West Edmonton Mall

{{Update|part=section|date=August 2024}}

West Edmonton Mall first opened its doors to the public on 15 September 1981. The mall was developed in four phases, completed in 1981, 1983, 1985, and 1999. It was the largest indoor shopping centre in the world until 2004,{{cite web|last=Heidenreich|first=Phil|date=2021-09-15|title=West Edmonton Mall's larger-than-life vision still attracts shoppers, stores 40 years after opening|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8173993/west-edmonton-malls-larger-than-life-vision-still-attracts-shoppers-stores-40-years-after-opening/|access-date=2021-11-11|website=Global News}} and was named such in the Guinness Book of Records. The four phases of construction are used in a colour-coded system as a guideline for finding stores and attractions. The indoor roller coaster, The Mindbender had a fatal accident on 14 June 1986 when one of the rear cars derailed from the track and slammed into a nearby concrete pillar. Three people died and one was injured in the accident.{{cite web| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MN&p_theme=mn&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EFE498C40BE06A9&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Three killed in roller coaster accident at Edmonton mall |newspaper=Star Tribune |location=Minneapolis |date=16 June 1986 |access-date=20 July 2020}}

File:West Edmonton Mall-Fire Dragon.jpg, March 28, 2007.]]

On 23 December 2000, a 22-year-old man drowned in a recreational lagoon. A man matching his description was seen swimming at about 2:30 am as the nearby drinking establishments had closed, though a second security check did not find anyone in the lagoon area. The man's body was found around 10:30 am later that morning, fully clothed except for his shoes and jacket, which were never located. He is believed to have accidentally drowned while under the influence of drinking alcohol and cannabis.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/two-die-in-alberta-malls/article4170106/|title=two die in Alberta malls|work= theglobeandmail |date=26 December 2000}}

On 11 July 2004, the mall suffered millions of dollars in damage when a severe storm of hail and rain caused roofs to fail and drains to overflow. The Ice Palace and surrounding sections were the most damaged, and the World Waterpark had a sewage overflow. The damage was promptly repaired.{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/adjusters-assess-storm-damage-to-west-edmonton-mall-1.468426 |title=Adjusters assess storm damage to West Edmonton Mall |work=CBC News |date=12 July 2004 |access-date=15 February 2018}}

Construction on a total renovation of the mall shopping areas through all the phases began in the spring of 2011. The 'face lift' included the renovation of all mall common areas, which started in Phase I and finished in Phase IV. The most notable upgrades included the retrofit of an existing water fountain into choreographed musical dancing fountains, hanging décor of ceramic roses in the Rose Court outside Victoria's Secret and glass oil droplets around the Oilmen statue outside the Phase I Food Court. Most of the renovations were completed in 2014; however, some areas of the mall {{as of|2019|lc=on}} continued construction, such as Park Lane and Chinatown.{{cite news |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/travel/Multimillion+dollar+facelift/4142815/story.html |title=Multimillion-dollar facelift set for WEM |last=Mah |first=Bill |date=21 January 2011 |newspaper=Edmonton Journal |access-date=25 January 2011}}{{cite web| url=http://www.wem.ca/info/wem-revitalization/| title=WEM Revitalization |website=West Edmonton Mall| access-date=3 January 2019}}

In 2017, the mall announced that the Mayfield Toyota Ice Palace would undergo a renovation, retrofitting it with the latest technologies including modern lighting and sound. The Ice Palace closed in mid-2017 and reopened in December.{{Cite news |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3596406/west-edmonton-mall-ice-rink-undergoing-3m-renovation/ |title=West Edmonton Mall ice rink undergoing $3M renovation |work=Global News |date=13 July 2017 |language=en |access-date=2019-01-03}} Later in mid 2018, the mall announced that the World Waterpark would undergo renovations worth $2.5 million in September 2018.{{Cite web |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/west-edmonton-mall-waterpark-undergoes-2-5-million-renovation |title=West Edmonton Mall waterpark undergoes $2.5 million renovation |newspaper=Edmonton Journal Updated |date=21 September 2018 |language=en |access-date=2019-01-03}} All upgrades have since been completed.

