Northgate Centre
A shopping centre in northern Edmonton, Alberta, serving the surrounding community with retail, grocery, dining, and service tenants.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Northgate Centre is a shopping centre in northern Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The centre contains more than 70 stores and services and functions primarily as a community-oriented retail destination for nearby residential areas. Its principal anchors have included Safeway and Walmart, supported by a mix of fashion, specialty retail, food, health, financial, and everyday service businesses. The property opened in April 1965 as Northgate Shopping Centre, with Woodward's as an important early department-store anchor. A substantial modernization in 1986 added a second level, expanded the physical layout, and introduced two-level parking structures at the northwest and southwest corners. Following that work, the property was known as Northwood Mall. The centre later experienced several anchor and tenant changes as Edmonton's retail landscape evolved. In 1994, Kmart opened a larger store at the centre after closing its location at North Town Mall. Kmart's tenure was brief, and the space became a Zellers store in 1998. That year, First Capital Realty took ownership of the mall. The following year it began a three-year redevelopment, completed in 2002, that repositioned the property under the Northgate Centre name. The redevelopment created new or improved premises for tenants including Future Shop and Safeway, enlarged the Zellers space, and refurbished the second-floor food court. The centre continued to change through the 2000s and 2010s. McDonald's moved into the food court in 2007 during redevelopment at the neighbouring North Town Mall. Walmart acquired the former Zellers lease in 2011, and a Walmart Supercentre opened there in October 2012. Other changes included Sport Mart becoming Ardene, the replacement of Lammle's Western Wear and Tackle by Rexall, the later closure of the Service Canada site, and the closure of Future Shop in March 2015. Marshalls subsequently occupied the former Future Shop space in 2017. More recent changes have reflected the continuing turnover of retail and service tenants. Game City moved into the centre in 2017, later relocating within the mall and eventually returning to Londonderry Mall. Rexall closed in 2018, while Healthcare Solutions later occupied part of its former space. Dollarama also opened in another former tenant location. Clare Beauty Supply opened in 2024, while Ardene closed. Safeway underwent a renovation during the same period. Subsequent reported changes included the arrival of Wing Snob, the closure of Smitty's, demolition of the parking garage, the relocation of Healthcare Solutions, and Marshalls' move to North Town Centre in October 2025. Canada Computers was reported as opening in the former Healthcare Solutions/Rexall premises in 2026, and a Chick-fil-A location was planned for the former Chili's outparcel. Northgate Centre's identity is therefore defined less by a single retail banner than by its long-running role as a neighbourhood shopping hub. Its history includes multiple names, major redevelopment, changing department-store and discount anchors, and frequent tenant adaptation in response to broader shifts in Canadian retail.
History
Northgate Centre opened in April 1965 in northern Edmonton as Northgate Shopping Centre. Woodward's was an early department-store anchor, helping establish the property as a major retail destination for the surrounding area. In 1986, the centre received a major renovation that added a second floor and two-level parking structures at the northwest and southwest corners. The property was subsequently renamed Northwood Mall. The tenant mix changed significantly during the 1990s. Kmart opened a larger store at the centre in 1994 after leaving North Town Mall, but closed the location in 1998. Zellers then occupied the space. Also in 1998, First Capital Realty acquired the property. A three-year redevelopment began in 1999 and was completed in 2002. The work provided new locations for Future Shop and Safeway, expanded the Zellers premises, and refurbished the second-floor food court. The centre adopted its current name, Northgate Centre, as part of this redevelopment. Further changes followed as neighbouring properties and national retail chains evolved. In 2007, McDonald's moved into the Northgate food court after its nearby North Town Mall location was closed during redevelopment. Walmart announced in 2011 that it had acquired the lease for the Zellers anchor location, and a Walmart Supercentre opened there in October 2012. Around the same period, Sport Mart closed and its space became an Ardene store. Lammle's Western Wear and Tackle later closed, with Rexall opening in the premises in 2013. A Service Canada location was subsequently discontinued. Future Shop closed on March 28, 2015. In 2017, Game City moved from Londonderry Mall to Northgate, and Marshalls opened in the former Future Shop space. Rexall closed in May 2018, and the Chili's outparcel also closed that year. Game City moved within the mall in 2019 before eventually returning to Londonderry Mall. Around 2019 or 2020, McDonald's moved from the food court to a new outparcel location. In 2020, Healthcare Solutions moved into the former Rexall space, while Dollarama opened in Healthcare Solutions' former premises. The centre saw another round of changes in 2024, including the opening of Clare Beauty Supply, the closure of Ardene, and a Safeway renovation. Reported subsequent developments included Wing Snob opening in the former M&M Meat Shops unit, Smitty's closing, demolition of the mall's parking garage, Healthcare Solutions moving again, and Marshalls moving to North Town Centre on October 6, 2025. Canada Computers was reported as opening in the former Healthcare Solutions/Rexall space in 2026, while a Chick-fil-A restaurant was planned for the former Chili's outparcel.
