Eastgate Square - History

History

Eastgate Square opened in 1973 with Woolco, Eaton's, and Robinson's as its anchors. In 1989, Fortinos joined the anchors by opening a grocery store there. In 1992, Hudson's Bay Company turned its Robinson's location into The Bay. Wal-Mart entered the Canadian market in March 1994 by acquiring Woolco, and renaming all stores under the Wal-Mart banner. Eaton's had gone under in 1999, and its space was demolished for a new large Fortinos, relocating from its old store, and opening in 2001.

The 2000s marked a big turning point for the mall. While it always had been successful, many new stores had opened in the mall, and many existing tenants had renovated their stores. HomeSense had opened a store in the old Fortinos space. In 2006/2007, nearby Queenston Mall had begun to revitalize its site, and the LCBO and Shoppers Drug Mart had relocated to Eastgate. In 2007, Jack Astor's had opened a restaurant at Eastgate.

Eastgate Square celebrated 35 years in 2008. The mall had undergone a major facelift to its main entrance. The Hamilton Street Railway had renovated and upgraded its bus terminal on-site. The mall was thriving in success. However, two major blows hit the mall in the coming months. The Bay announced it was closing its Eastgate location, putting many of its employees out of a job. However, very shortly after, Sears had announced it was moving into The Bay's former location from the nearby Centre Mall, which is being torn down and completely redone. The new Sears store opened in September 2008.

Wal-Mart had also announced it was considering leaving as the mall's most busiest tenant, and relocating barely a kilometre from the mall to the corner of Centennial Parkway and the QEW/South Service Road. Wal-Mart Canada had recently opened one of its first Supercentres in Hamilton, proving to be a very successful store. This new Wal-Mart will be a Supercentre as well.

As of January 2012, the new Walmart store is nearing opening day with the store's interior being close to completion and the parking lot and entrance ways all ready to welcome the migration of shoppers from Eastgate Square. By 2014 there will also be the new GO Train station locating directly across the Centennial Parkway. Once this is completed there may be demand to move the Hamilton Transit hub from Eastgate to dovetail into this new GO station. As of February 2012 the Eastgate Square website does not list the Walmart any where and in its place it says Under Construction saying that it will be a new wing with Winners and Sport Chek.