Grant Park Shopping Centre
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAn approximately 70-store enclosed shopping centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Grant Park Shopping Centre is an enclosed shopping centre in the Grant Park area of southwest Winnipeg, Manitoba. The centre contains approximately 70 stores and services and occupies nearly 400,000 square feet. Its tenant mix combines grocery, pharmacy, liquor retail, books, restaurants, fitness, cinema, financial services and large-format specialty retail, making it a neighbourhood and district-level commercial destination rather than a narrowly focused shopping arcade. The site has a layered urban history. The surrounding land was associated with the Harte Subdivision, created for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1908. Before the shopping centre was developed, the Grant Park area was also part of Rooster Town, an urban Métis community that grew during the twentieth century. The community faced increasing pressure from developers during the 1950s, and its remaining residents were forcibly displaced in 1959. The history of Rooster Town is now documented by historians, community organizations and the University of Manitoba, and forms an important part of the context surrounding the commercial development of the site. Aronovitch & Leipsic developed the shopping centre. Construction began in 1962, and the first stores opened in 1964 in a group of detached buildings. Early tenants included Safeway, Dominion and Clarke's. The arrival of Woolco in 1966 became a major turning point. A dispute involving Woolco and Clarke's ultimately reached the Supreme Court of Canada, and the centre subsequently moved toward an enclosed format so that its stores could be connected. Grant Park became an enclosed shopping mall in 1969. The centre's entertainment role also dates to 1969, when Grant Park Cinerama Theatre opened as a 742-seat cinema. It was the first Cinerama theatre in Winnipeg. The cinema later became a multiplex and passed through several operating arrangements before becoming Landmark Cinemas 8 Grant Park in 2013. Grant Park underwent a major common-area renovation in 1989, at which time its marketing name changed from Grant Park Plaza to Grant Park Shopping Centre and the centre adopted a new logo. The redevelopment also involved changes to the supermarket arrangement after Dominion withdrew from western Canada; Safeway subsequently moved into the former Dominion space. Later expansion and tenant changes included the opening of a large McNally Robinson Booksellers store in the 1990s, replacing an earlier entertainment and arcade-oriented phase of the mall. The centre began another extensive renovation in 2012, completed in 2016, followed by the addition of new pad-site development in 2016–2017. Its current or recently documented anchor and major tenants include Red River Co-op, Manitoba Liquor Mart, Shoppers Drug Mart, Landmark Cinemas, Canadian Tire and McNally Robinson. The Grant Park Liquor Mart is described in reference material as the largest Manitoba Liquor Mart location in the province. Other notable site features include GoodLife Fitness, Cambrian Credit Union and Fionn MacCool's Pub. Nearby institutions include Grant Park High School and the Pan-Am Pool. Grant Park Shopping Centre remains an active Winnipeg retail and community destination, although ownership, tenant rosters and operating details may change over time.
History
The commercial site occupied by Grant Park Shopping Centre lies in an area whose modern development began with the Harte Subdivision, associated with the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1908. From the 1920s until the late 1950s, the wider Grant Park area was also home to Rooster Town, an urban Métis community. Families established homes there in response to the difficulty of finding affordable housing near other Métis residents. During the 1950s, development pressure intensified, and the remaining residents were evicted in 1959. Homes were demolished or destroyed. Subsequent historical work has documented Rooster Town as a culturally active working-class community and has brought greater public attention to the social history of the land. Aronovitch & Leipsic developed the shopping centre. Groundbreaking took place in 1962, and the first retail buildings opened in 1964. The original centre included stores such as Safeway, Dominion and Clarke's. It initially consisted of detached buildings rather than a fully enclosed mall. Woolco was added in 1966, approximately two years after the initial opening. Its arrival generated a legal conflict with Clarke's, known in the reported case as Clark's-Gamble of Canada Ltd. v. Grant Park Plaza Ltd. et al. The dispute was ultimately considered by the Supreme Court of Canada, which ruled in Woolco's favour. The centre then pursued enclosure to link the stores together. Grant Park became an enclosed shopping mall in 1969. The same year, Grant Park Cinerama Theatre opened with 742 seats. Operated initially by National General Corporation, it was Winnipeg's first Cinerama theatre and screened Krakatoa, East of Java as its opening film. The cinema later converted to a multiplex and underwent further organizational changes before becoming part of Landmark Cinemas. On June 27, 2013, the theatre was among the locations that Empire Theatres announced for sale to Landmark Cinemas; the venue now operates under the Landmark Cinemas 8 Grant Park name. The centre completed a substantial common-area renovation in 1989. This project was accompanied by a change in marketing identity from Grant Park Plaza to Grant Park Shopping Centre and the introduction of a new logo. Retail restructuring also followed the departure of Dominion Stores from western Canada in 1984. Safeway moved into the former Dominion premises in 1989, helping maintain a major grocery presence at the centre. Grant Park's tenant mix continued to evolve. During the 1970s and 1980s, The Pirate's Den operated an arcade in space later used for the mall's mid-centre washrooms. The arcade closed during the 1989 renovation period as home video games became increasingly popular. In the 1990s, the mall added what was described as Winnipeg's largest McNally Robinson Booksellers location, in part strengthening its position against the expanding Chapters chain. The centre's large eastern anchor space went through several successive occupants. Woolco was acquired and converted to Walmart in 1994. Walmart left the site in 2001, after which Zellers occupied the space until closing on February 11, 2013. Target then operated there from November 2013 until April 2015. Canadian Tire subsequently leased approximately 75 percent of the former Target area and opened on June 23, 2016; GoodLife Fitness occupied much of the remaining portion and also opened in 2016. A further four-year renovation began in 2012 and concluded in 2016. New pad-site construction followed during 2016 and 2017, adding Cambrian Credit Union and Fionn MacCool's Pub. The centre is documented as having approximately 70 stores and services and nearly 400,000 square feet. Its major tenants include Red River Co-op, Manitoba Liquor Mart, Shoppers Drug Mart, Landmark Cinemas, Canadian Tire and McNally Robinson. Nearby Grant Park High School and the Pan-Am Pool contribute to the site's role within the surrounding southwest Winnipeg community.
