[spiritedenergy]

What's your favourite mall in Winnipeg?

[newflyer]

Polo Park .. what else!! :tup: ... makes the Chinook Centre look like a dogs lunch. I can't wait to see the completed renovations.

[spiritedenergy]

I go with Portage Place: very good shops and entarteinment options, central position. I usually go to St. Vital Centre being close to UoM, but it's not very nice architectonically (it's just a bunch of boxes).

[spiritedenergy]

Polo Park .. what else!! :tup: ... makes the Chinook Centre look like a dogs lunch. I can't wait to see the completed renovations.

Polo Park is very impressive... it's like a monster which is sucking retail from downtown and nearby...

[newflyer]

I didn't realize Unicity was still considered a "mall" ... as it is a "power centre" now. I miss that mall though. I grewup in that area and had tons of fun at that "fashion centre", as it was first termed. It was cutting edge when it first opened, but was never updated.

[newflyer]

Polo Park is very impressive... it's like a monster which is sucking retail from downtown and nearby...

Well I think downtown bums had a small part to play.. :rolleyes: .. among other things in downtowns decline.

[1ajs]

S.E. ... polo is not draining the shops in the surounding area its quite the bustling area with big box stores.......... that has transit access

my mall is portage place. but then i conside city place, winnipeg square, and portage place all one giant mall......... man i miss eatons :'(

[newflyer]

S.E. ... polo is not draining the shops in the surounding area its quite the bustling area with big box stores.......... that has transit access

my mall is portage place. but then i conside city place, winnipeg square, and portage place all one giant mall......... man i miss eatons :'(

Put your energy into the downtown Bay, because it needs customers like you.

Winnipeg Square is in desparate need of updating .. its like a 1970's time machine down there. Ugly as sin. :yuck: Portage Place is starting to make a comeback, but also needs a modern look .. 1987 is soooo over. Also playing some classical music through the mall might keep some of the rift-raft out of there.

[jimj_wpg]

Put your energy into the downtown Bay, because it needs customers like you.

Winnipeg Square is in desparate need of updating .. its like a 1970's time machine down there. Ugly as sin. :yuck: Portage Place is starting to make a comeback, but also needs a modern look .. 1987 is soooo over. Also playing some classical music through the mall might keep some of the rift-raft out of there.

Quality jazz like Galaxie's Jazz Now, could be another option to keep the "rift-raft" away from Portage Pl. Airing classical like Galaxie's Baroque channel :yuck: (which my Dad likes but I hate) would keep me away.

[newflyer]

Quality jazz could be another option to keep the "rift-raft" away from Portage Pl. Airing classical like Baroque music (which my Dad likes but I hate) would keep me away.

Yeah I love Jazz!!!

If they played country music, they'd never see me again. :D

I have always hoped a New Orleans style jazz bar or cafe would open up in Winnipeg. That would be cool!! If you ever get the chance goto Cafe du Monde in N'orleans .. sit back and enjoy.

[harls]

Whenever I'm in Winnipeg and I have to go to a mall, it's St. Vital.

Stress on 'have to go'. I can't stand shopping malls.

[bc2mb]

St. Vital over Polo Pk for sure. Although that may change once the renos are complete.

Agreed on Winnipeg Sq.. my god..can they put one cent into the place? What mall still has floors like that?! It's embarassing.

[drew]

In terms of attractiveness - the interior of St. Vital is head and shoulders above the rest in the city.

As for the Polo parks renos - I really hope they get rid of those gawdawful rigid flags on top of the glass domes... it reminds me of playmobile.

Portage Place has held up pretty well. It could do with some minor changes to lose the whole 80's tackiness, but overall, it's not bad.

[SmileyBoy]

I go to Winnipeg all the time, so I'll rank my favourite malls:

1) Polo Park - I wish Fargo could expand West Acres to be like this mall.
2) Portage Place - I just love downtown indoor shopping malls. I'm sorry, but I'm a child of the 80's.:D
3) St. Vital - Seems to me like it's a West Acres relative that's been plopped down into SE Winnipeg. Best food court in the city, though.
4) Kildonan Place - Just a standard, run-of-the-mill 100-store mall.
5) Garden City - Nothing special about this place. 80 stores, and only anchored by Canadian Tire, Zellers and Winners. Not even a Sears or Wal-Mart.

[Archiseek]

i don't mall if i can help it
I shop in downtown Bay

[SmileyBoy]

Yeah I love Jazz!!!

If they played country music, they'd never see me again. :D

I have always hoped a New Orleans style jazz bar or cafe would open up in Winnipeg. That would be cool!! If you ever get the chance goto Cafe du Monde in N'orleans .. sit back and enjoy.

