(Image from Metrotown)
Disclaimer: “Metropolis at Metrotown” will be shortened to simply “Metrotown” during this article.
Ah, Metrotown. Metro Vancouver’s supposed “greatest shopping destination”, home to nearly 500 retailers spread across 3 luxurious floors, complete with a massive food court, SkyTrain station, and of course, Build-A-Bear Workshop. Most people I talk to love Metrotown, and I guess I can understand why. It’s massive, everything you’d ever want out of a shopping mall. As for me though, I am a certified Metrotown hater. Don’t get me wrong, I love Build-A-Bear as much as the next person, but it might be my least favorite mall in Metro Vancouver. But before you get your pitchforks out, let me explain myself.
I live in Langley. A bit far removed from the action, but Its quiet atmosphere is what I love most about it. I grew up going to 2 malls for my shopping: Langley’s own Willowbrook Mall, and nearby Guildford Town Centre in Surrey. When I was a kid, these malls kind of sucked. Willowbrook was pretty one note, with Zeller’s and Toys ‘R’ Us being the only highlights in an otherwise barren local mall. Guildford had a Walmart, an arguably pretty neat covered pedestrian walkway, and a couple of essential stores, but like Willowbrook, it was bland. So why am I talking about these two seemingly mundane shopping centres? Well, In 2011, Guildford mall began a revitalization process, followed a few years later by Willowbrook. What were once 2 one-note locations are now among the cleanest, most modern malls in Metro Vancouver, with plenty of unique shopping and dining options. There’s a lot to appreciate about their sleek new appearances, especially in comparison to Metrotown.
Metrotown reminds me a lot of pre-2010’s Guildford and Willowbrook. The inside, although not completely original, feels dreary and old in comparison, as it’s evidently not maintained to the same standards. I visited the Toys ‘R’ Us location in the mall for it’s closing day last year and was surprised to see that the original 1970’s era branding was still featured throughout the store, clearly never updated during their tenure. The food court is a free-for-all of shoppers dashing around trying to find a table, and with the dated decor from 2004 still present, the whole place just feels stuck in a time warp. Even my beloved Build-A-Bear looked extremely old-fashioned compared to other toy shops, but they had the sense to upgrade to a new location elsewhere in the mall earlier this year. Build-A-Bear just can’t lose.
But perhaps the worst part of the entire facility is the transit loop. Every time I try to enter the mall or hop on the train, I’m confronted by a lunatic wearing a cardboard sign over his body shouting something in tongues. Besides the people, the bus loop itself is a disgusting, dimly lit space that sends a chill down my spine.
If I’m being completely fair, Willowbrook and Guildford aren’t devoid of problems. Guildford isn’t in a particularly nice area, and Willowbrook is comparably tiny to just about every other mall in the region. But at the very least I can still walk around either of those malls without being flattened by a wave of people. If i had to narrow down the single thing that makes me avoid Metrotown like the plague, it’s the crowds. I hinted at just how overcrowded the food court can get earlier, but unfortunately it’s not isolated to the dining area. Last time I went to Metrotown was a Wednesday, should be relatively quiet. WRONG. I was separated from my friend immediately, being pushed around against my will by a sea of unphased shoppers. It felt like I was drowning, but luckily I managed to crawl into the safety of the Build-A-Bear Workshop, narrowly avoiding becoming a human pancake. (Ok, that last part didn’t really happen, I just really like bringing up Build-A-Bear.)
If you like Metrotown, that’s great, I’m glad you can find enjoyment in it. Maybe I’m too observant of little things, or paranoid of crowds, but whatever the case may be, I’m more than comfortable sticking with Willowbrook and Guildford for the time being. Metrotown is undergoing massive changes as we speak, with more towers, new stores, and upgrades to Skytrain accessibility, so maybe one day I’ll give it another shot. Who knows, maybe you’ll see a “Metrotown is Underrated” article from me in the future.
Nah, I’m just kidding, that’ll never happen.
Written by Noah Schmidt
Contact: nschmidt20@my.bcit.ca