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Driving by Winkler’s Southland Mall lately, people might have noticed it’s starting to feel a bit livelier than in the recent past. New shops are popping up, old spaces are getting a facelift, and soon enough, people will have a new spot to satisfy their breakfast cravings.
Wes Harder, one of the brokers at The Property Brokers Real Estate Group in Winkler, has been watching this slow but steady transformation unfold. “Lots of new things happening, of course. Everyone wishes it would happen a lot quicker than it does, but you know, construction takes time.”
Harder’s been involved with the mall’s redevelopment for a couple of years now, and he’s excited about the changes, especially the recent arrival of Winners and the impending expansion of Marks.
“Marks is going to be moving across the parking lot and tripling the size of their space,” Harder shares. “They’re going to be going into that space directly beside Winners… brand new store. 15,000 square feet.”
On top of that, an Anytime Fitness is currently under construction next to Staples.
“The Anytime Fitness group tells me it’s going to be kind of a flagship gym for Manitoba… It’s a beautiful, beautiful gym,” he says.
The mall’s layout has also been shifting, with businesses favouring front entrances over the classic mall corridor. Harder says they’re actively working on filling some of the internal spaces, so the inside might still have a few surprises in store.
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Now, about those pancakes...
A new restaurant called Stacked Pancake and Breakfast House is coming to the mall’s south end, right beside Shoppers Drug Mart.
“Stacked Pancake and Breakfast House is coming in at what we call the ‘end cap’, which is right beside Shoppers on the very South end of the mall,” Harder confirms. The space is about 2,500 square feet.
Originally from Ontario, Stacked is a Canadian company with about 60 locations already. Their menu is focused on breakfast and brunch: pancakes, waffles, crepes, and all the classic morning favourites.
“People love breakfast, you know,” Harder says, noting their hours typically run from 7 am to 3 pm.
When pressed about the eternal pancake topping debate — butter first or syrup first — Harder goes for both. “Well, butter and syrup. I mean, who can say no to either butter or syrup? I love butter,” he said, adding that when he wants to "live it up", he would add fruit for good measure.
Construction on Stacked is set to start on August 1st. “They’ve got to get everything built out… Likely not something we’re going to see open until, could be early winter, late fall… but yeah, people should expect to start seeing some activity there this summer.”
After years defined by quiet halls, the Southland Mall has felt, at times, like a relic waiting for revival. But now, with a growing list of new tenants and renovations underway, the mall—a place filled with memories for many in the community—seems to be finally catching its second wind.