Park Place expanding, rebranding food court
MALL ADDING SEATING, BUSINESSES IN $4-MILLION EXPANSION
Park Place shopping centre has begun a $4-million renovation and expansion of its existing food court to be rebranded with the name “Crave.”
“We’re investing in a complete overhaul of the entire food court, from a brand new entrance on the west side of the building,” said mall general manager Kevin Brees during an announcement Monday morning. “New washroom facilities, new flooring, entirely new seating, new everything.”
The food court not only fuels hungry shoppers but diners coming from outside of the mall, points out Brees.
“We not only serve the entire downtown but we service the entire city,” Brees said. “Every single guest that comes into the shopping centre has an opportunity to visit the food court.”
Ted Stilson, executive director of the Downtown Business Revitalization Zone, said the mall has served as an anchor for the city’s downtown for years and is excited to see this announcement added to other developments underway in the core.
“It’s going to be great for the downtown core and continue to be a great, strong anchor for the rest of the downtown,” Stilson said.
Shopping local is important and the expansion of the food court gives shoppers incentive to stay local, said Karla Pyrch, Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce executive director.
“I think it’s fantastic to see Park Place grow and expand. It’s very important that we offer our community the amenities that they like so that they will stay local and shop local.”
Investments like the food court expansion give businesses and consumers a reason to support the local retail sector, said Economic Development Lethbridge CEO Trevor Lewington. He pointed out that retail employs almost 8,000 people and represents about 15 per cent of the city’s economy.
“A $4-milllon investment in the
food court is a pretty significant reason to add more services, more amenities that you can’t get sitting in your living room while you’re clicking away on Amazon or something like that,” Lewington said.
Along with the food court expansion, the mall also announced the relocation and expansion of footwear retailer and current tenant Soft Moc, as well as the addition of two new businesses. Custom pizzas and paninis will be available from Pannizza as a new tenant to the food court later this summer, and “first to market” jeweller Michael Hill is set to open in June.
The food court, which will increase to a seating capacity of over 500 from its current 287, will remain open during construction. The renovation and expansion project is expected to be completed by mid-October.
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