BEDFORD – Anyone who enjoys shopping knows that a mall must be more than just a place with a random assortment of shops. A great mall must offer, not only a great shopping experience but also a welcoming atmosphere with a variety of options for food, clothes, fitness and entertainment.
The Sunnyside Mall, which has been in Bedford for more than 55 years offers such an experience. If you like to go in and out, the mall is easy to access with one level, includes 56 retail tenants, more than 70 percent of which is locally owned and operated. On top of that, it has a unique atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else while shopping in the city of Halifax.
“A lot of people choose Sunnyside because it isn’t like your typical mall; it’s almost like walking into a European Market,” says Jill Mason, the marketing manager for Sunnyside Mall. “And you have a mix of that with the natural light and the smell of freshly cooked food.”
“That’s something you don’t find anywhere else. It’s the experience people come for, whether it is to meet up with friends and grab a bite to eat or to find a special gift.”
Sunnyside Mall has evolved a lot over the years to keep up with the constantly changing shopping trends. Despite the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the mall has a vacancy rate of under 15 percent, which indicates businesses are successfully expanding and operating into the mall.
Recently, The Plaid Place (a clothing shop specializing in plaid) moved from their downtown Halifax location to the Sunnyside Mall. And this fall a Buta Ramen restaurant will be welcomed into the fold, adding to an already amazing restaurant selection at the mall that includes The Middle Spoon, Finbar’s Irish Pub, Makhani Indian Restaurant, Il Mercato, and more.
“The selection of stores and services have changed with the times,” says Mason. “We still have some of those great tenants from decades ago, but new ones have come in that have really changed the experience of Sunnyside Mall. They complement the atmosphere.”
Of course, there are certain longtime stores at Sunnyside that are staples of the mall. Two that quickly come to mind are Pete’s Frootique & The Village Green, and Moe’s Menswear – which are favourites to many Bedford shoppers. Another local favourite is the takeout joint called On The Wedge.
“On The Wedge; they’ve been here for a very long time,” says Mason. “Everything they have is delicious, but if you come by, you need to try their pizza, it’s just incredible.”
But Sunnyside Mall is more than just a place to eat and buy clothes. There is so much to do and see that an entire family can spend a fun-filled day shopping and entertaining themselves.
Sunnyside has an O2 Wellness facility, a taekwondo school, a dance studio, and even an indoor playground for the kids. And for those who enjoy video games and technology, you can easily spend an afternoon at the mall playing classic pinball and other arcade gems at Silverball Games. Or, if you want to play something more futuristic, you can spend your time inside Virtual Reality at Xen-Z.
“There is so much to do here, no matter what your age is. We have the accessibility of it being one level, and there are activities for kids,” explains Mason.“You can do anything from shopping to dining to socializing; there’s a mix of everything. We also have an office tower here.”
If you’ve never been to the Sunnyside Mall before and are not sure where to start your experience, Mason has laid out a can’t-miss plan you can follow.
“Start your experience off by stopping in at Second Cup and getting a latte or a hot beverage, and then go into Pete’s Boutique, which is a specialty grocery store.”
“I would go around to the different boutiques for home décor, self-care, or any of our fashion tenants for clothing. Maybe book a massage, hair, or facial. If needed, I could go to my eye appointment, banking, or have my phone fixed. I would finish the day off by checking out one of our restaurants or one of our food tenants in our market side.”
This story was sponsored by Sunnyside Mall.
Shop, Eat, Get Fit And Entertain Yourself At Atlantic Canada's Most Unique Mall - Huddle Today
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