Advertisement
Advertisement

Podcast: Downtown Edmonton Struggles, and the Future of Retail in Canadian Downtowns

Date:

Podcast: Downtown Edmonton Struggles, and the Future of Retail in Canadian Downtowns

Share post:

This week Craig and Lee discuss challenges for retail in downtown Edmonton and its retreat over the past couple of decades, as well as the situation and projections for downtowns in cities across Canada. Craig is also an advisor at the University of Alberta Centre for Cities and Communities.

The Weekly podcast by Retail Insider Canada is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Also check out our The Interview Series podcast where Craig interviews guests from across the Canadian retail landscape as part of the The Retail Insider Podcast Network.

Retail Insider content discussed this episode:

Subscribe, Rate, and Review our Retail Insider Podcast!

Follow Craig:

Follow Retail Insider:

Listen & Subscribe:

Share your thoughts!

Drop us a line at Craig@Retail-Insider.com. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Background Music Credit: Hard Boiled Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

1 COMMENT

  1. That was a good Pan-Canadian survey of the downtown retail situation in the major urban centres. As you mentioned, a successful city centre is almost a sort of recipe with a complex mixture. Also, a mix that works in one city won’t work in another. I follow some of the local Montreal urban development blogs and the consensus seems to be that downtown is definitely on the rebound from the coronavirus shutdowns. Its retail sector, though not booming, is holding steady. There is of course anticipation of the Royalmount effect in a couple of years. Again, however, there is a consensus that the market in Montreal has expanded sufficiently to accommodate both the new glittering centre and Centreville. Royalmount will attract the moneyed suburbanites who won’t drive downtown anyway, but the residential weight and popularity of downtown and the adjacent mid-density central quartiers will maintain the city’s gravitational pull. At least that is the optimist’s read; hope they’re right.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

More From Retail Insider

Load more

RECENT RETAIL INSIDER VIDEOS

Advertisment

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required

RECENT articles

L’OCA Quality Market to Close Edmonton-Area Stores

L’OCA Quality Market will close its Sherwood Park and Edmonton stores March 12 after less than two years of operation.

Nearly 1 in 3 Canadians snack at night, far above global average: IKEA

In Canada, the main frustrations when it comes to cooking at home are lack of surface space (31%) and lack of storage (29%).

From The Desk: Navigating Retail Evolution Through Expansion, Tech, and Consumer Shifts

Sephora's Canadian expansion, AI reshaping shopping, and retail bifurcation highlight evolving strategies amid market pressure and consumer shifts in 2026.

Hudson’s Bay Collapse: One Year After the CCAA Filing

A year after Hudson’s Bay filed for CCAA protection, the retail industry reflects on the collapse of a 355-year-old institution.

Enoteca Monza opens at CF Market Mall in Calgary (Video, Photos)

Founded in 2010, Enoteca Monza has grown to 10 locations across Canada and was acquired by Foodtastic in 2018.

Casavogue Celebrates 54 Years with Anniversary Savings

Casavogue marks its 54th anniversary with $500 off every $3,000 spent on sofas, bedroom sets, and dining sets.

VIDEO: Iran conflict’s impact on retailers and consumers

Retailers are focusing on controlling costs and expanding private-label offerings while increasing promotions to help shoppers manage tighter budgets.

MR MIKES SteakhouseCasual Surpasses 50 Locations in Canada

MR MIKES SteakhouseCasual expands to more than 50 restaurants across Canada after opening seven new locations in 2025.

Tim Hortons partners with Canadian Paralympic Team

The partnership furthers Tim Hortons long-standing commitment to supporting sport and Canadian athletes, including investments in getting kids active like the Timbits Hockey and Soccer programs.

Sundays Opens Terminal HQ Showroom in Vancouver

Canadian furniture brand Sundays opens a 15,000-square-foot Terminal HQ showroom in Vancouver, expanding its retail footprint and introducing sister brand Hetta.

Quebec Retailers Face Rising Language Compliance Pressure

Bill 96, OQLF inspections, and rising complaints are reshaping Quebec retail operations, hiring, signage, and digital marketing strategies.

Dixie Outlet Mall in Mississauga Placed into Receivership

Dixie Outlet Mall in Mississauga enters receivership as redevelopment plans and long-term transformation of the site move forward.

BAPE Opens First Canadian Store on Vancouver’s Alberni Street

Japanese streetwear brand BAPE opens its first Canadian store at 1028 Alberni Street in downtown Vancouver, entering the Canadian retail market.

Daily Synopsis: Mar 5, 2026

Gas prices to impact food, George Weston sees revenue climb as Loblaw and Choice Properties gain, Costco Canada comp sales up 10%, Sunterra appeals cheque kitting ruling, Krazy Bins store opening in Edmonton, and other news.

Walmart Canada kicks off sponsorship with Canada Soccer to bring Canadians closer to the game 

One of the country's most accomplished and recognizable players, Canada Soccer Men's National Team forward Jonathan David will support the collaboration as an official Walmart Canada ambassador.

Sungiven Foods Expanding Metro Vancouver Footprint

Sungiven Foods plans up to 15 new Metro Vancouver stores as it refines its small-format, private-label grocery model.

Victoria’s Secret & Co. reports 2025 Q4 and full year results with annual sales of more than $6.5 billion

The company reported net sales of $6.553 billion for fiscal year 2025, an increase of 5% compared to net sales of $6.230 billion for fiscal year 2024.

Governments suffer big decline in alcohol earnings: Statistics Canada

Overall, liquor authorities and other retail outlets sold $25.8 billion worth of alcoholic beverages in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, down 1.6% from fiscal year 2023/2024.

Vivo Avanti Expands with Restaurant in King City

Vivo Avanti has opened in King City, introducing an elevated Italian dining concept from the team behind Vivo Pizza + Pasta.

The Reset Team Leads Retail Merchandising in Canada

Canadian firm The Reset Team helps retailers nationwide with scalable merchandising, fixture installation and precise execution for complex rollouts.
spot_img
spot_img

About

Contact

Media

Follow

© 2025 Retail Insider Media Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The content on this website is protected by the copyrights of Retail Insider Media Ltd. or the copyrights of third parties and used by agreement. No part of any of the content of this website may be reproduced, distributed, modified, framed, cached, adapted or linked to, or made available in any form by any photographic, electronic, digital, mechanical, photostat, microfilm, xerography or other means, or incorporated into or used in any information storage and retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the prior written permission of Retail Insider Media Ltd. or the applicable third party copyright owner.