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

[Gus Haynes]

I can't help but think of the tricky situation this mall is in. It doesn't get the crowds and business it used to pre-covid and so many stores are shuttered and the mall feels so incredibly bleak to walk through.

While in general I can't disagree, I happened to walk through City Centre Mall today on my lunch break and I was struck by how much foot traffic was in it. It really felt not far off 2019 levels to me. However, there's so little retail inside the mall to take advantage of that. Winners was packed with people, though.

 

[David A]

Building any sort of housing on/around mall property would help with the disorder, and provide customers. ECC won't become a destination type mall for years, so their options are quite limited to that.

This wouldn't be a troubled property if 50-80k people lived downtown. The Regency lot, and the 104th street ECC tower being developed would probably help considerably.

Having the theatre next door has been nice. There's nothing else at that mall for me.

If the lot now empty for several years just south of City Centre still can't be developed, then I doubt there is the demand currently for housing on the mall property itself.

Maybe in 5 or 10 years that will be different and having more housing or a hotel adjacent could also be beneficial for the mall, but for now the only real option is to try make the best use of the existing retail space.

 

[David A]

While in general I can't disagree, I happened to walk through City Centre Mall today on my lunch break and I was struck by how much foot traffic was in it. It really felt not far off 2019 levels to me. However, there's so little retail inside the mall to take advantage of that. Winners was packed with people, though.

Yes, foot traffic has recovered very well especially this year, but the recovery is slower for retail space.

Several new small retail stores have opened over the last year which is good, but nothing larger yet, which is really needed to help get this mall back on track.

 

[Coprolite]

I'd kind of wondered how long it would last. I went there a few times to buy beans because they'd been my main supplier for years and I wanted to support them after the market closed in the old GWG building, but it's pretty desolate up there during the coffee times of day. You'd either have to be staying at the hotel to chance upon them when they're open, or you'd have to be someone familiar with them and deliberately go looking for them. They can't even rely upon the movie theatre to bring people in because they only run matinees on weekends, and On the Edge is closed weekends.

Meanwhile, the farmers markets seem to move a lot of beans for them.

Update: I talked to one of the folks who owns/runs On the Edge, and it turns out that they'd negotiated the space as a "pop up" in the first place.

 

[Gronk!]

The food court was packed today, with long lineups at each kiosk. I don't think I've seen it that busy since before COVID.

 

[Greenspace]

I'm looking forward to trying Siam Thai Kitchen. Lindork recently did a review of their other locations.

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[Gronk!]

They just need to lure a Mexican fast food eatery to the food court such as Taco Time, Taco Bell, Mucho Burrito or Quesada.

 

[Greenspace]

I miss Taco Time but also Mucho Burrito in HSBC was convenient.

 

[MisterSartorial]

I miss Taco Time but also Mucho Burrito in HSBC was convenient.

Wasn't there a Taco Bell in the basement of ECC at one point, or am I thinking of Taco Time? Either way I miss that spot.

 

[Gronk!]

I believe it was Taco Bell that was in the old Eaton Centre food court. With KFC already in Elevate, it would make sense for Taco Bell to return and take up the McDonalds space next door to KFC..

Taco Time was in the Telus/ATB food court before COVID closed it down.

 

[cmd uw]

I believe it was Taco Bell that was in the old Eaton Centre food court. With KFC already in Elevate, it would make sense for Taco Bell to return and take up the McDonalds space next door to KFC..

Taco Time was in the Telus/ATB food court before COVID closed it down.

That is correct.

I still believe that McDonald's will make it's way back in the core. Makes zero sense not to have one.

 

[Edmcowboy11]

That is correct.

I still believe that McDonald's will make it's way back in the core. Makes zero sense not to have one.

Yeah, it makes me wonder. It's sorta surprising that some other multinational chains aren't throughout the downtown. McDonalds, Burger King, Arby's, Taco Bell, Jolibee, Mary Browns, Carl's Jr., Wendy's, Dairy Queen, Popeyes, Tokyo Express, etc...

 

[Gronk!]

Yeah, it makes me wonder. It's sorta surprising that some other multinational chains aren't throughout the downtown. McDonalds, Burger King, Arby's, Taco Bell, Jolibee, Mary Browns, Carl's Jr., Wendy's, Dairy Queen, Popeyes, Tokyo Express, etc...

Maybe not in downtown proper but within the vicinity:

• McDonalds is on 104 Ave just west of 116 St
• Mary Browns is in Unity Square east of the Safeway.
• Wendys is on 104 Ave/110 St
• Dairy Queen is on Jasper Ave/112 St
• Popeyes is near Jasper Ave/109 St
• Tokyo Express is between 116 St and Safeway

 

[MacLac]

Yeah, it makes me wonder. It's sorta surprising that some other multinational chains aren't throughout the downtown. McDonalds, Burger King, Arby's, Taco Bell, Jolibee, Mary Browns, Carl's Jr., Wendy's, Dairy Queen, Popeyes, Tokyo Express, etc...

Paul, if you've been to any city on the West Coast from Seattle, Portland, SF to LA - there are ZERO.ZERO fast food joints in their CBD's. So it's not just us. If Subway has to hire security guards to keep out the dredge of society - there not enough foot longs in the world that they can sell to make up the difference.

 

[David A]

Maybe not in downtown proper but within the vicinity:

• McDonalds is on 104 Ave just west of 116 St
• Mary Browns is in Unity Square east of the Safeway.
• Wendys is on 104 Ave/110 St
• Dairy Queen is on Jasper Ave/112 St
• Popeyes is near Jasper Ave/109 St
• Tokyo Express is between 116 St and Safeway

116 Street is a bit of a hike from the downtown core especially if you don't want to drive. I think the big international chains will eventually figure out things are recovering and open more central locations here, but they are generally aren't the fastest to act or figure these things out.

A location near ICE District may make sense for some of these, but there are a number of spaces available now in the downtown core or in the mall. Of course those that are faster will probably get the better locations.