Though Canadian health officials have urged the closures of bars and restaurants, as of now, shopping centres have not been advised to shutter.

Despite the temporary closures of hundreds of stores across Canada, many of which are inside malls, shopping malls across Canada remain open for the time being.

While federal and provincial health officials continue to urge Canadians to practice regular handwashing and avoid crowded places and non-essential gatherings, those who do choose to visit shopping malls still have the option to — however, business is not as usual.

Here Is how shopping malls around Canada are responding to the COVID-19 global health emergency.

Cadillac Fairview

Cadillac Fairview, the company behind popular shopping malls like Eaton Centre, Pacific Centre, Chinook Centre, and more, has made a number of changes in response to COVID-19. All shopping centres have new hours. Until March 30, operating hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (unless the regularly scheduled closing hour is earlier). After that date, the hours will be reevaluated.

The company has also made changes to its food courts, which are temporarily takeout only. All seating and dine-in wares have been eliminated. Enhanced cleaning is currently being implemented in common areas like washrooms, stairwells, elevators, lobbies, and employee common areas. Bathrooms have new signage that shares best practices for hand washing and more hand sanitizer stations have been placed around the centres. Events have been and reporting procedures have been put in place for mall tenants should any of their employees contract Coronavirus.

Yorkdale Shopping Centre

The popular North York mall has made similar changes to Cadillac Fairview in regards to cleaning. High traffic areas are getting extra attention and additional hand sanitizer stations have been placed throughout the mall. All restrooms have personal hygiene guidance and the mall has “emergency preparedness and communication plans with our local public health departments.”

In regards to hours, the mall will be open its regular hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., however, some retailers will be operating on reduced hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The mall’s operating hours will be reevaluated on March 30.

Bayview Village Shopping Centre

Bayview Village Shopping Centre has also opted to reduce its hours, which are Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 12 to 5 p.m. However, there are a number of retailers that have different hours or have made the difficult decision to close altogether. As per Ontario Health, many of the shopping centre’s eateries have closed or are open for takeout only. All programming and events have been postponed until further notice. You can find more details on operating hours on bayviewvillageshops.com.

Ivanhoe Cambridge

The owner of shopping centres like Outlet Collection at Niagara, Montreal Eaton Centre, Bayshore Shopping Centre, Vaughan Mills, and more will be running on reduced hours with hours varying per shopping centre and some stores closed or operated on individual hours. In addition, the shopping centres have implemented “filling of soap dispensers and antiseptic hand-gel dispensers at designated locations” and have increased the frequency of cleaning practices in common areas. The hours will be reevaluated at the end of the month.

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Just in time for the season of pampering, a little bit of luxury has landed in North York’s Bayview Village Shopping Centre.

Situated across from Pusateri’s, a bright white space with gold and black accents is where the new Hammam Spa by Céla calls home. And while a radiant retail space might not correlate with relaxation, steps up a winding staircase transport you into a completely different environment.

Founded by Celine Tadrissi, who opened the first Hammam Spa location on King St. West over 15-years-ago, the new spa spans over two-storeys and 13,000-square-feet.

Downstairs, passersby can shop the extensive skincare line from SkinCeuticals. Upstairs, the mood completely shifts; darker colours, dimmer lighting, and ambient music immediately calm you.

Like Tadrissi’s original spa on King St. West, beloved signature treatments such as the Turkish Bath, where you are exfoliated and moisturized on a luxurious marble tables; and Hammam Rhassoul Clay Wrap are readily available.

Guests have the opportunity to retreat and relax in a variety of different areas: the 765-square-foot steam room, one of the 26 private treatment rooms, a stunning area for nail rituals, and a tea lounge.

But new items on the Hammam Spa by Céla menu are what make a visit to the Bayview Village location extra exciting.

The Hammam Spa by Céla in Bayview Village Shopping Centre offers Hammam Medical Aesthetics.

For the new spa concept, which has been in the making for over eight years, Tadrissi has partnered with renowned plastic and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Sean Rice and SkinCeuticals Advanced Professional Skincare to bring guests innovative laser, injectable, and skincare treatments.

The full menu offers ancient practice-inspired and medical scientific treatments — think medical-grade facials, tattoo removal, chemical peels, and more — for a well-rounded experience. So whether you’re looking for the best in anti-aging and beauty, or are just looking for an escape from reality, there is something for everyone at the Hammam Spa by Céla.

Take a closer look inside the Hammam Spa by Céla below, or visit the spa for yourself at Bayview Village Shopping Centre.

