Station Mall
A waterfront shopping mall in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, serving Northern Ontario.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Station Mall is an enclosed shopping centre on the downtown waterfront of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. It is located approximately one kilometre from the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, which connects the Canadian city with Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, in the United States. The mall is named for its proximity to the former Sault Ste. Marie railway station, which stood in the northern portion of the mall's parking area until 2020. The project originated with Algoma Central Railway, which proposed a major redevelopment of its waterfront property in October 1970. The original concept formed part of a broader $30 million plan for a 53.8-acre site along the St. Marys River. In addition to an enclosed shopping centre, the plan contemplated a hotel, civic facilities, residential and office buildings, a civic square, and a new waterfront access road that later became St. Marys River Drive. Station Mall opened on October 31, 1973, with approximately 284,000 square feet of retail space and 45 tenants. Its original anchors were a two-storey Sears department store and Dominion Food Stores. The centre also opened with a 400-seat cinema, a family restaurant, and the Pufferbelly food court. Two major expansions followed within the mall's first 16 years. The 1981 Phase II expansion added approximately 198,000 square feet, 35 retailers, a larger food court, a Smitty's restaurant, and a 57,000-square-foot Zellers department store. The 1989 Phase III expansion added another 100,000 square feet and brought the tenant count to approximately 115, making Station Mall the largest shopping mall in Northern Ontario at that time. The expansion period established the mall as a major regional retail destination and employment centre. Station Mall later underwent significant modernization. A waterfront-side entertainment complex opened in 2000, originally known as the Galaxy Entertainment Complex, with a 12-screen cinema and approximately 2,400 seats. The interior was renovated and larger-format retail space was introduced. In 2011, smaller stores were consolidated to create a larger Sport Chek location. The former Zellers space was converted into a Walmart Supercentre after Walmart Canada acquired a group of Zellers leases. Galaxy Cinemas was reduced from 12 screens to seven in 2013 to create space for H&M. The mall also experienced major tenant losses. Sears closed permanently in October 2017 following Sears Canada's bankruptcy, and Walmart announced the closure of its Station Mall store in May 2019. These departures left the centre without a traditional large department-store anchor, although entertainment, fashion, sporting goods, discount retail, and specialty tenants continued to operate there. The mall's current retail area is reported at approximately 555,000 square feet, with about 97 stores, making it the second-largest shopping mall in Northern Ontario by area after New Sudbury Centre. Station Mall suffered a partial roof collapse on December 14, 1995, near the entrance connecting its second and third phases. No one was injured, but two stores and the fountain court were damaged. The Ontario Ministry of Labour attributed the incident to improper welding of steel joists compounded by heavy snowfall. The affected area reopened in April 1996 as Carousel Court, including an imported carousel in place of the destroyed fountain. Algoma Central Corporation announced in 2022 that it had reached an agreement to sell the mall to SM International Holdings Ltd., a Markham-based company, in a transaction reported at $30 million, structured with cash and debt consideration. In 2023, consultants working with the owners announced a proposed $60 million redevelopment involving new retail space, a 50,000-square-foot eatertainment complex, and a casual-dining sports bar. The redevelopment was expected to be completed in early 2024. A Sephora store opened at the mall on October 18, 2024. Station Mall therefore remains an active regional shopping and entertainment property undergoing repositioning after the loss of its former department-store anchors.
History
Station Mall developed from an ambitious waterfront redevelopment proposal advanced by Algoma Central Railway in October 1970. The railway owned a large tract of land along the St. Marys River and presented a plan for a mixed-use district that included an enclosed shopping mall, a hotel, civic facilities, offices, apartments, public space, and a waterfront road. The proposed mall was intended to bring climate-controlled shopping and extensive free parking to the downtown area while creating a new commercial focus on the former railway property. The first phase opened on October 31, 1973, with about 284,000 square feet of retail space and 45 tenants. Sears and Dominion Food Stores served as the main anchors. The original centre also included a cinema, a family restaurant, and the Pufferbelly food court, which contained a delicatessen and multiple snack-bar spaces. The building was designed by James A. Murray, Architects, and constructed by Eastern Construction Co. Ltd. Its location near the railway station gave the centre its name. Station Mall expanded rapidly. Phase II opened on August 19, 1981, after adding approximately 198,000 square feet and 35 tenants. The expansion introduced a second department-store anchor, Zellers, as well as more restaurants, an enlarged food court, and additional parking. Phase III followed in the fall of 1989, adding approximately 100,000 square feet and bringing the centre to about 115 stores, shops, and restaurants. For a period after this expansion, Station Mall was the largest shopping mall in Northern Ontario by floor area. The mall experienced a serious structural incident on December 14, 1995, when part of the roof near the fountain court entrance collapsed. The centre was open, but the stores had not yet opened for business, and