In 2021 local car dealership Mayfield Toyota made their move to the mall and rebranded as West Edmonton Mall Toyota, which is the world’s largest full-service in-mall dealership.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-20 |title=Toyota Opens World's Largest In-Mall Service Dealership at West Edmonton Mall [Interviews/Photos] |url=https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2021/10/toyota-opens-worlds-largest-in-mall-service-dealership-at-west-edmonton-mall-interviews-photos/ |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=Retail Insider |language=en-US}} The dealership is in the main floor of the old Sears retail space in Phase I. It includes 65 service bays, a detailing centre, and a three-aisle drive-through that intersects the entire mall.

Since 2018, the mall has focused on adding several high-end retailers {{Cite web |title=Gucci just opened its first store in Edmonton {{!}} Venture |url=https://dailyhive.com/edmonton/edmonton-first-new-gucci-store |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=dailyhive.com |language=en}} including Gucci, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, Moose Knuckles, Moncler and Louis Vuitton.

{{multiple image

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|image1 = Foodcourt at the West Edmonton Mall.JPG

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|footer = The Phase III food court at WEM. The top image is what the P3FC looked like prior to 2013 (31 August 2006). The bottom image is what the P3FC looks like today (27 June 2015).

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Current West Edmonton Mall world records include;

• World's largest indoor lake{{cite web| title=West Edmonton Mall| url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/west-edmonton-mall/| website=The Canadian Encyclopedia| access-date=25 April 2016}} – Deep Sea Adventure Lake
• World’s largest indoor wave pool{{Cite web |title=Tourism & Entertainment {{!}} Triple Five |url=https://www.triplefive.com/wem/tourism-entertainment/ |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=www.triplefive.com}} – World Waterpark
• World’s tallest indoor permanent bungee tower (no longer in use but still there) – World Waterpark
• World's largest parking lot with more than 20,000 spaces, and over 10,000 overflow spaces. – WEM's parking lot
• World’s largest full-service in-mall dealership – WEM Toyota

• World's largest indoor shopping mall (until 2004)
• World's tallest indoor roller coaster{{Cite web|title=Tallest indoor rollercoaster|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/471832-tallest-indoor-roller-coaster/|access-date=2023-01-30|website=Guinness World Records|date=18 October 2021 |language=en-GB}} – the Mindbender
• Most bungee jumps in 24 hours record while indoors was set by Peter Charney, on 6–7 November 2007 at the World Waterpark, completing 225 jumps.{{cite web|title=Most bungee jumps in 24 hours (indoors)|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-bungee-jumps-in-24-hours-(indoors)|access-date=28 April 2016|website=Guinness World Records|date=6 November 2007 }}

