Upper Canada Mall
A regional shopping centre in Newmarket, Ontario, owned and operated by Oxford Properties.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Upper Canada Mall is a major shopping centre in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, at the northwest corner of Davis Drive West and Yonge Street. It serves the northern Greater Toronto Area and combines department-store, fashion, specialty-retail, food-service and entertainment-oriented shopping in a regional mall format. The centre is owned and operated by Oxford Properties. Construction began in 1973, and the mall opened in 1974 with 55 stores. Its original configuration ran broadly north to south and included two sunken seating areas surrounded by brick planters on the lower level. The opening tenant mix included the department-store anchors Zellers and Sears, together with a Dominion supermarket. These early anchors reflected the conventional Canadian shopping-centre model of the period: a combination of large general-merchandise retailers, a supermarket and smaller shops arranged around interior public circulation areas. The property changed substantially over time as department-store retail evolved. An Eaton's store was added in the early 1990s and was later converted to a Hudson's Bay location. The original Sears anchor also went through subsequent reuse, becoming associated with Urban Planet on the lower level while Winners occupied the upper level; the lower-level space was later reported as empty. A freestanding Sears Home Store was added to the mall property in 1998. The most significant redevelopment in the supplied historical record was a $60 million renovation completed in 2008. The project added approximately 148,000 square feet and introduced a 950-seat food court, along with a substantial group of fashion and specialty retailers. Tenants associated with this expansion included Forever 21, Zara, Victoria's Secret, Hollister, Browns, HMV, Michael Kors, Apple, H&M and Disney Store. Several of these stores subsequently closed or changed format, illustrating the continuing turnover of shopping-centre tenants rather than a fixed permanent lineup. The redevelopment also expanded Toys 'R' Us, which became the largest Toys 'R' Us store in Canada according to the referenced material. On September 7, 2018, Upper Canada Mall opened Market & Co, a food-and-retail area created through the renovation and conversion of space previously occupied by Zellers and later Target. The project changed the centre's use of a former department-store footprint and placed greater emphasis on restaurants and food-oriented experiences. Sport Chek moved into space not used by Market & Co, while Dollarama took over Sport Chek's previous location. Upper Canada Mall is described in the referenced material as the 25th-largest shopping mall in Canada. Its current identity is therefore best understood as a large regional retail and dining destination rather than as a single-product brand. Its tenant mix, anchor changes, food-centre redevelopment and ongoing space reallocation reflect broader shifts in Canadian retail, including the decline and replacement of traditional department stores, the growth of fast-fashion and specialty retail, and the increasing importance of food and experience-led uses within enclosed shopping centres.
History
Upper Canada Mall was developed in Newmarket, Ontario, as a regional enclosed shopping centre. Construction started in 1973, and the property opened in 1974 with 55 stores. Its initial anchor lineup included Zellers and Sears, along with Dominion Supermarket. The original interior used a north-to-south arrangement and featured two sunken seating areas with brick planters on the lower level, a design characteristic of the era's enclosed malls. The centre expanded its department-store presence in the early 1990s when an Eaton's location was added. After Eaton's ceased operating, the space became a Hudson's Bay store. A separate Sears Home Store was added on the property in 1998. These changes established the mall as a multi-anchor destination while also showing how its large-format spaces were tied to the changing Canadian department-store sector. A major redevelopment was completed in 2008 at a reported cost of $60 million. The project added roughly 148,000 square feet, a 950-seat food court and 25 fashion retailers. The associated tenant group included Forever 21, Zara, Victoria's Secret, Hollister, Browns, HMV, Michael Kors, Apple, H&M and Disney Store. The redevelopment also enlarged the Toys 'R' Us store, which was described in the supplied reference as the largest Toys 'R' Us store in Canada. Some of the brands introduced or associated with the expansion later closed or changed: Forever 21 and Hollister were reported closed in 2020, while HMV was replaced by Sunrise Records. The property subsequently focused on reshaping former anchor space for food and alternative retail uses. On September 7, 2018, Market & Co opened after the former Zellers and Target space was renovated and converted. Market & Co brought restaurants and food stores into a previously department-store-oriented part of the mall. Sport Chek moved into the portion not used by Market & Co, and Dollarama took over Sport Chek's former location. Further tenant changes continued. The original Sears space became associated with Urban Planet on the lower level, while Winners occupied the upper level; the lower-level space was later described as empty. The former Eaton's/Hudson's Bay location was reported closed in 2025. The referenced material also reports the permanent closure of the Toys 'R' Us store in 2026. These changes demonstrate the continuing reconfiguration of the property as traditional department stores contract and malls seek a more varied blend of fashion, specialty retail, food and service uses. Oxford Properties owns and operates Upper Canada Mall. The centre is identified in the supplied reference as the 25th-largest shopping mall in Canada. Its history is consequently not only the history of a single retail venue but also a record of the evolution of Canadian shopping-centre formats: from department-store-led development in the 1970s, through large-scale fashion expansion in the 2000s, to food-led placemaking and flexible reuse of former anchor premises.
