What Happened to the Bourbon Street Statues at West Edmonton Mall?

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West Edmonton Mall's BRBNST wasn't always as it was today. Many years ago, the street was decorated with statues of jesters... and before that, it was themed as OG Bourbon Street: A Louisiana Experience right in the middle of Edmonton, Canada. But, what happened to all those statues?
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[@kaitlyns9737]

I miss how magical WEM used to feel! Just walking around was so much fun - I feel like it's lost a lot of that.

[@kcb9455]

I was just about to write something similar. It used to be so cool, I definitely miss it.

[@CoasterDave]

I still can't believe I found this gem of a channel, no one else would be able to get me hooked on the history of a shopping mall over 2000 miles (3200 kilometers) away from me but you!

[@MatchaOrchid]

OMG you got the phantom wave feeling too?! I used to get that all the time as a kid after spending a day in the waterpark!

[@BestEdmontonMall]

Yes!!!

[@juliamcjannet6216]

In Edmonton there is a venue centre called Union Hall. In their walk way inside they have the 3 headed jester. It’s painted black and super cool! I haven’t been there in a couple years so I’m not sure if it still there.

[@AgentXRifle]

Excalibur, the Fire Breathing Dragon! I would love to have that!

[@onewhitedude]

Someone in the world MAY have the claw or head.

[@SparklyChainsaw]

I will never forget Julio's Barrio in the mall. The painted murals, the piñatas, pepper lights, the FOOD! I live in Europe now but was born and raised in western Alberta. Driving to Edmonton with my family in the 2000's as a child was like going to Disneyland, and because my parents were also Alberta-born, they would tell me about the old Bourbon Street, Fanatsyland, and what old stores used to be. We would usually spend a whole afternoon and eat dinner at the mall. And it was always Julio's. Was forever angry when it left, but at least we could still drive down to Whyte Ave. to go to the original location. My mom would always wear t-shirts she bought from the WEM location. Was also fascinated by jesters as a child, so I adored the 2000's, second-era 'cartoony kitsch' and would take a bunch of blurry pictures and stare at the huge statues for a while. Will not forget the weird potato-gourd-thing under the entrance jester's foot 😂😂

[@LakeNipissing]

Having seen this statue in person, first at the mall, and later at your place, it was great to hear it come alive in this video with the speaker in the tuba connected to an amplifier !

[@dustinwatkins7843]

Reminds me of the Family Guy joke: "We're all just blockin' the street, we're all just blockin' the street!" hahaha 🤣

[@Poodleoop]

Hello Best Edmonton mall this is an amazing take on the WEM in those days and very informative. You have no idea what memories you have rekindled in me because not only was I in Bourbon Street the night it opened but believe it or not it was my live band that played the opening ceremony! I would love to connect with you about WEM stuff and share some of the stories of being the official WEM roving band that opened all the new phases. Thanks, Will Cramer.

[@yoshitotem]

Huh, well this was an interesting discovery. Never thought i'd see a whole YT channel dedicated to one of the best places in my own city. I must admit, this video intrigued me enough to want to learn more about WEMs past. I only knew the WEM of the late 90s/early 2000s and on. For me, the jester filled version of Bourbon St was the one i knew as a child, so getting to see what came before was fascinating.

[@nighterror3967]

I love your collection of WEM memorabilia and I hope it keeps growing! Side note, I made a vaporwave mix with Red's Rec Room as the cover, and many, many, many people are asking if it is (or was) a real place! :)

[@peter.s-yt]

I've been searching for the auction from 2012, but can't find nothing! Very excited for this video!!

[@kcb9455]

It’s so funny you brought up the wave pool feeling while laying in bed at night. I definitely had that too after all those days with the super summer attractions pass! Lol

[@nicholasmather]

I worked as a casual floor runner at Kastner Auctions for a time and one of my lasting memories was the day when a few of those statues went up for auction. I'd have to do some deep diving in my photo archives, from 2009-2012, but I remember taking a picture of the "party goer" shown at 4:53.

