Woodbine Centre
Shopping mall From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Woodbine Centre is a shopping mall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at Rexdale Boulevard and Highway 27 in the Rexdale area of Toronto, across Rexdale Boulevard from Woodbine Racetrack. The mall has over 130 stores and is home to Fantasy Fair, a year-round indoor amusement park. The fair houses a Charles I. D. Looff carousel. It is one of 13 still in operation today.[3] They also have a 50-foot ferris wheel which they say is the only one in North America.[3] The ferris wheel was closed in April 2024.[4]
 | |
 Woodbine Centre Atrium in 2023 | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 43°43′13″N 79°36′01″W |
|---|---|
| Address | 500 Rexdale Boulevard Toronto, Ontario M9W 6K5 |
| Opening date | 1985 |
| Developer | Cadillac Fairview |
| Owner | Woodbine Mall Holdings |
| Architect | Crang and Boake Incorporated[1] |
| No. of stores and services | 107 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 2 |
| Total retail floor area | 750,000 sq ft (69,677 m2)[2] |
| No. of floors | 2 |
| Website | Woodbine Mall |
History
Woodbine Centre was opened in 1985 by developer Cadillac Fairview,[1] Its design served as inspiration for property developer Sir John Hall when planning the MetroCentre, the UK's largest shopping mall, in the 1980s.[5]
In 2008, proposed development of an entertainment centre at Woodbine Racetrack and the closure of national stores like Shoppers Drug Mart fuelled rumours that the mall was closing. Instead, then-owners Darton Property planned renovations, starting with redesigned washrooms.[6]
As of 2016, the assessed value of the property was $96,708,000. Woodbine Mall Holdings Inc. owed over a half-million in unpaid taxes that year.[7]
On May 2, 2023, Woodbine Mall Holdings Inc. was placed in receivership by Romspen Investment Corporation. Ernst & Young was appointed receiver. [8]
Level 1 Shops
Level 2 Food Court
Skylight in the mall
Fantasy Fair Amusement Park
Fantasy Fair is an indoor amusement park and the largest in Ontario featuring nine full-sized rides:[9]
- 1911 Antique Looff Carousel
- Crystal Kaleidoscope – indoor ferris wheel (CLOSED)
- Ships Ahoy – spinning tea cups
- Smash 'n Dash – bumper cars
- Fantasy Flight – a 32' balloon tower ride
- JRB Express Train – mini replica steam engine (CLOSED)
- Airforce - plane ride
- Spinners – roller coaster (CLOSED)
- XD Simulator Theatre
- Rock 'n Climb - climbing wall
- Drop & Hop - tower (CLOSED)
- Dreamer's Play Village - indoor playground/soft play area (5500 sq.ft)
Crystal Kaleidoscope – indoor Ferris Wheel
Merry Go Round
Ships Ahoy – spinning tea cups
Play Village (indoor playground)
In popular culture
The mall was used in the filming of 1987's "Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol", where David Spade is seen skateboarding through the mall.
The mall also featured in the Animorphs television adaptation's second season episode Changes, Part 2.
Various parts of the mall and Fantasy Fair also feature in 2021's 8-Bit Christmas
Various parts of the mall and Fantasy Fair are featured in Season 5, Episode 1 of television show What We Do In The Shadows (2023).
References
External links
Wikiwand in your browser!
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
