Toronto's Eaton Centre has been subject to some major changes over the past several years, including the loss of its namesake flagship department store. After being purchased out of bankruptcy by Sears in 1999, the mall's Eaton's department store operated briefly under its original branding before being converted into a Sears location in 2002. Several other alterations to the mall have happened over time, including in July of 2003, when the photo below shows the mall's Dundas atrium behind hoarding and beginning a renovation that would decrease the size of the atrium and lead to new retail space taking some of the sidewalk space along the Dundas Street frontage. The parking garage seen to the west along Dundas would also come down that year to allow more shops at ground level, and a new Ryerson University building to go in above ground.

Southwest corner of Yonge and Dundas, July 2003, image by Edward Skira

Over 13 years later, in October 2016, the renovation cycle has since been repeated. The flagship Sears location closed its doors in early 2014, allowing Nordstrom and Uniqlo to move into ground and upper level space in 2016, while one level below now supports several new retailers. The newly renovated and brightened curved frontage of H&M is now a major contributor to the permanent near-daylight conditions at this corner. On the right side of the photo behind Ryerson's Ted Rogers School of Business, the 29-storey Motion on Bay Street rental tower rises over the intersection of Dundas and Bay.

Southwest corner of Yonge and Dundas, October 2016, image by Marcus Mitanis

We will return next week with another look at the changing face of Toronto!