Circle Retail Properties to acquire former Hudson’s Bay space at Windsor’s Devonshire Mall

The Hudson's Bay store in Windsor, Ont. at Devonshire Mall, March 12, 2025. (Rusty Thomson/AM800 News)

The former Hudson’s Bay store at Windsor’s Devonshire Mall is set to be sold to Circle Retail Properties LP, the company that already owns the rest of the mall, according to a court-appointed receiver’s latest report.

The sale is part of a larger process to dispose of former Hudson’s Bay properties across Canada after the company’s financial restructuring.

Simple ownership change at Devonshire Mall

In Windsor, the deal would transfer the vacant anchor space directly to Circle Retail Properties, which already owns the rest of Devonshire Mall. If approved, this would give the company full ownership of the property.

Because Circle Retail Properties already operates the mall, the sale is considered a straightforward consolidation rather than a complex redevelopment deal seen at other former Hudson’s Bay sites.

What happens next is up to the mall owner

Once the sale is completed, Circle Retail Properties will have full control over the future of the large empty store space.

Possible options include:

• Dividing the space into smaller retail units
• Leasing it to new tenants
• Reconfiguring it for other commercial uses within the mall

No specific redevelopment plans have been announced.

Part of a national retail shift

The Windsor property is one of several former Hudson’s Bay locations being sold across Canada. Many of these large department store spaces are being repurposed as retailers adapt to changing shopping habits and the decline of traditional anchor stores.

Across the country, landlords are increasingly looking at ways to transform these large vacant spaces into more flexible, multi-tenant retail environments.

Impact in Windsor

Devonshire Mall remains one of Windsor’s major retail destinations, and the report suggests the ownership change is not expected to disrupt day-to-day operations.

The sale is still subject to court approval and standard closing conditions before it can be finalized.