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As parents, finding family friendly activities that are affordable and able to satisfy children of different ages all at once, can be challenging. When looking for things to do, more often or not you’re given super expensive options, or you’re told to go to the park. The truth is though, spending every day at the park gets old very quickly so why not head to the mall? Just because you’re at the mall, it doesn’t have to break the bank and plus, there are tons of options for all ages every type of family!

We have rounded up the top 5 family friendly malls and markets in the GTA for all the family fun!

The Distillery District

Instagram/@distilleryto

Even though it’s not technically a mall, The Distillery District is a great family destination because it’s outdoors and there is a lot more to do than just shop! Every Sunday morning until August 25th, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., you can take part in yoga as a family!  Parents and kids from ages 7-12 can come to zen-out and enjoy outdoor, family-oriented yoga that’s led by yoga instructors from studios around Toronto. Each Sunday, you will see two back-to-back sessions that are free to attend, but remember to bring your own mat! Bonus: babies in strollers are welcome to watch!

Toronto Premium Outlets

Instagram/@mamanocanada

Toronto Premium Outlets features over 130 stores and savings of up to 65% on the brands you love to shop! It doesn’t need to be a hot promotion period to get bang for your buck at this destination, and with last years expansion of over 40 new retailers, there are must-haves for the whole family. There are a couple features to note that are huge benefits when shopping as a family. Firstly, the five-storey parking garage has over 1,600 spots available. Secondly, there are mobile phone charging stations located throughout the centre, as well as in the children’s play areas, so you can kill two birds with one stone while your kids tire themselves out for bed!

Bayview Village

Bayview Village

We know what you’re thinking because Bayview Village is one of Canada’s most prestigious shopping centres with some very high end shops. How is that family and budget friendly? This mall offers families the greatest luxury of all which is time. From valet car service, a grocery shop, a dry cleaners, a salon, and a walk-in clinic, Bayview Village is a one stop shop for families. Also interesting, but not for the budget conscious, Bayview Village will open Goh Ballet this fall, offering a well-rounded curriculum for kids age 3 and up. Parents can lunch, shop, and get groceries while their children dance.

CF Shops at Don Mills

Instagram/@cfshopsdonmills

The Shops at Don Mills has one of the cutest perks. Through October 14th, bring your kids on a train ride around the shops! Tickets are only $4 a ride and can be purchased from the conductor (cash only.) It’s also a great photo op and Instagrammable moment for moms and dads! What happens in the winter? The location where the trains are turns into a skating rink. We don’t have the details yet, but we will come wintertime!

Yorkdale Shopping Centre

Instagram/@shinelily

Perhaps the most family friendly of all malls, Yorkdale is truly a destination for parents. When walking through the mall, you’ll often see groups of moms on maternity leave roaming around with their babes, taking a stroll, and enjoying the family fun without breaking the bank. Let’s talk about the family friendly change/chill rooms located in several convenient spots. No matter where you’re standing in the mall, there is a family washroom facility that accommodates all genders within a one minute walk, because not all families come in one shape or size. It’s an all inclusive mall that eliminates the fear of leaving the house with a bunch of kids. Fear you’ll forget something? No worries, Shoppers Drug Mart has everything you could need. Fear you’ll have nowhere to change your baby? There is a change room around every corner! Have a screaming toddler? Check out Dream Space or the new KitKat Chocolatory that’s coming soon! There is something for everyone — no doubt about it! 

Featured Image: Instagram/@alliyahsmiles

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Toronto’s malls are not what they used to be. Food courts have been reimagined to offer an elevated experience, complete with gourmet food of all flavours. The high-end shops – many formerly reserved only for Bloor Street – have entered the mall space. Best of all, a shopping trip now comes with a side of a memorable dining experience with the addition of quality restaurants.

Bayview Village is the latest mall with a facelift in the works, with a proposal from QuadReal, DIALOGUE, and Hariri Pontarini Architects to add five new residential and commercial buildings around the existing shopping centre. Currently, all that surrounds it is a whole lot of concrete in the form of uninspiring parking lots. The redesign will cater to the pedestrian with things like green spaces and will offer a more community-like feel (or more of a “Village” than ever before). In terms of shopping, we can expect 45,000 square feet of new retail space at Bayview Village, much of which will be in the form of an open-air retail promenade.

“The vision for the future is to take the gem of Bayview Village and raise the bar even higher,” said Melissa Evans-Lee, National Director, Marketing & Customer Experience at QuadReal Property Group. “To create sleek new residences added experiential shopping venues, and cutting-edge pedestrian avenues, green areas, and public spaces. In short, to build a self-contained oasis of community living and shopping in the middle of Toronto.”

