Garden City Shopping Centre

Garden City Shopping Centre is a single-level regional shopping centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It stands at the intersection of McPhillips Street and Leila Avenue in the West Kildonan area, serving surrounding residential neighbourhoods as well as shoppers from across north Winnipeg. The centre combines department-store and specialty retail, grocery, home-improvement, fitness, food-service, and everyday-service uses in a suburban mall format. The centre was developed by Toronto businessman James Kelly on approximately 40 acres of land. Construction took place in 1969 and 1970, and Garden City opened on August 12, 1970. Its initial development contained roughly 100,000 square feet and was planned around approximately 40 stores. The T. Eaton Company acquired space during the original development, establishing the centre's early connection with the department-store era of Canadian suburban retail. A substantial expansion began in 1974, adding approximately 181,000 square feet. During this period, the centre's principal tenants included Simpson-Sears and Dominion, while plans also called for Eaton's and Beaver Lumber. Eaton's subsequently opened an approximately 86,000-square-foot store in August 1976. By that year, Garden City was regarded as one of Winnipeg's four largest regional malls, reflecting the centre's growing role in the city's retail geography. The tenant mix changed as Canada's department-store sector contracted. Eaton's closed its Garden City location in 1998, and the former space was later occupied by Canadian Tire. Sears Canada's nationwide bankruptcy and subsequent shutdowns created another major redevelopment opportunity. The former Sears area, measuring approximately 92,000 square feet, was divided into several units. The reconfigured space brought in Seafood City Supermarket, an important Filipino-focused grocery retailer entering Winnipeg, together with Michaels and Bulk Barn. Garden City completed a reported $10 million renovation in spring 2018. The work refreshed interior finishes, added or improved seating, renovated washrooms, modernized the food court, and introduced energy-efficient lighting throughout the property. These changes were intended to keep the centre competitive as shoppers increasingly expected convenience, updated common areas, and a broader mix of food and service options. The centre has also retained a strong transportation function. A designated Winnipeg Transit bus hub serves multiple routes, and surface parking includes park-and-ride capacity. The property is managed by McCor Management. In 2024, Primaris REIT sold Garden City Shopping Centre to a private ownership group. The centre remains an operating retail property rather than a publicly traded brand, with its identity rooted in its Winnipeg location, established tenant base, and role as a community-oriented regional shopping destination.

Garden City Shopping Centre was created during Winnipeg's expansion of suburban retail infrastructure in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Toronto developer James Kelly developed the project on roughly 40 acres in West Kildonan, at the intersection of McPhillips Street and Leila Avenue. Construction occurred during 1969–1970, with an initial plan for about 40 stores and approximately 100,000 square feet of retail space. The centre opened on August 12, 1970. The development attracted major Canadian retailers from its beginning. The T. Eaton Company purchased space in the centre, helping establish Garden City as more than a small neighbourhood strip. A major expansion started in 1974 and added about 181,000 square feet. The enlarged centre included or planned for large-format tenants such as Simpson-Sears, Dominion, Eaton's, and Beaver Lumber. Eaton's opened an approximately 86,000-square-foot location in August 1976. Garden City's expanded scale made it one of Winnipeg's four largest regional malls at that time. The centre's history reflects the restructuring of Canadian department-store retail. Eaton's closed its Garden City store in 1998, and Canadian Tire subsequently occupied the former space. A later change followed Sears Canada's bankruptcy and national shutdown. The former Sears premises, covering approximately 92,000 square feet, were subdivided into multiple units rather than being retained as one department store. This redevelopment introduced Seafood City Supermarket to Winnipeg, alongside Michaels and Bulk Barn, broadening the property toward grocery, specialty food, crafts, and bulk merchandise. In spring 2018, Garden City undertook a major renovation reported at approximately $10 million. The project updated the interior environment, introduced new seating, renovated washrooms, refreshed the food court, and installed energy-efficient lighting throughout the centre. The investment modernized common areas while preserving the mall's single-level, accessible suburban format. Transportation has remained part of the centre's practical role. Winnipeg Transit serves the property through a designated bus hub accommodating several routes, while surface parking provides park-and-ride capacity. The property is managed by McCor Management. Primaris REIT owned the centre before selling it in 2024 to a private ownership group. Garden City therefore continues as an active Winnipeg shopping destination whose business model depends on a diversified tenant roster, convenient access, and adaptation of large spaces as retail formats change.

