Edmonton City Centre Mall (Renovations) | ?m | 2s | LaSalle Investment Management

[David A]

You mean the basements that used to be retail where we asked a similar, but opposite question but 10-15yrs ago?

To be fair, this mall was actually built in a time before large underground parkades were common downtown. So the conversion of the basement space to parking made some sense as retrofitting, but not in other ways.

For instance, lest we forget, before that happened, much of that basement space was actually leased to various retailers. I suspect often to tenants who wanted more affordable space, who then were shuffled around wildly to fill empty spaces on the main, second and perennially problematic third level (that probably should have never been added IMO). It turned out to be a terrible management decision for the retailers and did not go well.

However, as long as parking is a more profitable use of space, what is there will likely remain as is. So I don't see the west above ground parkade disappearing until it is lucrative to build something else, maybe in 10 years or so.

 

[IanO]

IKEA in the Bay with a distribution centre given how much room and loading bays are there.

 

[Garneau2Go]

IKEA in the Bay with a distribution centre given how much room and loading bays are there.

Was in Stockholm in August and was able to visit the IKEA in one of the main shopping malls, would absolutely love one in city centre, especially because it's much easier to get to than the Southside

 

[Airboy]

When I worked on the Ikea expansion a few years back. I talked with the Ikea Project manager about YEG, He indicated that they would eventually build a new larger facility since Edmonton and Calgary are considered to be quite small facilities currently. The expansions were just to get storage area up to a more usable level. No word on going with a smaller store front version since we lack warehouse facilities as is. And yes he did say if they build it will be in the west more likely.

 

[IanO]

In all likelihood it would be off of the AHD in the W/NW.

 

[David A]

The problem with IKEA is given its location and size of the city, a lot of people from further away don't go there much. It is quite a trek from the north side and even for people in central areas. A smaller central location could easily address that quite nicely.

Putting something in the west end would be a bigger undertaking, but could allow them to cover over half the city, which I suppose is better than what they are doing now with what they have way down on the south side.

 

[dunno]

Edmonton likely wouldn't get another store for another decade as it inches towards 2 million. Unless IKEA changes how they do things. But there are a lot of other places that are probably better for them to go first. A 3rd store in Montreal, a 4th full-sized store in the GTA, a store in Kitchener-Waterloo, London, maybe Victoria.

 

[IanO]

Simons on the 2nd floor, urban IKEA on the main = an ideal outcome?

 

[The_Cat]

Perhaps something intermediate like a Marshall’s or Homesense.

 

[Gronk!]

I would like to see a Home Hardware, Home Depot or a Canadian Tire in the Bay space. We've been crying for a downtown hardware store since WW Arcade closed.

 

[Airboy]

In all likelihood it would be off of the AHD in the W/NW.

There is new serviced Land being created in the WSW corner of St Alberta Trail and Henday.

 

[Airboy]

The problem with IKEA is given its location and size of the city, a lot of people from further away don't go there much. It is quite a trek from the north side and even for people in central areas. A smaller central location could easily address that quite nicely.

Putting something in the west end would be a bigger undertaking, but could allow them to cover over half the city, which I suppose is better than what they are doing now with what they have way down on the south side.

As someone that drives to the south side (south of Ikea from St Albert.). the drive is way easier and as much as 20 min faster than when I drove downtown.

 

[Airboy]

Ikea would replace the current one. A new one could house all of there product as well as have proper warehouse facility. That said A Marshal/Homesense make sense since we already have a winners down there.


Wow you can always tell when I have a break in my day when I go on line like this.

 

[David A]

If Ikea's model is just big box store's then I doubt a smaller downtown location will happen. Its too bad because the opportunity and the space is there.

On the weekend, my experience is once you get past a certain point the drive downtown is fairly quick as there is no commuter traffic. There is much more congestion and traffic in suburban areas.

If find as I get closer to Ikea coming from a more central area the congestion gets worse. Maybe it is better for people going during the day, during the week.

 

[Airboy]

I will pass on my secret to Ikea trips since I had to make a few runs there this last month. (happens when scope creep kicks in on the new kitchen floor job). anyway. I get off the Henday at 91st go around on Ellwood drive onto 99st head north then come in by the Lowes(Rona). Then get out the same way. You miss all the idiot drivers on Gateway.