The Shops on Steeles and 404

The Shops on Steeles and 404 is a community shopping mall in Markham, Ontario, located near the intersection of Steeles Avenue East and Don Mills Road beside Highway 404. The property contains approximately 50 stores and is characterized by a mix of grocery, discount, flea-market, liquidation, service, and independently operated retail businesses. Its current anchor tenants include Food Basics, the Hwy 404 & Steeles Flea Market, and Krazy Dealz. Unlike a regional mall dominated by a small number of national chains, the centre has historically relied heavily on local and independent tenants, giving it a utilitarian and value-oriented retail profile. The property opened in 1977 under the name Markham Place. Construction had begun in the early 1970s, with the original target completion date set for 1975, but an electricians' strike delayed the opening by approximately two years. The mall was jointly developed by Trizec Properties. B+H Architects designed the main complex, while Maxwell Miller was associated with the design of the Sears location. The original anchor lineup included a Miracle Mart supermarket and a full-line Sears Canada department store. Sears operated a broad-format store with an automotive centre, cafeteria, hair salon, and travel centre, making it a significant destination within the mall and the surrounding community. The Sears building received an Ontario Masons Relations Council design award in 1978 for architectural design and masonry workmanship. Over time, the property underwent changes in ownership, tenancy, and retail format. Markham Place was sold to Bramalea in 1986, during a period when Trizec Properties held a majority interest in Bramalea. Bramalea later entered bankruptcy proceedings in 1995 and liquidated assets that included the mall. The property was renamed The Shops on Steeles and 404 around this period. Miracle Mart's former anchor role was taken over by Food Basics after Miracle Mart's bankruptcy in the early 1990s. Sears sold its ownership interest in the mall on March 31, 2000, but continued operating its store under a lease. After Sears Canada announced its exit from the automotive business in 2004, the former Sears automotive centre was converted for use by Active Green + Ross. The department-store space was subsequently reformatted as a Sears Home store, then as a Sears Outlet Store. Sears closed the location in April 2017 as part of a program to shut unprofitable stores; Sears Canada later entered bankruptcy proceedings. The former anchor space was then used by Bobby's Liquidation Outlet and, briefly, Closeout King. Bobby's closed in January 2019 and relocated to Promenade Mall in Vaughan, leaving the owners considering redevelopment of the large anchor building. A major residential and transportation redevelopment proposal, known as Markhamgate Summit, was announced in 2007. It contemplated residential towers, ground-floor retail, and a transit hub serving Toronto Transit Commission and York Region Transit users. The proposal became contentious because the site is in Markham's Thornhill area but is close to Steeles Avenue, where a 1974 agreement gives Toronto limited planning authority over certain York Region lands within 45 metres of the Toronto-owned road. Toronto councillor David Shiner opposed the proposed residential density on traffic grounds, while Markham councillor Howard Ian Shore and the developer argued that reducing the number of units would undermine the project's viability. The redevelopment did not proceed, and the original shopping centre remained open. By 2023, Wycliffe Property Management had operated the mall. By 2025, the lower level of the former Sears building was occupied by a flea market, while the upper level operated as the Krazy Dealz liquidation outlet centre. The mall therefore continues to function as a neighbourhood-oriented, value-focused retail property rather than as a conventional enclosed regional shopping destination.

The property now known as The Shops on Steeles and 404 was developed in the early 1970s as Markham Place. Construction was intended to finish in 1975, but an electricians' strike delayed the opening until 1977. Trizec Properties jointly developed the centre. B+H Architects designed the mall, with Maxwell Miller associated with the Sears building. The complex opened with Miracle Mart and Sears Canada as its principal anchors. The Sears store was built as a full-line department store and included an automotive centre, cafeteria, hair salon, and travel centre. Its design received an Ontario Masons Relations Council award in 1978 recognizing architectural design and masonry workmanship. Miracle Mart later disappeared as an anchor after its bankruptcy in the early 1990s, with Food Basics taking over the grocery role. In 1986, Markham Place was sold to Bramalea. Trizec Properties held a majority interest in Bramalea during this period. Bramalea filed for bankruptcy in 1995 and liquidated assets that included the mall. The centre was renamed The Shops on Steeles and 404 around the time of the liquidation. Sears sold its interest in the property on March 31, 2000, but continued to operate from the site as a tenant. Sears Canada's decision to leave the automotive sector in 2004 led to the conversion of the former automotive centre into an Active Green + Ross facility. The department-store premises were later converted into a Sears Home store selling furniture and appliances, with an upper-level outlet operation, and eventually became a Sears Outlet Store. That location closed in April 2017 during Sears Canada's programme of closing unprofitable stores. Sears Canada subsequently entered bankruptcy proceedings. The former Sears anchor was occupied by Bobby's Liquidation Outlet. Closeout King also operated in part of the former anchor building, but was removed after five months because of non-payment. Bobby's closed in January 2019 and relocated to Promenade Mall in Vaughan. The owners subsequently discussed redeveloping the space. In 2007, the property was the subject of a proposed redevelopment called Markhamgate Summit. The plan envisioned residential towers, retail at ground level, and a transit hub for Toronto Transit Commission and York Region Transit services. The proposal was complicated by the 1974 agreement giving Toronto limited planning authority over York Region land within 45 metres of Steeles Avenue. Toronto councillor David Shiner objected to the proposed number of residential units because of anticipated traffic, while Markham councillor Howard Ian Shore and the developer argued that a smaller project would not be financially viable. The proposal had not proceeded by 2018, and the original mall continued operating. Wycliffe Property Management operated the mall in recent years through 2023. By 2025, the lower floor of the former Sears building housed a flea market and the upper floor operated as Krazy Dealz, a liquidation outlet centre. The centre remains a community-oriented retail property serving nearby Markham and Thornhill residents.

