Edmonton’s first shopping centre is set for a major transformation as its owner unveils plans to reconfigure the aging property into a modern open-air retail complex.
First Capital REIT has announced a significant redevelopment of Westmount Shopping Centre in northwest Edmonton that will remove much of the mall’s enclosed interior and replace it with an outward-facing retail environment. The project will take place over approximately 18 to 24 months and is expected to begin construction shortly following a March 6, 2026 announcement.
The initiative represents the latest example of a broader trend across Canada where older enclosed shopping centres are being repositioned into open-air formats that better align with current retail and community needs.
Transforming an Aging Mall into an Outdoor Retail Environment
At the centre of the Westmount Shopping Centre redevelopment is what First Capital describes as a “flip” of the mall’s layout. The redevelopment will effectively turn the existing inward-facing mall inside out, allowing most retailers to operate with exterior entrances rather than relying on interior corridors.
Large portions of the current enclosed middle of the complex will be demolished and rebuilt as open-air retail space. This includes the section containing the former second-floor movie theatre and surrounding interior areas, as well as much of the existing central block of the mall and the current food court.
In their place, the redevelopment will introduce an open breezeway with new shopfronts that face outward toward the surrounding streets and parking areas. The design will allow shoppers to access stores directly from the outside while maintaining a connected retail environment.
The project will also include new façades, refreshed landscaping, improved pedestrian routes and upgraded entrances that are intended to modernize the appearance of the property.
Parking, Access and Site Improvements Planned
Beyond the structural changes to the retail space, the redevelopment will also include substantial improvements to the broader site.
Plans call for the creation of a new parking area on the west side of the property along with a reconfiguration of existing parking on the east side. Additional pedestrian pathways and public realm upgrades will aim to improve the overall experience for visitors and better connect the site to surrounding community infrastructure.
These changes are designed to support a more convenient and accessible shopping environment while modernizing a property that has undergone numerous renovations over its seven decades of operation.
Construction Timeline and Phasing
The redevelopment is expected to unfold over roughly 18 to 24 months.
Construction is slated to begin shortly after the March 2026 announcement, with building permits already in place. According to Alberta Major Projects, the City of Edmonton issued a building permit for the renovation work in December 2025, enabling the project to move forward.
Importantly, several key tenants are expected to remain open during the construction process. Anchors including Safeway, The Home Depot, Shoppers Drug Mart and Scotiabank are anticipated to continue operating while work progresses in phases across other portions of the property.
Some smaller retailers have already relocated within the centre as part of the preparation for construction. Dollarama, for example, moved to a former Rexall space north of 114 Avenue.
Returning to Westmount’s Original Open-Air Concept
The redevelopment is also framed as a return to the centre’s original design philosophy.
Westmount Shopping Centre first opened in 1955 as Westmount Shoppers’ Park, an outdoor retail complex that predated the enclosed mall format that later became common across North America.
By converting the mall back into a largely open-air environment, the project aims to reintroduce elements of that original concept while adapting it to contemporary retail patterns and transportation access.
The new configuration is expected to support a mix of convenience-focused tenants such as quick-service restaurants and everyday retail that serve nearby residents, students and visitors to the surrounding area.
Location Supports a Community-Focused Retail Hub
Westmount Shopping Centre sits at the intersection of Groat Road and 111 Avenue in the Woodcroft neighbourhood of northwest Edmonton. The approximately 500,000 square foot retail complex occupies a nearly 12-hectare site adjacent to several major community amenities.
These include the Westmount Transit Centre, Ross Sheppard High School, Coronation Park, the Coronation Recreation Centre and TELUS World of Science.
Local officials have highlighted the redevelopment’s potential to strengthen the area as a community node by better connecting retail with transit and surrounding civic infrastructure.
The surrounding neighbourhoods are among the most densely populated areas outside Edmonton’s downtown core, creating strong demand for convenience-oriented retail and services.
Part of a Broader Retail Redevelopment Trend
The Westmount Shopping Centre redevelopment reflects a broader shift in how aging enclosed malls are being repositioned across Canada.
Several Edmonton properties have undergone similar transformations over the years. The former Capilano Mall, for example, was converted into what is now SmartCentres Edmonton East, while Centennial Mall was redeveloped into an open-air retail format in the early 1990s.
