The Amazing Brentwood still has a long way to go to finish its phases and ambitious plans for multiple residential towers and one of the biggest shopping centres in Western Canada.
But Monday was when this North Burnaby mall took a giant leap forward.
That’s when the skybridge was opened to the public, connected the older side of the mall and the new Tables food court with the brand-spanking new phase that’s loaded with shops, restaurants and services.
“It’s a big day,” said Darren Kwiatkowski, executive vice-president of new development for Shape Properties, the mall developer. “We’re really committed to world class and you can really see it here as we progress.”
The Amazing Brentwood has three residential towers built, but will eventually have 13 total on the 28-acre property at Lougheed and Willingdon. As part of phase one, 1.45 million square feet of retail space has been built.
On the north side of the skybridge is Tables, a swanky 780-seat food court that blows away most mall food courts and includes an outdoor patio. The north side also includes the older wing of the mall that includes London Drugs. Below are such new businesses as Nike and Adidas
The south side is all completely new construction.
It all begins with a grand open lobby with glass elevators, an escalator and a soon-to-open Small Victory bakery and coffee shop to greet shoppers.
The lobby is something that will leave your jaw on the floor because of its size and scope.
Inside the mammoth building are a variety of different features.
There are fun options such as Cineplex’s new five-screen VIP movie theatre and its Rec Room entertainment complex that features everything from video games to pool tables to virtual reality.
There are lifestyle features like a fitness facility, brow bar and barbershop.
Then if you go outside, you’ll find the huge outdoor plaza that includes shops such as the new Sephora that just opened, a big Starbucks, plus such restaurants as La Taqueria and Gram pancakes. It will be a hub of activity and will host a variety of live entertainment shows utilizing its special rollout stage. OEB, an all-day breakfast place, has already opened and other food options are still being developed. But once this phase done, you will be able to walk anywhere around the Amazing Brentwood and still find a restaurant. There’s even going to be a two-storey McDonald’s.
And then there’s the shopping at H&M, H&M Home, Sporting Life, Suit Supply, L.L. Bean, Urban Outfitters and more.
So, there’s still much more to be completed, but now that COVID-19 vaccinations have ramped up and the province has set out a restart plan, progress on opening new stores is ramping up quickly.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
