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This article was published 14/11/2016 (1406 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg’s Garden City Shopping Centre is getting its first major facelift in nearly 30 years.

The owners of the north Winnipeg mall — RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust and Bayfield Realty Advisors Inc. — said Monday the renovations are underway and are expected to take 15 months.

They include replacing floor tiles in common areas, replacing interior lights with energy-efficient LED lights and remodelling and rearranging the food court to add about 42 seats and two new food outlets.

The wooden benches in the mall’s common area will be replaced with soft seating, larger washrooms will be installed and three of the exterior entrances will be given a fresh look.

To ensure customers and tenants face minimal disruption, construction will primarily occur at night, said Rebecca Hyatt, property manager of RioCan’s Manitoba portfolio.

'The north end of Winnipeg has just been expanding so much over the last few years, and it seemed like you might as well do it now before you miss the boat' ‐ Rebecca Hyatt, property manager of RioCan's Manitoba portfolio

Hyatt said the mall owners, who have owned the shopping centre since 2009, aren’t disclosing the cost of the project.

She said this will be the 46-year-old mall’s first major facelift since the late 1980s, when it was expanded to add an Eaton’s store.

She said the project has been in the planning stages for several years, and wasn’t being undertaken because of tenant demands or any shift in retail trends.

"It was just one of those things where we thought we’ve never done it and we really should just to stay competitive," she explained.

Also, "the north end of Winnipeg has just been expanding so much over the last few years, and it seemed like you might as well do it now before you miss the boat," she added.

John Pearson, a commercial real estate broker/developer with Winnipeg’s Shindico Realty Inc., called it positive news.

"All shopping centres need to be doing refreshes to stay current and competitive in the marketplace," he said.

New food court

He said it’s easier for them to attract and retain tenants and shoppers if they’re current and competitive. Upgrades can help draw more shoppers.

"It helps to focus attention and attract interest."

Hyatt said the mall, which is located at the corner of McPhillips Street and Leila Avenue, has a vacancy rate of about three per cent. That’s down from seven per cent in 2013.

She said all but five of the shopping centre’s 85 storefronts are occupied, and two of those five are about to be filled.

She wouldn’t give details, though.

She said the mall’s two former movie theatres, which closed six years ago, remain vacant.

She said construction crews working on the revitalization project are temporarily using the area to store their material and equipment.

Efforts continue to find a long-term use for the space.

"Whether a tenant takes it as is or we do something else, we’re not sure yet."

The mall’s tenants include Canadian Tire, Winners, Dollarama, Goodlife Fitness, Ricki’s, Footlocker, Warehouse One, City Jewellers and Peoples Jewellers.

Hyatt said while the city’s two largest regional shopping centres — Polo Park and St. Vital — have bigger retail players, Garden City has a few national retailers as tenants.

Its customer volume is comparable to the city’s other malls, she said.

"We’re doing pretty good, actually. We’re the quiet gem in the north end of the city," she added.

murray.mcneill@freepress.mb.ca