• 2024

  Ownership changes

  [1]Garden City Shopping Centre (Winnipeg)en.wikipedia.org

  Primaris REIT sold Garden City Shopping Centre to a private ownership group.

• 2018

  Renovation completed

  [1]Garden City Shopping Centre (Winnipeg)en.wikipedia.org

  A major renovation refreshed the centre's interiors, amenities, food court, seating, and lighting.

• 1998

  Eaton's space changes use

  [1]Garden City Shopping Centre (Winnipeg)en.wikipedia.org

  After Eaton's closed its location, Canadian Tire took over the former department-store premises.

• 1976

  Eaton's opens

  [1]Garden City Shopping Centre (Winnipeg)en.wikipedia.org

  An approximately 86,000-square-foot Eaton's store opened at Garden City in August.

• 1974

  Major expansion starts

  [1]Garden City Shopping Centre (Winnipeg)en.wikipedia.org

  An expansion adding approximately 181,000 square feet began, significantly increasing the centre's regional-mall capacity.

• 1970

  Centre opens

  [1]Garden City Shopping Centre (Winnipeg)en.wikipedia.org

  Garden City Shopping Centre opened on August 12 with an initial development of approximately 100,000 square feet.

• 1969

  Construction begins

  [1]Garden City Shopping Centre (Winnipeg)en.wikipedia.org

  Construction began on James Kelly's planned shopping centre in West Kildonan on approximately 40 acres of land.

A convenient, community-oriented regional shopping centre serving north Winnipeg and nearby suburban neighbourhoods through a practical mix of anchor retailers, specialty stores, grocery, food, fitness, and services.

• Anchor retailer

  Canadian Tire

  A major anchor offering automotive products and services, hardware, home goods, seasonal merchandise, sporting goods, and other practical consumer products. Canadian Tire occupies space formerly associated with the centre's Eaton's department-store use.

• Off-price apparel and home retailer

  Winners

  An off-price anchor retailer focused on apparel, footwear, accessories, home furnishings, and changing branded assortments. Its value-oriented model supports Garden City's positioning as a convenient destination for everyday and discretionary shopping.

• Fitness club

  GoodLife Fitness

  A fitness and wellness anchor providing gym facilities, exercise equipment, training, and related membership services. The club extends Garden City's use beyond conventional retail and contributes to regular, recurring visits.

• Specialty grocery

  Seafood City Supermarket

  A Filipino-focused grocery retailer introduced to Winnipeg through the redevelopment of the former Sears space. Its presence broadened the centre's food offering and added a culturally distinctive supermarket destination.

• Arts and crafts retailer

  Michaels

  A specialty retailer offering arts, crafts, framing, creative supplies, seasonal décor, and related hobby merchandise. It occupies part of the subdivided former Sears area.

• Bulk food retailer

  Bulk Barn

  A bulk merchandise and food retailer carrying packaged ingredients, snacks, baking supplies, household products, and other items sold in flexible quantities. Its addition complements Garden City's grocery and everyday-needs mix.

• 2024

  Transfer ownership to a private groupM&A

  Background

  Primaris REIT owned the property before the transaction.

  Action taken

  Primaris REIT sold Garden City Shopping Centre to a private ownership group.

  Aftermath

  The centre continued operating under private ownership, with McCor Management identified as its manager.

  Source

• 2018

  Invest in a comprehensive centre renovationStrategy

  Background

  The established suburban shopping centre needed refreshed common areas and amenities to remain competitive and comfortable for visitors.

  Action taken

  Garden City completed a reported $10 million renovation involving interior finishes, seating, washrooms, the food court, and energy-efficient lighting.

  Aftermath

  The project modernized the customer environment while retaining the centre's single-level regional-shopping format.

  Reported renovation investment. $10 million (2018)

  Source

• Redevelop the former Sears premisesStrategy

  Background

  Sears Canada's nationwide bankruptcy and closure left a large anchor-store area available for reuse.

  Action taken

  The approximately 92,000-square-foot space was divided into multiple units and leased to Seafood City Supermarket, Michaels, and Bulk Barn.

  Aftermath

  The redevelopment diversified the centre's tenant mix across specialty grocery, arts and crafts, and bulk food retail.

  Source

1. 1Garden City Shopping Centre (Winnipeg)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Garden City Shopping Centre official websiteshopgardencity.ca