UPDATED: A $49.5-million upgrade to the Promenades St-Bruno shopping centre's food court is planned to begin this fall, owner Primaris REIT (PMZ-UN-T) announced this morning.

It's the first major renovation announced for the Montreal mall since Primaris bought it from Cadillac Fairview last October for $565 million.

Primaris said the food court redevelopment will "reimagine its dining experience and create significant new retail opportunities within the centre."

"Our vision for Promenades St-Bruno is to continually enhance the customer experience while creating long-term value for our retailers, visitors, and stakeholders," Promenades St-Bruno general manager Julie Morin said in the announcement.

"This investment will transform an already successful dining destination into a modern gathering place with substantially more seating, improved comfort and a more vibrant atmosphere. At the same time, it will create opportunities to introduce new retail concepts in the former food court space, further strengthening the overall offering at the property."

As part of the redevelopment, the existing lower-level food court will move to the current Marché des Promenades location. 

Expanded seating area, dedicated entrance

The new food court will double the existing seating capacity to 1,100 seats.

It will retain the same number of food vendors but is intended to create "a larger, brighter, and more welcoming gathering place for shoppers, families, and the surrounding community," the press release said.

Morin told RENX all the current food vendors will be moving to the new space and more may be added. "The project is designed to preserve the successful dining concepts our customers enjoy today while enhancing the overall experience through a modernized environment and potential additions to the restaurant offering," she said.

The new food court will also offer direct access to an outdoor terrace where visitors can dine and relax, with a dedicated exterior entrance that will allow for extended opening hours and easier access for takeout and deliveries.

Additional retail space

After the relocation, the former food court location is to be converted into 20,000 square feet of new retail space.

The construction is scheduled to begin mid-September, with the new food court expected to open in the fall of 2027 and the former food court redeveloped and opened to customers in November 2028.

There is no news yet on specific retailers that might occupy the 20,000 square feet of reclaimed space, Morin told RENX.

"Our focus is on securing retailers that enhance the overall shopping experience and further strengthen Promenades St-Bruno's position as the leading retail destination on Montreal's South Shore," she said.

"We are actively evaluating opportunities and are in discussions with prospective tenants."

Promenades St-Bruno will remain fully operational throughout the construction period. "Measures will be implemented to minimize disruption to customers and retailers, and no significant impacts to customer parking are currently anticipated," Morin said. 

She added: "Food courts play an important role in shopping centres as they serve as gathering places, increase dwell time and encourage shoppers to visit more frequently.

"Investing in a modern food court enhances the overall customer experience while supporting traffic and sales across the centre."

About Promenades St-Bruno, Primaris REIT

Located on Montreal's South Shore, Promenades St-Bruno spans more than one million square feet of leasable area and features a diverse mix of leading retailers, dining options and services. With total annual CRU sales volume of approximately $290 million and annual same store sales productivity exceeding $1,000 per square foot, Promenades St-Bruno is one of Quebec's premier retail destinations.

The mall was constructed in 1978 and expanded in 1991. It contains over 200 stores and services, and serves 12.2 million visitors each year.

Primaris is Canada's only enclosed shopping centre focused REIT, with ownership interests in enclosed shopping centres located in growing Canadian markets. Its current portfolio totals 14.6 million square feet, valued at approximately $5.2 billion at Primaris' share. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been updated with additional quotes from Promenades St-Bruno general manager Julie Morin.