- Story by David Wylie Photography by Don Denton
has been growing alongside Kelowna for five decades.
香蕉视频直播淵our shopping centre is the historic timeline for not only fashion, but the viability of the retail community in the city,香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播攊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香蕉视频直播檚 growth. Economically, it香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淭his is a 50-plus-acre piece of property and a 700,000-square-foot building香蕉视频直播攊t doesn香蕉视频直播檛 disappear very easily,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲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.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e got a floor plan from the 香蕉视频直播�70s and some of those stores are still around,香蕉视频直播� said Donna. They include The Bay, Bootlegger, Tip Top, Purdy香蕉视频直播檚, Reitman香蕉视频直播檚, and The Source (which originally opened as Radio Shack).
And it香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播攖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香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 the largest mall between Greater Vancouver and the Calgary area.
Evolution
Historically, a shopping centre couldn香蕉视频直播檛 be built without first securing a lease from a department store. But that香蕉视频直播檚 changed, said Donna. Top department stores have been going bankrupt, leaving large spaces to suddenly fill.
香蕉视频直播淚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香蕉视频直播檙e buying at what time.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淚 think a lot of people get their information about the death of shopping centres out of the US,香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淵ou香蕉视频直播檙e going to see more of what we香蕉视频直播檝e always done. We adapt and we change to what the consumer is needing and looking for; that is the hallmark of shopping centres,香蕉视频直播� said Donna.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 very excited about what the future looks like.香蕉视频直播�
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香蕉视频直播攚here they don香蕉视频直播檛 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.
香蕉视频直播淭here will be innumerable variations, and I believe that Orchard Park will be part of that. It香蕉视频直播檚 not going to happen overnight, but that will be ultimately where we end up.香蕉视频直播�
Generous spirit
Operations manager Ron Stevenson said being charitable has always been a big part of Orchard Park香蕉视频直播檚 culture.
香蕉视频直播淏ecause we香蕉视频直播檙e so well supported by the community, we really find it necessary to give back as much as we can,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淥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.香蕉视频直播�
The company also supports many local charities and various school groups香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檙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香蕉视频直播�100 years after it was sealed up in 2005.
Extra fact:
It香蕉视频直播檚 hard to miss the massive 800-square-foot Canada flag that waves at the mall香蕉视频直播檚 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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