“Hillcrest; It’s Here.” With a new look and an array of trendy stores, shoppers will find everything they need, all in one convenient location.

For over 40 years, Hillcrest Mall has acted as the centre of its community. But with more and more young families making their home in Richmond Hill, Ont., and the surrounding communities, Hillcrest wanted to give them the best destination possible.

Redevelopments within the mall were kick-started to tie in with the developments occurring within the community. The south wing of the mall now hosts H&M, Starbucks, Pandora, a 38,000-square-foot Sporting Life and has just welcomed West Coast Kids, a 17,000-square-foot store that has products for infants, children and teens. To coincide with that, Hillcrest has embarked on developing the north wing, where HomeSense, Marshalls, Indigo and Old Navy are set to open their doors this fall.

With all of these stores, Hillcrest has a little bit of everything and has created the ideal lifestyle experience, says Lisa Resnic, the marketing director of Hillcrest Mall.

Interior renovations were also an important part of this redevelopment and consist of new floor tiles and retrofitted new LED lighting throughout the mall, as well as a freshly painted ceiling. The washrooms were renovated last year, and Hillcrest will be installing new seating throughout the mall and into the food court, tying in with the food courts new design.

Hillcrest Mall recognizes its prominent role in the community and as such values giving back and acting as a role model. Currently, Hillcrest is partnering with the Mackenzie Health Foundation and the Sandgate Women’s Shelter, and in the past it has worked with Toy Mountain, 360 Kids and the Richmond Hill Food Bank. Hillcrest has also set up beehives on its roof, and they are thriving, thanks to the surrounding gardens of Richmond Hill.

In addition, Hillcrest has implemented various sustainability efforts that have won it a BOMA BEST Gold Certification. The mall has implemeted an organic waste program, installed electric car chargers and has heating and cooling systems that are timed to correspond with mall traffic.

“We’re not just about being a shopping centre; we’re about giving back to the community,” says Resnic. “Whether it’s educationally, whether it’s through philanthropy, whether it’s through providing a place for people to meet and have a coffee together, that’s what we’re here for.”

With Hillcrest Mall’s fresh look and new retailers making themselves at home this fall, be sure to come out and get your back-to-school shopping done — then wait and see what Hillcrest has in store for this holiday season.

www.hillcrestmall.ca
www.instagram.com/shop_hillcrest

photos courtesy of hillcrest mall