• 2025

  Former Sears space operates as flea market and liquidation centre

  [1]The Shops on Steeles and 404en.wikipedia.org

  The lower floor houses a flea market and the upper floor operates as the Krazy Dealz liquidation outlet centre.

• 2017

  Sears store closes

  [1]The Shops on Steeles and 404en.wikipedia.org

  The Sears Outlet Store closes in April as part of a wider programme to shutter unprofitable Sears Canada locations.

• 2004

  Automotive centre converted

  [1]The Shops on Steeles and 404en.wikipedia.org

  The former Sears automotive centre is converted for use by Active Green + Ross after Sears Canada exits automotive retail.

• 2000

  Sears sells its ownership interest

  [1]The Shops on Steeles and 404en.wikipedia.org

  Sears disposes of its interest in the mall but continues operating its store under a lease.

• 1995

  Property renamed after Bramalea bankruptcy

  [1]The Shops on Steeles and 404en.wikipedia.org

  Following Bramalea's bankruptcy and liquidation of assets, the shopping centre adopts the name The Shops on Steeles and 404.

• 1986

  Ownership transfers to Bramalea

  [1]The Shops on Steeles and 404en.wikipedia.org

  Markham Place is sold to Bramalea during a period when Trizec Properties holds a majority stake in that company.

• 1978

  Sears building receives a design award

  [1]The Shops on Steeles and 404en.wikipedia.org

  The Ontario Masons Relations Council recognizes the Sears location for architectural design and masonry workmanship.

• 1977

  Markham Place opens

  [1]The Shops on Steeles and 404en.wikipedia.org

  The community mall opens at Steeles Avenue East and Don Mills Road after a two-year construction delay.

A local, value-oriented community shopping mall with grocery, discount, flea-market, liquidation, automotive, service, and independent retail tenants.

• Grocery retail

  Food Basics

  The mall's principal grocery anchor, offering food and everyday household provisions in the discount-supermarket segment. Food Basics succeeded Miracle Mart as the grocery tenant after Miracle Mart's bankruptcy.

• Flea market

  Hwy 404 & Steeles Flea Market

  A flea-market operation occupying part of the former Sears premises. It provides a rotating, value-oriented assortment of merchandise from multiple vendors rather than a conventional single-brand retail range.

• Liquidation retail

  Krazy Dealz

  A liquidation outlet centre operating on the upper level of the former Sears building. Its value proposition is based on closeout and discounted merchandise.

• Department store and outlet retail · 1977

  Former Sears Canada location

  The original Sears anchor operated as a full-line department store with automotive, food-service, salon, and travel components. It was later reformatted as Sears Home and then Sears Outlet before closing in 2017.

• 2017

  Closure of Sears OutletOther

  Background

  Sears Canada was closing unprofitable stores as its Canadian retail business contracted.

  Action taken

  The Sears Outlet location at the mall closed in April 2017.

  Aftermath

  The former anchor space was subsequently occupied by liquidation and flea-market operators, including Bobby's Liquidation Outlet and later Krazy Dealz.

  Source

• 2007

  Markhamgate Summit redevelopment proposalStrategy

  Background

  The existing mall site was proposed for a mixed-use redevelopment with residential towers, ground-floor retail, and a transit hub. The project faced objections concerning residential density, traffic, and the division of planning authority around Steeles Avenue.

  Action taken

  The proposed redevelopment was not carried forward, and the existing mall remained in operation.

  Aftermath

  The original shopping centre continued operating, with later changes focused on replacing and repurposing tenants in the former Sears anchor.

  Source

1. 1The Shops on Steeles and 404en.wikipedia.org