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Devonshire Mall
Howard Avenue entrance in 2024
Map
Coordinates42°16′30″N 83°00′07″W / 42.275°N 83.002°W / 42.275; -83.002
Address3100 Howard Avenue
Windsor, Ontario, Canada, N8X 3Y8
Opened1970[1]
DeveloperWindsor developer Cambridge Leaseholds Ltd
ManagerPrimaris REIT
OwnerPrimaris REIT
Num. of stores158[1]
8[2]
Floor area678,470 square feet (63,032 m2)[1]
Floors1[3]
Websitedevonshiremall.com

Devonshire Mall is a shopping mall in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Devonshire opened with 497,200 square feet (46,190 m2) of space anchored by Simpson-Sears on the north and Miracle Mart with an adjacent Miracle Food Mart at the south.[4][5] It was constructed at a cost of $15,000,000 by Windsor developer Cambridge Leaseholds Ltd. The Simpson-Sears store was among the largest in the chain at 286,000 square feet (26,600 m2).[6] The center also contained branches of the major financial institutions, an auditorium which was available to community groups and a dual screen cinema operated by Famous Players.[7][8]

The mall has been expanded several times since its opening. The first expansion occurred in 1974 on the mall's east side.[9] The addition encompassed 250,000 square feet (23,000 m2) and included space for Simpson's[10] and Smith's (also known as Smith's of Windsor).[11] In 1975 Marks & Spencer purchased Smith's and eliminated the nameplate. Other expansions occurred in 1985, adding stores and a food court; 1995, which added a southeast entrance by reducing the size of the Miracle Mart building leaving the remainder for a Zeller's which operated until 2012; 1999-2002, which added a 12 screen cinema and space for 15 stores; 2008, and 2018.[4][12] At 160 stores, it is the largest mall in Windsor.[13][14]

In 2015, Ivanhoé Cambridge sold its 50 percent stake in the mall to Healthcare Of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), which already owned the other 50 percent of the property.[15] The following year, HOOPP announced a major renovation to the mall which included new tenants and an expanded food court. The work was expected to take two-years and cost approximately $70 million.[16] As part of this renovation, Target opened in the former Zeller's space which had been vacant.

In 2021, the shuttered Sears store at Devonshire became home of a mass COVID-19 vaccination site as part of a cooperative effort between Windsor Regional Hospital, the City of Windsor and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.[17]

In 2022, HOOPP sold the property to H&R REIT and it is currently operated by Primaris REIT.[4] In spring 2024, mall management announced another redevelopment plan which included demolishing the former Sears building which had been mostly vacant since the store closed in 2018. In summer 2024, management announced that they would construct a new entry at the Sears site that will include new facilities for Sport Chek and Mark's which would relocate from other areas of the mall.[18] Primaris is reviewing other plans for the space which it says may include hotels, residences or entertainment venues.[19]

In July 2024, the Hudson's Bay store closed for approximately one week due to a failure of the air conditioning system.[20] The store was one of many the chain closed that week citing mechanical issues.[21] In March 2025, the chain announced it was liquidating its locations.[22] Sales at the Devonshire store began in late March.[23] In July 2026, Primaris acquired the former Hudson's Bay site and announced it would demolish the structure to create a new entrance for the mall.[24]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 "Devonshire Mall" (PDF). Primaris. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2026-08-21. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  2. ↑ "Directory" (PDF). Devonshire Mall.
  3. ↑ "Map". Devonshire Mall. Archived from the original on 2026-08-21. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  4. 1 2 3 "Ontario's Devonshire Mall". The Shopping Mall Museum. Archived from the original on December 1, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Photos: Devonshire Mall through the years". Windsor Star. August 16, 2016. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  6. ↑ Hickey, Bill; Kent, Jack (May 2, 1969). "60 stores in $15 million centre". Windsor Star. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 12, 2025. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Bank will be open 2 nights a week". Windsor Star. August 10, 1970. p. D7.
  8. ↑ Meredith, Jack (April 19, 1969). "Devonshire Mall gets dual theaters". Windsor Star. Archived from the original on April 12, 2025. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  9. ↑ Kent, Jack (September 19, 1974). "Devonshire's 15 store wing open". Windsor Star. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Simpsons Devonshire opening advertisement page". Windsor Star. September 18, 1974. Retrieved October 27, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Smith's get 'twin' on 60th birthday". Windsor Star. October 22, 1974. Retrieved October 27, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Devonshire Mall Announces First Group of Retailers Opening in the New Food Court" (PDF) (Press release). Devonshire Mall. May 7, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Despite Canada's love of online shopping, Devonshire Mall sees record sales". CBC News. May 4, 2017. Archived from the original on 21 August 2026. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  14. ↑ McLean, Steve (April 1, 2024). "Primaris to demolish portion of Windsor's Devonshire Mall". Real Estate News Exchange. Archived from the original on August 21, 2026. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Ontario health-care pension fund buys 1/2 of Devonshire Mall". CBC News Windsor. The Canadian Press. January 30, 2015. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  16. ↑ Buckshon, Mark (August 16, 2016). "Windsor's Devonshire Mall to receive $70 million redevelopment, renovation". Ontario Construction Report. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024. HOOPP has been a long term investor in Devonshire Mall and increased its ownership to 100 per cent in 2015.
  17. ↑ "Future Vaccination Site at Devonshire Mall" (Press release). Windsor Regional Hospital. May 8, 2021. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  18. ↑ Kentner, Melanie (August 15, 2024). "Two stores relocating in Devonshire Mall after Sears demolition". CTV News Windsor. Archived from the original on February 9, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  19. ↑ Waddell, Dave (November 18, 2024). "Redevelopment plans aim to make Devonshire Mall a destination". Windsor Star. Archived from the original on November 18, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  20. ↑ Campbell, Taylor (July 4, 2024). "Too hot — Windsor Hudson's Bay could open next week after shutting for air conditioning woes". Windsor Star. Archived from the original on July 23, 2025. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  21. ↑ Nay, Isaac Phan (July 10, 2024). "Hudson's Bay closes several stores across Canada during heat wave". CBC News. Archived from the original on July 17, 2024. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  22. ↑ Wilhelm, Trevor (July 3, 2026). "Wrecking ball coming for former Hudson's Bay store at Windsor's Devonshire Mall". Windsor Star. Retrieved October 17, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ↑ Campbell, Taylor (March 20, 2025). "Liquidation looming? Windsor shoppers flock to Hudson's Bay at Devonshire Mall". Windsor Star. Archived from the original on July 23, 2025. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  24. ↑ Coffman, Dustin (July 3, 2026). "Former Hudson's Bay space at Devonshire mall set for demolition". CTV News. Retrieved October 17, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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