The current location of the Freiman Mall was once a public street called Mosgrove Street, located immediately to the east of the Freimans department store which was adjacent to the ByWard Market and the former Metropolitan department store.

Under the terms of the lease, HBC was entitled to install three kiosks related to its store within the new Freiman Mall.

The company and the city would share operating and security costs, with the city's share based on the proportion of public (non-retail) floor area and the amount of time the mall would be open past the store's operating hours.

[3][4] In order to reduce the city's share of the operating and security costs, the lease was amended in 1992 to allow HBC to encroach into the Freiman Mall with its merchandise displays, as long as a minimum 6.1-metre (20 ft)-wide public passageway was maintained.

So as to reduce security costs, the lease amendment also allowed the company to close the Freiman Mall during a portion of the night.