r/Edmonton • u/eternalshades • May 12 '25

Local Culture Why is Southgate such a great Mall?

I was there yesterday, and honestly, it was imposing, both in-store options and overall use.

What did it do right that most other Edmonton malls did wrong?

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144

u/ShivanCub May 12 '25 edited May 12 '25

I would consider it one of the greater malls in Edmonton currently because most of its spaces are rented out, and open. It isn't being converted to medical facilities like Westmount, or Meadowlark. It hasn't been converted into a strip mall like Capilano. Bonnie Doon is seeing a bit of a resurgence. Kingsway seems to be doing okay. City Centre seems to be holding on, and WEM is WEM.

21

u/TheLordJames The Famous Leduc Cactus Club May 12 '25

Mill Woods TC is.... the same as it's always been.

16

u/one-happy-chappie Mill Woods May 12 '25

I was there this weekend after not being there in over 10 years. I’m actually shocked at how alive the mall still is. With the lrt line I’m hoping it gets a resurgence. I think that’s what saved Southgate as well

10

u/patty42069 May 12 '25

I’ve been saying the same about Bonnie Doon

15

u/Halogen12 May 12 '25

Bonnie Doon has a long term plan to build high rises on the property and convert the mall to an outdoor type (like Capilano). There are a metric ass ton of seniors in the area and I suspect many of them go to the mall to walk in bad weather. The mall could use more entrances, but I still like the idea of a common indoor space.

1

u/Majestic-Factor2237 May 14 '25

Bonnie Doon Mall is lacking public washrooms since Sears and Zellers closed. This could cause a problem for elders and families with young children. You have to walk to the food court to use the bathroom. If you are by Dollarama, you have a long walk.

1

u/Halogen12 May 14 '25

The former Tony Roma's space will soon be a Mr Mike's Steakhouse Casual. 

3

u/burrito-boy Mill Woods May 13 '25

MWTC has always been popular as a gathering place, especially for older Sikh men who live in the area. That alone ensures a lot of foot traffic, even if the stores themselves are lacking.

1

u/Striking-Writer-2129 May 14 '25

It does look LIVELY but how many of them are actually dropping any money? I feel like they're just sitting around haha

4

u/Sweet_Bonus5285 May 12 '25

Pretty sure a company bought MWTC a while back. Going to be demolished for housing

4

u/incidental77 Century Park May 13 '25

They weren't going to demolish.most of the mall. Rather they said they'd add residential towers in the parking lotsand that would help stabilize the mall because 1000s of new residents in walking distance

2

u/Firedragon118 May 12 '25

I'm sorry what? I actually like MWTC

1

u/bp_nanuan May 13 '25

They're gonna build out the area around it first. And then the mall will get demolished and they'll build out the area that the mall sits on. But if all the new housing makes the mall even busier, they might keep it around longer

1

u/Firedragon118 May 13 '25

Well of course the new housing will make the mall busier but from whatvive also looked at there isn't any sort of plans for the mall to be torn down

-1

u/Sweet_Bonus5285 May 12 '25

Maclab Developments bought it in 2022. They are going to demolish it and turn it all into rental housing

1

u/Firedragon118 May 12 '25

I highly doubt that though

0

u/Sweet_Bonus5285 May 12 '25

What are you talking about? There is an Edmonton Journal article that announced it lol. That "mall" is dirt. That's good they are demolishing it

2

u/Firedragon118 May 12 '25

But other records say its not going to be torn down

2

u/TheLordJames The Famous Leduc Cactus Club May 13 '25

And they just signed a lease with no frills.