The mall – which has existed for decades – has already seen some notable changes as of late. The foodie shopper will appreciate the addition of two new Oliver & Bonacini (O & B) spots. This summer, Beauty’s Barbecue Smokehouse – a sleek, quick service spot that satisfies BBQ cravings for brunch, lunch, or dinner – opened up shop in the south parking lot of Bayview Village. Here, you’ll find a range of barbequed and house-smoked meats, saucy sandwiches, fresh salads, and down-home sides. You can order your grilled goodness by the pound, bowl, or bun.

Another new addition to Bayview Village from the beloved O & B brand is the upscale pasta and steak spot Parcheggio Ristorante. The stylish restaurant features a spacious dining room, several groups and private dining spaces, and a large patio to either fuel up or unwind after a day of shopping. Parcheggio will serve lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Sunday, with weekend brunch launching soon.

This fall, diners can get their Goan fix when GOA Kitchen by Hemant Bhagwani (the well-known restaurateur behind Amaya Express) opens for business. The menu here pays tribute to the Portuguese influence on the Goan culture of India and reflects the region’s stunning cultural diversity today.

“Bayview Village is already a mecca for foodies (and fashionistas and decoristas) but obviously when it comes to food, I think everyone would agree . . . more is more,” said Evans-Lee.  

While you may want to make a trip to Bayview Village for the food alone (or the fact that the mall was recognized for having the best bathrooms in Canada), the mall has a well-curated assortment of stores, with names like TNT, DAVIDS, Browns, Mendocino, and Pink Tartan, to name a few.

Just, maybe don’t attempt to drive all the way up there during rush hour (but it is next to a TTC station).

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Despite ongoing challenges, Canadian shopping centers continue to spend billions on expansions and improvements, and have actually managed to outdo their American counterparts. While bigger malls continue to expand, many of the smaller ones are disappearing in front of our eyes. Another new mall trend is offering higher caliber food and beverages at more sophisticated restaurants and bars, instead of the old-school food courts. Elegance and high standards have become a new attraction. In addition, the washrooms are more aesthetically pleasing! Increased comfortable seating and free Wifi are the norm in most malls, along with improved parking solutions, concierges, and personal shoppers. The concept of the malls of the past has changed drastically. “While e-commerce has taken a bite out of brick-and-mortar retail, shopping centers are also taking advantage of technology to make parking easier and utilizing it through such things as touchscreen navigation panels, virtual fitting rooms, augmented reality areas and click-and-collect zones,” reported Property Biz Canada.

Movie theaters in malls are not attracting enough customers, so Cineplex started launching larger complexes that provide a large variety of games and activities. Two examples are Cineplex’s REC Room, which was just built last year, and Dave & Buster’s, which is a U.S.chain.

With the drastic changes at Yorkdale over the past 10 years, the mall has gone from grungy to extremely sophisticated. They’ve just announced a massive extension to add a boutique hotel, office spaces, and condos. According to Property Biz Canada, “There are plans to add residential towers to Yorkdale Shopping Centre and Bayview Village, and Vancouver’s Oakridge Centre will eventually see thousands of residents living in multiple towers directly above an overhauled and expanded shopping center podium.” This turnaround makes complete business sense, as big malls are usually located in prime locations, with transit and plentiful amenities nearby.

In the future, the smaller or older locations are likely to suffer in the upcoming years. “The biggest cities and the best malls are going to succeed, but that’s not always going to be the case for all of Canada,” says Property Biz Canada. Now, we just have to wait to see what stores expand and which retailers we lose.

Source: Property Biz Canada

Which Canadian malls are going to make it through 2018? Let us know what you think in the comments.

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Lingerie lovers will be happy to hear that there’s a new lingerie shop in town, and they’re stocking a selection of intimates catered to the millennial set.

rêve rouge is the new kid on the block at Bayview Village. Owned by Liliana Mann, the new shop is the younger, hipper sister to Linea Intima, serving up confidence boosting lingerie from coveted local brands like Mary Young and Fortnight, and international labels like LingaDore, Blue Bella, Epure, and more available in sizes 30A to 36F and XS to L.

In addition to sexy cool girl intimates, rêve rouge also carries scented candles, room sprays, fine lingerie wash, and hand cream, all with a French flare. Accessories like body jewelry and hair pieces are also on the shop’s roster.

While Toronto is rêve rouge’s first shop, Mann has plans to expand across Canada.

Take a peek inside rêve rouge below.

Learn more about rêve rouge here.

Featured Image: Instagram/@reverougelingerie

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