NB "Big Mall" Status - Page 13

Freddypop · #**241** Posted **Jun 5, 2026, 2:16 PM**

Same guy owns the Garden City Mall in Winnipeg. The store selection there may be an indicator of what is in store for McAllister.

https://www.shopgardencity.ca

MonctonRad · #**242** Posted **Jun 5, 2026, 3:34 PM**

Pretty uninspired. Almost seems like a giant food court.

And, no MEC.......

bingun · #**243** Posted **Jun 5, 2026, 4:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddypop

Same guy owns the Garden City Mall in Winnipeg. The store selection there may be an indicator of what is in store for McAllister.

https://www.shopgardencity.ca

When did they purchase the mall in Winnipeg? Was that recently, or have they had ownership for some time?

Freddypop · #**244** Posted **Jun 5, 2026, 5:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bingun

when did they purchase the mall in winnipeg? Was that recently, or have they had ownership for some time?

In 2024 according to Retail Insider.

"Smart Investment Ltd. (led by MEC owner Tim Gu) purchased Winnipeg's Garden City Shopping Centre (often referred to as Garden City Mall) in May 2024. The $31 million deal was finalized when Primaris REIT officially entered into an agreement to sell the property, which closed on May 23, 2024."

DyAm00394 · #**245** Posted **Jun 5, 2026, 6:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddypop

In 2024 according to Retail Insider.

"Smart Investment Ltd. (led by MEC owner Tim Gu) purchased Winnipeg's Garden City Shopping Centre (often referred to as Garden City Mall) in May 2024. The $31 million deal was finalized when Primaris REIT officially entered into an agreement to sell the property, which closed on May 23, 2024."

If Primaris previously also owned Garden City Shopping Centre up until May 23 2024, then I think the current store selection isn't really a reflection of Smart Investments abilities. I'm sure a lot of what's in that mall was already there from Primaris ownership days. I think it really depends on the area of the shopping mall and retailers interest in setting up shop.

I think McAllister currently is in a better shape in terms of the retailers it has already. We already have some bigger names like Torrid, Sephora, Mountain Warehouse, and soon Miniso. Larger size tenants like Marshalls/HomeSense, Marks, The Brick, Clement, SportChek, Lawtons Drugs, Goodlife Fitness, Party City, Dollarama and a large Ardene store. McAllister and SJ itself has been doing pretty well lately with landing new retailers and businesses. I think Smart Investments jumped in on buying the mall because of the good selection of tenants it already has and sees the momentum and potential for the mall. Also helps them build relationships with more retailers and businesses that are not in their other mall.

Overall, we'll have to wait and see. The owner already said they are going to be very hands-on with McAllister and already are exploring brining in new retailers. The mall is currently around 91% occupied, with all large spaces occupied. So only a small number of smaller vacancies to fill.

Update to add: I looked it up and Garden City Shopping Centre is actually being leased and managed by McCor Management on behalf of the owner Smart Investments. So Smart Investments themselves are not handling leasing of that shopping mall. McCor also manages leasing at Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth, Mayflower Mall in Sydney, Mapleton Centre in Moncton.

The owner said Smart Investments will directly manage McAllister Place through their own property management platform, so I guess that means McAllister is their first mall they are directly managing themselves. Not having another company like McCor managing the leasing on behalf of them.

DyAm00394 · #**246** Posted **Jun 12, 2026, 2:40 PM**

Construction walls are now up for Miniso at McAllister Place. Located in the former Just Cozy spot across from RW&CO.

DyAm00394 · #**247** Posted **Jun 19, 2026, 12:00 AM**

Sharing this from the Saint John Retail Thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

The advertisement is now installed onto the construction walls for Miniso at McAllister Place. Located in the former Just Cozy spot across from RW&CO. https://miniso-ca.com/

(Photo is from the Retail Talk New Brunswick Facebook page)

KnoxfordGuy · #**248** Posted **Jun 20, 2026, 1:20 PM**

Hoarding has gone up around the old Laura Secord at the Regent Mall.

