An in-depth look inside the new Oakridge Park, the rebirth of Vancouver's second major mall

On Wednesday, the eve of Oakridge Park’s long-awaited opening, staff at the shopping mall’s retailers and food-and-beverage businesses worked late into the day putting the very final finishing touches on Vancouver’s newest luxury shopping destination — the rebirth and transformation of the city’s second major shopping centre.

Inside the expansive new mall, workers rushed to stock merchandise, adjust displays, polish floors, and complete final inspections as media toured the corridors, common areas, and the Time Out Market Vancouver food hall ahead of the grand opening at 11 a.m. today, Thursday, May 28, 2026, when the public will get its first look at the highly anticipated project over 20 years in the making.

This marks the latest and most significant era of retail on the 28-acre site, where the very first version of the shopping centre — then a suburban-style mall — opened nearly seven decades ago.

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Before major construction work on Vancouver’s single-largest development project began in 2019, the previous Oakridge Centre was regularly ranked as one of Canada’s highest-performing malls in terms of sales per sq. ft. — just behind Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto’s suburbs and CF Pacific Centre in Downtown Vancouver — Vancouver’s only other major mall — and ahead of CF Eaton Centre in Downtown Toronto.

The mall’s latest transformation reflects how retail has continuously evolved over generations and is now closely integrated with immersive experiences, high-density residential and office uses, and major civic uses and a large one-of-a-kind rooftop public park programmed by the municipal government. The sheer scale of the project is also made functionally possible by its transit-oriented development position, as it is directly served by the Canada Line and the R4 41st Avenue RapidBus.

Welcome to Oakridge Park

Upon exiting SkyTrain’s Oakridge-41st Avenue Station at street level, visitors are immediately met with the only visual contrast between old and new. The former entrance plaza remains roughly the same in terms of its footprint size, albeit its design has been completely reimagined, yet one remnant of the old mall complex remains: the terraced six-storey red brick building called “The Terraces,” containing Crate & Barrel at street level and 32 strata condominium homes above. This structure, framing the south side of the plaza, now stands in sharp contrast to the sleek new redevelopment surrounding it.

Aside from this lone surviving piece of the former “Oakridge Centre” complex, Oakridge Park has been built entirely from scratch.

As visitors walk west through this prominent plaza at the intersection of Cambie Street and West 41st Avenue, the open space past the new giant video screen gradually narrows into a pedestrian walkway leading toward the mall’s grand main entrance. There, a massive three-storey wooden revolving door — framed by comparatively conventional glass doors on either side — serves as the dramatic centrepiece of the entry into the indoor shopping centre.

This entrance directly opens into the naturally lit north atrium beneath expansive skylights, which serves as a major vertical access point connecting the upper mall levels and underground parking. The space is visually anchored by an overhead architectural centrepiece that doubles as a pedestrian bridge for the second level, as well as a suspended overhead art installation, a transparent LED video screen embedded onto the exterior of the glass elevator tower, and a large amphitheatre seating area that also functions as a staircase between floors.

When live music, performances, or other events are held, the north atrium functions as an indoor venue, while at other times it serves as an informal public lounge for visitors. Its amphitheatre combines circulation, seating, and gathering space into a single architectural feature.

The amphitheatre’s long and wide wooden benches — arranged within eight circular sections of seating for up to a few hundred people — encourage visitors to sit, relax, socialize, or observe activities on the atrium floor, transforming the space from a simple passageway into an active community hub. The flexible use of this space for events is also aided by built-in theatre lighting and an audio system.

The smaller south atrium also has a curved form, with perimeter seating overlooking the underground levels, a large video display, a Steinway Spirio self-playing piano, and ample natural light.

There is an intimate yet grand feel while walking through the mall corridors, which use a modern luxury design that feels both grand and comfortable. High ceilings, skylights, elegant storefronts, and long open sightlines create a spacious and upscale atmosphere, while warm wood-patterned flooring, soft lighting, indoor trees, seating areas, and natural and other high-quality materials make the space feel more intimate and relaxing.

The decorative art installations and landscaped features within planters, which double as dispersed pockets of seating, also help break up the corridors, making them feel less like typical mall walkways and more like a refined indoor boulevard or hotel lobby.

Vancouver-based firms led the design of Oakridge Park, with Revery Architecture responsible for the interior design of the mall environment, while Henriquez Partners Architects created the overall mixed-use complex design.

The mall also brought back Stuart Hailes of Tropical Images Plant Interiors to oversee the living greenery throughout the expansive interior. Hailes had previously been responsible for the plants and florals in the original mall, continuing a longstanding connection between the landscape design of the old and new spaces.

