News   Jul 24, 2024
 78     0 
News   Jul 23, 2024
 583     0 
News   Jul 23, 2024
 635     1 

Woodbine Centre

Woodbine was state of the art for 1985. The mall's architecture and Fantasy Fair helped set it apart from smaller malls in the area, and posed as minor competition
for more established destinations outside of Rexdale.

Beyond the exterior and window facades remaining intact from decades past, Woodbine is no longer considered state of the art. If anything, the recent renovations have
severely downgraded the mall design-wise. Some would argue that the Woodbine's atmosphere is now a step above your average flea market in appearance. Just the same
as Morningside and Rexdale Malls were before they too were demolished and repurposed.

Woodbine's biggest selling point being the Fantasy Fair doesn't carry much leverage these days. For comparison's sake, the chinese food market 'Nations' (Bloor West/Junction
area) features a smaller indoor amusement park next to it's food court, just as Pacific Mall in Markham has three arcades added to it's second and third floors. To add, in close
proximity to Pacific Mall is Woodside Square Mall, which also contains a collection of life-size dinosaurs scattered throughout it's property.

I was hoping there would be separate auctions again for pieces of the Woodbine, but it seems everything is going to be sold in one consolidated bundle.
 
Last edited:
For comparison's sake, the Chinese food market 'Nations' (Bloor West/Junction
area)
features a smaller indoor amusement park next to it's food court, just as Pacific Mall in Markham has three arcades added to it's second and third floors. To add, in close
proximity to Pacific Mall is Woodside Square Mall, which also contains a collection of life-size dinosaurs scattered throughout it's property.
Do you mean Nations @ Keele & St Clair? (Stockyards) https://www.google.com/maps/@43.6721216,-79.4697643,3a,75y,274.21h,93.63t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1siqeEnaKzhzrwbrHFC6euXw!2e0!6shttps://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?panoid=iqeEnaKzhzrwbrHFC6euXw&cb_client=maps_sv.share&w=900&h=600&yaw=274.2077714128302&pitch=-3.625982127162928&thumbfov=90!7i16384!8i8192?coh=205410&entry=ttu
 
Yep. The Stockyards Village is a decent, multi-level strip mall with a number of stores and restaurants. If condos don't take over Woodbine's property, the Village is how I'd restructure the mall.
Not a bad way to think, but also, a few condos on the land would be smart as it secures retail business with higher traffic potential...of people who are there anyway.
Sort of like the Shops @ Don Mills design.
 
That play place at the Stockyards is always packed, and they just renovated it. Also, the location is a million times more convenient than Woodbine. That place might as well be on the moon.
 
Not a bad way to think, but also, a few condos on the land would be smart as it secures retail business with higher traffic potential...of people who are there anyway.
Sort of like the Shops @ Don Mills design.
It’s a bad area… Don mills close to bayview
 
I never did get a response back from the managers or site staff of the Woodbine in regards to purchasing pieces of the Fantasy Fair. Given the court-appointed receivership, I doubt
either still works for the mall.

As for the final bid date on the 24th, I wonder if the Woodbine will be closing it's doors permanently afterwards? Do we still have two days left to visit the mall?

May have to do a candlelight vigil on the 24th before being escorted off the property....
 
If that's a serious question, I doubt there's much chance of the whole thing suddenly being closed down on Wednesday. I assume it will take some time for a deal to close, and a new owner would likely want it to continue as a mall, if not indefinitely then at least for some time before any work could start to transform the site into something else.
 
Last edited:
As for the final bid date on the 24th, I wonder if the Woodbine will be closing it's doors permanently afterwards? Do we still have two days left to visit the mall?
As a very basic example, it depends on the leasing arrangement of the Bay. A contract (lease agreement) is a contract. If they want to close and tear down the Bay this instant (after the winning bid) then the new owner will be responsible for paying for The Bay (& others) to relocate...unless the Bay has a demolition clause in the lease. (who knows?)
Even then, the Bay still has the right to operate on the land until the agreed demolition time (usually 30-90 days notice) but with the new owner not having to pay for them to relocate.

*I'm using the Bay as my example because they seem to appear to be the strongest reason to go visit Woodbine Centre currently.
 
My birthday is coming up in August. Based on all of the times I made you guys laugh in this thread, I don't think it's unfair for me to ask all of you
to pitch in and buy me the Woodbine Center for my birthday.

It was bought in the 2000's for $100 mil. That's only about $150 mil today with inflation and a seller's premium.
 

Back
Top