White Oaks Mall

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White Oaks Mall
Facts and statistics
Location London, Ontario, Canada
Opening date 1973
Management Redcliff Realty Management
Owner CPP Investment Board, Osmington Inc.
No. of stores and services 175
No. of anchor tenants 2
Total retail floor area 697,300 sq ft.
Parking 3,350
No. of floors 1
Website www.whiteoaksmall.ca

White Oaks Mall is a major shopping centre in London, Ontario. It is located at the southwest corner of Wellington Road and Bradley Avenue, just north of Highway 401.

Contents

[edit] History

The property on which the mall is now located was originally occupied by an outdoor plaza, built in 1962. It featured a Sayvette department store and a Loblaws grocery store.

In 1972, the plaza was completely rebuilt to make way for a massive expansion. It became a fully enclosed shopping centre in early 1973, featuring a Woolco department store and about 40 other tenants. The main entrance to the mall included artistic steel sculptures and a massive arch-like gateway, all of which still exist today.

The mall expanded again in 1976, which included a Simpson's department store (now The Bay). By the early 1980s, the area surrounding the mall began to change with new low-density housing and highrise apartments being constructed. Also, many new commercial establishments located nearby.

White Oaks was enlarged once again in 1985 and 1988, with an additional 80 new stores and a food court added. This made the mall one of the largest shopping centres in Southwestern Ontario.

In the mid 1990s, lack of parking became such a problem that a nearby office building was demolished to allow for more spaces. In 2005, the mall was sold to the CPP Investment Board and Osmington Inc.

There are over 175 stores and services in the mall.

[edit] Recent Expansion & New Stores

During 2006, White Oaks expanded by over 36,000 sq ft (3,300 m²). with Swedish retailer H&M opening its first London store. As well, several new retailers including an Applebee's restaurant, Urban Behavior, and an expanded Jacob opened.

In 2007, more retailers including Guess?, Ben Moss, Off The Wall, D-Tox, Lids, Joneve, Freshly Squeezed, Dollarama and Canada's first Aéropostale store opened. A renovation of the interior of the mall also took place in 2007.

2008 will see a number of new stores. Claire de Lune, The Barber Plus and a relocated Siblings have opened. Others are under construction or scheduled to open. They include: one of Canada's first Bath & Body Works, aerie, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, La Senza Spirit, Mind Games and Town Shoes. As well, there will be a remodeled GAP, English Butler, Bluenotes, Siblings, and Stitches.

[edit] Anchors & Majors

  • The Bay (165,000 sq ft (15,300 m²))
  • Wal-Mart (151,000 sq ft (14,000 m²))
  • Sport Chek (20,000 sq ft (2,000 m²))
  • H&M (18,000 sq ft (1,700 m²))
  • Gap (16,000 sq ft (1,500 m²))
  • Jacob (16,000 sq ft (1,500 m²))
  • Urban Behavior (15,000 sq ft (1,400 m²))
  • Dollarama (12,000 sq ft (1,100 m²))

[edit] See also