The owner of Mayfair Shopping Centre has revealed a multi-part plan to repurpose the space vacated by Hudson’s Bay, announcing a mix of retail, dining and entertainment aimed at redefining part of the mall experience in Victoria.
What is proposed
At a press conference in Nanaimo on Sept. 10, Central Walk — the international commercial real estate company that bought Mayfair in 2021 — outlined a redevelopment for the former Hudson’s Bay footprint that includes:
- H Mart, an Asian grocery operator, as a retail anchor;
- TM Wander, a marketplace inspired by Asian street markets, to operate a second food court and night market;
- a family entertainment centre and terrace space to complement retail and food offerings.
Central Walk purchased Woodgrove Centre in Nanaimo in 2020 and Mayfair in 2021. Representatives from TM Wander and H Mart joined Weihong (Ruby) Liu, chairperson of Central Walk, for the announcement.
Timing and scope
Shirley Dong, project manager with Grand Commercial Management, which operates TM Wander, said the company plans to open in Mayfair by the end of next year and then later at Woodgrove, with the Woodgrove opening likely in 2028. She described TM Wander as a new concept modelled on Asian street markets and said the aim was to “bring more happiness and joy to the people.”
“TM Wander is actually a new idea, which is inspired by the Asian street market, and our vision is very simple. We want to bring more happiness and joy to the people.”
Food, vendors and positioning
TM Wander’s planned second food court is intended to host up to 18 different vendors, focusing largely on emerging brands and independent operators with “distinctive offerings,” predominantly of Asian origin. Dong emphasised that the second food court is not intended to compete with the mall’s existing food court but to provide additional choices.
| Element | Details from announcement |
|---|---|
| Anchor tenant | H Mart (Asian grocery) |
| Marketplace operator | TM Wander (Grand Commercial Management) |
| Food vendors | Up to 18, mostly Asian-origin independent brands |
| Openings | Mayfair: end of 2027; Woodgrove: likely 2028 |
Local implications
For Victoria shoppers and mall tenants, the proposals signal a shift toward curated, culturally specific retail and food experiences. An H Mart branch would add a major grocery draw to Mayfair’s mix, while a night-market-style food hall could change foot traffic patterns, particularly during evenings. The family entertainment component and terrace space suggest the owner is aiming to broaden the mall’s appeal beyond traditional daytime shopping.
Central Walk’s moves follow their acquisitions of Woodgrove and Mayfair in consecutive years. The company’s announcement in Nanaimo positions TM Wander as a concept to be rolled out across at least two Island properties, starting with Victoria’s Mayfair.
What remains to be seen
Important details about the redevelopment were not released at the press conference, including exact unit layouts, tenant mixes beyond the announced operators, planning approvals and construction timelines beyond the broad targets. How the new food court and night market will integrate with the existing food court and broader mall tenants — and how the changes will affect parking, deliveries and peak-hour traffic — will be matters for mall management and the community to monitor as the project advances.
The announcement marks another chapter in Victoria’s evolving retail landscape, where mall owners are increasingly experimenting with mixed-use entertainment, culturally specific retail and experiential food spaces to attract shoppers in a changing market.
