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What Happened to the Phase III Food Court at West Edmonton Mall? - Best Edmonton Mall
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- Опубліковано 23 вер 2018
- Check out our Patreon: / bestedmontonmall
It's only been about five years since the Food Court was renovated, let's take a look back at how Gourmet Court at West Edmonton Mall used to look.
We also look at how many McDonald's the mall used to have, the cinemas which existed before silver city, and how the Lord's Day Act affected the mall.
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I really fucking miss the old west Edmonton mall.
Same, I wish I owned it.
@@marvelmoviessuckass yeah same. The mall just feels absolutely generic now. Completely bland and every cool or quirky edge the mall had has been lost.
Poor West Ed... Sure it's still amazing, but there seems to be a pattern happening with each renovation; "Stripped of Character" is the theme they're going for.
So much of _the amazing_ has been lost over the last 25 years.
They are making it more blingy.
Funny, I would have considered the original décor with the mirrored columns, mirrored escalators, mirrored cutouts and illuminated brass handrails to be more 'bling' than the drab white and gray they have gone with now. Even the Ice Palace doesn't look the same anymore without being surrounded by mirrored surfaces, and the illuminated brass rails atop the glass. Everything has become white and gray - like a hospital.
West Edmonton mall used to be so beautiful and creative. It’s such a disappointing mall now.
Unfortunately your memories of the mall are tinged by nostalgia, I assure you it's pretty much the same as it always has been, except you're older. That's why it like everything is less magical, you're no longer a child.
At 4:14 -- the lion heads!! I knew they existed, but no one else remembers them. Thank you for this public service.
maaaaaaan this takes me back
God damn I miss that 80's neon
Wow! This takes me back!
Oh the nostalgia
Wow this brings back memories!
Mirrors everywhere! How I miss those days.
I miss the old food court so, so much, incredibly powerful nostalgia seeing these clips and photos. My dad used to take me to the mall as a kid in the early 2000's for movies or Playdium and a bite to eat whenever my mom and sister went away on 'girls trips' for the weekend. Everything about the old food court from the neon lights, the marble, the fountains, the theatres and the arcade are incredibly fond memories etched into my mind from childhood. I used to go on a lot of dates in the mall as a teenager as well so lots of nostalgia from the later 2000's as well. Too bad the mall has been stripped of almost all of it's character now. Bring neon and palm trees back!
Ayyyyy westmall 8. Memories
Thanks for bringing back memories from my second home as a teenager! That food court was the best. I remember spending copious amounts of time in Circuit Circus using the coin operated computers to login to Nexopia and browse the internet 😂
The nostalgia... I wish they kept that look, retro look would’ve been cool to see today
It’s now been a while but watching this video brought back my teen years when me and all my friends hang out of choice was phase III. Before we had phones in our pockets the only way to find out what was happening was to head to phase lll food court there was always somebody there 8:21
God I MISS it this way!!
The original food court was actually much lighter than it looked in the photos I took at night... In daylight there was a lot of light entering from skylights above which would pass through the open mezzanine area for the Café Europa on the second floor. I took most of the Phase 3 food court pictures and video at night because I loved how the restaurant signs and *_WEM_* neon lights at the top of the columns looked in the dim light, reflecting off the mirrored ceiling. Often played cards and backgammon here well past midnight, and the background noise of the arch fountains was the only sound once all the vendors were shut for the night, and the place would empty of people. It was a great place. When I saw the fountains off and the machine demolishing the main fountain in February, 2014, I knew it was all over. Now there is "Star Trek" theme, and it might as well be a casino, because without any skylights, it could be noon or midnight, and nothing changes.
This video can give you an idea of how it was at night in the original WEM Phase 3 food court: ua-cam.com/video/_CBZa1dRpXM/v-deo.html
Thanks for the walk down memory lane! I moved there in 1988 and was a mall rat there! Moved away in 2003! The food court looks like a bloody waiting room now! Horrible!
