Serious shoppers won't need to be told where to go when they arrive in Toronto for APA's annual meeting in May. Stretching two full city blocks, the Toronto Eaton Centre is a historical landmark and with more than 250 retailers is today one of Canada's best-known retail shopping destinations, attracting approximately 50 million visitors annually.
The Toronto Eaton Centre is a six-story, glass-ceilinged structure named after Timothy Eaton, an Irish immigrant whose four-story flagship department store at the corner of Queen and Yonge streets was built in 1883. In the 1960s, Eaton's department store moved to the corner of Yonge and Dundas, and its competitor, Simpsons, opened at Yonge and Queen. Today, these stores have been replaced by Sears (Eaton's) and the Bay (Simpsons).
According to the Eaton Centre's Web site at<www.torontoeatoncentre.com>, the complex is modeled after Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. The Eaton Centre's architect, Eb Zeilder, created the retail portion of the complex to feature a four-level shopping center with a glass-domed ceiling running the length of the complex. Hanging from the ceiling is a mobile of a flock of Canadian geese, “Flight Stop,” designed by artist Michael Snow.
“The whole complex is becoming the center of the city, as well as the epicenter of shopping in Toronto,” said Andrew Weir, a spokesperson for the Toronto Convention and Visitors Association.
Here are some of the shops and stores at Eaton Centre:
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Hollister Co., located on level one, is a southern California lifestyle retailer.
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Pinstripe Menswear offers a combination of classic and contemporary clothing styles for men. It is located on the concourse level by the North Food Court.
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Mango, on the third level at the south end of the complex, is a Spanish retailer dedicated to the design, manufacture, and marketing of clothing garments and accessories for women.
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Bebe Sport is part of a distinctive line of contemporary women's apparel that was founded in 1976. Bebe Sport is located on the second level by the Queen Street entrance.
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Pink Paw offers animal lovers a variety of pet accessories for animal lovers, such as colorful leashes, stylish hair accessories, and entertaining beds. They are in a second-level kiosk by Tip Top Tailors.
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lululemon athletica is a Yoga-inspired athletic apparel company. Authentic to its West Coast roots, lululemon continues to focus on a healthy, balanced, fun-filled way of life.
The Eaton Centre is bordered by Dundas Street (north), Yonge Street (east), Queen Street (south), and Bay Street (west) and is accessible in several ways. To take the subway, ride the Yonge Line to either Dundas or Queen Station. To take the streetcar, ride the Dundas line to Yonge and Dundas or the Queen line to Yonge and Queen. ▪
