Metropolis at Metrotown Directory: Stores, Map & Parking

Few shopping trips start with a decision between 330 stores, a movie theatre, and a food court big enough to rival a city block — but that’s exactly the choice Metropolis at Metrotown serves up every day. This Burnaby megamall isn’t just the largest in British Columbia; it’s a self-contained retail universe where the directory matters as much as the destination.

Stores: 330 ·
Parking: Free ·
Size ranking: Largest in British Columbia ·
Distance from downtown Vancouver: 15-minute drive

Four key facts outline the mall’s scale and practical realities:

What stores are in Metropolis at Metrotown?

Major anchor stores

• The Bay – a Canadian department store staple (Wikipedia)
• Walmart – discount department store with groceries (Wikipedia)
• T&T Supermarket – Asian grocery chain (Wikipedia)
• Cineplex Cinemas – movie theatre with multiple screens (Wikipedia)
• H&M, Zara, Uniqlo – international fast-fashion anchors (Wikipedia)

The pattern: anchors cluster around the mall’s two main levels, with the grocery and cinema drawing heavy foot traffic at opposite ends.

Popular clothing retailers

Shoppers can find Aritzia, Arc’teryx, Banana Republic, Club Monaco, GAP, Garage, Hollister, Kit & Ace, La Senza, Levi’s, Lululemon, Old Navy, Roots, and Victoria’s Secret (Vancouver’s Best Places). The mix covers everything from luxury athleisure to budget basics — a deliberate balance that lets the mall serve both the wallet-conscious and the label-driven.

Electronics and technology stores

• Apple Store – full product line and Genius Bar (reportedly; Destination Vancouver)
• Best Buy – consumer electronics and appliances (Malls.com)
• Nespresso boutique – coffee machines and pods (Destination Vancouver)

Why it matters: tech shoppers can compare Apple and Best Buy within a five‑minute walk, a convenience that offline retailers rely on to compete with online giants.

Beauty and cosmetics

Stores include LUSH (handmade cosmetics), Sephora, MAC Cosmetics, Aveda, La Vie en Rose, and Sunglass Hut. The beauty corridor on the second level tends to be busiest on Saturday afternoons — a detail that matters if you value shorter lineups.

The implication: knowing which zone to target cuts trip time significantly.

Which is the largest mall in BC?

Comparison with other malls in BC

Metropolis at Metrotown is the largest shopping centre in British Columbia, ahead of Pacific Centre in Vancouver (roughly 800,000 sq ft) and Richmond Centre (about 700,000 sq ft) (Wikipedia). The gap is substantial: Metropolis occupies roughly twice the retail space of its closest downtown rival.

Size and square footage

• Commonly reported at 1.7 million square feet (reportedly; Malls.com)
• Three storeys, with a trade area covering 1.78 million square metres
• Includes over 330 stores and services (Destination Vancouver)

The trade-off: size brings variety but also walking distance. A full lap of the main floor is over a kilometre.

Visitor numbers

The mall reportedly attracts 27 million customer visits annually (Wikipedia). That’s more than the combined annual visitors to Pacific Centre and Richmond Centre, confirming its role as a regional retail anchor.

The implication: size comes with trade-offs, but Metropolis’s combination of anchors and parking is unmatched.

What is Metrotown in Vancouver?

Location and neighborhood

Metrotown is a major shopping district in Burnaby, centred on the intersection of Kingsway and Willingdon Avenue. It’s not Vancouver proper, but the SkyTrain makes the 15‑minute trip from downtown straightforward (Wikipedia). The neighbourhood itself has evolved from mid‑century strip malls into a high‑density urban centre.

History of Metrotown

• Original mall opened in 1970 as a single‑level centre with Eaton’s (later The Bay) as anchor
• Major expansions in the 1980s and 2000s added floors and the current 1.7‑million‑sq‑ft layout
• Renamed Metropolis at Metrotown in 2005 to reflect its scale (Wikipedia)

Transportation links

Metrotown SkyTrain station is steps from the mall’s main entrance, with Expo Line trains running every 2–3 minutes during peak hours. Bus routes 106, 119, 130, 144, and 222 also connect the mall to Burnaby, New Westminster, and Vancouver (Vancouver’s Best Places).

The implication: you don’t need a car to access BC’s largest mall, but if you do bring one, the free parking makes it a cheaper trip than downtown alternatives.

Do you need to pay for parking at Metrotown?

Free parking policy

Parking is free for all visitors, though time limits are enforced by license plate recognition cameras (Destination Vancouver). The mall has over 6,000 parking spaces across multiple lots and a multi‑level structure.

Time limits and enforcement

• Standard limit: 3 hours for most lots
• Exact limits after 2024 changes are unclear; the mall updates signage annually
• Overstaying results in a $50–$75 ticket issued by a third‑party operator

The catch: what was once a carefree free‑parking deal now requires setting a timer on your phone. Movie‑goers should note that a 2‑hour film plus dinner can easily exceed the 3‑hour limit.

Parking lot layout

Lots are numbered (P1–P5) with the busiest being the south lot near Walmart and the north lot near The Bay. The parkade on the east side often has spare spots even on Saturdays — a trick frequent shoppers use.

What is the best shopping mall in Vancouver?

Metropolis vs. Pacific Centre

Pacific Centre (downtown Vancouver) offers a more concentrated luxury experience with brands like Gucci and Hermès, but it lacks free parking and a cinema. Metropolis counters with size, free parking, and family‑friendly anchors.

Metropolis vs. Richmond Centre

Richmond Centre is smaller (approx. 700,000 sq ft) and focuses on Asian‑Canadian retail, with T&T and Daiso as drawcards. Metropolis has broader appeal but sometimes feels more crowded (Vancouver’s Best Places).

Factors: size, variety, parking

A quick comparison shows why most locals rank Metropolis first:

The pattern: Metropolis wins on pure breadth and cost of visit, while Pacific Centre wins on high‑end curation. For most families, the Burnaby mall is the pragmatic choice.

The implication: Metropolis’s advantages come with a navigation cost, but planning ahead mitigates that.

What shoppers say: expert perspectives

With 330 shops and services, it is the biggest destination in BC for style and lifestyle, featuring Kate Spade, UNIQLO, MUJI, H&M, Zara, Coach, Apple, Michael Kors, Lululemon, Arc’teryx, Pandora, Nespresso, Aritzia.

— Destination Vancouver, BC’s official tourism authority

The mall attracts 27 million customer visits annually, making it one of the most‑trafficked retail spaces in Canada.

— Wikipedia, community‑edited encyclopedia

For the Burnaby family planning a weekend outing, the choice is clear: take SkyTrain to avoid parking time limits, arrive before 11am to beat the crowd, and check the directory app for store closing times. Metropolis at Metrotown delivers unmatched variety, but only if you navigate it on your terms — or risk spending your afternoon circling the food court.

Those seeking a full store listing and parking details can consult the Metropolis at Metrotown directory for the most accurate information.

Frequently asked questions