Pacific Centre’s expansion is finally complete; includes several high-end retailers

WATCH: Pacific Centre’s long awaited expansion is finally complete. A number of new stores are opening their doors today – including some high end retailers. Grace Ke has the details.

Shopaholics will be rejoicing today as several world-renowned retailers are making their debut at the Pacific Centre’s new retail expansion opening in downtown Vancouver.

Three years in the making, the expansion will house eight new high-end shops, including the likes of Ted Baker London, Kate Spade New York and AllSaints retailers. Both AllSaints and Ted Baker London have chosen Vancouver as their first Canadian stores outside of Toronto.

“At Pacific Centre I think we do a good job of having a collection of retail that I think accommodates everyone’s shopping habits,” Josh Thomspon, VP of Development for Cadillac Fairview, told Global News.

“Whether you’re going to Holt Renfrew, or Banana Republic or J. Crew, there’s something for everybody,”

Pacific Centre opened in 1971 and since then has been expanded several times. According to the centre’s developers, there has been more than $60 million invested towards renovations and redevelopment of the property in the last six years.

The new space boasts 45,000 square feet of retail space and there will be four more shops — Abercrombie & Fitch, Rockport, The Disney Store and Microsoft — opening throughout the summer and fall.

Rounding out the additional shops, Pacific Centre will also be opening the highly anticipated flagship Nordstrom store, which will span three floors.

People like men’s fashion stylist Bobbie Long, who attended the Pacific Centre’s special event, are excited about the new development. The projected opening is Sept. 18.

“I think we’re slowly shaking off that Lululemon, very casual west coast feel,” Long says.

“I think you can see today there are a lot of people stepping up and showing their fashion sense.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I think we're slowly shaking off that Lululemon, very casual west coast feel," Long says.</p><p>"I think you can see today there are a lot of people stepping up and showing their fashion sense."

Retail manager Melissa Crawford loves downtown Vancouver and thinks it’s thriving.

“I come here quite a bit and this is always where I go,” Crawford says.

“I think having all this and adding Nordstrom and adding everything down here, is just going to add to the excitement of downtown.”

So far Vancouver appears to be in the game when it comes to providing a strong retail market. A recent study showed Pacific Centre earning the top spot when it came to overall productivity — and the mall is banking on these new shops to help reel in the customers.