You don't even have a Cajun-style jazz cafe in Winnipeg?? Hell, even we have Basie's on 42nd in Fargo...

[Marc B.]

Grant Park and City Place/Portage Place. But I grew up way out in Crestview and Headingley, so I miss Unicity too.

[berzerkled]

5) Garden City - Nothing special about this place. 80 stores, and only anchored by Canadian Tire, Zellers and Winners. Not even a Sears or Wal-Mart.

The anchors are Canadian Tire, Winners, and Sears. Zellers is down McPhillips at NorthGate mall which is a scary place to be.

[rgalston]

The street. The Bay.

There are, however, a couple of stores at both Portage Place and Polo Park that I'll go to. It's never to walk around.

I don't think I've been to any of the other publicly-subsidized Unicity "regional centres" (KP, Garden City, St. Vital) in years.

[jimj_wpg]

Yeah I love Jazz!!!

If they played country music, they'd never see me again. :D


Fredette's grocery store sometimes does that, or are they just playing 102.3 Clear FM?

[Boreal]

The street. The Bay.

There are, however, a couple of stores at both Portage Place and Polo Park that I'll go to. It's never to walk around.

I don't think I've been to any of the other publicly-subsidized Unicity "regional centres" (KP, Garden City, St. Vital) in years.

I understand your mission, and respect it greatly. However, your mind set, and means of living an urban life are the exception in Winnipeg, and not the rule. Nonetheless, good for your for helping to support a much more urban lifestyle.:tup:

...With that said, I love shopping malls. The bigger the better. Seriously.

Smiley Boy ...WEST ACRES ...I've been thinking about that mall for YEARS. It is almost a carbon copy of St.Vital Centre in some ways.

[rgalston]

I understand your mission, and respect it greatly. However, your mind set, and means of living an urban life are the exception in Winnipeg, and not the rule.

Really?

[Boreal]

...I'm not sure if your questioning my respect, or the fact itself, or whether you are just being sarcastic (internet and it's lack of expression :hell:). Anyways, I will answer all 3 just to cover all fronts.

I very much do respect your missions (as per what you have said on these forums). I think it's very admirable. If Winnipeg had 2 of you, it would be 10 times better off. I don't mean to kiss ass, just telling you what I think from what very little I know.

Maybe it is the St. Vital in me talking, but I don't know a single person, who, no word of a lie, avoids the mall(s). This is not to say that everyone I talk to loves the malls, but certainly choose them over a street-shop ...for example in the exchange. I personally enjoy the indoor malls. Winnipeg is cold, and certainly dreary in the winter. They offer something to do at a comfortable temperature. It keeps the teens safe to some extent (although, I don't believe in molly-coddling the youth by any means). They may be urbanity's anti-christ, but from a social perspective, I think they have a lot to offer, certainly more so in a winter climate.

If you are being sarcastic, then yes, I guess Winnipeg is the soccer-mom's sanctuary. :haha:

[rgalston]

I was being sarcastic. I apologize for the confusion.

Believe me, I know exactly what you're saying, and I know the majority of Winnipeg residents will continue to prefer malls and power centres over window-shopping on commercial streets, regardless of how popular and revitalized they became. I don't think I said anything (in this thread) that condemned people for that. You just asked what people's favorite malls were, and I replied honestly (and in vain attempts at being clever) that I personally prefer shopping on the city's semi-vibrant commercial streets, or at The Bay downtown over any of the shopping malls listed in your poll.

Out of the options provided, I'd say I like Polo Park the best, simply by virtue of the fact that Club Monaco is the only place in the city I can find decent, affordable men's wear.

[newflyer]

Grant Park and City Place/Portage Place. But I grew up way out in Crestview and Headingley, so I miss Unicity too.

Hey.. I grew up in Crestview as well!! :cheers:

[Marc B.]

Hey.. I grew up in Crestview as well!! :cheers:

There are a few of us here...or at least two of us. :tup:

JTCI?

...
Maybe it is the St. Vital in me talking, but I don't know a single person, who, no word of a lie, avoids the mall(s).

You should come to a WUI meeting.

Hey JimJ I saw you on your bike near Balmoral Hall this afternoon.

[Smron]

Polo Park... maybe I'm partial to it. I like it compared to St. Vital because it is two floors... and just seems more massive because of the high glass ceilings.

[newflyer]

Polo Park... maybe I'm partial to it. I like it compared to St. Vital because it is two floors... and just seems more massive because of the high glass ceilings.

