Unicity Mall
Unicity Mall was a former enclosed shopping mall in Winnipeg, Manitoba, later demolished and replaced by a big-box retail centre.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Unicity Mall was a shopping centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, whose site is now occupied by the Unicity Shopping Centre big-box retail complex. The original mall opened in September 1975 under the name Unicity Fashion Square. It was named in reference to Winnipeg's 1972 restructuring of municipal administration, which consolidated the city's former municipalities into a unified city government. At opening, the enclosed mall was anchored by Woolco and The Bay and was one of only three major shopping malls in Winnipeg, alongside Polo Park and Grant Park Shopping Centre. The centre was initially managed by Trizec Corporation. Although one wing was reportedly almost entirely vacant at the beginning, the mall prospered during its early years and became part of Winnipeg's suburban retail landscape. Its food court also had a notable local distinction: the McDonald's located inside the mall was reported to be the first McDonald's placed within a shopping mall in western Canada. The mall's fortunes weakened during the economic slowdown of the 1980s. Tenant departures accumulated, and by the 1990s much of the enclosed centre was vacant. Empty units were sometimes used for temporary flea markets. During this period, Woolco's Canadian stores were converted to Walmart, and pressure grew for the Unicity Walmart operation to be expanded. The transition from a traditional enclosed mall to a more Walmart-centred retail format reflected broader changes in suburban shopping and the increasing importance of large-format retailers. Ownership and management also became unstable. Bramalea Limited, which held a 67 percent interest in the mall, entered bankruptcy in April 1995 after its board of directors resigned. At that time, the centre was reported to contain 86 stores and approximately 485,000 square feet of space. Markborough Properties of Toronto, which held a smaller interest, took over management and leasing after Bramalea's collapse. The subsequent redevelopment was accompanied by legal disputes involving store owners, local residents, and the ownership group. The enclosed mall was ultimately demolished in 2000. Ownership was transferred to First Pro, and the former mall site was redeveloped as a SmartCentres big-box complex. The resulting Unicity Shopping Centre is not the same enclosed mall that opened in 1975, but it preserves the Unicity name and continues to serve the surrounding Winnipeg area through a collection of large-format retailers, grocery, restaurant, pharmacy, sporting-goods, apparel, and discount tenants. Listed occupants have included Walmart, Canadian Tire, Sobeys, Staples Canada, Winners, Sport Chek, Tim Hortons, KFC, Burger King, Shoppers Drug Mart, Value Village, Mark's, Quiznos, Bulk Barn, and Dollar Tree. The modern complex is also served by a designated Winnipeg Transit bus hub.
History
Unicity Mall began as Unicity Fashion Square, opening in Winnipeg in September 1975. Its name reflected the city's 1972 unicity restructuring, when municipal administration was reorganized around a unified city government. The mall opened with Woolco and The Bay as its principal anchors and was one of only three major shopping malls in Winnipeg at the time, together with Polo Park and Grant Park Shopping Centre. Trizec Corporation managed the property during its early period. The centre initially attracted substantial retail activity even though one wing was almost completely empty at opening. A McDonald's in the mall's food court was notable as the first McDonald's location reported to have been placed inside a shopping mall in western Canada. This feature, together with the two department-store anchors, helped establish the centre as an important suburban shopping destination. Conditions deteriorated during the economic slowdown of the 1980s. Retailers began leaving, and the mall entered a prolonged period of decline. By the 1990s, large portions of the enclosed centre were vacant, with some empty units being used for temporary flea markets. Woolco's Canadian operations were converted to Walmart, and the Unicity Walmart became a central issue in discussions about the property's future. Pressure increased for the Walmart location to be expanded, even as the enclosed mall model became less viable. The ownership structure became particularly unsettled in 1995. Bramalea Limited, which owned 67 percent of the mall, became bankrupt in April after its entire board of directors resigned. The property was then reported to contain 86 stores and cover approximately 485,000 square feet. Markborough Properties of Toronto, which owned a smaller share, took over management and leasing. The proposed future of the site generated legal disputes involving store owners, local residents, and the new ownership arrangements. The redevelopment decision eventually ended the original mall. Ownership was transferred to First Pro, the enclosed shopping centre was demolished in 2000, and the site was rebuilt as a SmartCentres big-box complex. The modern Unicity Shopping Centre retained the established name but changed the site's commercial format. Its tenant mix has included Walmart, Canadian Tire, Sobeys, Staples Canada, Winners, Sport Chek, Tim Hortons, KFC, Burger King, Shoppers Drug Mart, Value Village, Mark's, Quiznos, Bulk Barn, and Dollar Tree. The site is also served by a designated Winnipeg Transit bus hub. Thus, Unicity's history spans two distinct retail forms: a 1970s enclosed mall and a later large-format shopping centre organized around national chain stores.
