A photo of Masonville Place’s old tile pattern has been making the rounds online, and it’s got locals surprisingly nostalgic about the mall’s glory days. Turns out, people have feelings about flooring.

The Iconic Terrazzo That Started It All

The original Masonville featured terrazzo floors with a distinctive speckled pattern. Kids called them “headcheese floors” (not the most appetizing nickname, but the material held up). The colourful design became an impromptu game during shopping trips. You’d pick a colour in the pattern and follow it through the mall like your own personal path.

Red tiles or blue tiles? That was the choice. Basically “the floor is lava” but with terrazzo. Simple entertainment that kept kids occupied while parents shopped. The kind of thing that hits different when you’re looking back as an adult.

The Mini Golf Course Everyone Misses

What really gets people talking is the indoor mini golf course. The course featured themed holes, including one called “The President’s Nose” that apparently gave young golfers trouble.

This wasn’t just a kids’ attraction. The mini golf became a date night spot for teenagers and young adults. It made Masonville feel like a community gathering place instead of just another shopping centre.

Those Legendary Christmas Displays

Masonville’s Christmas displays were elaborate. Animatronic elves crafting toys, button-activated scenes, mechanical characters. These weren’t basic mall decorations.

The displays featured intricate details that kept families watching for extended periods. The kind of seasonal effort that modern malls rarely invest in anymore.

The Fountain That Collected Dreams (and Change)

The fountain was a mandatory stop. Kids would drag their parents over and beg for coins to toss in. What’s a mall fountain without a few wishes?

The fountain area worked as a natural meeting point. A place where families would pause during shopping marathons. One of those simple features that created actual moments instead of just transactions.

When Malls Had Personality

The old Masonville had bold design choices. Wild terrazzo floors, vibrant carpeting. Spaces that felt alive and distinctive.

Modern mall design leans toward neutral palettes and clinical aesthetics. Online discussions compare it to shopping in a doctor’s waiting room. The contrast is stark.

The old Masonville clock now sits at Victoria Children’s Hospital. A piece of mall history still serving the community in a different context.

What’s your most vivid Masonville memory from the old days?