- Story by David Wylie Photography by Don Denton
has been growing alongside Kelowna for five decades.
害羞草研究所淵our shopping centre is the historic timeline for not only fashion, but the viability of the retail community in the city,害羞草研究所� said Donna Markin, general manager for Orchard Park.
The iconic shopping centre opened September 28, 1971. When Orchard Park was developed on a former orchard, nothing else existed between its location and the Capri area害羞草研究所攊n fact, it was so far out of town, there was some skepticism in the community that people would actually go out of their way to shop there.
The shopping centre has been central to the City of Kelowna and the area害羞草研究所檚 growth. Economically, it害羞草研究所檚 the highest taxpayer in the community and a major employer with 1,000 people working at any time. Millions are spent there each year.
There is also a social side to the mall. For many young people, working there was their first job. It害羞草研究所檚 a popular meeting place and a focus of culture and couture.
Malls also serve as a gauge for the economic health of the community, said Donna.
害羞草研究所淭his is a 50-plus-acre piece of property and a 700,000-square-foot building害羞草研究所攊t doesn害羞草研究所檛 disappear very easily,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲e have endured through the good and the bad years. It speaks to the resiliency of the mall business, its needs and its responsiveness to the community at large and what is happening.害羞草研究所�
Steady growth
When it first opened in 1971, Orchard Park had two main anchors: Simpsons-Sears and The Bay (which was completed the following year). Inside, shoppers could visit 35 smaller stores.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e got a floor plan from the 害羞草研究所�70s and some of those stores are still around,害羞草研究所� said Donna. They include The Bay, Bootlegger, Tip Top, Purdy害羞草研究所檚, Reitman害羞草研究所檚, and The Source (which originally opened as Radio Shack).
And it害羞草研究所檚 not just stores that have weathered the passage of time. Holiday traditions also remain. Santa Claus has stayed consistent. Kids who had their picture taken with the Orchard Park Santa have returned as adults with their own kids in tow to get a picture with the same St. Nick害羞草研究所攖hough perhaps a little bit older and greyer.
In 1980, the shopping centre expanded with the addition of Woolco. It also added a food court, a part of the overarching evolution of malls over time. The mall again grew its footprint when Eaton害羞草研究所檚 opened in 1992. Twenty years later, in 2011, the mall reached its current size of 707,000 square feet when Best Buy opened.
Run by Primaris Management Inc., there are more than 160 shops and services in the shopping centre, and it害羞草研究所檚 the largest mall between Greater Vancouver and the Calgary area.
Evolution
Historically, a shopping centre couldn害羞草研究所檛 be built without first securing a lease from a department store. But that害羞草研究所檚 changed, said Donna. Top department stores have been going bankrupt, leaving large spaces to suddenly fill.
害羞草研究所淚f I look at the evolution of shopping centres, I would say that the traditional mix of a shopping centre will change in the future. All of that is a response to the consumer and what they害羞草研究所檙e buying at what time.害羞草研究所�
Shopping centres are no longer simply a collection of clothing and shoe stores (although these are still an important part). Rather, there are numerous services too, including salons, dentists, travel agencies, financial assistance companies and insurance brokers.
Death of the shopping centre exaggerated
Malls have been changing with the times.
害羞草研究所淚 think a lot of people get their information about the death of shopping centres out of the US,害羞草研究所� Donna said.
Across the border, malls are built much closer to each other than in Canada, with some located just blocks away. As the population ages and consumer habits change, some centres have been forced to close due to an overabundance of them.
害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e going to see more of what we害羞草研究所檝e always done. We adapt and we change to what the consumer is needing and looking for; that is the hallmark of shopping centres,害羞草研究所� said Donna.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 very excited about what the future looks like.害羞草研究所�
She said successful stores of the future will have a combination of brick-and-mortar stores and a digital platform. Some stores are doing showcasing害羞草研究所攚here they don害羞草研究所檛 actually sell anything in the store, but rather customers view merchandise in-store and order online. Other stores take the opposite approach, where customers can only buy in-store, but will be able to compare prices and do research online, or order online and pick up in store.
害羞草研究所淭here will be innumerable variations, and I believe that Orchard Park will be part of that. It害羞草研究所檚 not going to happen overnight, but that will be ultimately where we end up.害羞草研究所�
Generous spirit
Operations manager Ron Stevenson said being charitable has always been a big part of Orchard Park害羞草研究所檚 culture.
害羞草研究所淏ecause we害羞草研究所檙e so well supported by the community, we really find it necessary to give back as much as we can,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淥ne of the initiatives that we are most proud of is raising $500,000 for Canadian Mental Health Kelowna through our Annual Charity Golf Tournament.害羞草研究所�
The company also supports many local charities and various school groups害羞草研究所� fundraising initiatives through gift card donations and a dedicated space in the shopping centre for non-profit organizations to promote themselves at no cost.
Orchard Park is also preserving history with two time capsules on the property, as part of a project done in conjunction with the City of Kelowna and the Kelowna Museum. They害羞草研究所檙e marked by a bronze and stainless steel apple sculpture created by Geert Maas. One is to be opened in 2030 and another in 2105害羞草研究所�100 years after it was sealed up in 2005.
Extra fact:
It害羞草研究所檚 hard to miss the massive 800-square-foot Canada flag that waves at the mall害羞草研究所檚 northwest corner. The flagpole on the corner of Harvey and Cooper was part of a former Husky Station.
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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