Im old enough to remember this, was still there in 2002 and 2003
This awakened memories I didn’t know I had 👀
You do a great job on these.
Great video. I love seeing old videos/pics of WEM. I still remember the feeling the place had back in 2001 when I went back after not being at WEM since 1983. You could literally feel the 1980s.
This brings back so many memories. I remember going to the McDonald’s many times and to the dollar theatre. I used to have my birthday parties at the McDonald’s across from Fantasty/Galaxyland. I also remember the shops above Galaxyland.
I remember this. I was young and these memories are so faded but they’re coming back in small fragments. You know those memories that you had that are at the very back of your mind that get switched back on when something reminds you. I’m having memories of eating in the mcdonalds when it was bigger and you could walk in and sit down. Wow I appreciate your work and this channel memories are everything.
I miss this food court. That arcade kicked ass. It looks okay now but back then it was the shiet. Great video dude. Oh man Im going back in time. Burger Man
These vids are the best. I have fond memories of going to the dollar theatre and grabbing an all Canadian meal at McDonald’s both for under 5 bucks!
The McDonald's in Phase III was where I ate Chicken McNuggets for the very first time!
Great video. They should bring back the Lord's day law. Miss the way the old food court looked and the feel of it. Also miss the theatre that was in it.
Great video. Great flashback for me. Thx!:)
I miss circuit circus that was my favorite the arcades were everywhere and extremely fun :)
oh wow memories, food court and movie theather downstairs where we waqtched "Waterworld" epic
Great video. Brings back memories! I prefer the old food court. The current design sucks balls, gets stuffy whenever I visit, and the chairs and seats get gross. Used to visit that big McDonald's weekly, and thought there was a good variety of food places in the old food court. I still remember when they had ashtrays on tables and some of the older kids would smoke after visiting circuit circus.
True about how dirty the chairs get; their odd shape doesn't seem to be something the cleaners like dealing with.
When I looked at those photos it reminded me of how great the subs from Louie's Sub were... it is seen in some of the photos.
We moved out of province shorty after phase 3 was finished and I still remember a place called Warren Moon cookies. The best cookies ever!!
I certainly preferred the prior incarnation of this food court. I don't know if it was the higher ceiling or the sounds of the water, but it never seemed overwhelmingly loud, as it always does now.
Probably because the ceiling now
i love the new marble but i really wish they kept or made new fountains!!!
I remember everything in this video quite well. The food court as it was, the McDonald's seating, the claustrophobic escalator right next to that McDonald's heading up to Red's Rec Room upstairs. Even the arcade that you didn't touch on in the background of the photo of the fountain in the food court. I also remember watching a helicopter lower the IMAX screen into the brand new Silver City back in 98/99 - and I even saw Star Wars: Episode I in that same theatre when it opened!
Your videos give me nostalgia overload, and I love it!
The location of that dark, "claustrophobic" escalator became the entrance to the relocated restrooms. There used to be a narrow access corridor for the restrooms between the pizza/donair place and Arby's, as seen at 3:15. Those restrooms used to be rough... but not as bad as the old Phase 2 food court restrooms; the graffiti got so bad in there, they gave up and added small blackboards and chalk in the stalls. Never seen this done anywhere else.
I remember that, too! I also recall that the blackboards didn't really do much to deter vandals. Valiant effort, but ultimately ineffective. Vandals gonna vandalise, I guess.
I watched Lord of the rings in there , we arrived late and only had the choice of very front row seats. My neck was not happy at the end of that 3 hour movie
Circuit Circus was such a cool arcade
Lol I kept all my ticket stubs from the 90's so those looked so familiar to me!
Reminds me of the huge food court Crestwood Mall in St. Louis used to have.
I remember for like a year they had a giant tv right in the middle of the big water fountain
Worked there In the hay days. It all seemed so normal back then and just so strange today.