- 2017
Pad-site development completed
[1]Pad-site development during 2016–2017 added Cambrian Credit Union and Fionn MacCool's Pub to the property.
- 2016
Canadian Tire and GoodLife Fitness open
[1]Canadian Tire occupied most of the former Target space, while GoodLife Fitness took the remainder.
- 2016
Renewal program concludes
[1]The extensive renovation program that began in 2012 was completed.
- 2013
Cinema transferred to Landmark Cinemas
[1]The Grant Park cinema was included in Empire Theatres' sale of western Canadian and Ontario locations to Landmark Cinemas.
- 2012
Four-year renewal begins
[1]A major renovation program began and continued through 2016.
- 1994
Woolco location becomes Walmart
[1]The Woolco store was acquired and converted into a Walmart location.
- 1989
Major renovation and name change
[1]The common areas were extensively renovated, and Grant Park Plaza adopted the Grant Park Shopping Centre name and a new logo.
- 1969
Centre becomes enclosed
[1]The shopping centre completed its transition to an enclosed mall.
- 1969
Grant Park Cinerama Theatre opens
[1]A 742-seat Cinerama theatre opened at the centre, becoming Winnipeg's first theatre of that type.
- 1966
Woolco joins the centre
[1]Woolco opened at the centre, leading to a tenant dispute that eventually reached Canada's Supreme Court.
Products and positioning
A large, established Winnipeg shopping centre serving everyday-needs retail, services, dining and entertainment for southwest Winnipeg and surrounding communities.
Shopping centre retail · 1964
Retail and everyday-needs shopping
The centre brings together approximately 70 stores and services in a nearly 400,000-square-foot property. Its assortment spans groceries, pharmacy, liquor, books, automotive and hardware-related goods, personal care, financial services and general merchandise. The mix is oriented toward recurring local shopping needs while also supporting destination visits through books, dining, fitness and entertainment.
Cinema · 1969
Landmark Cinemas 8 Grant Park
The cinema originated as Grant Park Cinerama Theatre in 1969, a 742-seat National General Corporation venue and Winnipeg's first Cinerama theatre. It later became a multiplex and changed operators before joining Landmark Cinemas in 2013. The venue operates as Landmark Cinemas 8 Grant Park.
Books and media retail
McNally Robinson Booksellers
McNally Robinson's Grant Park store became a major bookstore anchor during the mall's later development. Reference material describes the location as Winnipeg's largest McNally Robinson store at the time of its opening and identifies it as part of the centre's strategy to compete with the growing Chapters chain.
Automotive, hardware and general merchandise · 2016
Canadian Tire
Canadian Tire took over approximately 75 percent of the former Target space after Target departed. The store opened on June 23, 2016 and provides automotive products, hardware, seasonal goods, sporting merchandise and household items within the centre's large-format retail mix.
Liquor retail
Manitoba Liquor Mart
The Grant Park Liquor Mart is a major anchor tenant and is described in the reference material as the largest Manitoba Liquor Mart location in the province. It adds a substantial provincially regulated beverage-retail component to the shopping centre.
Grocery retail
Red River Co-op
Red River Co-op is identified as one of the centre's principal anchors, providing grocery shopping and everyday household necessities for nearby residents and other visitors.
Brand decisions
2012
Multi-year shopping-centre renewalStrategyBackground
Grant Park undertook another broad physical renewal more than two decades after its 1989 renovation.
Action taken
A four-year renovation program was launched in 2012 and completed in 2016, followed by additional pad-site development.
Aftermath
The renewal modernized the centre and supported the arrival or expansion of tenants including Canadian Tire, GoodLife Fitness, Cambrian Credit Union and Fionn MacCool's Pub.
1989
Rebranding and common-area renovationStrategyBackground
The centre required a substantial update after decades of operation and was adapting to changes in its tenant base, including the departure of Dominion from western Canada.
Action taken
Common areas were renovated, the marketing name changed from Grant Park Plaza to Grant Park Shopping Centre, and a new logo was introduced. Safeway moved into the former Dominion space.
Aftermath
The work refreshed the centre's identity and preserved a major grocery anchor while supporting its continued evolution as an enclosed shopping destination.
1966
Enclosure pursued after Woolco disputeOtherBackground
Woolco's addition to the centre generated a legal dispute with Clarke's, which was ultimately taken to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Action taken
Following the court ruling in Woolco's favour, Grant Park moved toward enclosing the previously detached retail buildings and connecting the stores.
Aftermath
The centre became an enclosed shopping mall in 1969, establishing the physical format associated with Grant Park Shopping Centre.
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