Visiting the Eaton Centre
The largest shopping mall in Toronto houses over 125 shops, bars, and restaurants. Named after the Eaton brand, a major department store chain that has since folded, it attracts roughly thirty million visitors every year.
History
Timothy Eaton initiated the project in the 1970s. His company owned almost all the land and buildings in the neighborhood and sought to maximize their value. Only the Old City Hall and the Church of the Holy Trinity remained outside his portfolio. This stalled the project initially, as resistance against the demolition of these two structures was so intense that the plans were shelved until 1976. A revised proposal eventually preserved both buildings, allowing the first phase to open in 1977. The southern portion of the complex followed in 1979.
The Eaton Project
This mall was among the first in a North American downtown core. It originally housed the world's largest multiplex cinema, which featured 18 screens.
The complex was designed as an extension of the financial district, leading to the addition of several office projects completed between 1977 and 1992.
Its glass ceiling, inspired by a gallery in Milan, was revolutionary for the time. Numerous American shopping centers drew inspiration from this design in the years that followed.
Naturally, this is a hub for retail, and you can find almost anything you are looking to buy here. The selection is heavily focused on North American brands. While you will find a Sephora and a Decathlon, most of the storefronts are occupied by Gap, Abercrombie, American Eagle, or Apple.
It is also worth noting that this center features one of the largest food courts in North America.
Serious shoppers will find this a standard stop while exploring downtown Toronto.
The first thing that strikes you is the huge glass roof, which brings in so much light during the day inside the mall.
Then, of course, the size is what really shocks you. It is much more extensive than what we have in France, and the Eaton Centre seems gigantic. There are so many stores that it can be hard to do it all in one day.
As for the food court, it is also massive, and you can choose between many styles of cuisine, which is nice.
It is a real change of pace for shopping, especially since you will find quite a few brands that barely exist in France.