- 2000
Original mall is demolished
[1]The enclosed mall was demolished and the site was redeveloped as a SmartCentres big-box retail complex.
- 1995
Bramalea Limited enters bankruptcy
[1]Bramalea Limited, the 67 percent owner, entered bankruptcy. Markborough Properties took over management and leasing.
- 1990
Vacancy and temporary flea markets characterize the enclosed mall
[1]By the 1990s, many spaces were vacant and some were used for temporary flea markets. Woolco stores had also become Walmart locations.
- 1980
Economic slowdown begins affecting the mall
[1]During the 1980s, the local economic slowdown contributed to tenant losses and the beginning of the mall's long decline.
- 1975
Unicity Fashion Square opens
[1]The enclosed shopping mall opened in September 1975 with Woolco and The Bay as anchor stores.
- 1972
Winnipeg's unicity restructuring provides the name
[1]The name Unicity referred to Winnipeg's municipal restructuring into a unified city administration.
Products and positioning
The original Unicity Mall was positioned as a suburban enclosed shopping mall serving western Winnipeg. After its decline and demolition, the site was repositioned as a practical, vehicle-oriented big-box retail centre anchored by large national retailers and supported by grocery, discount, service, and food tenants.
Enclosed shopping mall · 1975
Former Unicity Mall
The original Unicity Fashion Square, later known as Unicity Mall, was an enclosed Winnipeg shopping mall opened in 1975. It combined department-store anchors, smaller specialty retailers, food-service operators, and a food court. The property declined during the 1980s and 1990s and was demolished in 2000.
Big-box retail centre · 2000
Unicity Shopping Centre
The post-2000 retail complex replaced the enclosed mall with a large-format, multi-tenant shopping environment. Its listed occupants have included Walmart, Canadian Tire, Sobeys, Staples Canada, Winners, Sport Chek, pharmacies, restaurants, discount stores, and other service-oriented retailers.
Brand decisions
2000
Redevelopment from an enclosed mall to a big-box centreStrategyBackground
The enclosed mall had experienced tenant losses, extensive vacancy, and pressure to expand the Walmart operation. Ownership and management changes followed Bramalea Limited's 1995 bankruptcy, while legal disputes involved tenants and local residents.
Action taken
The ownership transferred to First Pro, the enclosed mall was demolished, and the site was redeveloped as a SmartCentres big-box retail complex.
Aftermath
The original Unicity Mall ceased to exist as an enclosed shopping mall, while the site continued operating under the Unicity Shopping Centre name with large national retailers and other commercial tenants.
Recent events
- 2013
Original Joe's reported as coming to Unicity Mall 2[1]
Other
The Winnipeg Sun reported that Original Joe's was coming to the Unicity Mall 2 retail site.
- 2000
Unicity Mall is demolished for redevelopment[1]
Other
The former enclosed shopping mall was demolished and replaced by a SmartCentres big-box retail complex following ownership changes and disputes involving tenants, residents, and the ownership group.
- 1995
Bramalea Limited enters bankruptcy amid Unicity Mall ownership crisis[1]
Bankruptcy · Leadership change
Bramalea Limited, which held a 67 percent interest in Unicity Mall, entered bankruptcy after its board of directors resigned. Markborough Properties subsequently assumed management and leasing responsibilities.
Sources1 sources
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