Picture Centre Rockland’s transformation. In 1959 it opened. It was a single-story outdoor shopping centre. Steinberg’s Morgan’s and Woolworth’s were among its original tenants. Victor Prus designed this first iteration. It was unique. It was the first shopping centre in Quebec to feature a central corridor. Think of an open walkway lined with shops.
Centre Rockland wasn’t always the upscale indoor mall we know today. By the 1980s it was declining. Newer malls were attracting shoppers. The owners saw an opportunity. They decided to redevelop Centre Rockland.
A massive renovation began in 1982. Most of the original structure was demolished. Only a few buildings survived including The Bay and Steinberg’s. The Bay temporarily closed for renovations. The goal was to reopen with the new mall in August 1983.
Centre Rockland reopened. It was a three-level indoor mall. It had 175 stores. The Bay Eaton’s Steinberg’s and Holt Renfrew were anchor tenants. The size more than doubled. The mall’s footprint expanded to 700000 square feet. The transformation was a huge undertaking. It cost $65 million. Westcliff Developments Ivanhoe and Ringold Enterprises led the project. The Bay and Eaton’s heavily invested in their new spaces.
Centre Rockland’s history includes some significant changes. Steinberg’s became a Metro in 1992. Eaton’s closed in 1999. The Linen Chest expanded into Eaton’s former space in 2001. The food court moved and was renovated in 2019. It’s now called La Cuisine.
Even today remnants of the original Centre Rockland remain. You can still see parts of the old Morgan’s/The Bay building from the parking lot. The mall’s evolution continues. It’s a testament to adaptation and reinvention. Centre Rockland is more than just a shopping mall. It’s a piece of Montreal’s history. It is a landmark that has adapted to the changing times. It reflects the city’s growth. It continues to evolve. Centre Rockland remains a vital part of the community.