Woodbine Mall
{{Infobox shopping mall
| name = Woodbine Mall
| logo = Woodbine Centre logo.png
| image = Woodbine Centre Atrium 2023.JPG
| image_width =
| caption = Woodbine Centre Atrium in 2023
| address = 500 Rexdale Boulevard
Toronto, Ontario
M9W 6K5
| coordinates = {{Coord|43|43|13|N|79|36|01|W|region:ON-CA|display=inline,title}}
| opening_date = 1985
| closing_date =
| developer = Cadillac Fairview
| manager =
| owner = Woodbine Mall Holdings
| architect = Crang and Boake Incorporated{{Cite web|url=http://astint.on.ca/woodbine-shopping-centre-rexdale/|title = Woodbine Shopping Centre Rexdale| date=24 February 2011 }}
| number_of_stores = 107
| number_of_anchors = 2
| floor_area = {{convert|750000|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}}{{cite web|title=Woodbine Centre: Project Overview|url=http://www.marino.ca/properties/woodbine/|publisher=Marino |access-date=23 November 2014}}
| parking =
| floors = 2
| website = {{URL|https://woodbinemall.com/|Woodbine Mall}}
| footnotes =
}}
File:Woodbine Mall & Fantasy Fair exterior view 2023.JPG
Woodbine Mall & Fantasy Fair is a shopping mall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at Rexdale Boulevard and Highway 27 in the Rexdale area of Toronto, across Rexdale Boulevard from Woodbine Racetrack. The mall has over 130 stores and is home to Fantasy Fair, a year-round indoor amusement park. The fair houses a Charles I. D. Looff carousel. It is one of 13 still in operation today.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fantasyfair.ca/rides-and-attraction|title = Rides and attractions}} They also have a 50-foot ferris wheel which they say is the only one in North America. The ferris wheel was closed in April 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://fantasyfair.ca/about-us/|title = About Fantasy Fair}}
History
Woodbine Centre was opened in 1985 by developer Cadillac Fairview, Its design served as inspiration for property developer Sir John Hall when planning the MetroCentre, the UK's largest shopping mall, in the 1980s.{{cite web|last=Jackson|first=Chris|title=A BOGOF offer from Inside Out you can't refuse|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chrisjackson/2011/10/a_bogof_offer_from_inside_out.html|work=BBC News|date=13 October 2011|access-date=2 July 2012}}
In 2008, proposed development of an entertainment centre at Woodbine Racetrack and the closure of national stores like Shoppers Drug Mart fuelled rumours that the mall was closing. Instead, then-owners Darton Property planned renovations, starting with redesigned washrooms."[https://www.toronto.com/news-story/28742-woodbine-centre-redevelopment-in-works/ Woodbine Centre redevelopment in works]", Toronto.com, 29 August 2008.
As of 2016, the assessed value of the property was $96,708,000. Woodbine Mall Holdings Inc. owed over a half-million in unpaid taxes that year."[https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/gm/bgrd/backgroundfile-102104.pdf Properties with arrears greater than $500,000, owned by a corporation]", City of Toronto, 2016.
On May 2, 2023, Woodbine Mall Holdings Inc. was placed in receivership by Romspen Investment Corporation. Ernst & Young was appointed receiver. {{cite web|url=https://documentcentre.ey.com/api/Document/download?docId=37220&language=EN |access-date=2023-09-25| title=Court File No. CV-23-00696329-00CL}}
Woodbine Centre Fantasy Level 1 shops 2023.JPG |Level 1 Shops
Woodbine Centre Food Court 2023.JPG|Level 2 Food Court
Woodbine Centre Fantasy Level 2 2023.JPG|Skylight in the mall
Fantasy Fair Amusement Park
{{Infobox amusement park
| name = Fantasy Fair
| image = Woodbine Centre Fantasy Fair 2023.JPG
| caption = Fantasy Fair in 2023
| location = Toronto, Ontario Canada
| area =
| opening_date = 1985
| season =
| rides = 9
| water_rides =
| owner =
| homepage =
|coordinates=
}}
Fantasy Fair is an indoor amusement park and the largest in Ontario featuring nine full-sized rides:{{Cite web |url=http://www.toronto4kids.com/Directories/Birthdays-Parties/index.php/name/Fantasy-Fair-at-Woodbine-Shopping-Centre/listing/25933/ |title=Fantasy Fair at Woodbine Shopping Centre |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013194027/http://www.toronto4kids.com/Directories/Birthdays-Parties/index.php/name/Fantasy-Fair-at-Woodbine-Shopping-Centre/listing/25933/ |website=toronto4kids.com |archive-date=13 October 2012 }}
- 1911 Antique Looff Carousel
- Crystal Kaleidoscope – indoor ferris wheel (CLOSED)
- Ships Ahoy – spinning tea cups
- Smash 'n Dash – bumper cars
- Fantasy Flight – a 32' balloon tower ride (CLOSED)
- JRB Express Train – mini replica steam engine
- Airforce - plane ride
- Spinners – roller coaster (CLOSED)
- XD Simulator Theatre
- Rock 'n Climb - climbing wall
- Drop & Hop - tower (CLOSED)
- Dreamer's Play Village - indoor playground/soft play area (5500 sq.ft)
Woodbine Centre Fantasy Fair Ferris Wheel 2023.JPG|Crystal Kaleidoscope – indoor Ferris Wheel
Woodbine Centre Fantasy Fair Merry Go Round 2023.JPG|Merry Go Round
Woodbine Centre Fantasy Fair attraction 2023.JPG|Ships Ahoy – spinning tea cups
Woodbine Centre Fantasy Fair Play Village closure 2023.JPG |Play Village (indoor playground)
In popular culture
The mall was featured in the filming of Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol, where David Spade is seen skateboarding through the mall and the Animorphs TV series (in a second season episode called "Changes, Part 2").
Various parts of the mall and Fantasy Fair were also featured in Shazam!, What We Do In The Shadows (season 5, episode 1), and 8-Bit Christmas.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|https://woodbinemall.com/}}
- [https://fantasyfair.ca// Fantasy Fair]
{{Shopping Malls in the Golden Horseshoe}}
Category:Shopping malls in Toronto
Category:Shopping malls established in 1985
Category:Amusement parks in Ontario