File:Bungeewr.jpg

File:WEM Galaxyland MindBender Galaxy Orbitter.JPG

{{Main|Galaxyland{{!}}Galaxyland Powered by Hasbro}}

Galaxyland was originally known as "Fantasyland"; however, during a court battle with the Walt Disney Company, West Edmonton Mall changed the park's name to Galaxyland in July 1995 after completing major renovations. It undertook a complete redesign from the original theme, old Victorian fantasy, to a galactic space theme.{{cite news| title=Way Back WEM: From Fantasyland to Galaxyland and beyond| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/west-edmonton-mall-edmonton-series-1.4839293| date=3 October 2018| work=CBC News}} It is an indoor amusement park on the north side of the mall and is the second-largest indoor amusement park in the world, behind Ferrari World, and features 24 rides and attractions. There are eight beginner rides, nine intermediate rides and seven thrill rides. The latest attraction in Galaxyland is Havoc, which opened in 2018. Management closed Drop of Doom in the early 2000s. The tower area was replaced shortly after by a more modern launch ride, the Space Shot, a S&S Double Shot Tower Ride. In late 2019, the park announced a new partnership with Hasbro, with several rides and attractions being rebranded with Hasbro toy brands. The renovation was scheduled to finish by winter 2020,{{cite journal| title=West Edmonton Mall's Galaxyland to undergo Hasbro-themed rebrand| first=Karen| last=Bartko| url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6312424/west-edmonton-mall-galaxyland-hasbro/| journal=Global News| date=18 December 2019| access-date=20 July 2020}} and eventually had its grand opening as Galaxyland Powered by Hasbro on 17 December 2022.{{Cite web |title=Galaxyland is having its Hasbro grand opening and it looks sweet {{!}} Listed |url=https://dailyhive.com/edmonton/galaxyland-hasbro-west-edmonton-mall |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=dailyhive.com |language=en}} The Mindbender rollercoaster was decommissioned in January 2023 after 37 years of service.{{cite web | url=https://beta.ctvnews.ca/local/edmonton/2023/1/30/1_6252033.amp.html | title=Mindbender roller coaster closed after 37 years at West Edmonton Mall | work=ctvnews | last1=Mulcahy | first1=Karyn }}

File:West Edmonton Mall (14804741844).jpg

{{Main|World Waterpark}}

The World Waterpark is the world's 4th-largest indoor waterpark,{{cite web | url=https://www.tripsavvy.com/worlds-largest-indoor-water-parks-3225931 | title=The World's Largest Indoor Water Parks }} built in 1985, with a size of {{convert|20903|m2|acre}}. The park has the world's largest indoor wave pool. The highest slides in the park are the Twister and Cyclone, which are each {{convert|25.3|m|ft}} high.

The wave pool has six wave bays, each with two panels with a total of {{convert|1500|hp|MW|order=flip}}, generating waves up to two metres high.

In 2018–2019, the waterpark underwent a $2.5 million renovation. The renovations included new paint jobs to the Corkscrew slide, the handrails, and the Blue Thunder Wave Pool. Bathrooms were introduced to a more convenient location, as well as a rooftop balcony on top of the bathrooms for social gatherings. A hot dog stand, Tiki Dog, was added.{{cite news| title=West Edmonton Mall waterpark undergoes $2.5 million renovation| url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/west-edmonton-mall-waterpark-undergoes-2-5-million-renovation/| date=21 September 2018| newspaper=Edmonton Journal}}

Along with Galaxyland, the World Waterpark was closed on 16 March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=West Edmonton Mall closes waterpark, Galaxyland in response to COVID-19|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6683034/west-edmonton-mall-closes-attractions-covid-19/|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Global News|language=en-US}} Both reopened in July 2021.

File:Ice Palace at the West Edmonton Mall during the Brick youth tournament, 2015.jpg

Ice Palace is a scaled-down version of a National Hockey League (NHL) regulation-sized ice rink in the centre of the mall. The Edmonton Oilers occasionally practised at the Ice Palace during the 1980s. The Oilers' contract for using the rink has since expired. The rink is used for various hockey and other sporting tournaments. In 2015, the Ice Palace was renamed Mayfield Toyota Ice Palace after the mall sold the naming rights to a local auto dealership.{{cite web |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/business/commercial-real-estate/west-edmonton-mall-sells-ice-palace-naming-rights-to-auto-dealer/ |title=West Edmonton Mall sells Ice Palace naming rights to auto dealer |last=Mah |first=Bill |date=14 June 2015 |website=Edmonton Journal |access-date=12 October 2015}}

During special events, such as Remembrance Day, the ice rink is covered for ceremonies.{{cite news |url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/edmontonians-honour-those-who-fought-for-our-country-1.724724 |title=Edmontonians honour those who fought for our country |work=CTV News |date=11 November 2011 |access-date=20 July 2020}} In July 2017, West Edmonton Mall announced that the Mayfield Toyota Ice Palace would get a $3 million renovation. It closed for the summer and reopened in December 2017.{{cite web |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3596406/west-edmonton-mall-ice-rink-undergoing-3m-renovation/ |title=West Edmonton Mall ice rink undergoing $3M renovation |last=Bartko |first=Karen |date=13 July 2017 |work=Global News |access-date=20 July 2020}}

File:West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, Alberta (21918866218).jpg

Professor WEM's Adventure Golf is an 18-hole miniature golf course. The miniature golf course was originally known as Pebble Beach Mini Golf and was designed to be a mini golf version of Pebble Beach Golf Links. The course was refurbished and given the Professor WEM theme in the mid-1990s.

