One of the world’s best-known brands is taking its retail initiative to the world’s largest entertainment and shopping complex: the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta (Canada). A lease has been signed for a space somewhere inside the huge 5.3 million square-foot complex which includes 800 tenants spanning the full range of American and international retailers, an aquarium, water and amusement parks, multi-screen cinema, casino and over 100 eating establishments. The city of Edmonton is about 185 miles north of Calgary, where tipsters have said another retail store is planned.
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Great, as long as Vancouver’s opens first.
I’m in Edmonton and this will be interesting to see.
There are two Apple dealers just north of WEM, Westworld Computers (Apple exclusive) and Compusmart (computer/phone/TV/etc) store that resized downwards by more than half a few years ago when they opened a newer location on the other side of the city, (three locations total).
I used to work at Westworld a long time ago in their service department.
The number of Apple dealers in Edmonton has increased over the last number of years with a small number of VARs in addition to the shlock Apple section in Future Shop stores. I don’t venture into Best Buys too often so I haven’t seen anything Apple in there other than iPods.
Any idea on what section of WEM the Apple store will be going into? [IFO-Reportedly the 'Phase I' building, second level.]
WEM is a huge mall and different sections have different feelings about them. WEM is also continually remaking itself, revamping areas of the building and changing different things around as shops move and change.
Why oh why did they have to go for that eye sore of mall, I hate that mall, I think that I’ll Stay away. I think that every time that I have had go go there I started grinding my teeth.
Apple would probably do better in another location like the South Edmonton Commons Strip Mall, They could have their out biulding.
Wow. I sent apple an email suggesting a WestEd Applestore years ago. Maybe someone read it?! Anyway, I’m relieved. I’ve never heard anything good about Westworld in Edmonton (there’s a store in Vancouver too).
I agree with you Owen, Vancouver needs a store first.
There could not have been a better choice for an Apple Store than West Edmonton Mall. It is not like I shop there but everyone in the area and many tens of thousands of foreign visitors go there each year and thus, if the idea of the Apple Store is to support customers and further the expansion of the Apple products available and might I hope, the third party products that support Apple computers and accessories then WEM is the place to set up a fine store. With respect to the so-called Full Service Apple Resellers mentioned already, it is my opinion that Edmonton is poorly served with VARs on the consumer level with my lowest opinion levelled at Westworld who carries hardly any accessories and drives and third party products and who must order pretty much every item one needs. On the professional level things are better with Mac-Centric who caters exceedingly well to graphics professionals and as well the user. Having an Apple Store will not hurt the good resellers such as Mac Centric but it will make Westworld shudder at the serious professionalism that an Apple Store will bring to their heretofore monopoly. That lack of leadership from the oldest Apple Store in Edmonton is clearly demonstrated by their signage..they still have the rainbow apple as the logo…yeah, right.
Appears that Compusmart has an “express” store in West Edmonton Mall. I haven’t been in their WEM store to see what it is like.
Compusmart appears to be shutting down their other stores here in Edmonton. They recently shut down their downtown location and their website lists their southside and the west end stores as shutting down as well. The WEM store is not mentioned.
Perhaps the chain is shutting down? There is one store in Calgary and the Store closing on their main page lists it, along with two stores in Monreal (Leaving an Express store in Quebec City) and two stores in Ontario (Toronto and Scarborough). http://www.compusmart.com
As to the Westworld signage, it is a bit ancient. It has Claris, Global Village and Farallon logo’s and does use the rainbow Apple logo on it and has been there for about a decade. It is also a very large sign and the companies that are listed on their likely helped to pay for it. Sign costs are not small and the cost to replace it when the margins have shrunk in the computer business makes it a decision on whether it is cost justifiable, unless some of their current suppliers are willing to kick in some bucks.
I got out of the computer business a few years ago. Too crazy, too many changes and too much trying to keep up with the latest and greatest.
CompuSmart also closed their downtown Vancouver store recently. Could be an omen.
As part of the demolition and redevelopment of the old Capitol 6 Theatre cinema on Granville St, the concrete shell of the old ‘entrance’ has been left in place. The space lends itself to the Apple store design, offering a store around the right size for Vancouver, a great location, double-height open space and space for their characteristic full-height glass shopfront and ‘that’ logo.
Anyone have any info? It’s at 820 Granville St.
I passed the Old West Edmonton Compusmart store and the sign said to go to the south side store. I was on the south side Friday and decided to stop in to their south side store for the first time and got there about 12:30. They shut the store down at noon. So…seems Compusmart is toast.
Their Web site now indicates stores in Alberta and Quebec only. The south side store is the only one listed and it is gone now. No stores anywhere else and the stores in Quebec seem to be closing down.
The store is going to be build in the parking lot between the waterpark and sportschek. It will be attached to the mall.
Westworld in Edmonton is a poor place to go. I will go anywhere but back there.
I am glad i don’t live in Edmonton because I would’nt go to WEM to do business there. I live in Calgary and deal at Westworld but wish they would move there store on Centre st north (or locate an additional store) with great people but a bad location where parking is very, very difficult. There Apple should should be like auto dealer business and tell them where there stores ar located if they want to be a dealer.
In Westworlds case locate in an area with parking with a convient parking lot but not like WEM
app
About the sign cost, it only needs the front plastic replaced with white.
How much can that be, $500?
I think the owner is just a cheap guy who knows as soon as a real Apple store goes in down the road (WEM) he is toast. And it seems like everyone thinks he deserves it.
I commented elsewhere on the lack of Apple Stores in Canada. There seems not to be an Apple Store here and I suspect it is a rumour that there is a lease signed for West Edmonton Mall as there is no sign of such a place in that mall. All’s the pity as it would be a terrific locale to place one. Edmonton is a very wealthy city and Apple Computer could do a lot worse than placing a store here in this city of one million of which the majority are young and upwardly mobile, tech savvy and wired..Apple, get with it!
Hi Reg, glad to see you are doing well. Phil not sure what we did to upset you but please send us a note and I’ll see what we can do. My email and mangers email is on the contact page at http://www.westworld.ca
WestWorld has been an Apple Dealer in Edmonton for 30 years and received several awards including WorldWide Best Apple Store, Consumer Choice Award and many more.
Personally, I like the Classic Apple Signage, but yes it is time for a change and our signs will soon be updated. If you have not visited our Edmonton store lately then you likely are not aware of many other improvements we have already made. Drop by; let me know what you think.
Yes, an Apple Corporate Store will someday be in Edmonton and Calgary. But this is not the only expansion, with the growing demand for their products, Apple is expanding their presence in Big Box stores, and reseller authorizations.
All of this is great news for those of us who for may years that have enjoyed using Apple Products.
Carl Harr
President
WestWorld Computers Ltd.
Nice to see you on the frontline Carl. Most owners would not take the time or effort to put as much time into furthering there business as you have.
But seriously now, the biggest problem with WestWorld is the Sales staff. I can recall countless times I have called in, and received answers that consist of salesman having to check every answer with a subordinate or an online source. The sales people at WestWorld have more interest in pushing out product then finding solutions. I have had countless experiences, as have MANY other customers in this city and surrounding area, that will make it a welcome treat to have a new apple dealer on the west end of edmonton.
There are countless others in the city, My Mac Dealer and Mac Centric to name a few that have really opened my eyes to see what real knowledge and customer service can be like.
I only hope the apple store will be the same.
Congrats for West Edmonton Mall!! =)
Quebec is the best place on earth!