- 2020
Healthcare Solutions and Dollarama changes
[1]Healthcare Solutions moved into the former Rexall premises, and Dollarama opened in Healthcare Solutions' former location.
- 2015
Future Shop closes
[1]The electronics retailer's Northgate location closed on March 28.
- 2012
Walmart Supercentre opens
[1]Walmart opened a Supercentre in the former Zellers anchor premises in October.
- 2002
Redevelopment completed
[1]The redevelopment added improved tenant spaces, an expanded anchor area, and a refurbished food court; the property was renamed Northgate Centre.
- 1998
First Capital Realty takes ownership
[1]First Capital Realty acquired the mall, while the former Kmart space became a Zellers store.
- 1986
Major renovation and Northwood Mall rebranding
[1]A second storey and two-level parkades were added, and the property became known as Northwood Mall.
- 1965
Northgate Shopping Centre opens
[1]The centre opened in April 1965 in northern Edmonton, with Woodward's as an early anchor.
Products and positioning
A convenient, community-serving shopping centre in northern Edmonton, combining grocery and general merchandise anchors with everyday retail, dining, and services.
Grocery anchor
Safeway
Safeway is one of Northgate Centre's principal anchor tenants, providing supermarket groceries, fresh food, packaged goods, household essentials, and related everyday shopping services. The store underwent a renovation reported in 2024.
General merchandise anchor · 2012
Walmart Supercentre
The Walmart Supercentre occupies the former Zellers anchor location. It broadens the centre's offer beyond grocery retail with general merchandise and household categories, making it a major traffic-generating tenant.
Food service
Food court and dining
Northgate Centre includes a refurbished second-floor food court and separate restaurant or outparcel locations. McDonald's moved from the food court to a new outparcel around 2019–2020, while later reported changes included the closure of Chili's and a planned Chick-fil-A location.
Retail and services
Specialty retail and services
The centre's secondary tenant mix has included fashion, beauty, electronics, discount retail, health services, gaming, and other community services. Examples mentioned in the centre's history include Ardene, Rexall, Game City, Healthcare Solutions, Dollarama, Clare Beauty Supply, and Canada Computers.
Brand decisions
2011
Walmart takes over former Zellers leaseStrategyBackground
The centre's Zellers anchor space became available as discount department-store formats changed.
Action taken
Walmart acquired the lease and converted the premises into a Walmart Supercentre.
Aftermath
The Walmart Supercentre opened in October 2012 and became one of the centre's principal anchors.
1999
Three-year redevelopment beginsStrategyBackground
After First Capital Realty acquired the mall in 1998, the property required modernization and a stronger tenant configuration.
Action taken
A redevelopment program was launched to improve anchor premises, expand the Zellers space, and refurbish the second-floor food court.
Aftermath
The project was completed in 2002 and accompanied by the adoption of the Northgate Centre name.
Recent events
- 2024
Tenant changes continue through 2024[1]
Product launch · Other
Clare Beauty Supply opened, Ardene closed, and Safeway underwent a renovation.
- 2017
Marshalls opens in former Future Shop premises[1]
Product launch
Marshalls opened in the former Future Shop space, while local video-game retailer Game City also moved to the centre.
- 2015
Future Shop closes at Northgate Centre[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
The Future Shop location closed on March 28, 2015; the premises later became a Marshalls store.
- 2012
Walmart Supercentre opens in former Zellers space[1]
Product launch
Walmart opened a Supercentre in October 2012 after acquiring the lease for the former Zellers anchor location.
- 2002
Redevelopment completed and centre renamed Northgate Centre[1]
Other
A three-year redevelopment concluded with improved tenant premises, an expanded former Zellers area, a refurbished food court, and the Northgate Centre name.
- 1998
First Capital Realty acquires the mall[1]
M&A
First Capital Realty took ownership of the shopping centre as the property entered another period of redevelopment and tenant change.
- 1986
Major renovation leads to Northwood Mall name[1]
Other
A major renovation added a second storey and two-level parkades, after which the property was renamed Northwood Mall.
- 1965
Northgate Centre opens as Northgate Shopping Centre[1]
Other
The Edmonton shopping centre opened in April 1965 with Woodward's among its principal early tenants.
Sources2 sources
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