Is near Galaxyland Powered by Hasbro, along with the Crystal Labyrinth Mirror Maze.

File:Sea Lions Rock West Edmonton Mall 2012 1.jpg

From 1985 to 2005 a Deep Sea adventure ride took visitors on a narrated tour of the lake in one of four submarines.{{Cite web|last=thatbemguy|date=2021-01-25|title=Deep Sea Adventure|url=https://bestedmontonmall.com/2021/01/25/deep-sea-adventure/|access-date=2021-12-30|language=en}} The submarines have now been removed but guests can still visit the Sea Life Caverns at Marine Life — an underground aquarium that is home to more than 100 species of fish, sharks, sea turtles, penguins, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates—or watch the free daily sea lion shows.{{cite web | url=https://www.wem.ca/play/attractions/marine-life | title=Marine Life | Attractions | West Edmonton Mall }}

File:Metal whale statue in fountain, West Edmonton Mall (2005).jpg, a bronze whale by Robin Bell, in its original location before it moved to outside of the now-defunct Sears Canada and now the now-defunct Target Canada, and removed the water surrounding it, November 27, 2005. This sculpture is a statue of two North Atlantic right whales.]]

File:WEM brass man.jpg

File:Oil Workers Statue (24082182511).jpg

• Fantasyland Hotel,{{cite web |url=http://www.fantasylandhotel.com/ |title=Fantasyland Hotel |publisher=Fantasyland Hotel |access-date=19 February 2011}} located within the mall; WEM is also affiliated with a second hotel, the West Edmonton Mall Inn, across the street from the shopping centre on 90th Avenue.
• An indoor shooting range{{cite web |url=http://www.shootingcentre.com/ |title=Home |website=Edmonton Shooting Range |access-date=19 February 2011}} (named "Wild West Shooting Centre")
• Large-scale replica of the Santa María, one of the ships sailed by Christopher Columbus in 1492 to San Salvador Island. The deck can be booked for private functions.
• 24-hour Gym, Crunch Fitness
• Dinner Theatre: Jubilations Dinner Theatre offers original Canadian three-act musical comedies along with a four-course dinner. Full bar service is available and the theatre's productions run Wednesday to Sunday. This space was formerly a Famous Players cinema.
• Previously, the mall has had a history of nightclubs and recreation spaces including the Empire Ballroom, Edmonton Events Centre (now demolished), The Joint, and Ka'os Nightclub. The former Edmonton Events Centre space has been purchased by Gateway Casinos & Entertainment for their expansion of the Palace Casino, which was renamed to Starlight Casino. (Phase II)
• The Rec Room
• West 49 skate shop, built on the 1st floor in Phase II, in a former movie theatre, with an indoor skatepark in the basement then moved to former Sears temporarily, when [https://www.wem.ca/play/attractions/drive DRIVE Go Karts] moved in, before moving back to Phase II in a different store space than before. Stitches Factory Outlet later The Brick takes the 2nd floor. (Phase I)
• West Edmonton Christian Assembly (WECA), an inter-denominational chapel{{cite web|url=http://www.marketplacechapel.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020929174001/http://www.marketplacechapel.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 September 2002 |title=Marketplace Chapel |publisher=Marketplace Chapel |access-date=19 February 2011}} (Phase III)
• Four radio stations: 97.3 K-Rock (classic rock), 840 CFCW (classic country and news programming), Sports 1440 (sports talk), 96.3 The Breeze (soft adult contemporary), are owned by Stingray Radio. The Stingray-owned area features studios, offices, and a small free museum. Stingray studios are in Phase IV, with the broadcast studios visible from the mall (illuminated "on air" signs indicate when broadcasts are underway from those studios). (Phase III)

File:Bourbon Street food court, West Edmonton Mall (2) (2005).jpg

File:Shops in WEM.jpg moved in.]]

