Food Court In Session is a podcast, ranking, series of essays, and exploration of every mall in Metro Vancouver.
Every two weeks, Justin McElroy, Steve Masuch and rotating guests explore a different mall in our region, as we debate and determine what a mall means in 2026, and which one in Metro Vancouver is truly the best.
Come along with us on this very silly but worthwhile journey, as we go to new food courts, and debate old memories.
Consider it less as a definitive ranking and more of an anthology of the walkable indoor commercial spaces of our city that inspire joy, annoyance, nostalgia and questions about their future.
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, https://echomenace.com
Celebrated in song, beloved by the city, totally average in terms of stores inside: why do people love Kingsgate Mall so much? Episode guest: provincial raconteur Bob Kronbauer (https://bcbob.ca).
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, www.echomenace.com (https://www.echomenace.com/?ref=foodcourtinsession.ca)
8 Sept 2026
Henderson Place Mall
Henderson Place has a good food court, a good design, a good location, and yet, a third to a quarter of all its storefronts are empty. Why? Guest: health policy analyst Zahid Dosa (https://www.linkedin.com/in/zahiddossa/).
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, www.echomenace.com (https://www.echomenace.com/?ref=foodcourtinsession.ca)
24 Aug 2026
Haney Place Mall
There's no mystery on whether Haney Place Mall is any good. So we explore a more interesting question: what made it turn bad? Episode guest: Maple Ridge resident and IT manager Matt Aquin.
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, www.echomenace.com (https://www.echomenace.com/?ref=foodcourtinsession.ca)
10 Aug 2026
Guildford Town Centre
It doesn’t have the buzz or transit connections of a Metrotown or Oakridge or Aberdeen, but could Surrey’s finest be the best mall in Metro Vancouver? Guest: labour lawyer Vyas Saran (https://www.linkedin.com/in/vyassaran/).
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, www.echomenace.com (https://www.echomenace.com/?ref=foodcourtinsession.ca)
29 Jul 2026
Empire Centre
Smushed between much bigger Richmond options, does a great food court, one weird hallway, and one bad parking lot make a good mall? Episode Guest: Vancouver writer and journalist Christopher Cheung (https://www.christophercheung.net/).
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, www.echomenace.com (https://www.echomenace.com/?ref=foodcourtinsession.ca)
13 Jul 2026
Denman Place
A small, old and dark mall, Denman is often derided — but is that justified? Justin and Steve invite their West End friend to make the best case for its community impact. Episode guest: Union organizer Stephanie Ryan.
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, www.echomenace.com (https://www.echomenace.com/?ref=foodcourtinsession.ca)
29 Jun 2026
Crystal Mall
The year was 2000, and across the street from the mighty Metrotown, something new was coming to the City of Burnaby. Even with a famed planner and architect behind a new project, this plan for a new mall was raising eyebrows for all its unorthodox choices. Then it opened, and a new reality crystallized. Episode Guest: Vancouver writer and journalist Christopher Cheung (https://www.christophercheung.net/).
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, www.echomenace.com (https://www.echomenace.com/?ref=foodcourtinsession.ca)
15 Jun 2026
Coquitlam Centre
Coquitlam Centre is a 1980s style suburban mall that has tried to stay relevant with renovations and buzzier retail options — but does it fully work? Episode Guest: Vancouver architect and project manager John Roddick.
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, www.echomenace.com (https://www.echomenace.com/?ref=foodcourtinsession.ca)
1 Jun 2026
City Square
For a mall next to City Hall, City Square may fly under the radar — but it’s a fascinating mix of neighbourhood necessities and Vancouver history. Episode Guests: Vancouver journalists Jen St. Denis (https://thetyee.ca/Bios/Jen_St__Denis/) and Dan Fumano (https://vancouversun.com/author/danfumanoprov/).
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, www.echomenace.com (https://www.echomenace.com/?ref=foodcourtinsession.ca)
18 May 2026
City of Lougheed
What happens to a mall when a redevelopment takes forever to take place? And what happens when a mall stops trying to be exciting, and in the process becomes a whole lot more interesting? Episode Guest: New Westminster resident and Burquitlam fan Chelsea Watt (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/chelsea-watt-salt-pepper-shakers-1.7293958).
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, www.echomenace.com (https://www.echomenace.com/?ref=foodcourtinsession.ca)
4 May 2026
Central City
25 years ago, Surrey's big attempt at a big mall had goals of being "the Robson Street of Surrey". We fact check the reality. Episode Guest: Vancouver comedian Colin Sharp (https://colincolincolin.com).
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, www.echomenace.com (https://www.echomenace.com/?ref=foodcourtinsession.ca)
20 Apr 2026
Capilano Mall
The story of Capilano is the story of so many midsized suburban malls, but there's a few interesting details of this mall that make it worth debating. Episode Guest: Earnscliffe Strategies principal Amelia Hill (https://www.instagram.com/deepcovemia/).
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, www.echomenace.com (https://www.echomenace.com/?ref=foodcourtinsession.ca)
7 Apr 2026
Bentall Centre
In some cities, underground maze-like malls linking metro stations to office complexes are popular, but does Vancouver's Bentall Centre match up? Episode Guest: government policy director and co-op champion Kevin Harding (https://bsky.app/profile/kevinharding.ca).
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, www.echomenace.com (https://www.echomenace.com/?ref=foodcourtinsession.ca)
23 Mar 2026
Amazing Brentwood
It transformed from a somewhat generic suburban mall to a collection of shiny towers and anchor tenants, but as an actual mall, is The Amazing Brentwood really amazing? Episode Guest: Vancouver writer and journalist Christopher Cheung (https://www.christophercheung.net/).
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, www.echomenace.com (https://www.echomenace.com/?ref=foodcourtinsession.ca)
9 Mar 2026
Admiralty Mall
Which Metro Van mall has the biggest quality gap between its food court and the rest of its stuff? It may just be Admiralty. Episode Guest: Jeopardy Richmond local Brendan Liaw (https://www.instagram.com/brendanliaw/).
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, www.echomenace.com (https://www.echomenace.com/?ref=foodcourtinsession.ca)
25 Feb 2026
Aberdeen Mall
What's the best mall in Metro Vancouver? We're gonna figure it out, beginning with Richmond's influential Aberdeen Mall. Episode Guest: Vancouver writer and journalist Christopher Cheung (https://www.christophercheung.net).
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, www.echomenace.com (https://www.echomenace.com/?ref=foodcourtinsession.ca)
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Spotify
4.9 / 5
13 ratings
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