Mic Mac Mall facts for kids

Mic Mac Mall is Atlantic Canada's largest enclosed shopping mall located in the city of Dartmouth, across the harbour from Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is owned and managed by Ivanhoé Cambridge, headquartered in Montreal, Quebec.

Following the construction of Highway 111, Mic Mac Mall was built in 1972 by The Hardman Group Limited (HGL) and opened in 1973. Originally anchored by department stores Simpsons and Eaton’s, the mall had underwent major expansions in 1978 and 1981. With stores on three levels, Mic Mac Mall is a major shopping destination for the Maritimes and the only location for Decathlon East of Quebec.

Over the years, Mic Mac Mall had either delighted or frightened children with a talking Christmas tree named Woody. Woody would be set up in the centre court along with Santa where children would get the chance to talk to him. Woody had become a Christmas tradition at Mic Mac Mall and was around for over 25 years. In 2007, Mic Mac Mall decided to retire Woody due to safety concerns and extensive repairs needed to Woody’s frame. This had upset many residents that a Facebook group was setup to hopefully change the mall management’s decision.

The mall is located in a suburban area south of Lake Micmac and northwest of the Micmac Parclo interchange. It hosts a Halifax Transit bus terminal.

The Mic Mac Terminal is served by the following routes:

• 10 (Dalhousie/Westphal)
• 54 (Montebello/Alderney)
• 55 (Port Wallace/Bridge Terminal)
• 56 (Dartmouth Crossing/Bridge Terminal)
• 66 (Penhorn/Cobequid)
• 72 (Portland Hills via Woodlawn/Dartmouth Crossing via Wright Ave

Major stores

• Hudson's Bay (151,303 sq ft.)
• Winners (25,976 sq ft.)
• Old Navy (19,234 sq ft.)
• H&M (20,780 sq ft.)
• Shoppers Drug Mart (10,773 sq ft.)
• Decathlon (33,046 sq ft.)
• LinenChest (17,466 sq ft.)
• Chapters (25,752 sq ft.) * Free Standing
• Urban Planet (16,989 sq ft.)

Former major stores

• Eaton's - Opened October 13th 1973 as a single level store. Closed in 1997 as part of six store closures by the chain that year.
• Simpsons - Opened 1973 as a single level 90,000 sq ft store. Simpsons was purchased by the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) in 1978. In 1981, HBC renovated and expanded the Simpsons store to two levels. Converted to Hudson’s Bay (The Bay) in 1986 as HBC decided to focus Simpsons in the metro Toronto and Montreal markets.
• Zellers - Former Eaton’s - Opened 1999 rebuilt as a two level store and mall expansion. Closed in 2013 as part of lease sale to Target by HBC
• Target - Former Zellers - Opened Fall 2013 - Closed 2015 as part of liquidation of Target Canada Assets. Space has been redeveloped into several retailers.
• Toys "R" Us - Opened 1994 only location in Nova Scotia - Relocated to a nearby shopping center, Dartmouth Crossing in 2012.
• Forever 21 - Former Toys “R” Us - Closed 2019 and replaced with Decathlon
• Dominion - Opened 1974 later converted to IGA - Closed 2004 and replaced with a Winners/HomeSense.
• HomeSense - Opened 2005 paired with Winners. Separated from Winners and Relocated to a stand alone store in Dartmouth Crossing May 2020.

Images for kids

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  Woody the talking Christmas tree winks at a child.