“Downtown shopping centres in general, let alone one as huge as ours, have been really challenged,” McBryan. “Suburban shopping centres have really kind of taken over when it comes to where mall shoppers want to be.”
weird thing to still be saying in 2025. It's not a new thing that suburban shopping centres have taken over. I am sure it's been said in 1985, 1995, 2005, 2015... And while it's true downtown malls everywhere struggle, and have been struggling, i think the overemphasis that this isn't a 'unique to Edmonton' problem is a bit disingenuous. Are we comparing CCM against Vancouver's Pacific Centre and Calgary's the Core? Or are we comparing it against Winnipeg's Portage Place? There's a whole spectrum of what it means to be a "struggling downtown mall".
Had some relatives visiting over the weekend (they used to live in Edmonton), main comment was how dead whyte ave felt compared to before. Couldve been a post-pandemic thing, but I also couldn't help but notice the amount of vacancies along the avenue.
The area feels very lagged for densification. 81 and 83rd avenue need to really beef up. (the Hat is a good start, hopefully follow through on the full project), and more on the avenue would be great itself too - Always wished the original southpark on whyte project went fully through.
A new hotel or two on the avenue would be fantastic.
Otherwise, was good, very little disorder, those lidless garbage bins were of course decorating the sidewalks with litter, but otherwise good ambience on the avenue.
My observations of Whyte Ave:
I found it packed this past weekend, but that was likely due to The Fringe.
There are some lively patios by the likes of Leopold's, Julio's Barrio, Next Act, Meat, Block 1912, Blowers & Grafton, Hudson's, PACT, Epic Market, and the Grindstone.
The Old Strathcona Farmers Market is always a big draw.
Some steady business at Station Park.
The Army & Navy redevelopment can't come soon enough!
The Princess Theatre needs to be reopened as a live music venue and pub.
The Raymond Block and Southpark on Whyte need to lower their leases so that those retail units don't sit empty.
The Southbark dog park is looking dead and forlorn.
81 Ave east of 102 St resembles a small town in the Peace country c/w diagonal parking.
That Tim Hortons needs to go, along with the dozens of motorcyclists loitering around.
My observations of Whyte Ave:
I found it packed this past weekend, but that was likely due to The Fringe.
There are some lively patios by the likes of Leopold's, Julio's Barrio, Next Act, Meat, Block 1912, Blowers & Grafton, Hudson's, PACT, Epic Market, and the Grindstone. Yes, very activated patios
The Old Strathcona Farmers Market is always a big draw. Generational asset
Some steady business at Station Park. Don't hear much from this development - needs more programming imo
The Army & Navy redevelopment can't come soon enough! 100%
The Princess Theatre needs to be reopened as a live music venue and pub. 100%
The Raymond Block and Southpark on Whyte need to lower their leases so that those retail units don't sit empty. Not sure what the issue is...maybe rates/inducement package
The Southbark dog park is looking dead and forlorn. Paging Wheaton's
81 Ave east of 102 St resembles a small town in the Peace country c/w diagonal parking. This area has potential to be better. Just need more reinvestment
That Tim Hortons needs to go, along with the dozens of motorcyclists loitering around. Disagree. This has become part of the strips identity. No need to f*ck with it
Likely the most capable group to do it. But they have their hands full with Williams Hall, 149 Street, and other projects that are soaking up their resources (manpower and capital).
This will be moving in to the former Urban Outfitters at WEM
Quote:
Miniso to Launch 1st ‘Miniso Land’ in Canada at West Edmonton Mall
At 12,000 square feet, the new flagship will be the largest Miniso in Canada by a wide margin, occupying the prominent space formerly home to Urban Outfitters. Overlooking the Ice Palace on Level One of Phase Two, the store will mark the Canadian debut of a format that the company has described as “a retail theme park,” blending immersive design, intellectual property (IP)-driven merchandising, and a constantly refreshed environment.
Uncertain future of Edmonton City Centre offers hope for transformation
The looming question around the future of Edmonton City Centre has stirred concern, but for some, it’s also sparked cautious optimism. With the property now in receivership, the downtown Edmonton shopping centre, once a vital core retail hub, stands at a critical crossroads.
Winnipeg's Portage Place downtown shopping mall coming down.
CCM West could use some major intervention like this. Would be nice if 102 street could be recreated, even just pedestrianized, between 102ave and 103ave. Similar to portage place, the mall is a wall here, with a clear "back"
Quote:
Portage Place construction reconnecting 2 sides of downtown
...Work is underway to transform the space into a residence and medical centre. For decades, the mall acted as a wall between two sides of Winnipeg's downtown, and the new design has some feeling optimistic about the future of the city's core.
Yup. That's a good starting point for 'reimagining' ECC.
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"The destructive effects of automobiles are much less a cause than a symptom of our incompetence at city building" - Jane Jacobs 1961ish
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, can buy and rehabilitate the Princess, that's what is needed right now.
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