Introduction:

Markham, Ontario, is home to some of the most popular shopping destinations in Canada. Among them, Markville Mall located at intersection of Highway 7 East and McCowan Road and Pacific Mall located at Steels and Kennedy Road, stand out as retail hubs offering a diverse shopping experience. In this article, we'll explore these two iconic malls, delve into their histories, and even make some estimations about their economic impact.

Markville Mall, background and overview:
Markville Mall has been a retail cornerstone of Markham since its opening in 1982. Originally known as Markham Town Centre, the mall underwent a major transformation in 2013 and was aptly renamed Markville Shopping Centre. Owned and operated by Cadillac Fairview, one of North America's largest owners, operators, and developers of commercial real estate, it boasts a gross leasable area of 981,000 square feet and houses over 140 stores, making it a shopping paradise for residents and visitors alike.

Current Status: Today, Markville Mall is in the midst of an exciting transformation as it embarks on a comprehensive redevelopment plan. The project envisions the mall's surrounding parking lots evolving into a vibrant mixed-use community, featuring 14 new buildings ranging from six to 45 story in height. This development will provide approximately 4,340 residential units, along with public parks and above-grade parking decks. Importantly, the plan is designed to retain the mall as the heart of the community.

Markville Mall takes pride in its parking facilities, offering a total of 5,170 free parking spaces, including 65 barrier-free parking spaces. Access to the mall is conveniently provided through four entrances on Highway 7 East, two entrances on McCowan Road, and two entrances on Bullock Drive.

Estimated Visitor Statistics:

Annual Shoppers:
Markville Mall has been a significant contributor to Markham's retail scene. In 2020, its total sales reached a remarkable $507.9 million, with a sales productivity of $1,019 per square foot. Assuming an average spending of $100 per shopper, it's estimated that the mall welcomed approximately 5.08 million visitors that year.

Daily Traffic:
According to a study by Ryerson University, Canadian shopping centers saw an average of 28,000 visitors on weekdays. Applying this daily traffic pattern to Markville Mall, we estimate that about 14,800 shoppers visit the mall on any given weekday.

Store Categories:
Markville Mall caters to various shopping needs, with stores categorized as follows:

Fashion and Accessories:
Featuring renowned brands like Aritzia, Banana Republic, Coach, H&M, Mango, Swarovski, and Zara.

Electronics and Telephones:
Home to tech giants like Apple, Bell, Best Buy, Chatr, Mobile Klinik, Samsung

Health and Beauty:
Offering cosmetics, skincare, and more with stores like Aritaum, Bath & Body Works, Caryl Baker Visage, Lush, Sephora, The Body Shop, etc.

Food and Drink:
Offering a diverse range of shopping and dining options, including Bulk Barn, David's Tea, Godiva Chocolatier, Lindt Chocolate Shop, Starbucks Coffee Company, T&T Supermarket, etc.

Restaurants and Fast Food:
Hosting eateries like A&W, Chatime, Crepe Delicious, KFC Express/Taco Bell Express/Pizza Hut Express/Starbucks Express (Food Central), Lucullus Bakery (Food Central), McDonald's (Food Central), etc.

Books and News:
Caters to book lovers with a diverse selection of reading materials available at stores such as Chapters Indigo Books & Music Inc., Churchill's Cigar and Gift (Lottery Centre), Coles The Book People (Lottery Centre), Hallmark Cards & Gifts (Lottery Centre), and more.

Toys and Hobbies:
A haven for hobbyists with stores like Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc., Disney Store Outlet (The), EB Games/GameStop (Lottery Centre), Mastermind Toys (Lottery Centre), etc.

Sporting Goods and Athleticwear:
Sports enthusiasts find their gear at, Decathlon Canada Inc., Foot Locker Canada Inc., Lululemon Athletica Inc., Nike Factory Store (The), Sport Chek/Sport Experts/Atmosphere/Hockey Experts (Lottery Centre), etc.

Services:
providing a range of convenient services, including dental care, banking, optical care, and travel agency services. Some of the service providers within the mall include Altima Markville Mall Dental Centre (multiple locations), BMO Bank of Montreal ATM (multiple locations), Continental Currency Exchange (Lottery Centre), Oscar Wylee, Flight Centre Canada Inc., LensCrafters/LensCrafters Optique/LensCrafters Optique Luxottica Retail North America Inc., Specsavers Optical Group Ltd., and more.

Operating Hours:
Monday: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Pacific Mall Toronto, background and overview:
Pacific Mall Toronto is an Asian-themed shopping mall in Markham that boasts over 400 stores. Known for its unique offerings, the mall is a popular destination for electronics, jewelry, clothing, and food enthusiasts.

Gross Income Estimations:
While precise financial data may not be readily available, we can estimate Pacific Mall's economic impact. Based on an average monthly retail sales per capita in Canada for 2020 ($1,051.67), we estimate that Pacific Mall generates roughly $374.4 million in gross income annually.

Other Shopping Malls in Markham:
In addition to Markville Mall and Pacific Mall, Markham offers a variety of other shopping destinations:

First Markham Place:
A shopping center with over 170 stores catering to diverse needs.

Langham Square Shopping Mall:
A mixed-use complex that combines shopping, office space, and residential units with an Asian-themed design.

J-Town:
A small Japanese-themed mall offering authentic Japanese products and cuisine.

Markham Town Square:
A shopping center with a wide range of stores, from clothing boutiques to bookshops.

Markville Mall may have once been the largest shopping mall in York Region, but with the opening of Vaughan Mills, it passed the torch. The biggest mall in Markham now is Pacific Mall Toronto, which spans 270,000 square feet and houses over 400 stores, making it a shopping haven for residents and tourists alike.

While these estimations offer insights into the economic impact of these malls, it's essential to remember that these are rough calculations based on assumptions and general data. Actual figures may vary depending on various factors such as promotions, weather, and consumer preferences. Nevertheless, both Markville Mall and Pacific Mall continue to play vital roles in shaping Markham's retail landscape.

Disclaimer: This article is founded on an independent study, and the calculations are based on assumptions drawn from general information available. Abideh.com Inc, Solukus.com, and the author hereby disclaim any liabilities associated with the information presented in this article. Readers are strongly encouraged to exercise their own discretion in interpreting the content. All links and logos referenced herein belong to their respective owners.