Kingsway Mall

Kingsway Mall is a shopping centre in central Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It occupies a strategically connected site bordered by 109 Street, Princess Elizabeth Avenue, and Kingsway, close to the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Its location gives the centre a customer base that includes nearby residents, students, hospital visitors and employees, commuters, and shoppers from across Edmonton. The centre opened on 3 March 1976 as Kingsway Garden Mall. Its initial anchor tenants included Sears and Zellers, reflecting the department-store-led shopping-centre model common in Canada during the period. Kingsway developed through several major expansion and renewal phases rather than remaining a static retail property. A substantial 1986 renovation enlarged the food court, added a glass atrium, expanded Zellers, introduced additional retail space, and refreshed the interior with a brighter, more open design. In 1988, a southeast addition added 81 stores and a two-storey Hudson's Bay location, further increasing the mall's regional significance. From 2007 to 2009, Kingsway underwent a reported $70 million redevelopment. The work included upgrades to mechanical and electrical systems, improved lighting and interior finishes, and a broader modernization of the shopping environment. The project culminated in a public reopening in November 2009, when the centre adopted the shorter Kingsway name for its refreshed presentation and entered a new phase of repositioning. The mall's tenant mix has changed substantially as Canadian department stores and specialty chains have experienced closures, relocations, and business-model changes. Zellers closed its Kingsway location in February 2013, ending the chain's presence at the site. Target occupied the former Zellers space from March 2014 until April 2015, after which the area was redeveloped. Sears, another longstanding anchor, entered liquidation in late 2017 and closed in January 2018. The former Target area was subsequently transformed into a new retail wing completed as part of a major 2017 renovation, bringing in Marshalls, HomeSense, H&M, additional retailers, and a community pop-up area. The former Sears space later became the focus of another significant transition. Walmart announced in 2021 that it would relocate its Westmount Centre operation to Kingsway, opening in the former Sears premises on 20 October 2022. A portion of the former Sears Home area was not included in the Walmart footprint and was later occupied by Fit 4 Less. Zellers also returned to the mall in March 2023 in a store-within-a-store format inside Hudson's Bay. These changes illustrate Kingsway's continuing adaptation to anchor turnover and evolving consumer demand. Kingsway Mall contains more than 174 stores and services across two principal shopping levels, with The Shoe Company located in the basement and professional offices on a third floor. Notable tenants identified in reference material include Sport Chek, H&M, Marshalls, HomeSense, Hudson's Bay, Walmart, and Fit 4 Less. The property has more than 3,770 parking spaces, including two-level parking on its east side, and is served by Edmonton Transit System facilities associated with the Kingsway/Royal Alexandra Hospital and NAIT areas. Beyond conventional retail, the mall has added community-oriented and sustainability-related uses. In 2023, it introduced a rooftop garden producing fruit, vegetables, and herbs for donation to a local food bank. Kingsway's present positioning is therefore based on convenience, broad everyday retail coverage, anchor-led shopping, services, accessibility, and its role as a centrally located community destination rather than on a single luxury or specialist category.

Kingsway Mall opened in Edmonton on 3 March 1976 as Kingsway Garden Mall. The original centre was anchored by Sears and Zellers and was designed as a conventional enclosed shopping centre serving central Edmonton. Its site benefited from connections to Kingsway, 109 Street, and Princess Elizabeth Avenue, as well as proximity to NAIT and the Royal Alexandra Hospital. The first major transformation came in 1986. The mall expanded its food court beneath a new glass atrium, enlarged its Zellers store, added retail space, and remodeled its interiors to create a lighter and more open atmosphere. A SuperValu grocery operation closed in May 1987 after the owners decided that the property would no longer include a grocery tenant. In 1988, a southeast addition added 81 stores, including a two-storey Hudson's Bay department store. This expansion strengthened the centre's role as one of Edmonton's principal enclosed retail destinations. Between 2007 and 2009, Kingsway underwent a reported $70 million redevelopment. The program updated mechanical and electrical systems, improved lighting, and refreshed the interior design. A public reopening took place over the weekend of 13 November 2009, coinciding with a repositioning under the shorter Kingsway name and the start of the winter shopping season. The 2010s brought rapid changes in the Canadian department-store and specialty-retail sectors. Zellers closed on 11 February 2013, and its Kingsway branch was reportedly the last Zellers location in Edmonton. Target opened in the former Zellers premises on 14 March 2014, but the Canadian Target operation ended its tenancy on 4 April 2015. During this period, the mall also saw changes among smaller tenants, including the closure of Smitty's and Sheffield Express and the conversion of space for Forever 21. Hot Topic opened on 25 November 2015 as the chain's first Edmonton location. A further redevelopment in 2017, reported at approximately $50 million, created a new wing within the former Target area. The project introduced Marshalls, HomeSense, a relocated H&M, additional retailers, and a community pop-up space of approximately 250 square metres. Dollarama later opened in the expanded area in 2021. Forever 21 closed in 2019; its space was occupied for a time by Urban Behavior during the COVID-19 period, and Forever 21 subsequently returned in 2021. Sears announced a liquidation in late 2017 and closed its Kingsway store on 8 January 2018. The former department-store premises were later repurposed. On 8 July 2021, Walmart announced plans to relocate from Westmount Centre to Kingsway. The new Walmart opened in the former Sears space on 20 October 2022. The former Sears Home entrance and related area were not entirely absorbed by Walmart and were later used by Fit 4 Less, which opened on 22 February 2023. Zellers returned to the property on 23 March 2023 in a store-within-a-store arrangement within Hudson's Bay. The mall has continued to combine retail redevelopment with community-oriented functions. In June 2023, it added a rooftop garden intended to grow produce for donation to a local food bank. Today, the centre has more than 174 stores and services, two main public shopping levels, professional offices on a third floor, more than 3,770 parking stalls, and nearby Edmonton Transit System access associated with the Kingsway/Royal Alexandra Hospital and NAIT areas. Its history reflects the continuing adaptation of an established urban shopping centre to department-store closures, new anchor formats, changing tenant demand, and community needs.