I remember everybody thinking those water arches were just glass and reaching up to touch them. I remember little kids jumping up to hit them and getting soaked. lol
haha, this brings me back. I'd actually forgotten completely about the long line of fountains going from one end of the court to the other. I do remember being able to look up at the next level- a Jubilations, then Bed Bath & Beyond in that spot. And yeah, Caesar moved to the bingo one. Sadly, what was a great circular fountain just ended up being a spot for sketchy teens to hang out and sling drugs.
I once saw a movie in the cheap theater- at that point I was so new to Edmonton I hadn't even thought of exploring every inch of the mall, so it was kind of a shocker. We saw a lame Matthew Perry/Elizabeth Hurley movie.
I remember when the Ghermezian brothers built the mall. my grandparents lived in Inglewood. we would drive by this construction site on the way to see them.
Just a lot of memories with my late parents from the original food court
I remember the McDonald's with the seating area across from Galaxyland. I'm pretty sure I went there as part of a birthday party when I was about 5 or 6. Good times.
I loved the water features of the old food court as a young child but the renovated food court is still pretty to look at
i soooo remember that the old foodcourt, i remember they put multiple wet floor signs around the fountain, i also remember that kid's used to play with the fountain water that would go over the walk ways, i ALSO remember how slippery it got, hence why they put the signs up
I miss playdium…. Thanks for the blast to the past!
ua-cam.com/video/_UPAyhLSojI/v-deo.html
just wanna say i really appreceate that you only use simpsons references.👍 and i enjoy the random old commercials too. it all brings me back. was born and raised in edmonton but now live in kamloops. i love watching these .. thank you
I'm from Ontario, so I've never been to the West Edmonton Mall. Hopefully someday. Seeing how the food court used to be brought on a wave of nostalgia. As a 10 or 12 year old kid in the 80's, going to the mall used to be so much fun. Neon lights, arcades, music. Getting kicked off the Pacman machine by a kid that was older, and had a leather jacket. Again, having never been there, it's hard to judge. Looked way better before. Now it looks like a wedding hall, instead of a food court.
I'm from Ontario, and I have gone to WEM annually since 1986. I can tell you for sure the mall was far better overall from 1986 to 1994 than it is now.
As always, love the videos! Just a couple of my own rambling memories:
- The Phase III Food Court originally had two anchor tenants. When it first opened in the mid-1980s, Hakim Optical was originally the Harvey's/Swiss Chalet, and like the McDonald's, it had its own seating area and everything. Sometime in the early 90s, Harvey's/Swiss Chalet moved to its current spot out in the food court, and the old spot became a Music World, and then Hakim Optical
- The loonie theatre originally showed first-run movies when the mall first opened. Saw Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure there on opening day in 1988! It became the loonie theatre in 1992.
- Despite having that wonderful stage in the Phase III Food Court, I only remember one act ever using it: they brought in a string quartet one Christmas to play Christmas carols.
This is so funny--- I just commented some of the same things...lol. I remember the Harvey's/ Swiss Chalet and it becoming a Music World...lol. I also commented on how the Dollar Theatre was originally a Fist Run theatre, the original Cineplex Odeon. I had seen Conan The Destroyer there...lol. I am guessing we are both around the same age. Do you remember when they actually used to have mini-sharks in some of the aquariums around WEM? I used to love WEM back then. :-)
I miss the fountain arches, and Saffron indian restaurant .
i miss circut circus...and playdium
Love ur videos. Hope you could make a video discussing just the three old movie theaters before the 12 screen theater took over. I know u did a bit in this video but would love to hear more.
i remember there used to be a big as like round screen in the middle and used to play the hockey games and the news.
Right in the nostalgia!
Does anyone else miss Ciruit Circus? So many memories of that arcade and the food court.
The statue of Caesar was located with other Roman features inside movie theatres near the Casino back in the mid 1980s.I particularly liked the contrast of the white marble a brightly painted red walls
It feels like Im eating in a basement.
I liked it better the way it was, had natural lighting and colour
Yeah, what kind of moron designers would take away natural lighting by enclosing the ceiling?
