There will soon be a vacancy at one of Ottawa’s largest shopping centres as Empire Theatres announced Monday it will be leaving its space at the Rideau Centre before the end of March.
Rideau Centre officials declined to say what plans they have for the space once the theatre’s lease is up at the end of the month.
“We’re exploring our options and can’t really give you any sense of what direction we’re going in,” said Cindy VanBuskirk, the shopping centre’s general manager, in an interview.
(Sponsored)

SnowBall 2026: A premier networking event with purpose returns to 50 Sussex Dr.
As winter settles in across the capital, one of Ottawa’s most high-profile charitable and business networking events is set to return to its roots: On Wed., March 4, 2026, The

OBJ launches the 2026 Executive Report on Cornwall
Cornwall has emerged as one of Eastern Ontario’s most compelling locations for business investment, thanks to a combination of affordability, strategic positioning, and a steadily growing economic base.
The theatre will shut its doors at “the close of business” on March 21, wrote Kelly O’Brien, spokeswoman for Empire in an e-mail.
Empire will open another location at the newly redeveloped Lansdowne Park in late summer or early fall of 2014, she wrote.