Iagree about the two floors ... it makes getting around much easier in a two story mall, compared to a single floor. I remember when they added the second floor .. it was a big deal. Polo Park was losing out to the newer Unicity Fashion Centre, so they doubled it and made it the premier mall.

[Smron]

Wait till you see how good it looks after the reno's are done. There are new lights going up in all the glass ceilings. It will look pretty sweet.

[pegcity]

Polo Park is my first choice but I can always rely on St.Vital if I can't find the right size at Polo. Plus Polo Park's Bay location has some apparel exclusives that their other two locations don't offer.

But I believe sometimes Polo Park doesn't try hard enough to get new retailers, I know Winnipeg isn't a retailers first market choice but how does Halifax get a Banana Republic before Winnipeg, Banana's prices are comparable to Guess? and Club Monaco.

Thank goodness someone is trying to get H&M to open in the Polo Park area, good for Polo and for Winnipeg.

It's good to see Polo Park finally renovating because those washrooms were getting sketchy.

Hopefully by the time Asper opens up his retail complex, retailers like Apple, Sephora, Banana Republic and others will decide to open up shop in Winnipeg.

[jimj_wpg]

There are a few of us here...or at least two of us. :tup:

JTCI?



You should come to a WUI meeting.

Hey JimJ I saw you on your bike near Balmoral Hall this afternoon.

Yeah, I was returning from a daytrip to Grant Park mall to see McNally's. They had Death and Life of American Cities which I skimmed through reading part of why short blocks are better than longer ones, and another book on restoring old photos.

It was kind of chilly out even though the temp. was +15 and the humidity was 35%, SSE winds. My hands were so cold holding the handlebars, I was putting my hands in my pants pockets to keep warm.

It was more like April weather than May-like. Not the greatest stroller weather.

[The Jabroni]

Garden City. I remember before the renovations, the place was alive and kicking, with their old oversized chess pieces that the people played there everyday. Since Eaton's closed, the place just doesn't seem the same as it used to. Now that Shopper's moved out to the old Canadian Tire location, the place is just getting more... ghetto.

[newflyer]

Wait till you see how good it looks after the reno's are done. There are new lights going up in all the glass ceilings. It will look pretty sweet.

AWSOME!!! .. I can't wait! :banana:

[YYCguys]

I know it's not a mall, but I just went to the Bay in Winnipeg for the first time. It's rare to see a Bay that's still open in a downtown location! I think both Saskatoon and Regina have lost theirs if I am not mistaken. I really liked the period features of this building such as the doors and the outdoor signage. It could use a bit of a restoration though, inside and out.

I think the reason why the Bay in Winnipeg is floundering is that it's on a block that has no other vitality and life to it. If it were to have an active retail and entertainment complement such as what you see in the area where the Bay in Calgary is located, then the Bay in Winnipeg would thrive! I think that the food floor in Winnipeg's Bay is a bonus! Play it up and make it really fashionable! Right now it looks like a thrift store in that dark lonley basement!

[jimj_wpg]

I know it's not a mall, but I just went to the Bay in Winnipeg for the first time. It's rare to see a Bay that's still open in a downtown location! I think both Saskatoon and Regina have lost theirs if I am not mistaken. I really liked the period features of this building such as the doors and the outdoor signage. It could use a bit of a restoration though, inside and out.

I think the reason why the Bay in Winnipeg is floundering is that it's on a block that has no other vitality and life to it. If it were to have an active retail and entertainment complement such as what you see in the area where the Bay in Calgary is located, then the Bay in Winnipeg would thrive! I think that the food floor in Winnipeg's Bay is a bonus! Play it up and make it really fashionable! Right now it looks like a thrift store in that dark lonley basement!

Yeah, and the cafeteria decor in both Winnipeg Paddlewheel Restaurant and Vancouver's Granville Room are miles better than the one in Calgary.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/60/160059590_586429a542.jpg

The reason why The Bay downtown is floundering is because of schmucks like these hanging around on the street:

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9348/ndpbumsaj5wr1.jpg

Why did it take so long for that diabetic Native panhandler with the walker and missing teeth to be moved away from the Graham entrance of the Bay? He was scaring the regular people from going in there.

