SENIORS
MOMENTS
SHARE YOUR MEMORIES
– By Don Crossley
We welcome memories, comments, and old photos!
Please contact Don at:
[email protected]
Or you may send them through Silver & Gold
CLICK HERE for our contact details!
“The New Mall”
W hen we moved back to Burlington in 1967, after living on
the Niagara Peninsula for almost 6 years, the neighbourhood
was abuzz with the news that a new mall was being built. Until
that time, the shopping choices in Burlington were either the
downtown core, or the Towers plaza on Plains Road.
Hamilton radio station 1280 CHAM had a satellite broadcast
booth in the mall back when they were still at the top end of
the dial and had a Top 40 format.
The new Burlington Mall was to be a redevelopment of the
former Fisher Farms property – the acres of orchards on the
east side Guelph Line, south of the CNR main line. It was to
be Burlington’s very first large indoor shopping centre, and all
eagerly awaited its completion. Of course, Canadian winters
meant that a climate-controlled shopping environment was
most welcome, but it also has to be remembered that few
homes in the 1960’s were air-conditioned, therefore the mall
was a refuge from summer heat and humidity.
Finally the big day arrived: October 16, 1968. What an
exciting day it was! I do recall that on opening day, famed
jazz organist Earl Grant played for the wide-eyed shoppers
entering the mall for the very first time. Tragically, Grant
died in an automobile accident a little more than a year later.
The mall had three anchor stores: At the east-end was
a brand new Simpsons-Sears store; on the north side, a
Dominion grocery store (back when grocery stores were
allowed in shopping malls) and, facing Guelph Line,
Robinson’s department store, the long-time stalwart retailer
from downtown Hamilton.
All the major fashion retailers of the day were represented
in the rest of the mall, along with specialty stores like Laura
Secord’s candies and Dominion Playworld, which guaranteed
that the youngsters were always anxious to return.
10
Read + hear more: www.silvergoldmagazine.ca
The mall wasn’t just a retail outlet; it served as a public
gathering place and forum. In 1972, prime minister Pierre
Trudeau made certain that the Burlington Mall was one of the
whistle stops on his “Land is Strong” re-election campaign.
The success of the mall meant that it seemed prudent to
expand. In the mid-1970’s, a new wing, featuring Eaton’s
Department store, opened in the northwest corner of the mall.
No longer did we have to travel to Hamilton or Toronto to
shop at Eaton’s. As the President of the Burlington Chamber
of Commerce, I was proud to participate in the ribbon-cutting
ceremony for that store.
In later years, Robinson’s became Zeller’s and Simpsons-Sears
became simply Sears, then that space was taken over by The
Bay. Finally, in 2018, the mall itself changed names, from the
Burlington Mall to the Burlington Centre. Our family, like
so many others from the area, have fond memories of eating,
socializing, and above all, shopping at the Burlington Mall.
What do you remember fondly? •
PS: Speaking of the Burlington Centre...
The Burlington Lion’s Club are seeking a part-time day
manager for their Farmer’s Market at the Burlington
Centre. If you are seeking a part-time seasonal job
(May to October, 3 days per week), please see the
advertisement on page 6
and contact the Lions Club!