The mall also includes several theme areas including:

• BRBN st. (Bourbon Street): Features clubs and restaurants in a New Orleans-influenced setting. Several restaurants and clubs are here including 1st Rnd, Boston Pizza, Dallas Smokehouse BBQ, Earls, Five & Dive, Hudsons Canadian Tap House, Japanese Village, Mai Vietnamese Fusion, Mogouyan Hand-Pulled Noodle, Marble Slab Creamery, Q Tea, The Taco Shop, Moxie's, Mr. Mikes, The Old Spaghetti Factory, and Rick Bronson's The Comic Strip. The lighting in this area is left dim to simulate a nighttime atmosphere. The area can be closed off from the rest of the mall, allowing for the hosting of special events, and for its establishments to stay open past the closing time of the rest of the mall. As part of the 2011–2014 mall renovations, this area was renovated and Bourbon Street was renamed Brbn St.
• Europa Boulevard: Eclectic shops in an area designed to look like a European streetscape. It is home to Opulence, Aztec Gold, G-Star Raw, Best Shoe Place, Shoo Loong Kan, Stitch It, Dr. Martens, Kawaii Alley, Yoyoso, Chill Pizza, FYidoctors, Untuckit, and several rentable conference rooms that look down on the Boulevard. Also, Europa Boulevard is home to the first La Maison Simons to open outside Quebec.{{cite news| url=https://edmontonjournal.com/Simons+dominate+mall+Europa+Boulevard/4140194/story.html| title=Simons to dominate mall's Europa Boulevard| first=Bill| last=Mah| date=20 January 2011| work=Edmonton Journal| access-date=25 January 2011}} Before Simons, the space was home to various stores including Petcetera, Gold's Gym (original location), The Cash Store, Urban, and a car wash.
• Chinatown: Asian-themed area anchored by a T & T Supermarket (in the former Canadian Tire location). It is directly above Bourbon Street. The Chinatown signage was removed in May 2012 and the section, though it still maintains an Asian décor, is no longer exclusive to such businesses.

File:BRBNst West Edmonton Mall.jpeg|BRBN st. at West Edmonton Mall, September 10, 2018

File:EuropaBoulevardWestEdmontonMall2017.jpg|Europa Boulevard, February 2, 2017

File:Chinatown2017.jpg|Chinatown, June 8, 2017

File:RAASWestEdmontonMall.jpg|RAAS, short for "retail as a service" (operating 2017–2018) in Phase IV of West Edmonton Mall, November 27, 2017.{{cite news| title=The future of retail is 'micro malls,' says West Edmonton Mall owners| url=https://edmontonjournal.com/business/commercial-real-estate/the-future-of-retail-is-micro-malls-says-west-edmonton-mall-owners| access-date=20 July 2020| last=Kenty| first=Gordon| date=25 October 2017| newspaper=Edmonton Journal| language=en-CA}}

