BURST
Oakridge Park was a flurry of activity on Wednesday afternoon as construction crews, store staff and food court vendors scrambled to prepare for opening day.
A symphony of backup beeps, sounding alarms and grinding saws could be heard all around the massive development, which is considered to be one of the largest in the city’s history.
“Everyone is rushing to get done,” remarked a security guard, who kindly directed me toward the Time Out Market. Oakridge Park opens to the public on May 28 at 11 a.m. Find all the information for the opening day HERE.
A stunning space with an undeniably luxury feel, the area of retail space that’s set to open — including some 50 stores and the Time Out Market — appeared to be in various stages of completion. Stores like Aritzia and Louis Vuitton are ready to open for business tomorrow, while others still showcase ‘coming soon’ signs affixed to the windows or temporary construction cladding covering the entrances.
“The shopping centre component of Oakridge Park includes more than 650,000- sq. ft of retail and dining, and over 100 premier global brands establishing a new benchmark for experiential retail in Canada,” said Chrystal Burns, executive vice-president, QuadReal Property Group, during a preview at the mall. “Tomorrow we’ll be opening around about 500,000-sq.- ft of that retail.”
According to Burns, all the retail space on the main level of the shopping centre is “spoken for,” with additional store openings to come this fall and into 2027. The mall will open with several stand-alone boutiques for luxury brands such as Loewe and Dolce & Gabbana in Canada.
The sprawling development at Cambie Street and W 41st Ave. includes a mall, residential towers, office space and a public park contained within a 28-acre footprint.
Upstairs from a main atrium area, the Time Out Market is ready to draw in local and travelling foodies.
The Time Out Market dining hall aims to feature “the best of the city under one roof,” according to signage in the space with a vendor map. Local favourites such as Ask for Luigi, Rob Feenie, Blnd Tger, Baan Lao, and Beaucoup Bakery Café are among the dining options on offer in the elevated, 50,000-sq.-ft. food court.
Preparing to serve its first dishes before the evening preview, kitchen and service staff at the various vendors could be seen chopping vegetables, practicing plating dishes, and stocking the bar. Featuring a mix of low marble tables and high-top tables made of light-toned wood, it’s a bright, modern area to explore some of Vancouver’s most buzzed-about bites. See the full list of Time Out Market vendors HERE.
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