At select locations within the mall corridors, directly beneath skylight openings, fiscus amstal king trees are the most defining type of greenery inside. Hailes says he expects these trees, being grown indoors, will rise by another 10 ft. to 15 ft. at a rate of about two ft. per year, eventually poking above the ceiling openings and rising above the floor level of the second level.

This includes several trees that will rise from the first level of the mall corridor and into the specific second-level space where Time Out Market Vancouver is located.

Time Out Market Vancouver food hall

Time Out Market is a renowned international food hall chain that brings together a mix of popular local restaurants, cafes, and bars in one shared space. Unlike a typical mall food court focused mainly on fast food chains and quick meals, Time Out Market is designed to feel more like a modern dining hall, with higher-end food options driven by chefs, stylish interiors, communal seating, and a more social atmosphere where people are encouraged to stay, gather, and spend time.

At 51,000 sq. ft., this Time Out Market is among the largest locations in the chain worldwide. Time Out Market currently operates 13 locations globally, including one other Canadian location in Downtown Montreal. It now serves as one of Oakridge Park’s anchor tenants.

The most direct route to reach Time Out Market Vancouver is from the north atrium, using the escalators, elevator, or the amphitheatre staircases. The entrance into this food hall is designed to feel warm, inviting, and distinct from the rest of the mall. Large wooden screens and tall timber panels frame the entryway, creating a sense of arrival as visitors move into the cavernous dining space.

Time Out Market Vancouver differs from many other locations in the food hall chain by replacing the usual industrial, warehouse-like aesthetic with a brighter and more refined West Coast design.

While other Time Out Markets are well known for design elements such as exposed brick, steel beams, and other dark coloured surfaces, such as the food halls in Dubai, Lisbon, and New York City, the Vancouver location emphasizes natural light, warmer wood finishes, softer neutral tones, and high ceilings that create a calm and open atmosphere. Lighter surfaces also help reflect and distribute natural light throughout the interior.

Wood slat ceilings, large murals, and understated vendor storefronts further soften the interior and create a more cohesive design.

The more diverse seating typology also encourages visitors to stay and socialize, with a mix of long communal tables, lounge-style seating, and open sightlines throughout the space. Perhaps as a nod to Vancouver’s strong Asian influences and communal dining traditions, the market also incorporates large round tables with rotating centre turntables that can be reserved for group gatherings, making it easier for diners to share dishes in a family-style setting. Altogether, there are nearly 1,000 seats inside this food hall.

There is also table seating beside expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, which can slide open to seamlessly connect Time Out Market’s indoor dining space with its dedicated outdoor seating area on the 7.5-acre public park atop the mall rooftop — a public space that is designed for not only recreation and relaxation, but also major events.

Altogether, Time Out Market features 20 vendors with no overlap between any of the concepts — half of which focus on different Asian cuisines — along with three bars. A few examples of the notable concepts include Feenie’s (by chef Rob Feenie), Peacock (by Vikram Vij), Pasta E Basta (by Ask For Luigi), Lunch Lady, DownLow Chicken, Heritage (by Heritage Asian Eatery), and PiDGiN. All 20 vendors are ready for opening day.

For the time being, Time Out Market will be the only food and beverage offering at Oakridge Park — until the openings of Delysees Champagne Bar in the west galleria corridor and Japanese hand roll bar restaurant Hello Nori, which will open at the plaza, just outside the main entrance, in a few weeks. Over time, even more dining offerings are expected to open, including the return of Peninsula Seafood Restaurant to the property, with construction on the upscale Chinese restaurant having recently begun.

Chrystal Burns, executive vice president of Canadian retail experience at QuadReal Property Group, emphasized that building a strong lineup of food and beverage offerings and cultural experiences — public art, live music venues, and programmable public spaces — has been a key priority.

Modern malls are increasingly focusing on food and beverage offerings, activations, and events as part of creating a more immersive and experience-driven environment, as a destination to socialize — rather than functioning solely as places to shop.

Ample luxury retail and the return of Safeway

As for Oakridge Park’s retail offerings, the mall is largely centred around global luxury fashion and apparel brands, including a number of retailers that have opened their first standalone brick-and-mortar stores in Metro Vancouver. This includes the first local standalone boutiques for Loewe, Les Sans-Margelles, Acne Studios, Bucherer, Bulgari, David Yurman, and Dolce & Gabbana, as well as the first standalone boutiques for Jacob & Co. in Canada and Chaumet in North America.

While the former Oakridge Centre was known to have a strong upscale component as part of its overall retail mix, the redeveloped mall clearly places a far greater emphasis on luxury brands.

