An extant asset
My previous visit to the world’s northernmost major population center left me a fan of both the city and its NHL team, the Edmonton Oilers. I had planned a summer trip earlier in the year, curious to see what the city looked like when it wasn’t iced over.
1 to 4- Londonderry Mall’s eastern façade and mall entrance. 5- No Frills exterior. 6- Simons department store. 7 to 10- The southern face of the complex.
I was stoked when I realized that the dates I had chosen included what would have been game seven of the Stanley Cup finals. Alas, though hockey greats McDavid, Draisaitl and Perry came up short, just being in the city of champions while the grass was green and the air was warm was good enough. Almost.
Londonderry Mall lease plan ca. 2019. View the full PDF version here.
On the topic of retail, however, the past few months have been kind of a bummer. We have borne witness to the decline and death of one of the greatest and longest lasting retail entities in the Americas, The Hudson’s Bay Company.
Londonderry Mall’s lower level.
I couldn’t help but feel a little forlorn as I gazed upon the hulking, brutalist and beige concrete exterior once housing the historic name as I arrived at northern Edmonton’s main shopping hub. At least the label had yet to be removed, though the doors were locked and the interior was darkened behind them.
Londonderry Mall made its debut in 1972 as one of the earliest and largest examples of its kind in western Canada. Anchored by the afore mentioned Hudson’s Bay, Eaton’s and Woolco, supermarket Safeway would add their name to the mallmanacs not long after.
Londonderry Mall’s lower level.
Eaton’s later moved to a larger location attached to Londonderry Mall’s first expansion in 1979. The new wing, to the south and west of the extant facility, included a public library and brought the center’s store count to nearly 150.
Londonderry Mall pamphlet ca. 2022. View the full PDF version here.
More changes came in 1990 with the completion of a renovation which brought a new food court to the Londonderry Mall’s mid-section. A few years later, Woolco was usurped by Walmart while Eaton’s darkened their displays by the late nineties.
1 & 2- Simons mall entrance. 3 to 10- Londonderry Mall’s upper tier.
By the mid-2010s, however, Londonderry Mall was languishing. Many of the national names had departed, resulting in a steady rise in vacancy rates. Another renovation was commenced in 2014 with hopes that it would stem the tide of departures.
Londonderry Mall pamphlet ca. 2023. View the full PDF version here.
During this refurbishment and remerchandising, the centrally located original food court was moved to the second level of the former Eaton’s building, which had just been vacated by Winners. Winners then moved to a site close to the former 1990s food court.
Londonderry Mall’s middle upper concourse and center court.
Fabricland and Dollarama joined the new food court on the upper level of the former Eaton’s. H&M opened a location in the former Sport Chek Superstore spot, which was darkened when the retailer moved to Manning Town Centre, a power center located in Edmonton’s northeastern outskirts.
Perhaps Londonderry Mall’s largest loss came in 2023 when venerable department store brand Hudson’s Bay revealed their impending closure. Not long after, however, an about face was made by the company when they announced that they would be downsizing their presence to one level of their original building.
1 & 2- Just inside the southern mall entrance. 3 to 7- Londonderry Mall’s food court. 8 to 10- The former mall entrances to Hudson’s Bay.
Despite this announcement, Hudson’s Bay’s departure was simply postponed as the aisles were darkened for good with the insolvency of the entire chain in early 2025. Its presence leaves the largest vacancy in Londonderry Mall’s tenant list.
Londonderry Mall pamphlet ca. 2025. View the full PDF version here.
Today, Londonderry Mall is seen as old and outdated especially when compared to newer competition at West Edmonton Mall, Kingsway Mall and Southgate Centre. Just down 137 Avenue sits another competitor, Northgate Centre, though their offerings aren’t nearly as robust.
Outside the building formerly hosting Hudson’s Bay. R.I.P.
Up against its healthier rivals, Londonderry Mall is perhaps the most vulnerable regional mall in Edmonton. Its location in the northeastern corner of the city is a disadvantage, but only time will tell if they one day experience the same fate as City Centre Mall.
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