRKT opened on August 4, while the former upper-level area was adapted for additional seating and mall space.
Aftermath
The food and beverage offer was repositioned around a more contemporary dining environment.
- Proposed retail and transit redevelopmentStrategy
Background
The existing mall and adjacent transit infrastructure require adaptation to the planned Scarborough Subway Extension and changing retail conditions.
Action taken
Oxford Properties proposed replacing the existing cinema, creating a new transit connection and hub, dividing the former Sears premises into multiple retail units, and linking the mall to a replacement theatre through a pedestrian walkway.
Aftermath
The proposal establishes a framework for transforming the property into a more integrated retail, entertainment and transit-oriented district; completion timing and final scope remain uncertain.
Recent events
- 2025
Hudson's Bay closes its Scarborough Town Centre location[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
Hudson's Bay permanently closed its store on June 1 as part of the retailer's liquidation process.
- 2025
Decathlon announces closure of its GTA stores[1]
Other
Decathlon announced on June 25 that its Greater Toronto Area locations would close; the Scarborough Town Centre store closed on July 31.
- 2025
Fatal shooting reported inside Scarborough Town Centre[1]
Other
A 19-year-old man was fatally shot in a family washroom near the lower-level food court on August 21. Police treated the incident as a homicide, and two 17-year-old boys were arrested and charged with second-degree murder on August 29.
- 2025
IKEA City store scheduled to close[1]
Other
The IKEA City location was reported as scheduled to close after roughly two years of operation, with a planned permanent closure date of January 5, 2026.
- 2024
Toys “R” Us opens at Scarborough Town Centre[1]
Product launch
A Toys “R” Us store opened on May 13 in the former Sears redevelopment area.
- 2023
IKEA opens a compact store in the former Sears space[1]
Product launch
An IKEA store opened on the lower level of the former Sears premises on August 23.
- 2023
Decathlon opens at Scarborough Town Centre[1]
Product launch
Decathlon opened a store on the upper level of the former Sears space on October 14.
- 2017
Sears closes its Scarborough Town Centre store[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
The Sears location closed during the liquidation of Sears Canada's Canadian operations, creating a major redevelopment opportunity within the mall.
- 2016
TASTE MRKT food court opens[1]
Product launch
A new lower-level food court opened on August 4 under the TASTE MRKT name, while the former upper-level food-court area was adapted for additional mall space and dining seating.
- 2010
Scarborough Town Centre launches Lighten Up modernization[1]
Campaign
A major renovation program refreshed the mall's interior and supported new or expanded fashion retail, including Victoria's Secret and PINK.
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