Edmonton Shopping Guide: WEM, Whyte Ave, and 124th Street

Key Takeaways:

• WEM: 800+ stores, 16 attractions, World Waterpark and Galaxyland both operating, luxury wing with Louis Vuitton/Gucci/Balenciaga
• Kingsway Mall: Walmart Supercentre anchor; Hudson's Bay closed June 2025, space currently vacant
• Whyte Ave: nearly 600 businesses, year-round Saturday farmers' market, annual Art Walk with 500+ artists
• 124th Street: Duchess Bake Shop, Golden Sparrow, Menya Mori and Edmonton's gallery row

West Edmonton Mall: Still a World-Scale Destination

8882 170 St NW. Over 800 stores and services. More than 100 dining options. 16 attractions. The numbers are genuine and the mall runs at full scale.

Key attractions include World Waterpark (wave pool, 17 waterslides, indoor beach), Galaxyland powered by Hasbro (27 rides and attractions, indoor roller coaster), Ice Palace (NHL-sized rink), Marine Life, indoor karting, bowling, Dragon's Tale Mini Golf, Crystal Labyrinth Mirror Maze, and Professor WEM's Adventure Golf. Two hotels on site: Fantasyland Hotel and Marriott.

Admission prices for Waterpark and Galaxyland change seasonally. Check wem.ca/play/tickets-passes for current rates before you go.

Luxury wing: Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Tiffany and Co., Canada Goose, Mackage, Moncler, Harry Rosen, TUMI. The concentration of luxury in a mall this size is unusual for Canada outside Toronto.

Recent additions: MINISO LAND (largest Canadian location). Abercrombie and Fitch returned.

Kingsway Mall: Anchor Transition Underway

109 Street and Kingsway Avenue NW. Originally opened 1976, significantly renovated in 2017 and 2022. The 174-store mall absorbed the loss of Hudson's Bay (closed June 1, 2025, when HBC folded nationally) and added a Walmart Supercentre (149,000 sqft) in the former Sears space in October 2022.

The Malla MRKT features 35+ local makers and small businesses inside the mall. The former Hudson's Bay space is currently vacant; the landlord is in discussions with new anchor tenants.

South Edmonton Common: Open-Air Power Centre

23 Avenue SW. One of North America's largest open-air retail developments: 320 acres, approximately 2,300,000 sqft of retail.

Anchors: Canadian Tire (chain's largest location), IKEA, Cineplex, Sport Chek, Rona+, Real Canadian Superstore, Walmart, Best Buy, Staples, Marshalls, Mountain Equipment Company, Old Navy, UNIQLO. Functional when you need to hit five stores in one trip. Not charming. Very efficient.

The Independent Strips

Whyte Avenue / Old Strathcona

82 Avenue between 101 and 108 Street. Nearly 600 businesses. Independent boutiques, vintage shops, galleries, restaurants, bars, and theatres. The Old Strathcona Farmers' Market runs year-round Saturdays 8am-3pm and Sundays 11am-3pm. The annual Art Walk draws 500+ visual artists.

This is where Edmonton's personality lives. Chain stores exist but the independents define the strip.

If you are exploring the neighbourhood for real estate, Strathcona condos from $200K are among Edmonton's most sought-after urban options. See our best antique shops guide for the vintage finds Whyte Ave does better than anywhere in the city.

124th Street

Westmount to Oliver. Edmonton's gallery row and boutique corridor. Key destinations:

• Duchess Bake Shop (10718 124 St): French pastry institution. Lines on weekend mornings. The owners purchased additional space in late 2025 for a renovation and expansion.
• Golden Sparrow (10704 124 St): Upscale cocktail bar and tapas. One of the best-looking rooms on the strip.
• Menya Mori (10350 124 St): Tokyo-style ramen.
• Meuwly's: Charcuterie and artisan provisions — retail walk-in closed January 2025; now operates via pop-up events and catering. Check meuwlys.com for upcoming dates.
• Chocorrant Patisserie (10328 124 St): Chocolate and pastry.
• Brio Bakery (12021 102 Ave): Artisan bread.
• OEB Breakfast Co. (10240 124 St): Breakfast and brunch; occupies the former North 53 space.

The All is Bright winter festival and 124 Grand Market summer event anchor the neighbourhood calendar.

Westmount homes from $740K

The Bottom Line: WEM for the mega-experience and a luxury wing that rivals any Canadian mall outside Toronto. Whyte Ave for personality and vintage finds. 124th Street for food, cocktails, and galleries. South Edmonton Common when you need to be efficient. Support the independents when you have the choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is West Edmonton Mall worth visiting? Yes, particularly for the Waterpark and Galaxyland, which together make it a full day. The luxury wing (Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent) is genuinely impressive for a non-Toronto market. As a pure shopping experience, it suits those who like scale and variety.

What are the best independent shops on Whyte Ave? The vintage and antique shops stand out; see our antique guide for a full breakdown. For new goods: independent clothing boutiques, record shops, and the galleries that run along the strip. The Old Strathcona Farmers' Market on Saturdays and Sundays is the anchor activity.

What happened to Hudson's Bay in Edmonton? Hudson's Bay Company filed for insolvency and all Canadian locations closed June 1, 2025. Edmonton lost stores at West Edmonton Mall, Kingsway Mall, Southgate Centre, and Londonderry Mall. The Kingsway Mall space is currently vacant while the landlord seeks new anchor tenants.

Is there a food hall in Edmonton? There is no dedicated standalone food hall comparable to Toronto or Calgary. The Old Strathcona Farmers' Market (year-round Saturdays) and City Market Downtown (104 Street, Saturdays May–October) serve a similar function.

Which Edmonton neighbourhood is best for walkable shopping? Whyte Avenue and 124th Street are the two strongest walkable retail corridors. For context on the neighbourhoods around them, see our best neighbourhoods guide and Edmonton homes for sale.

WEM attraction and store data from wem.ca. Kingsway Mall data from kingswaymall.com. Old Strathcona data from oldstrathcona.ca. Hudson's Bay closure from CTV News Edmonton, June 2025. Duchess Bake Shop expansion from Taproot Edmonton, December 2025.