- 2026
Toys 'R' Us closure reported
[1]The referenced material reports that the Toys 'R' Us store is to close permanently in 2026.
- 2025
Hudson's Bay location reported closed
[1]The Hudson's Bay store occupying the former Eaton's space is reported closed.
- 2018
Market & Co opens
[1]Market & Co opens on September 7 after former Zellers and Target space is converted into a restaurant and food-retail area.
- 2008
Major expansion and renovation completed
[1]A $60 million redevelopment adds approximately 148,000 square feet, a 950-seat food court and 25 fashion retailers.
- 1998
Sears Home Store added
[1]A freestanding Sears Home Store is added to the mall property.
- 1990
Eaton's becomes an additional department-store anchor
[1]An Eaton's department store is added during the early 1990s; the location later becomes Hudson's Bay.
- 1974
Mall opens with 55 stores
[1]Upper Canada Mall opens with 55 stores, including Zellers, Sears and Dominion Supermarket.
- 1973
Construction begins
[1]Construction of Upper Canada Mall begins in Newmarket, Ontario.
Products and positioning
A large regional shopping centre serving Newmarket and the northern Greater Toronto Area through a broad mix of fashion, department-store, specialty-retail and dining uses.
Retail category · 1974
Fashion and apparel retail
Upper Canada Mall's fashion offer includes clothing, footwear and accessories from department-store, fast-fashion, specialty and premium retailers. The 2008 expansion specifically added a substantial group of fashion tenants, including Zara, Forever 21, H&M, Hollister, Browns, Victoria's Secret and Michael Kors. Tenant availability changes over time as individual retailers open, close or relocate.
Dining · 2008
Food court
A 950-seat food court was introduced as part of the 2008 redevelopment. It expanded the mall's dining capacity and complemented its conventional retail offer with a large shared seating and quick-service area.
Food hall and specialty food retail · 2018
Market & Co
Market & Co is a food-oriented area containing restaurants and food stores. It opened in 2018 in space converted from the former Zellers and Target footprint, representing a shift from a traditional department-store use toward dining and food-led retail.
Retail category · 1974
General merchandise and specialty retail
The mall also accommodates general merchandise, home-related goods, electronics, beauty products and specialty services through a changing tenant mix. Historical occupants and replacements have included Sears, Winners, Dollarama, Toys 'R' Us, Apple and Sunrise Records.
Brand decisions
2018
Conversion of former anchor space into Market & CoStrategyBackground
Former Zellers and Target space was repurposed as department-store retail patterns changed.
Action taken
The mall opened Market & Co with restaurants and food stores, while Sport Chek moved into the remaining space and Dollarama took over Sport Chek's former location.
Aftermath
The reconfiguration increased the role of food and flexible retail uses within a former anchor footprint.
2008
Redevelopment and fashion-led expansionStrategyBackground
The mall undertook a major redevelopment to enlarge its floor area, improve dining capacity and add a significant number of fashion retailers.
Action taken
The project added approximately 148,000 square feet, a 950-seat food court and 25 fashion-oriented stores.
Aftermath
The redevelopment broadened the centre beyond its original department-store and supermarket-led format and introduced several internationally recognized retail brands.
Reported redevelopment cost. $60 million (2008 redevelopment)
Sources2 sources
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