[@mikeross880]

Looking forward to tomorrow night too, hope everyone's Summer is going well so far.

[@canadiancatgreen]

Hey I have a request. Can you do a video about a atyraction that I think was called Waterworks? Ithink part of World Waterpark? I never been in the waterpark and know little about the attracton I only seen a brief video somewhere I think it had pipes and was kind of like a spay park type thing. I am sure you or some people here know what I am talking about

[@stellarsjay1773]

Gosh, I went there not many years after it opened. It was so special then.

[@ChristopherLeeTech]

I have so many memories of WEM as a kid. I remember Canadian Tire being above Burbon street & IKEA being where Sport Check is now… when I tell people those 2 stores used to be at the mall people don’t believe me. 😂 Do you remember the Magic Shop near/in Burbon street?

[@naderzein2435]

Hey I tried Catcher because of your videos and I am now hooked on that place. You should continue with the food reviews I didn't even know about that pulled noodle spot on Bourbon St.!!!

[@M_D93]

The part where you could play Bluetooth audio through the Tuba man statue is pretty sweet. If I had that, I'd be playing System of a Down and Deftones all day, every day.

[@kami6317]

d e f t o n e s

[@M_D93]

@@kami6317 I say this because the only time (until next month) I went to WEM was the early 2000s, back when the WTC was still standing. I never heard these albums at the time, but for some strange reason, Toxicity and White Pony, and some other nu metal albums, remind me of my time at WEM.

[@sabrinamiller3671]

You have have so much cool stuff (including your news artcles and award) to go with your amazing memories of the Mall. That's so awesome!!

[@TrickiVicBB71]

I have been to The Comic Strip and Five for Five there. Good places

[@JUICYPICKLESPRO]

I’ve heard there closing the mall for three years to completely renovate the whole thing and add a ski hill and different things

[@BestEdmontonMall]

That was an April fools joke

[@kellibradley]

I still miss Bourbon Street!

[@bernieschau]

I miss eating at the Old Spaghetti Factory on the corner.

[@gearkidgames4283]

Can u do a video on what u think will replace the mindbender

[@andrewrys8663]

The stuff In that area was very good a long time ago. I miss that vibe

[@sabrinamiller3671]

AH, NO WAY!! Congrats, my guy!!

[@rabidwallaby84]

I wish WEM still had this uniqueness. Now, it feels bland and partly run down (depending on the wing you're in). Sad.

[@lifenatureinalbertacanada9317]

Show a full video of Galaxyland from Eric

[@kevinhardy8997]

I miss the fountain.

[@windsonma8209]

For me Personally when it Comes to WEM that would be either the Whale or the Pirate Ship I can’t remember what’s it’s call at the moment, as they both serve as I bit of a Good Luck Charm of sorts. Because whenever I see one or both I always know that I would be having a busy but also a Fun Shopping experience for that trip, in addition to being that trip to Edmonton is almost complete after going to the Sai Woo Chinese Restaurant for dinner. As side from those two items I’d say if I can either or both of the Power Rangers Megazord or Thunder Megazord Suits being the Mega Power Rangers Fan that I was back then.

[@Peyz1824]

When I was younger I remembered there was a crocodile or alligator statue in a cage near the lake. I wonder if anyone has a picture of that. Also when the sea lion rock tree looked like a gorilla

[@ChineseCow709]

do you have a video that discusses what happened to the british telephone booth on bourbon street?

[@mark_omega]

What about the screaming lady with her legs outside of a window??? Remember that???

[@micktebb4534]

3/D Imagery is my company. Let's have a chat.

[@BestEdmontonMall]

Send me a message on my website contact page... BestEdmontonMall.com

[@lasrswordja]

Rumor has it they changed the name because the mall isn't in America so they couldn't legally call it "bourbon". XD

[@BestEdmontonMall]

🙄

[@stellarsjay1773]

Os

[@pizzaearthpancakesandother2549]

Can we all agree that Edmonchukian lay-deez are the hottest??