Kingsway Mall in the '70s looked so cool and we want the plants back
For 50 years, Kingsway Mall has been a major shopping and gathering destination for north-central Edmonton, and the city’s second-largest mall used to have a really cool vibe.
Opened in 1976, the mall looks almost unrecognizable in photos preserved by the Provincial Archives of Alberta, showing just how much the space has changed over the decades.
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While undeniably dated, the mall is filled with greenery, gold trim and warm tones that give it a cozy and inviting feel — a contrast to the bright, almost sterile white interior we see today.
The photos, posted to the Provincial Archives of Alberta Flickr page, were taken sometime in 1977, the site says, so these would have been taken shortly after it first opened to the public.
Provincial Archives of Alberta/Flickr
Beyond the trees and brick storefronts, the photos also capture a totally different era of shopping. Who remembers Coles? And Sears? That skylight with gold accents is super elegant, too.
Provincial Archives of Alberta/Flickr
Shoppers Drug Mart, before it adopted its iconic red branding. (Provincial Archives of Alberta/Flickr)
Provincial Archives of Alberta/Flickr
These days, the exact spot where these long-gone food court restaurants once operated is now home to chains like Subway, Chopped Leaf, Edo Japan, Osmow’s, and Taco Time.
Provincial Archives of Alberta/Flickr
Provincial Archives of Alberta/Flickr
Provincial Archives of Alberta/Flickr
Of course, no Canadian mall of that era felt complete without a Zellers anchoring one end of the building. And while the mall’s exterior kept that same brown brick look for decades, it too has since been modernized and revamped.
Well, now we know why they called it Kingsway Garden Mall, at least.
Do you remember when Kingsway Mall looked like this? What are your favourite stores that have come and gone? Let us know in the comments.