@@OMGWTFLOLSMH I'm guessing they just wanted to make room for sportcheck, so they decided it was easier to do away with the old food court design altogether :/
I'm kind of glad to see the fountains go. They were so noisy. There is also more seating room now, so easier to find a spot. Although those movable plastic chairs are terrible.
I was old enough to remember, but too young to actually enjoy the food court for what it was. A damn treasure, and staple of the mall. It made it unique, but now its souless.
I remember the original food court - in 1981!
The McDonald's in Phase Three was also changed from the way it was originally. There used to be funky padded purple benches that made it look like a fancy restaurant.
I miss that court it was so cool
I miss that arcade when it was called circuit Circus by the McDonald's back in the day and the $1 movie theaters
One thing that is very cool about the new WEM is the china town theme above brbn St.
Remember bed bath and beyond? Used to look at it while eating lol.
Hey I was part of the team the did the renovation in the food court and the Statue of Caesar at the base that he is standing was a time Capsule in side was some money, notes from the workers and much more!
I seem to remember all of this, and it makes me sad to realize how much they changed it, from having style, and character, to plain, drab, clean, white shiny modern style, and that pisses me off, I use to go to this mall all the time, I did take my girlfriend to see the phantom menace and it was awesome, I was a huge Star Wars fan then, and still am now, I also remember sitting by the McDonald’s in the phase III court and, getting up and walking over the little bridges with the water, and going looking at the fountain taking a bunch of photos, and I’m glad I did, I took a lot, and every so often, when I’m there at west Ed, I can’t help from thinking what it used to look like, I would click passed my photos on my camera and just wish that this was all a Dream and it’s still the west edmonton mall it used to be
I worked a few blocks away and ate at that food court 3 days/wk in the early 2000's
Awww man that brings back so many memories as a kid where I would run across the bridge and touch the water. I love the new design, but I can't help but feel the old design was better and just needed re-touching.
Actually there’s was a 3ed statue in that food court called clementine fallen it was a small cherub in a shell that sat near the cesear statue in the water feature, and fun fact even though it’s gone now it’s still considdered a poke stop in that part of the food court! Sooo cool, it’s like a cute ghost of the malls past!
Great job! Loved this
WEM Reno's and Gourmet Court, which I can remember when it opened. Heck, I was here when WEM was built and then opened itself (No more Elephants Castle or Debaji's in Phase 1; no more International Market Place either for that matter). The renovations to the current Minimalistic, Utilitarian look also means less cost for up-keep and maintenance, which Triple Five is always looking at minimizing whenever possible. Just saying, cost-cutting was a big factor in the current looks-trend happening at WEM. Do you remember when we had actual Tigers and Peacocks and Flamingo's in the mall in these various glass enclosures throughout phases 1 & 2? I do. 🧐 🤓 😎 😝
Haha back in 2007 I remember my husband taking me to WEM as our first date. As we were sitting in the McDonald's by Circuit Circus one of his friends who saw us, walks in with A&W sits with us and proceeds to eat.
It has been several yrs since I went there.
as odd as it seems ive been missing the old food court recently. it had so much character and had good aesthetics. i could never find any images of what it used to look like. thank you so much for making this video! keep up the great work!
You're not the only one!
They should have left some of the old food court in the reno's , just something ;)
Anyone remember the market place above Fantasy Land? Where did it go?
Seeing The Cell on the big screen for a buck fifty. Oh man. We have to go back.
As a kid I did a tae kwon do demonstration on that middle fountain.
Caesar has been moved to in front of the bingo hall!
You probably already know this but the marble ceased statue is still in the mall too, it was relocated in front of the casino.
Hamburger guy! And we called the Cesar statue "the disco statue"... because it looks like he's busting a move... you know. Anyway. I miss that foodcourt. Even those the floor was always wet from people splashing those water features.
I literally didnt go to the mall for like 10 years or so and I came back and the best food court was no longer. I had so many memories, as my family always ate in that one and my brother and I used to run across the bridges and play in the fountains. This makes me sad.
