Locals in Toronto's Yonge and Eglinton community are disheartened but mostly unsurprised after their local mall announced that it would eliminate overnight access.

The owners of the Yonge Eglinton Centre have announced that management is preparing to curtail access to the mall's corridors during overnight hours.

According to a recent memo sent out by the mall owner, RioCan, the mall will change its accessible hours effective October 1st, 2024 — eliminating overnight walkthrough access for locals.

A memo posted in the mall informs mall patrons that "the operational hours during which the entrance will be accessible to the public" from 6:30 a.m. to midnight for all entrances aside from the main 2300 Yonge entrance, which will now close at 9 p.m.

"Effective October 1, 2024, all exterior entrances to Yonge Eglinton Centre will be locked and secured afterhours," the memo reads.

The mall has not provided a reason for this change in hours, and blogTO has reached out to RioCan seeking comment.

While this change has virtually no effect on shopping and dining, it will impact locals' ability to filter through the dense complex at midtown Toronto's busiest intersection.

Beyond its function as a retail complex, the Yonge Eglinton Centre has evolved to become a place for locals to congregate. The mall also serves as an access point to Eglinton subway station on the TTC's Line 1 (and future Line 5 connection) as well as a shortcut across the typically windswept block during inclement weather.

The move has been met with skepticism from locals. One user in a local Facebook group wrote that "Access to Parking after hours and The 24hr GoodLife are both great reasons to reverse this decision."

"I think the most important might be the fact that if they lock the doors; they're locking out the only accessible entrance to the apartments on Orchard View Blvd," the comment continues.

The user says that they often exit through the mall via the attached apartment buildings during the early morning hours, and this change in hours would limit access to the subway for complex residents.

While some locals have expressed frustration over the change in mall hours, others are not too surprised about the news.

One person wrote, "Honestly, I get why they are doing this. It sucks for those who used the shortcut, but I get it."

Another user says that the mall has been experiencing "a massive issue with folks loitering, doing drugs and destroying the bathrooms/property constantly. They're a billion dollar company with shareholders and lots of local residents complaining about safety. Makes total sense."