The largest retailer by floor area opening this week will be Sporting Life, which carries mid-market to upscale sports apparel and outdoor clothing brands. The store, located at the southeast corner of the mall, will mark the Canadian chain’s second location in British Columbia, following its existing location at The Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby.

This week’s opening represents the first phase of not only the mall itself, but also the broader overall redevelopment project. As more retailers gradually open through 2027, the mall is expected to introduce additional mid-market and neighbourhood-serving concepts alongside its luxury offerings.

Some of those neighbourhood-serving concepts will include anchor-sized retailers, specifically the return of the Safeway grocery store and the co-located Signature BC Liquor Store. The 50,000-sq.-ft. Safeway will be located on an underground level with convenient access for shoppers using grocery carts to reach their parked vehicles, while the roughly 25,000-sq.-ft. liquor store will relocate the existing Cambie Street location just north of the mall. Safeway is expected to open in the coming weeks, while the liquor store is slated to open in 2027. Both stores will be located in the south atrium.

Overall, the first phase’s retail/dining uses span 650,000 sq. ft. of leasable space, occupied by over 100 businesses. During the mall’s first day this week, 500,000 sq. ft. of that leasable space will be ready for customers.

“Every space that you see today has been over-subscribed, and that is something we don’t hear often,” said Burns on Wednesday.

“Every single one of the retail spaces here on level one and below on the parking level and transit tunnel is spoken for.”

The transit tunnel referenced by Burns is the underground mall corridor between the ticketing concourse of Oakridge-41st Avenue Station and the north atrium’s vertical circulation, providing the subway station with a second entrance in addition to its vastly upgraded street entrance — including a new, larger station entrance roof, two additional escalators, and a new elevator. This retail-lined transit tunnel is on the same level as P1 vehicle parking.

The highly extensive station upgrade and expansion project will reach full completion this summer.

Here is a listing of the known retailers and services in the first phase of the mall, including some businesses that will not be ready in time for opening day:

• Acne Studios
• Alexaner Wang
• Alo Yoga
• Arc’teryx
• Aritzia
• Signature BC Liquor Store
• Birks
• Boss
• Browns Shoes
• Brunello Cucinelli
• Bucherer
• Bvlgari
• Canada Goose
• Chanel
• Chaumet
• Chow Tai Fook
• Christian Louboutin
• Coach
• Crate & Barrel
• David Yurman
• Diptyque
• Dolce & Gabbana
• Ferragamo
• Giorgio Armani
• GreenTee Golf
• Harry Rosen
• Hugo Boss
• Jacob & Co.
• Leah Alexandra
• Les Sans-Margelles
• Loewe
• Longcham
• Loro Piana
• Louis Vuitton
• Lululemon
• Lush
• Brow Bar
• Maison Margiela
• Maje
• Max Mara
• Miu Miu
• Moncler
• Mophead
• Petit Pont
• Prada
• Rolex
• Royal Bank
• Safeway
• Sandro
• Sephora
• Sisley Paris
• Sporting Life
• Sunglass Hut
• Starbucks (within Safeway)
• Swarovski
• Tag Heuer
• Thom Browne
• Tiffany and Co.
• Tudor
• Valentino
• Veronica Beard
• Versace
• Weekend Max Mara
• Wirelesswave

This is the list of known food and beverage businesses opening at Oakridge Park mall outside of Time Out Market Vancouver, with none of these businesses ready for opening day:

• %Arabica Coffee
• A&W
• Delysees Champagne Bar & Desserts
• Giorgio Armani Cafe
• Hello Nori
• Nespresso
• Peninsula Seafood Restaurant
• Purdys Chocolate

This is the list of food and beverage vendors found inside Time Out Market Vancouver, all ready for opening day:

• Barnacle (Seafood by Bar Bravo)
• Beaucoup Bakery (café)
• Beaucoup Creamery (dessert bar)
• BLND TGER (dumpling bar)
• Boba Run (bubble tea)
• Downlow Chicken (fried chicken)
• Espana (Spanish tapas and paella)
• Feenie’s (gourmet burgers by Rob Feenie)
• Heritage (Chinese BBQ by Heritage Asian Eatery)
• Kishimoto (Japanese)
• Lunch Lady (Vietnamese)
• Makaam (modern artisan Thai by Baan Lao)
• Mee Bar (Cambodian by Chanthy Yen)
• Mello (artisan donuts)
• Pasta E Basta (Italian by Ask For Luigi)
• Peacock (Indian by Vikram Vij)
• PiDGiN (modern Asian)
• Santo Taco (taqueria)
• Time Out Express (grab-and-go/guest services)
• Via Tevere (pizza and panino)

Oakridge Park will provide 2,000 vehicle parking stalls within the P1 and P2 levels for the needs of mall visitors, with the first three hours of parking offered for free. For added convenience through an extra charge, valet parking services are offered at the north and south atriums on the P1 level. During the four-day grand opening period through Sunday, May 31, the mall is offering temporary overflow parking at a satellite site.