Across North America, property owners have increasingly converted underperforming interior malls into outdoor retail environments or mixed-use developments that integrate residential, services and community amenities.
These formats often allow for easier customer access, lower operating costs and greater flexibility in tenant layouts compared with traditional enclosed malls.
A Long History in Edmonton Retail
Westmount Shopping Centre has played a significant role in Edmonton’s retail history since its opening more than 70 years ago.
Originally developed by the Woodward’s department store company, the centre opened on August 18, 1955 with approximately 40 stores and about 3,000 parking stalls. At the time, it was widely considered Edmonton’s first modern shopping centre and one of the largest developments of its kind in Canada.
Woodward’s served as the primary anchor tenant alongside retailers such as Johnstone Walker and Kresge. The department store chain also played a major role in shaping the centre’s merchandising strategy, offering a wide range of goods from fashion and home products to groceries through its well-known food floor.
The original configuration allowed customers to enter the mall through the Woodward’s food floor before accessing the main department store.
Expansion, Ownership Changes and Anchor Transitions
Over the decades, Westmount Shopping Centre underwent multiple expansions and ownership changes.
In 1966 the centre was enclosed and expanded, with the redesign led by architect Peter Hemingway. The renovation converted the outdoor shopping centre into a fully enclosed mall, reflecting the retail trends of the era.
The property entered a new phase in 1984 when Triple Five Corporation, the developer behind West Edmonton Mall, acquired the site from Woodward’s for approximately $12 million. Triple Five undertook a major renovation and expansion that added roughly 160,000 square feet of space along with a new food court, cinema and dozens of additional retailers.
The Woodward’s store closed in 1993 following the collapse of the chain, and the space was subsequently converted into a Zellers location.
Ownership changed again in the mid-1990s when Triple Five sold the mall to GE Capital Corp and partner Maurice Fagan.
Later Redevelopment and Anchor Changes
Another significant redevelopment took place around 1999 and 2000 when approximately $30 million was invested to introduce a regulation-size ice rink and a new 540-seat food court at the centre of the mall.
Safeway was also relocated as part of the renovation.
In 2007, First Capital Realty, now known as First Capital REIT, acquired Westmount Shopping Centre for approximately $70 million. The company subsequently redeveloped part of the site to accommodate The Home Depot’s first infill location in Edmonton, which opened in 2008.
The former Zellers space later became a Walmart store in 2012 after the discount chain exited Canada. However, Walmart closed the location in October 2022 after relocating to Kingsway Mall.
Vacancy Challenges and the Need for Repositioning
In recent years, the mall has faced rising vacancy levels and declining interior foot traffic.
Observers have increasingly described Westmount as a struggling enclosed mall, with quiet interior corridors and underused spaces, including the former cinema and rink area.
In spring 2024, several tenants reported receiving short-term notices to vacate as redevelopment planning accelerated. Some retailers cited long-standing infrastructure issues such as roof leaks and unused upper-level areas above their units.
Selective demolition work began in portions of the property in 2025 as contractors prepared the site for the next stage of redevelopment.
Strategic Fit for First Capital REIT
For First Capital REIT, the Westmount Shopping Centre redevelopment aligns with a broader strategy focused on repositioning urban retail properties into open-air centres anchored by everyday-needs retailers.
The REIT owns several nearby properties, including Westmount Village and the Brewery District, creating a cluster of retail holdings in the west-central Edmonton market.
The Westmount site’s size, location and proximity to transit make it well-suited to the type of community-focused retail environment that First Capital has been developing across its portfolio.
Capilano Mall in North Vancouver is still operating as Capilano Mall.
You stayed in your reticle that “ The former Capilano Mall, for example, was converted into what is now SmartCentres Edmonton East”
Perhaps you have confused Capilano with another.
This is referring to Edmonton — there is/was also a Capilano Mall at 5004 98 Ave NW. I used to shop there in the 1990s when it was an enclosed mall, now it’s a row of connected retailers including a large Winners store.
Thank you for clarifying.
Great article and historical recap of Westmount. Some photos of previous iterations in the mall’s evolution would have made it even better but perhaps (and hopefully) you’re saving that for a larger project
plans kinda look like low-stakes cost cutting for the REIT. Hard to see what about it will actually bring people back to the mall and make it a community hub again. It already has far too much parking than it needs.