pacific centre is one of those malls that doesn't make a big show of itself above ground, but slip…read moreinside and you're suddenly in this underground network that stretches across two to three city blocks. escalators and tunnels funnel you past anchors like apple, h&m, holt renfrew (three entire floors of it), there's aritzia, sephora, purdy's, and david's tea, banana republic, lush, sephora, nespresso, and all the phone carriers line the halls too, a reminder that you can shop your data plan and update your wardrobe in the same circuit. so happy to see kiokii and added to the mix. there's canada goose, and diptyque on the second floor.
holt renfrew is the undeniable crown jewel, all polished marble and prestige, but the absence of the hudson's bay still lingers, not to mention, i am still mourning the loss of nordstrom. the gaps make you wonder what could come next, hopefully zara, uniqlo, and simons, maybe even ikea in a compact downtown format? and imagine if they tucked in a vip cineplex. suddenly pacific centre becomes not just a shopping trip, but an all day destination.
a bright spot: the meinhardt's space is set to transform into aburi market, scheduled for the fall 2025. a japanese grocer with sushi, bentos, frozen goods, imports, and even its own bakery concept, exactly the kind of flavour infusion this place needs.
to their credit, the mall does make an effort to keep things lively with seasonal activations and pop ups. paragon tea has popped up (albeit relegated to the dungeons), and they've had make your own floral bouquets, cookie decorating sessions, and celebrated the lunar new year with a dragon dance, with some stores participating in the festivities, they have displays of christmas trees and school choirs too.
still, the food court hasn't caught up to the rest. if they leveled it up, like brentwood, pacific centre could easily move from practical pit stop to a true downtown hub. with the right mix of retailers, good eats, and maybe a little entertainment, this underground stretch could become the kind of place you want to hang out, not just pass through.