Lawrence Allen Centre

Did you ever hear about a mall changing its identity? The Lawrence Allen Centre, originally Lawrence Square Shopping Centre, did just that. This two-story shopping hub sits on Lawrence Avenue West, just west of Allen Road, in the Lawrence Heights neighborhood. You can easily get here from the Lawrence West station or by bus. The Lawrence Allen Centre stands as a prominent landmark, visible even from Marlee Avenue. Interestingly, the famous Yorkdale Shopping Centre is located just north of here. The Lawrence Allen Centre opened its doors in 1989. It’s currently owned by RioCan and ranks among Toronto’s twenty largest malls. This mall is more than just a shopping destination. It’s a community hub, a place where people gather and connect. Originally, the anchor stores included Canadian Tire, Fortinos, and Zellers. After Zellers closed in 2013, the space remained vacant for a few years. There were talks of a Target, but those plans fell through. Finally, in 2016, the old Zellers location was transformed. It welcomed Marshalls, HomeSense, and PetSmart. Later, Structube joined the mix in 2018. The Lawrence Allen Centre underwent a major renovation in 2019, the first since its opening. As part of its 30th anniversary, Lawrence Square was renamed Lawrence Allen Centre. This wasn’t just a cosmetic change. The renovations modernized the interior, expanded the food court, and added updated amenities. There’s a fascinating story about the mall’s future. Initially, there was a plan to demolish it as part of a Lawrence Heights redevelopment project. The idea was to extend Marlee Avenue northward and create public housing. However, after community consultations, the new plan preserved the Lawrence Allen Centre. Today, you can visit this bustling mall and enjoy its wide variety of stores and services. From Canadian Tire to Fortinos and many other shops, the Lawrence Allen Centre continues to be a vital part of the community.