From the outset, Oakridge Park’s largest anchor retail tenant was supposed to have been the return of Hudson’s Bay. QuadReal built a two-storey, 140,000-sq.-ft. shell space for the department store chain, before the retailer made the decision towards the end of 2024 — months before the retailer’s financial issues came to a very public head, leading to the company’s collapse — to not reopen its location at Oakridge Park.

Altea Fitness will take over more than a third of the space previously slated for Hudson’s Bay, a 55,000-sq.-ft. space on the second level — opposite of Time Out Market in the north atrium. The fitness gym chain was previously slated to occupy a different space in the mall, but the cancellation of Hudson’s Bay provided an opportunity for the club to open within a larger space.

As well, the space previously set aside for the department store on the ground level of the north atrium — opposite the amphitheatre seating — has now been leased to yet-to-be-announced lifestyle and fashion tenancies. Burns notes that these new concepts in the former department store volume will open in Spring 2027.

Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) will also be opening a major campus location of about 50,000 sq. ft. on the second level — next to the former department store space — featuring dozens of classrooms, computer labs, and semi-wet science labs. This will help provide the mall with additional steady foot traffic and activity when FDU Vancouver opens in Fall 2026.

There’s still much more to come

Aside from the mall, the five-storey, 100,000-sq.-ft. civic centre at the northwest corner of the mall property — attached to a new turnkey social housing tower — will also open sometime in 2027, which depends on the municipal government’s timelines after it takes control of the completed space early next year.

This civic centre will include a community centre, seniors centre, youth hub, performance space, fitness gym, gymnasium, movement studio, childcare facility, artist studios, music rooms, and a 25,000-sq.-ft. Vancouver Public Library (VPL) branch, which will be VPL’s second-largest branch location.

Five residential towers, including a social housing tower, are expected to reach occupancy in early 2027, adding 700 strata market condominium homes and 180 social housing units to the site. Meanwhile, the base podium levels of the four condominium towers and a new mid-rise office building beside the main entrance plaza will together provide about 700,000 sq. ft. of office space.

Burns told Daily Hive Urbanized earlier this month that QuadReal remains committed to office uses for these spaces, citing expectations of strong office demand at the site over the longer term.

“We actually believe this is the highest and best use for the site. It’s incredibly well-connected. It’s incredibly visible and the quality of product we’re building. QuadReal, as well as BCI, are really long-term global investors and our conviction in Vancouver and this location holds strongly throughout the cycles,” she said.

“We are staying the course in terms of believing that this is an iconic sought-after location with the right mix of uses that the community really needs.”

At some point in the future, QuadReal will advance the second phase of the redevelopment, which largely focuses on developing the remaining vacant parcels — a former surface vehicle parking lot — along the western edge of the property. This will add 200,000 sq. ft. of leasable retail/restaurant space, with the approved plans calling for an outdoor retail section for the mall, as well as additional residential and office uses and public park and open spaces.

The previous mall had about 575,000 sq. ft. of leasable retail/restaurant space. In contrast, when fully complete, Oakridge Park will have about 850,000 sq. ft. of leasable retail/restaurant space — not including about 350,000 sq. ft. of extensive circulation and common spaces, such as the north and south atriums, indoor mall corridors, and other non-leasable spaces — along with homes for over 6,000 residents and on-site employment for more than 5,000 workers.

Planning for the redevelopment of the 1959-built mall first began in the 2000s under the property’s previous owner, Ivanhoe Cambridge (now known as La Caisse). The municipal government approved an initial preliminary master plan in 2007 that envisioned a much more modest expansion and mixed-use commercial and residential redevelopment of the shopping centre.

In partnership with Westbank, a more ambitious vision for the redevelopment was given the green light in 2014, when the rezoning application received approval. The project’s retail component was later scaled back slightly to reduce the depth of excavation required for the larger underground parking facilities that a bigger mall would have needed, after the full extent of the aquifer beneath the property became better understood.

In 2017, Ivanhoe Cambridge sold the mall property and approved redevelopment plans to QuadReal, which at the time was still in its infancy after being established in 2016 as the for-profit real estate arm of British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI), which is responsible for maximizing returns for B.C.’s public-sector pension plans.

QuadReal retained Westbank and Henriquez Partners Architects, rebooting the project with a more ambitious concept that also addressed the technical challenges posed by the aquifer.

As previously reported by Daily Hive Urbanized for over a decade, numerous revisions and design refinements have been made to the project over the years.

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