{{more sources needed|section|date=December 2023}}

File:HMV West Edmonton Mall.jpg

File:Red's Arcade, West Edmonton Mall (2005).jpg

• Bed Bath & Beyond (2009–2023) (opened 2009 in former dinner theatre, closed in 2023 and is now Rooms + Spaces Outlet, which has also since closed){{cite news|title=Bed Bath & Beyond Canada going out of business, closing 54 stores| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bed-bath-beyond-canada-going-out-of-business-closing-54-stores-1.6745092| access-date=4 January 2025|language=en-CA}}
• BuyBuy Baby (2018–2023) (opened in 2018 in the former top level of Eaton's/Zellers/Target, closed in 2023, and is now Babies "R" Us{{cite news|title=Bed Bath & Beyond Canada going out of business, closing 54 stores| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bed-bath-beyond-canada-going-out-of-business-closing-54-stores-1.6745092| access-date=4 January 2025| language=en-CA}}
• Eaton's (1981–1999) (opened 1981, closed 1999, replaced with Zellers in 2000) (Phase I). Then became a Target store which was eventually replaced by Winners/HomeSense in 2018.{{cite web|date=28 October 2017|title=Is West Edmonton Mall's Phase One Doomed? – Best Edmonton Mall|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2qDDvR-64k|access-date=4 January 2025|publisher=Best Edmonton Mall}}{{better source needed|date=January 2025}}
• Hard Rock Cafe (1985–2000) (currently various restaurants){{cite web|date=5 October 2018|title=What Happened to Bourbon Street at West Edmonton Mall? – Best Edmonton Mall (cite time: 5:12)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC8czqoCuVk|access-date=4 January 2025|publisher=Best Edmonton Mall}}{{better source needed|date=January 2025}}
• HMV (1999–2017) (opened 1999, closed 2017, now Sunrise Records and later in 2021 on main floor Toys "R" Us, both now-closed and vacant, and to be replaced with The Paradox Museum. Sunrise Records has moved to a small location in Phase I.){{cite news|title=HMV Canada to close all 102 stores as ailing music chain goes into receivership after 30 years| url=https://financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/hmv-canada-to-close-all-102-stores| access-date=4 January 2025| language=en-CA}}
• Hudson's Bay (Primary Store) (opened with the mall in 1981 as The Bay and closed on June 1, 2025)
• IKEA (1985–1995) (Opened with Phase III back in November 1985, moving from a former location near the Sherwood Park Freeway.{{Cite web |date=1985-11-08 |title=Edmonton Journal from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/472458653/ |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}} This location would only last about 10 years, before the store closed permanently on 14 October 1995.{{Cite web |date=1995-08-30 |title=Edmonton Journal from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/475376303/ |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}
• RAAS (2017–2019) (opened 2017, now closed, replaced by Lego Store) (phase IV){{cite web|date=15 July 2020|title=WEM Lego Store Construction Part 1: West Edmonton Mall is Getting a LEGO Store! – Best Edmonton Mall (cite time: 1:10)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UJH8y2Tzzc|access-date=4 January 2025|publisher=Best Edmonton Mall}}{{better source needed|date=January 2025}}
• Sears Canada (1981–2018) (opened 1981, closed 8 January 2018, was replaced temporarily by a now-closed West 49 outlet on the Main level and Stitches Factory Outlet on the Upper level. Replaced by The Brick on the Upper Level on 7 September 2019, and West Edmonton Mall Toyota on the lower level on 18 October/2021.) (Phase I){{cite web|date=28 October 2017|title=Is West Edmonton Mall's Phase One Doomed? – Best Edmonton Mall|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2qDDvR-64k|access-date=4 January 2025|publisher=Best Edmonton Mall}}{{better source needed|date=January 2025}}
• The Bay (Secondary Store) (1993–1998) (opened 1993, closed 1998, now Phase IV){{cite web|date=25 August 2017|title=What happened to the Dragon at Silver City Theatre in West Edmonton Mall? – Best Edmonton Mall (cite time: 1:15)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R_Wn4jNli8|access-date=4 January 2025|publisher=Best Edmonton Mall}}{{better source needed|date=January 2025}}
• Target Canada (2013–2015) (opened on 6 May 2013, closed 2015, now Winners/HomeSense on the 1st floor and Structube, Babies "R" Us, and Alberta Academy of Aesthetics on the 2nd floor) (Phase I){{cite web|date=28 October 2017|title=Is West Edmonton Mall's Phase One Doomed? – Best Edmonton Mall|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2qDDvR-64k|access-date=4 January 2025|publisher=Best Edmonton Mall}}{{better source needed|date=January 2025}}
• Toys "R" Us (2021–2023) (opened December 2021 in HMV/Sunrise Records' former first floor, closed 28 January 2023){{cite web|date=24 January 2023|title=The Toys R Us at West Edmonton Mall is Closing!|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Insbeyb5NY|access-date=4 January 2025|publisher=Best Edmonton Mall}}{{better source needed|date=January 2025}}
• Woodward's (1985–1993) (opened 1985, closed 1993, became the second Bay store in the mall, the store closed in 1998 and redeveloped into Phase IV){{cite web|date=25 August 2017|title=What happened to the Dragon at Silver City Theatre in West Edmonton Mall? – Best Edmonton Mall (cite time: 1:15)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R_Wn4jNli8|access-date=4 January 2025|publisher=Best Edmonton Mall}}{{better source needed|date=January 2025}}
• Zellers (Store 294) (1980s–2012) (originally opened as a two-level store in Phase II off the Ice Palace. Relocated to former Eaton's space in 2000, closed 2012, replaced with Target Canada in 2013 which closed in 2015.) (Phase I){{cite web|date=27 May 2012|title=Zellers, West Edmonton Mall|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/50096214@N04/7284763110|access-date=4 January 2025|publisher=Mike Friel}}

