Hudson’s Bay space at White Oaks Mall finds new life with pop-up events

How London malls are utilizing the massive space left behind by the departure of The Bay. CTV’s Reta Ismail brings the story.

The sign for the iconic Hudson’s Bay store came down inside White Oaks Mall Wednesday, and the space is now available for lease.

“We’re thrilled to be able to find new uses for this incredible space that we have at the mall. It’s been a staple, original part of the mall,” said Sarah Imrie, marketing manager at White Oaks Mall.

Westdell Development Corporation, which owns and operates the mall, has begun actively leasing the 165,000-square-foot space.

Spirit Halloween is moving in this week, followed by The Modern Market Series (TMMS), formerly known as The Modern Mom Show.

“We were actually approached by White Oaks Mall at our last event. They came to us offering this incredible empty department store for us to use,” said Sabrina Maulucci, founder of TMMS.

“We have high requirements for our vendors to create a beautiful, boutique-like setting. When our guests come in, they can really feel welcomed and understand what all those businesses are about, versus just a tabletop setup. Our brands bring in big displays, and having ground-level access is amazing,” she said.

The two Hudson’s Bay locations in London officially closed on June 1. Now, the White Oaks location sits empty and ready for a new purpose.

“The reality is department stores are not as attractive in all markets as they used to be. So, we’re taking over the space and really repurposing it to support the city, support the community, and support the mall in the best way possible,” said Imrie.

One of those new uses will be the Modern Market Series, taking place Nov. 21 and 22, with thousands of visitors expected. Vendor applications open this Friday, July 18.