Mapping Out Vancouver’s Outlet Malls

McArthurGlen Vancouver, 1000-7899 Templeton Station Road, Richmond

McArthurGlen’s new outlet centre on the YVR grounds has stood proudly in the Vancouver retail spotlight since it launched in July. With over 45,000 visitors on day one (and an astounding 160,000 over its first operational four-day weekend), the space obviously can draw a crowd with all it has to offer.

Coach and Ralph Lauren outlets at McArthurGlen’s busy Richmond base could boast hours-long lineups upon their debut, but many visitors to the centre don’t realize there are plenty of retail favourites still on the horizon. McArthurGlen opens its locations well below capacity to facilitate retail additions that keep centres fresh and appealing to a fashion-savvy target. Additional stores will bow this fall while a recently green-lit phase two will begin construction shortly, offering dozens of new retailers and hundreds of additional jobs for locals with its launch in 2017.

Supporters of downtown Vancouver’s Hawker’s Market know it for fresh, unique food offerings of all sorts and, this summer, the showcase moves to McArthurGlen. Hawker’s Mercado – a mobile food festival of sorts – is headquartered at the centre until Labour Day weekend and includes local favourites like Nice Vice Ice Cream and Hugo’s Tacos.

If braving the lines at McArthurGlen sounds daunting, never fear. Click through to learn about two lesser-known outlet centres in neighbouring Vancouver suburbs

SmartCentre, 805 Boyd Street, New Westminster

Further down the Fraser, another Vancouver suburb is housing savings secrets you may not know about. New Westminster has its own outlet centre in Queensborough Landing, now Smartcentre New Westminster. Driving south on the Queensborough Bridge, consumers can take the first exit – Howes Street – and find dozens of retail outlets, many of them factory stores for brands ranging from Banana Republic to BCBG to Armani Exchange.

The open-air shopping centre is anchored by a large WalMart and also features children’s clothing retailers, a Canada Post office, liquor store, wireless providers and even food slingers including Boston Pizza and Marble Slab Creamery. Stay on for lunch or grab the kids some ice cream… all right on the banks of the mighty Fraser.

The Shops at Morgan Crossing, 15765 Croydon Drive, Surrey

Vancouverites who like a designer bargain are often familiar with the lengthy drive south of the border to find reasonably priced brand names.  While some may enjoy the commute, no border crossing is actually required. Pull to the left as you head south on Highway 99 just before 24th Avenue in South Surrey and The Shops at Morgan Crossing offer a slate of great retailers.

Like the other two centres, familiar names on offer include Gap, Banana Republic and Calvin Klein, but the services, food and beauty options abound. Blo and a brand new Skoah will help with your hair and beauty needs while a Steve Nash Fitness World will even let you sneak in a workout. And run low on cash after searching for a deal or six? Three different financial institutions have locations onsite.

Just across Croydon Drive is a cluster of dining options that provides a major boost to the centre’s cache as a whole. Vikram Vij launched MyShanti earlier this year, a new Famoso Pizzeria is dishing up Neapolitan pies and you can even snag a deal on high-end refreshments this season: at DAVIDs Tea, pick up a travel mug and take advantage of their summer refresh promo with iced tea for just one dollar.