Manulife Centre


The Manulife Centre is located on the southeast corner of Bay and Bloor streets, along the Mink Mile and adjacent to the southern edge of the Yorkville district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It consists of a 51-storey 800-suite luxury residential tower at and a shorter tower at 55 Bloor Street West, connected by a retail complex on the main floor and basement.

History

Designed by the Toronto architectural firm of Clifford and Lawrie Architects, construction began in 1972 and was completed in 1974. It was developed and built for Manulife Financial, the current owners. Early retail tenants at the Manulife Centre included Bretton's department store, Creed's, Harridge's, and other luxury tenants. Over time, these three large retailers went bankrupt and closed.

Today

Today the retail portion of Manulife Centre serves the local population, and includes Birks and Indigo Books. Bay Bloor Radio, which was founded in 1946, moved into the Manulife Centre when it opened and remains there today. A tunnel connects the basement level of the shopping concourse to Holt Renfrew at 50 Bloor Street West on the north side of Bloor.
Manulife Centre is home to Canada's first flagship Eataly location as well as notable Yorkville fashion retailer, Over the Rainbow, and Shoppers Drug Mart.
The tower is served by Bay Station on the TTC's Line 2 Bloor–Danforth. Tunnels from the Manulife Centre provide access to Toronto's busiest subway station Bloor–Yonge.