The Rockland Center - Nouveau Chic
Who says a shopping mall can't look good?
The new owners of the Rockland Center have breathed life once more to this iconic shopping mall, which was once so grim, dark, and poorly maintained that shoppers simply looked elsewhere to entertain themselves.
No more. As The Rockland Center literally reinvented themselves to attract not only their old patrons back, but also appeal to wealthier shoppers as well. Once home to Holt Renfrew (now relocated to the corner of Sherbrooke and De La Montagne), the shopping mall got a face lift to make it look so hip, you'd think the Holt would beg to go back. Now housing a slew of hot new stores such as Mango, Banana Republic, and the popular H&M, the Rockland Center is certainly rocking the fashion trails by dubbing themselves as "nouveau chic," a simple message that it's the new "it" spot for shoppers tired of downtown hassles.
The most remarkable change is shifting the basement foodcourt into a state of the art dining area that puts the Eaton Center's foodcourt to shame. Now expanding on the 3rd floor, the new dining area, and yes, it is a DINING area, with amazingly slick new modern furniture. From cushiony blue felt, Victorian styled booths, to long zen, flat and rounded geometric booths, to the insanely chic flamboyant orange bars (with dazzling crystal glass lights), it's hard to imagine we're actually in a shopping mall. To top it off there are custom made full functioning glass furnaces that burn in the winter to keep shoppers warm. How's that for comfort?
Look for a slew of new stores this spring that will only escalate to a soon to be "posh only" destination. Well, not really, but it sure looks that way. Take advantage of their roomy 4 level free parking garage and avoid headaches downtown. This mall is clearly rockin' it to the top.
The Rockland Center is located in Ahuntsic, across Marché Central, next to the Metropolitaine. The nearest metro stations are Acadie and Crémazie. Check their website for more info.
