Royalmount Mall

I was not really in the mood for this, but I could not let it pass.

On Thursday, September 5th, 2024, Montreal found itself with a new mall, the Royalmount, located near De la Savane Metro on the Orange Line. I had checked out the site on Google Maps and it suggested at least five routes that would require a bus and a bit of walking from the Metro, but I never had to consider them after learning about the Skywalk, the walkway over Décarie Boulevard that would take visitors to the mall. And I did not want to go on opening day after a long day of work. I wanted to go on a weekend when the crowds would be at their thickest and I could see just how many of my fellow Montrealers were interested in the spot. And full confession: I used to live within almost walking distance of the mall. I thought that this might be a good way for me to get back to my old stomping ground, and Saturday seemed like the perfect moment.

It seemed to be so.

The weather turned grey, cool, and wet with drizzle when I left in the afternoon and found myself at De la Savane. And that was when I noticed the first problem: the Skywalk (or is it Skybridge?) is not actually connected to the Metro (someone may want to make that clear on the web site for the mall). You have to cross over a side street blocked off with concrete blocks and then walk up to the escalators or stairs for your journey to the other side. In the rain, I noted the number of people who were waiting for the skies to clear, and the number who had completely forgotten to bring an umbrella or raincoat. I could not blame them for the lack of protection. I had my umbrella and thin jacket, both sweating and getting wet as I made my way inside. And what a walk it was. I am sure that when the weather clears, the traffic abates, and I am not stuck behind an endless number of teenagers and people who seem to have forgotten how a stroller works, it will be quite a pleasant walk. But there is still construction tape stuck between the grooves and segments of the bridge and it feels fresh and almost untouched, like a museum trying to get the show together before the big event. A nice touch.

You will end up on the second floor, with a Café Starbucks and a BMO on your right and left. You may do what I do and take the literal right-of-way and walk past the UNIQLO (they were handing out popcorn and other treats), but hopefully the lines will be less frequent. And perhaps someone will make it clear where the escalators and bathrooms are located. I knew that there was still a lot of last-minute work being done before opening day, but I was very glad that I was just there to take a quick tour and see what treasures were to be discovered.

Well, not much.

What was also striking were the number of stores that we can expect to open in 2025, including brands like Tiffany’s, Tag Heuer and the like. I ended up on the lower level, passing a large ceramic pink anime cat that had plenty of visitors posing in front of it, making my way against plenty of wall space advertising these future businesses, most of which I would never be able to afford. Yes, it feels very high end because it is high end. I have been to other malls like this, but I was deeply struck by the number of people in there who would probably not be able to afford any of the things soon to be offered (very few of stores opening would cater to that crowd). And what can you say about a mall that has a food court that feels like it is part of an exhibition or art display (it was also roped off and had a waiting line in two separate sections for the desperate and hungry)?

And then something struck me as I finished a circuit and found the escalator back to the bridge.

It’s a doughnut!

Yes, I know that there are outdoor areas that can be enjoyed when the weather is nicer and sunlight is on the menu, but I was stuck indoors, as was most of the crowd. And any fear I had that I would not be able to find my way back quickly disappeared when I considered the design of the place. It had a glassed-in roof with wooden beams and an open plan that allowed visitors to look down into the guts of the concourse. But it was clearly designed to allow you to make a quick study of the place and then head back to the Metro once my feet and interest rebelled. I left without even a cup of coffee...or free popcorn.

One final note: I noted an older couple on the Metro who headed off with enthusiasm to see the new edifice. When I returned to the De la Savane to go home, both of them were on my car. That was in less than an hour. I wondered what was going through their minds as the STM took us away from this new addition to the city's shopping experience, and a possible traffic problem. I wish I had the chance to speak to them about it.

And I wonder what the city and province will make of this...when the novelty wears off...

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