• 2023

  Fit 4 Less, Zellers, and rooftop garden added

  [1]Kingsway Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Fit 4 Less opened in part of the former Sears Home area, Zellers returned inside Hudson's Bay, and a rooftop garden began producing food for donation.

• 2022

  Walmart opens in former Sears space

  [1]Kingsway Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Walmart opened its relocated Kingsway store on 20 October.

• 2018

  Sears closes

  [1]Kingsway Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Sears anchor closed on 8 January after a liquidation process.

• 2017

  New retail wing added

  [1]Kingsway Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A major renovation repurposed the former Target area and added Marshalls, HomeSense, H&M, other retailers, and community space.

• 2015

  Target exits and Hot Topic arrives

  [1]Kingsway Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Target closed in April, while Hot Topic opened in November as its first Edmonton location.

• 2013

  Zellers closes

  [1]Kingsway Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The longtime Zellers anchor shut on 11 February.

• 2009

  Major redevelopment completed

  [1]Kingsway Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A multi-year modernization updated building systems, lighting, and decor, followed by a November public reopening under the Kingsway name.

• 1988

  Southeast addition opens

  [1]Kingsway Mallen.wikipedia.org

  An addition brought 81 new stores, including a two-storey Hudson's Bay location.

• 1986

  First major expansion and interior renewal

  [1]Kingsway Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The food court was enlarged under a glass atrium, Zellers was expanded, and the interior was brightened and opened up.

• 1976

  Kingsway Garden Mall opens

  [1]Kingsway Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The centre opened on 3 March in central Edmonton with Sears and Zellers as anchor tenants.

A centrally located, broad-mix Edmonton shopping centre combining department stores, value-oriented retail, fashion, home goods, services, dining, parking, and community amenities.

• Apparel

  Fashion and apparel retail

  Kingsway provides mainstream fashion shopping through tenants such as H&M, Forever 21, and other specialty apparel retailers. The category has changed over time as individual chains have opened, relocated, closed, or returned in response to shifting retail conditions.

• General merchandise · 1976

  Department and value retail

  The mall's anchor strategy has historically included Sears, Zellers, Target, Hudson's Bay, and Walmart. Current and recent formats provide general merchandise, household goods, apparel, and value-oriented shopping, while also demonstrating the property's ability to reuse large department-store footprints.

• Home goods · 2017

  Home and off-price retail

  Marshalls and HomeSense form an important part of the redeveloped retail wing, combining off-price shopping with home furnishings and household merchandise. Their presence broadened the centre's appeal beyond apparel and traditional department stores.

• Sport and recreation

  Sporting goods and fitness

  Sport Chek provides sporting-goods retail, while Fit 4 Less occupies part of the former Sears Home area. Together they add equipment, activewear, and fitness services to the mall's tenant mix.

• Food service · 1986

  Dining and food-court services

  Food and prepared-meal services are part of the centre's everyday-use offering. The food court was substantially expanded during the 1986 renovation and remains part of the mall's broader shopping and community function.

• 2023Rooftop Garden

  Edmonton · Alberta

  Kingsway introduced a rooftop garden to grow fruit, vegetables, and herbs for donation to a local food bank.

  Outcome. The garden added a community and food-support function to the shopping centre's sustainability activities.

  Source

• 2021

  Walmart relocation decisionStrategy

  Background

  Walmart announced that it would leave its existing Westmount Centre location and seek a new Edmonton site.

  Action taken

  Walmart selected the former Sears premises at Kingsway Mall for its relocated store, which opened in October 2022.

  Aftermath

  The decision restored a large-format anchor to a space left vacant by Sears and reinforced Kingsway's role as a major everyday-shopping destination.

  Source

• 2017

  Redevelopment of the former Target areaStrategy

  Background

  Target had vacated the former Zellers space in 2015, leaving a large area available for reuse.

  Action taken

  Kingsway created a new retail wing and introduced Marshalls, HomeSense, H&M, additional stores, and a community pop-up space.

  Aftermath

  The project diversified the tenant mix and converted a vacant anchor area into a multi-tenant retail zone.

  Reported renovation cost. $50 million (2017)

  Source

• 2009

  Repositioning through redevelopment and name simplificationStrategy

  Background

  The centre undertook a multi-year modernization to update its infrastructure and improve the customer environment.

  Action taken

  After the redevelopment, the property publicly relaunched under the shorter Kingsway name.

  Aftermath

  The reopening marked a new phase in the mall's presentation and tenant-repositioning strategy.

  Reported redevelopment cost. $70 million (2007-2009)

  Source

1. 1Kingsway Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Kingsway Mall official websitekingswaymall.com