Ontario mall announces major expansion with hotel and new businesses

Major changes are coming to White Oaks Mall in London, Ontario, thanks to recently announced plans to transform the shopping centre into a hub for hotels and entertainment alongside its existing portfolio of retail and dining options.

Local leaders confirmed the changes at an on-site press conference last week, and also outlined plans for a new bus terminal that will take over the mall's southeast entrance.

The City of London is collaborating with Westdell Development Corp., owner of the shopping centre, to bring these changes to the 52-year-old space.

Westdell President Iyman Meddoui hopes to make the mall a one-stop shop for locals, a place where people can "live, shop, work, and play." 

The expansion will welcome Splitsville Bowl, a luxury bowling and entertainment destination, alongside the soon-to-open Footlab — a first-of-its-kind soccer training, performance, and entertainment facility helmed by soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo — to expand the mall's recreational options.

The southwest side of the mall will also soon be home to a 126-room Marriott hotel, with construction expected to begin by late 2027. Plans also include a "national fitness club," though no further details about the brand have been shared.

The list of additions doesn't stop there.

Two new dining options — Swiss Chalet and Wingstop — are both slated to join the shopping centre's lineup of food offerings as part of efforts to make White Oaks Mall a more competitive destination in Ontario.

The aforementioned new bus terminal is part of plans for London's bus rapid transit (BRT) system, which will bring faster transit service along major routes. The updated setup will allow buses to continue servicing White Oaks Mall and turn around on-site.

The latest plans follow the opening of IKEA's first-ever compact store at White Oaks Mall in September, as well as plans for two residential towers approved in 2024 that will take over an abandoned parking lot on site.

None of the developments have broken ground yet, and the mall's latest site plan does not reflect the planned additions, but Meddoui says construction is expected to begin soon.

White Oaks Mall is located at 1105 Wellington Rd. in London, Ont.