I haven’t been up to visit in over 10 years. I would’ve loved to touch the overhead water jets one last time.
I'm kind of surprised about no mention of Circuit City.
I would like an inbetween. A lot of the renos are good, but it’s becomming too clean. The mall needs something special, like murals, or just some whimsy in general. If I was in charge, everything would still get updated, but the updates would make it more magical, not less
I miss the old mall, wish they would bring teh old and gold era back
IMHO. Phase 3 Food Court was way better than what it is today. Sure it was darker. Will always remembered the Statute of Caesar. And the overhead of the water in the middle of the walkways. Good times!!
I seem to remember Cineplex Odeon (dollar theatre) closing after a sinkhole opened in Fantasyland and caused the pool near the train station to drain into the theatre. If memory serves, the theatre never reopened after that flood.
The movie that was filmed at West Edmonton Mall "Christmas in Wonderland" generated alot revenue for the mall for them to do renovations like that.
This food court was there five years ago..pretty recent reno.
Eating shrooms for “the matrix” at silver city. That was a trip to remember
Ontario was almost a decade late to the Sunday shopping game. I remember going to WEM in the mid-late 1980s and being amazed a mall (and its stores) would be open on Sunday!
*Great video!* The original food court was far better. Nothing beats the arch fountains with the walkways under them. The water flow was so well aligned when it exited the jets, it looked like a solid piece of glass. Kids (and people sitting at nearby tables) would often be astonished when they touched the water arch and got *soaked.*
Cesar statue is now next to the bingo
Memories😭
I don’t know if there’s a video on it but I miss the other movie theatres they had in WEM.
I think the last movie I saw there was Juno in 2007.
But it was great, half price tickets for movies from a few months ago, good popcorn….
Then it became an eyeglasses store and I was so bummed out.
I really dig your videos. I remember phase 3 food court very well as it used to be. I saw so many movies at Cinema 8. I remember that there was a Harvey's Hamburgers somewhere near the theatre in the 80's. I also remember all the McDonald's in WEM. I used to go to the one near Fantasyland usually before going to a movie at Famous Players. I didn't venture into WEM until around the time that Phase 3 was being constructed. At the time there was only 2 theatres, The Famous Players (I saw Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and the first Police Academy there as a kid--- years after I saw Oliver Stone's The Doors at the Famous Players-- I think I also saw Tim Burton's Ed Wood there too) and the original Cineplex Odeon--- which as you mentioned, later became the Dollar Theatre once Cinema 8 opened. One of the strangest things that I saw in the history of the Phase 3 food court was that they had moved a Music World Record Store in there briefly. It was totally out of place-- I have no idea why Music World got located out of the main Mall and ended up in a food court...lol. Anyway, I liked the heyday of the Phase 3 Food Court-- back in the 80's and 90's. I haven't been there in years. I can't tell you how many times I would grab some food in the court and then see a movie at Cinema 8. I saw Pulp Fiction there way more times then any mortal needs to see it....lol. I doubt I would even recognize the remodeled Food Court from what you show in the video. I really can't envision it without the Cinema 8. It wouldn't be the same for me. I would probably just get depressed going into there. I've been in WEM in the last couple of years. but usually just to Sunrise Records (or HMV back a few years more) and Collector's Edge and back out. I haven't really ventured too much into the rest of WEM. It has been a while. I am sure the changes would really throw me for a loop. Thanks for the great videos--- I am really enjoying them.
Curcuit Circus!!
I remember what it was like before they renovated it. I don’t mind the changes, I actually think it looks better now.
I Miss Those Fountains😢😢😥
I did acid at the mall back in 1999 when I was 15. A total trip to see these old clips from the past. The Phase III food court was always were we ended up. Haha needless to say that experience was pretty bizarre.
I miss the old food court. Had a lot of character. New one is just so... Clean and sterilized.
But I miss Circuit Circus the most. SO many memories there.