[Greco Roman]

St. Vital needs a second floor to add retail. I think both St. Vital and Polo Park have so much potential to attract big name high fasion retail to the city instead of just bargain-bin stores that are invading Winnipeg like the plague. If Portage Place and the surrounding area would clean up their acts, perhaps they would also have similar potential as St. Vital and Polo Park. :)

[Boreal]

Not that I am in the know, but I would argue that the Kenaston Power Centre was/is a huge detracting force amongst likely many others of putting a second floor on St.Vital Centre. With that said however, the city is expanding southward, and St.Vital, retail wise is very hot. Not Polo Park hot, but certainly in the upper echelon. One would then imagine that a second floor is certainly worth discussion. Certainly St.Vital Centre cannot add anything else to their parking lot, with Earls, Old Navy and Montana's occupying most of what space was left. Maybe it's time for a bold plan to build parkades and a second story? I for one would be thrilled. I believe in urbanity, but I also believe strongly in catering to the populace. A suburban super centre wont be detailed in positive language in any textbook, but it would get approval in the public. Always an interesting issue.

[pegcity]

Most of the apparel shops on Kenaston are outlet stores, great finds/prices on clothing from two seasons ago, nothing to write home about. Polo Park and St.Vital have nothing to worry about.

Anyone know who's opening up shop across the street at Kenaston Commons?

[Greco Roman]

Most of the apparel shops on Kenaston are outlet stores, great finds/prices on clothing from two seasons ago, nothing to write home about. Polo Park and St.Vital have nothing to worry about.

Anyone know who's opening up shop across the street at Kenaston Commons?


My money is on IKEA :notacrook:

[Greco Roman]

Most of the apparel shops on Kenaston are outlet stores, great finds/prices on clothing from two seasons ago, nothing to write home about. Polo Park and St.Vital have nothing to worry about.

Anyone know who's opening up shop across the street at Kenaston Commons?

More likely for Winnipeg, a Dollarama supercentre :yuck:

[newflyer]

More likely for Winnipeg, a Dollarama supercentre :yuck:

... not in that neighbourhood... too many people with big bucks in that area.

[Smron]

... not in that neighbourhood... too many people with big bucks in that area.

We all know Manitobans love a deal.

[Greco Roman]

I was of course being sarcastic; I really hope it's not a Dollarama supercentre.

Please God; no more thrift stores in Winnipeg. Or "moneymart" garbage welfare inticing
"banks". Let's bring them out here to Alberta where they are really needed.

[newflyer]

I was of course being sarcastic; I really hope it's not a Dollarama supercentre.

Please God; no more thrift stores in Winnipeg. Or "moneymart" garbage welfare inticing
"banks". Let's bring them out here to Alberta where they are really needed.

Moneymarts should be banned from the downtown core.. as they attract the desperate, much like pawn shops. It creates a very bad environment for other retailers.

[newflyer]

We all know Manitobans love a deal.

Sadly you are so very correct. I only wished more people in Winnipeg wanted to dress like it mattered how you looked, instead using such low minimal standards... Winnipegers are perhaps the worst dressed people... all in the name of saving a couple dollars.

[Only The Lonely..]

i don't mall if i can help it
I shop in downtown Bay

You must be a rich man, $15 for socks. ;)

I like how the Bay doesn't even try in the least to be competitive in price.

I'd probably feel more comfortable there if I wore my top hat and white gloves.

[Only The Lonely..]

I find it confusing that on one hand you have Winnipeg forumers lamenting what sprawl has done to the vitality of this city, and on the other we celebrate the growth of regional shopping centres.

What's up with that?

[bc2mb]

... not in that neighbourhood... too many people with big bucks in that area.

it's:
- moxie's
- HSBC
- Petland
and some other yet to be named retailers..

on another note i was in Polo Pk yesterday for the first time in a long time... the renos are coming along nicely. i am excited to see how it looks when complete. the new mexx was open and it's extremely nice (and expensive).

[Boreal]

That's a very surprising location for a Petland, given that their Western Canadian head office is just up on Pembina by the Route 90 North and South exits.

[204]

Polo Park .. what else!! :tup: ... makes the Chinook Centre look like a dogs lunch. I can't wait to see the completed renovations.

Really? Does Polo now have Williams-Sonoma, Banana Republic, Pottery Barn, Skoah, Zara, etc?

[Greco Roman]

Really? Does Polo now have Williams-Sonoma, Banana Republic, Pottery Barn, Skoah, Zara, etc?

I think we both know he was referring to the building itself, not the retail selection. :rolleyes:

[SpongeG]

how about some pics? not much on google...

http://graphics.worldweb.com/PhotoImages/Articles/Canada/PoloPark.jpg

http://www.viscount-gort.com/town/polopark-sm.jpg

http://home.flash.net/~ral1/starbucks/images/DSCN10881.jpg

[pegcity]

From one of my Flickr contacts...

I know you like it
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/154/418034848_cb9a34f685.jpg

[Greco Roman]

When did Polo Park get a Starbucks?