no injuries occurred. Foot Locker, Hollywood Beauty Salon, and the fountain were damaged. The Ontario Ministry of Labour investigation concluded that improper welding of steel joists had been aggravated by several days of heavy snow. No charges were laid. After cleanup and a structural audit, the affected section reopened in April 1996 as Carousel Court, with a carousel replacing the former fountain. A major modernization came in 2000 with the opening of a waterfront-side entertainment complex. Initially called the Galaxy Entertainment Complex, it included a 12-screen, approximately 2,400-seat cinema. The wider renovation refreshed the interior and added larger-format stores. In 2011, several smaller units were combined to accommodate a larger Sport Chek. Walmart Canada subsequently converted the Zellers unit into a Walmart Supercentre. In 2013, the cinema was reduced from 12 screens to seven so that H&M could occupy additional mall space. The centre's tenant mix changed substantially in the late 2010s. Sears closed in October 2017 as part of Sears Canada's bankruptcy-related store closures. Walmart announced in May 2019 that its Station Mall store would close the following month. The loss of both large anchors left the mall reliant on specialty retail, fashion, entertainment, food, and smaller-format tenants. Even so, the mall retained a significant regional role and remained one of Northern Ontario's largest shopping centres. Algoma Central Corporation announced in July 2022 that it had agreed to sell the property to SM International Holdings Ltd., a Markham-based company. The reported transaction value was $30 million, with $12 million in cash and the balance represented by debt. In August 2023, a consulting firm working with the owners publicized a redevelopment concept estimated at $60 million. The plan called for additional retail stores, a 50,000-square-foot eatertainment complex, and a casual-dining sports bar, with completion anticipated in early 2024. A Sephora store opened on October 18, 2024, providing evidence of continued tenant repositioning. The former railway station remained in the northern parking area until its removal in 2020.
- 2024
Sephora opens
[1]A Sephora outlet opened at the mall on October 18.
- 2023
Redevelopment plan publicized
[1]A proposed redevelopment included new retail, an eatertainment complex, and a sports bar.
- 2022
Sale agreement announced
[1]Algoma Central announced an agreement to sell Station Mall to SM International Holdings Ltd.
- 2020
Former railway station removed
[1]The railway station associated with the mall's name was removed from the northern parking area.
- 2019
Walmart closes
[1]Walmart announced the closure of its Station Mall store, removing the centre's remaining major department-store anchor.
- 2017
Sears closes
[1]The original Sears anchor closed permanently after Sears Canada's bankruptcy.
- 2012
Zellers space converted to Walmart
[1]The former Zellers location was renovated for use as a Walmart Supercentre.
- 2011
Sport Chek space created
[1]Several smaller units were combined to create space for a new Sport Chek location.
- 2000
Galaxy entertainment complex opens
[1]A 12-screen cinema and entertainment complex opened on the waterfront side of the mall.
- 1996
Carousel Court reopens
[1]The damaged area reopened as Carousel Court after cleanup and structural review.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping and entertainment centre serving Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding Northern Ontario communities, with a waterfront downtown location and cross-border proximity to the United States.
Cinema and entertainment · 2000
Galaxy Cinemas
Station Mall's principal entertainment offering is Galaxy Cinemas, which began as a 12-screen, approximately 2,400-seat complex opened in 2000. The cinema was later reduced to seven screens during a 2013 reconfiguration that created space for H&M.
Apparel
Fashion and apparel retail
The mall's apparel mix includes fashion, footwear, and accessories retailers. H&M is one of the larger fashion tenants and was accommodated through the reconfiguration of the cinema complex in 2013.
Sporting goods · 2011
Sport Chek
Sport Chek occupies a larger-format unit created in 2011 by combining several smaller mall spaces. It contributes sporting goods, athletic apparel, and equipment to the centre's regional retail mix.
Beauty and cosmetics · 2024
Sephora
Sephora added a branded beauty and cosmetics offer to Station Mall when its outlet opened on October 18, 2024.
Discount retail
Dollarama
Dollarama is identified as one of the mall's larger current-format tenants, offering discount general merchandise and everyday household products.
Brand decisions
2023
Proposed major redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The mall had lost both Sears and Walmart and required a renewed tenant and destination strategy.
Action taken
Owners and consultants announced a concept involving new retail stores, a 50,000-square-foot eatertainment complex, and a casual-dining sports bar.
Aftermath
The plan positioned Station Mall for repositioning as a broader shopping, dining, and entertainment destination.
Proposed redevelopment investment. $60 million (2023 announcement)
2022
Agreement to sell Station MallM&ABackground
Algoma Central Corporation had announced plans to dispose of its commercial real estate holdings.
Action taken
Algoma Central announced an agreement to sell the mall to SM International Holdings Ltd.
Aftermath
The reported transaction set the stage for a new ownership and redevelopment strategy.
Reported transaction value. $30 million (2022 announcement)
2013
Reconfigure cinema space for H&MStrategyBackground
Station Mall was adjusting its tenant mix and seeking additional fashion retail space.
Action taken
Galaxy Cinemas was reduced from 12 screens to seven, allowing H&M to occupy part of the former cinema footprint.
Aftermath
The change increased fashion retail capacity while reducing the size of the mall's cinema operation.
Sources1 sources
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