- Business
- Crombie Real Estate Investment Trust is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust primarily engaged in owning, operating, and developing income-producing retail, retail-related industrial, mixed-use residential, and office properties across urban and suburban markets in Canada. Its core portfolio includes grocery-anchored retail centers, pharmaceutical-anchored retail properties, mixed-use residential developments, and commercial real estate assets such as shopping centers and business complexes. Key retail tenants include Sobeys, Shoppers Drug Mart, Cineplex, and major regional and national retailers. Crombie also operates significant mixed-use residential properties, including luxury rental units with integrated commercial spaces. The trust focuses on long-term community enrichment through its real estate holdings and development pipeline.
Founded in 1964 and headquartered in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Crombie’s portfolio comprises over 300 properties totaling approximately 19.1 million square feet of gross leasable area as of the end of 2024. Among its notable properties is The Zephyr at 1661 Davie Street in Vancouver, a mixed-use luxury residential development with 330 rental units anchored by a Safeway grocery store, BC Liquor Store, and other retail outlets. In 2024, Crombie completed a strategic acquisition of the remaining 50% interest in The Zephyr residential component from its partner Westbank Corp for $133 million, thereby obtaining full ownership of the residential units alongside its existing full ownership of the retail component. This acquisition marks a significant expansion of Crombie’s residential property footprint in a major Canadian urban center.
Recent major corporate changes include a $300 million issuance of Series M senior unsecured notes maturing in 2032 to finance growth and acquisitions, and the redemption of its $175 million Series E senior unsecured notes in 2024. The trust maintains strong operational metrics with occupancy rates above 96%, driven by active new leasing and lease renewal activities in retail properties. Crombie continues to pursue a growth strategy focused on acquiring and developing retail, mixed-use, and industrial properties that enhance community value and generate stable cash flows. It has several ongoing developments and a robust pipeline of future projects, maintaining its position as a leading real estate investment trust in Canada’s commercial and residential property sectors.
Crombie’s business segments serve a broad customer base, including retailers, commercial tenants, and residential renters, operating largely within Canadian provinces. The REIT is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker CRR.UN and sustains a strong relationship with its largest unitholder, Empire Company Limited, owner of Sobeys. Crombie’s strategy emphasizes sustainability, community engagement, and operational excellence across its diversified property portfolio.