Empress Plaza

Empress Walk, today known as RioCan Empress, is a major mixed-use development of residential high-rises and a shopping center in the North York Centre neighborhood of Toronto. The complex, at the intersection of Yonge Street and Empress Avenue, was built in the late 1990s by developer Menkes Developments and plays a central role in the story of the city's urban development. It grew out of the vision of then-local politician Mel Lastman to turn the center of North York into a second city center that could hold its own against Toronto's actual downtown. This initiative contributed significantly to establishing North York Centre as a business district in its own right from the 1990s onward, helping the region to flourish economically.

Architecturally, the ensemble is dominated by two 34-story residential towers, the Pinnacle and the Royal Pinnacle, which together contain more than 700 apartments. For a long time, these high-rises were among the tallest buildings in North York before newer projects surpassed them. For visitors, however, the heart of the complex is the three-level shopping area in the podium, which is topped by a striking 29-meter-high dome. This structure houses one of the longest unsupported escalators in North America, which provides direct access to a large multiplex cinema with an IMAX theater. On the lowest level, the center is also directly connected to the North York Centre subway station, linking it to the city's public transit network.

The shopping center offers a wide range of stores and service providers, including well-known chains such as LCBO, Shoppers Drug Mart, PetSmart, and Dollarama. In addition to retail, you will also find restaurants and fitness studios. For visitors, the place is not just somewhere to shop but also a central hub of the neighborhood. Other important facilities are located nearby, such as the North York Civic Centre, the central library, and Princess Park, which recalls the historic roots of the district. The complex has developed into a lively meeting place that shapes daily life in North York and continues to serve as a catalyst for new urban development in the surrounding area.