The mall is featured prominently in the movies Christmas in Wonderland and Paper Marriage, and is featured briefly in FUBAR 2. The mall setting in the animated TV series 6teen is also based on West Edmonton Mall.{{fact|date=January 2025}}

In 2002, the City of Edmonton approved plans for the mall to expand with an additional {{convert|30000|m2}} of retail space, a facility for sports, trade shows and conventions, a 12-storey office building, and a 600-unit apartment building, along with more parking.International Council of Shopping Centers. [https://web.archive.org/web/20041109085603/https://www.icsc.org/srch/apps/newsdsp.php?storyid=1152®ion=main "West Edmonton Mall gets go-ahead for expansion"] on Internet Archive. However, none of these projects has begun construction except for the completed parking lot expansion by the Rec Room.

As part of Mayfield Toyota’s move to the mall, the project is yet to include the addition of a {{cvt|200,000|sqft|order=flip}} parkade with 1,000 parking stalls and valet service.{{cite news |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/business/local-business/mayfield-toyota-announces-118000-square-foot-dealership-plans-for-west-edmonton-mall |title=Mayfield Toyota announces 118,000-square-foot dealership plans for West Edmonton Mall |newspaper=Edmonton Journal |first=Jeff |last=Labine |date=13 October 2019 |language=en |access-date=2019-11-11}}

In February 2015, the jihadist terrorist group al-Shabaab released a propaganda video calling for attacks on West Edmonton Mall and other Western shopping centres. Although the group had hitherto never launched attacks in North America, security at the mall was tightened in response. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police also indicated that there was no evidence of any imminent threat.{{cite news| title=No "imminent threat" to West Edmonton Mall visitors, RCMP says| url=https://edmontonjournal.com/Terror+group+Shabaab+calls+attack+West+Edmonton+Mall/10833693/story.html| access-date=22 February 2015| newspaper=Edmonton Journal| date=22 February 2015}}

In response to growing security threats, West Edmonton Mall developed a lockdown protocol in case of major emergencies. {{As of|2013}} drills continued to be executed every two to three months.{{cite news| title=West Edmonton Mall tests emergency lockdown procedures| url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/west-edmonton-mall-tests-emergency-lockdown-procedures-1.1174913| last=Parrish| first=Julia| date=27 February 2013| work=CTV News Edmonton| language=en| access-date=5 May 2020}}

On 21 August 2023, the mall was locked down after three men were seriously injured in a targeted shooting near the mall’s movie theatre.{{Cite web |title=West Edmonton Mall lockdown lifted after shooting, 3 seriously injured – Edmonton {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9911045/west-edmonton-mall-lockdown/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=globalnews.ca |language=en-US}}

