Bay Centre (formerly the Victoria Eaton Centre) is a shopping mall in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It is bounded by Douglas, Government, Fort, and View streets, in the city's historic centre.Ward, Robin (November 17, 1990). "A world of kitsch: Victoria is losing some of its architectural charm, with the Eaton Centre the latest example of inappropriate design", The Vancouver Sun, p. D1. It has of retail space." Victoria – Canadian Urban Institute", Canadian Urban Institute. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
Opening in 1989, the mall was the first large shopping mall in downtown Victoria. It occupies two city blocks of the Old Town area, including the site of the original downtown Eaton's store (previously Spencer's) at 1150 Douglas Street.(May 20, 2001). "Us vs. Them: Architects and amateurs have their say on Victoria buildings", Times Colonist, p. D6. Eaton's was demolished in 1987–88 to make way for the Eaton Centre project. The development of the shopping centre was initially the subject of controversy,(March 1, 1989). "Controversial shopping mall opens in Victoria", The Vancouver Sun, p. B1. as construction involved demolishing several historic buildings (or reducing them to Facadism)Kloster, Darron (May 14, 2010). "Bay Centre sold to U.S. company: City landmark estimated to have fetched at least $90 million", Times Colonist, p. A1. and closing one block of Broad Street.
The centre was initially a partnership between Eaton's and Cadillac Fairview.Gidney, Norman (February 28, 1997). "Eaton's downtown Victoria store expected to survive financial crisis", Times Colonist. When Eaton's went bankrupt in 1999, the Eaton's store in this mall was occupied first by Sears Canada, and then by The Bay, for which the mall was renamed. Our History: Victoria at HBC HeritageGidney, Norman (May 3, 2003). "Bay celebrates history in return to downtown", Times Colonist, p. E1. In 2010, Cadillac Fairview sold the complex to LaSalle Investment Management for an undisclosed price in the range of to , which is among the largest real estate transactions in the city's history.
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