MonctonRad · #**249** Posted **Jun 20, 2026, 1:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KnoxfordGuy

Hoarding has gone up around the old Laura Secord at the Regent Mall.

Is it painted Purdy's purple???

KnoxfordGuy · #**250** Posted **Jun 20, 2026, 1:59 PM**

It was just being built as I walked by.

Freddypop · #**251** Posted **Jul 10, 2026, 4:07 PM**

Noticed that Primaris purchased the 50% remaining interest in Regent Mall and now own 100%.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/2...-%24275-to-%24375-Million-of-Excess-Land

jonny golden · #**252** Posted **Jul 10, 2026, 4:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddypop

Noticed that Primaris purchased the 50% remaining interest in Regent Mall and now own 100%.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/2...-%24275-to-%24375-Million-of-Excess-Land

And also sold their stake in McAllister Place.

It's also interesting that they intend to monetize (sell) 120 acres of excess land. This is essentially underused parking lot space.

They cite potential land use as multi-residential/seniors housing, hotel, student housing, and storage.

DyAm00394 · #**253** Posted **Jul 10, 2026, 5:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonny golden

And also sold their stake in McAllister Place.

It's also interesting that they intend to monetize (sell) 120 acres of excess land. This is essentially underused parking lot space.

They cite potential land use as multi-residential/seniors housing, hotel, student housing, and storage.

For McAllister Place, it was sold with plans provided for approximately 526 residential units on undeveloped portions of the property. The new owners, Smart Investments, indicated that this isn't a main focus right now, but over time it could happen. Their main focus for now is taking an hands on approach of managing mall and improving the mall. They want to bring in new retailers, do tenant upgrades, and have stronger food, service, and experiential uses.

Taeolas · #**254** Posted **Jul 10, 2026, 5:14 PM**

So that means NB's Big 3 are now owned by 3 different REITs? It'll be interesting to see how they develop from here. Lots of simularities I'm sure, but lately it feels like Primaris may be more focused on their NB Mall than the other two owners in general.

jonny golden · #**255** Posted **Jul 10, 2026, 5:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

For McAllister Place, it was sold with plans provided for approximately 526 residential units on undeveloped portions of the property. The new owners, Smart Investments, indicated that this isn't a main focus right now, but over time it could happen. Their main focus for now is taking an hands on approach of managing mall and improving the mall. They want to bring in new retailers, do tenant upgrades, and have stronger food, service, and experiential uses.

I've always been a proponent of developing the excess and underused parking lot areas surrounding shopping malls. It just seems to make so much sense.

Look at Champlain Place for example: a massive parking lot with a lot of underused space. I'm not sure if it would be possible though, as apparently it sits on former wet lands (swamp). But with modern engineering techniques, one would think that it could be possible. I just don't think the current owners have that vision though.

Taeolas · #**256** Posted **Jul 15, 2026, 12:35 PM**

Swung by Regent on Monday, and it's still in good shape IMO.

Purdy's is rebuilding the Laura Secord corner.

Mindgames has signage up and is stocking shelves in the big spot in behind Purdy's.

Mimiso is down near the Foodcourt. Their front is still covered up, but on FB someone said they're stocking shelves.

Looks like there's some activity in TRU, but it's probably just doing some cleanup/prep for Spirit to take over in September or so (only a month and change away).

The only empty spots of note the mall will have will be WarehouseOne and Faireweathers, both down at the Brick end of the mall. Warehouse One is fully closed, while Fairweather's is still in closeout mode.

I think one or two kiosk spots may be emptied out now, but those don't really count.

DyAm00394 · #**257** Posted **Jul 15, 2026, 1:28 PM**

Miniso is expected to open this Friday July 17th at Regent Mall. And July 25th at Champlain Place according to someone with Miniso. No date mentioned yet for McAllister Place just that they were still hiring for a team member as of yesterday.

Also to note is that the McAllister store will be their largest one in NB at 3,540 square feet. Champlain is the smallest at 2,803sf with Regent in the middle at 3,473sf.

DyAm00394 · #**258** Posted **Jul 17, 2026, 3:47 PM**

Regent Mall has posted that Miniso is now open! https://miniso-ca.com/