The mall was locked down again on 2 December 2023 when a man was spotted with a gun. No shots were fired, and no injuries were reported.{{Cite web |title=West Edmonton Mall locked down Saturday afternoon – Edmonton {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10144635/west-edmonton-mall-locked-down-saturday-afternoon/ |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}

In 2011, a video recording allegedly showed WEM security assaulting a woman after arresting her for trespassing. A judge agreed to release the video after charges against the woman were dismissed.{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/video-edmonton-woman-alleges-assault-by-mall-guards-1.1005351| title=Edmonton woman alleges assault by mall guards| work=CBC News| date=19 December 2011| access-date=12 July 2013}}

{{Infobox station

| name = West Edmonton Mall
Transit Centre

| style = Edmonton LRT

| image =

| address =

| coordinates =

| line =

| other =

| structure =

| platform = 13 bus bays,{{cite web |url=http://webdocs.edmonton.ca/transit/route_schedules_and_maps/transit_centre_maps/Transit_Centre_Map-West_Edm_Mall.pdf |title=West Edmonton Mall Transit Centre Map |publisher=City of Edmonton |access-date=2 September 2018}}

| depth =

| levels =

| tracks =

| bicycle = Yes

| opened = {{Start date|1981}}

| closed =

| rebuilt = 2021–2026/27

| electrified =

| accessible = Yes

| code =

| owned = [https://edmonton.ca City of Edmonton]

| zone =

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| former = West Jasper Place Transit Centre

| passengers =

| parking =

| pass_year =

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| web = [https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/west-edmonton-mall-transit-centre.aspx West Edmonton Mall Transit Centre]

| connections =

}}

{{main|List of Edmonton Transit Service bus routes|Edmonton LRT#Network}}

The West Edmonton Mall Transit Centre is a major hub of the Edmonton Transit Service (ETS). As of August 2021, it is in a temporary location on 90 Avenue beside the West Edmonton Mall Inn.{{cite web | url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8151557/west-edmonton-mall-transit-centre-relocated/ | title=West Edmonton Mall Transit Centre relocates for several years due to LRT construction – Edmonton | Globalnews.ca }} This is due to the construction of the LRT system's Valley Line West elevated station.{{Cite web |url=https://www.edmonton.ca/documents/RoadsTraffic/ValleyLineLRTWestBooklet.pdf |title=Valley Line West. Downtown to Lewis Farms |date=Spring 2019 |website=City of Edmonton |access-date=11 November 2019}}

The permanent transit centre is on the south side of West Edmonton Mall, outside mall entrance 48. Buses using the transit centre enter and exit from 87 Avenue. The large shelter building at the transit centre is accessible and equipped with power doors. This transit centre has vending machines and a payphone but no park and ride, public washrooms, or drop-off area.{{cite web |url=https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/west-edmonton-mall-transit-centre.aspx |title=West Edmonton Mall Transit Centre |publisher=City of Edmonton |access-date=2 October 2017}} The transit centre is served by ETS and St. Albert Transit.{{fact|date=January 2025}}

$3 million in upgrades to the transit centre were completed in June 2017 and included a new heated indoor shelter (double the size of the previous shelter), new sidewalks, new lighting, and a new public art installation, among other changes.{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/west-edmonton-mall-transit-centre-construction-begins-monday-1.3582160 |title=West Edmonton Mall transit centre construction begins Monday |work=CBC News |first=Laura |last=Osman |date=13 May 2016 |access-date=18 February 2018}}

The following bus routes serve the transit centre:{{cite web |url=https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/route-brochures-in-pdf.aspx |title=Brochures in PDF |publisher=City of Edmonton |access-date=1 September 2019}}

• List of shopping malls in Canada
• List of largest enclosed shopping malls in Canada
• List of largest shopping malls in the world

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|West Edmonton Mall}}

• {{official website}}

{{Malls in Alberta}}

{{Edmonton landmarks}}

{{Edmonton}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Tourist attractions in Edmonton

Category:Shopping malls in Edmonton

Category:Shopping malls established in 1981

Category:1981 establishments in Alberta