History
When Vaughan Mills was originally conceived in 1999, it was meant to be a slightly larger complex at 1.4 million square feet (130,000 m²), with up to 18 anchor retailers and a combined 240 stores and services. The shopping centre intended to be a stepping stone for American retailers wanting to enter the Canadian market. In September 1999, Bed Bath & Beyond and Sun & Ski Sports were among the six American retailers that were announced as Vaughan Mills' first anchor tenants. An ESPN X Games Skatepark was also planned as the main entertainment venue on the site. The mall originally had a projected opening date of Fall 2001.
However, an economic recession in 2000 forced planners to scale down on the size of Vaughan Mills. Furthermore, many American retailers left the project, leaving existing Canadian companies to fill the void. The project suffered numerous delays and construction finally began in June 2003.
At its opening, Vaughan Mills suffered from a relatively low number of parking spots with just over 6,300 spaces. Canada's Wonderland, a former Paramount theme park, was closed for the season and it provided temporary parking for staff and customers. Despite this early setback, the mall has been a rousing success and it welcomed its 2 millionth visitor less than 2 months after its opening.
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