I don't drink coffee, but I do love their peppermint hot chocolate. :P

[Archiseek]

I was in Polo Park at the weekend and they're doing the reno
What is interesting is they have exposed a nice terrazzo floor on the mall to the safeway under the crappy 90s decor.... soon to be recovered up

[Marc B.]

I really like that picture Pegcity. :tup:

[newflyer]

Really? Does Polo now have Williams-Sonoma, Banana Republic, Pottery Barn, Skoah, Zara, etc?

Chinook Centre has been redone so many times .. and they still have it all strewed up. Its gawdy and ugly beyond sin .. the food court looks like somebody's nightmere. Road access is horrible .. and parking isn't what I'd call well thought out. I'd take South Centre any day of the week.

Polo Park is vastly superior to Chinook.. just as the Winnipeg Convention Centre is superior .. just as the new airport terminal will be vastly superior.

[bc2mb]

When did Polo Park get a Starbucks?

I don't drink coffee, but I do love their peppermint hot chocolate. :P

been there for at least 3yrs..right beside safeway.

[Greco Roman]

been there for at least 3yrs..right beside safeway.

I guess this shows how often I go to Polo Park :P

[newflyer]

been there for at least 3yrs..right beside safeway.

Longer than that I think... although I wish they had a better location.

[bunman]

I'm new to this forum...been reading a lot of the threads, and been really enjoying myself.

Anyways, I feel Polo is the best mall in terms of layout and design. I do like Portage Place and walk through it almost everyday. I work downtown and live downtown. But ever since Staples took over that south corner of Portage Place, it just doesn't feel right to me.
I agree that Portage is outdated, but in order for it to renovate it 1st has to have decent retailers to increase higher spending consumers, instead of bargain hunters

[Only The Lonely..]

I believe Polo Park might just be one of the oldest malls in all of Canada. So there's another feather in its cap. In the age of abandoned malls , Polo Park continues to thrive.

[newflyer]

I believe Polo Park might just be one of the oldest malls in all of Canada. So there's another feather in its cap. In the age of abandoned malls , Polo Park continues to thrive.

You're right.. it was one of the first. It barely resembles its former self.

I remember going to Polo Park as a kid before it was expanded with a seond floor ..its was a very significant and drew alot of shoppers.

[BigG]

Can anyone remember that big metallic abstract structure/sculpture in the middile of Polo Park? That's when it was just one floor. I remember playing around that thing when i was a kid. It made a nice sound when you banged on it too. I wonder if there's any picture out there of what the mall looked like prior to '85/86.

[SSLL]

Is Polo Park that far away from downtown? My impression is that it was pretty close to downtown, if not in it.

[pegcity]

Is Polo Park that far away from downtown? My impression is that it was pretty close to downtown, if not in it.

Not far at all, less than 5 minutes away.

[jimj_wpg]

Is Polo Park that far away from downtown? My impression is that it was pretty close to downtown, if not in it.

It's about 6 kms away in distance. 15-20 mins. by bus. 35-45 mins. by bike.

An underground rapid transit link would bring you there in under 10 mins.

I consider Polo Park (the shopping centre) to be part of St. James, although it was technically (before '72) part of the city proper.

[jimj_wpg]

Can anyone remember that big metallic abstract structure/sculpture in the middile of Polo Park? That's when it was just one floor. I remember playing around that thing when i was a kid. It made a nice sound when you banged on it too. I wonder if there's any picture out there of what the mall looked like prior to '85/86.

Parent reading from book: Big G. Little G. What begins with G?

Kid: Giraffe?

U of M has the Winnipeg Building Index (http://wbi.lib.umanitoba.ca/WinnipegBuildings/viewBuilding.action?id=890) website with a few photos of the mall prior to '86.

http://wbi.lib.umanitoba.ca/WBImages/medium/PPSCGBR-62.jpg

[jimj_wpg]

Chinook Centre has been redone so many times .. and they still have it all strewed up. Its gawdy and ugly beyond sin .. the food court looks like somebody's nightmere. Road access is horrible .. and parking isn't what I'd call well thought out. I'd take South Centre any day of the week.

Polo Park is vastly superior to Chinook.. just as the Winnipeg Convention Centre is superior .. just as the new airport terminal will be vastly superior.

And it has LRT access but you must walk past the Staples/Office Depot big box to and from the building. :omg:

I liked it that Chinook had mechanical pony rides in that Food Court for the kids. It's quite rare to see that these days anywhere.

[newflyer]

And it has LRT access but you must walk past the Staples/Office Depot big box to and from the building. :omg:

I liked it that Chinook had mechanical pony rides in that Food Court for the kids. It's quite rare to see that these days anywhere.

the carrosal? ... :sly: