Corner Store Revitalization Project

There’s been a shift in Edmonton’s retail landscape away from local community and neighbourhood shops. Shopping malls, mega-commercial strips, and power centres with stand alone big-box format stores dominate the shopping landscape.

This shift has drawn people away from shopping in their own neighbourhood at local corner store businesses and small local shopping centres. As a result, there’s been a decline in the number of neighbourhood stores and businesses, and a physical deterioration of many residential shopping sites.

The purpose of the Corner Store Project is to explore the actions the City might take to revitalize small neighbourhood shopping sites in mature neighbourhoods. Amongst the issues being explored are options for what would be required to:

  • Help businesses and property owners to make physical improvements, develop marketing strategies, find suitable tenants, and operate more successfully.
  • Provide better opportunity for residents to get goods and services at attractive locations within the neighbourhood.
  • Improve the opportunity for small neighbourhood shopping centres to be a valued community landmark, a hub of activity, and a walkable destination that contributes to the overall desirability of the neighbourhood.

The Corner Store Project is in line with the façade and streetscape improvement programs in Business Revitalization Zones throughout the city. Improving corner store businesses in Edmonton neighbourhoods is also consistent with the City’s Strategic Plan and the recently approved Municipal Development Plan that moves the City toward becoming a more compact, walkable, and transit-oriented city with improved building and site design, and vibrant and engaged communities.

In 2010 and 2011 City staff will study and evaluate selected small neighbourhood shopping sites (made up of 3 – 10 stores or businesses) in mature neighbourhoods that are not part of a commercial strip or a Business Revitalization Zone. City staff will:

  • Talk to local business experts to see what factors help create successful neighbourhood shopping centres. 
  • Talk to community and business organizations interested in encouraging small independent businesses and supporting efforts to “live local.” 
  • Talk to businesses, owners and customers of select small neighbourhood shopping centres to determine their issues and needs. 
  • Conduct an online survey to find out how Edmonton residents feel about their neighbourhood shopping sites.

For more information:

Lara Pinchbeck

Title Planner
Telephone

780-496-6196
Email lara.pinchbeck@edmonton.ca
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