Royop: Building Communities with Vision and Commitment

Royop has been a leader in retail development in the region since building Western Canada’s first enclosed mall in Calgary in 1964.

The company’s latest retail development in Sierra Springs boasts Airdrie’s first PetSmart, Wine and Beyond, Morning Brunch Co., D Spot Dessert Cafe and Firehouse Subs. The development also features Kal Tire, Foggy Gorilla Vape Shop, BarBurrito, KFC and Romantiko Barbershop.

Jeremy Thal, CEO of Royop, is visibly excited to talk about his work while enjoying a fresh latte at Morning Brunch Co. at 8:30 a.m. on a Tuesday.

“It's tangible,” said Thal. “We can all sit here and talk about your favourite retailer or your favourite restaurant, and then I can go and actually open it up and provide it to that customer. I think that's pretty cool.”

The Airdrie property was purchased in 2022, construction was completed throughout 2023 and opened in January 2024.

“Airdrie is a great government to deal with,” said Thal. “We knew we could work collaboratively with them."

Founded by Morris Kowall 60 years ago, this family-owned business has seen three generations of dedicated leadership. Thal regards Morris as a grandfather figure and his father, Harvey Thal joined the company in 1977. Royop employs 60 people internally, plus hundreds of contractors and consultants to complete their builds.

The Calgary-based company's ability to fully lease properties even before construction is completed speaks volumes about its reputation and relationships.

Royop's success can be attributed to its adaptability to evolving market trends, transitioning from traditional malls to incorporating residential developments, thereby creating vibrant mixed-use communities.

“Airdrie is a fantastic market,” said Thal. “It's growing like crazy. Back to the fundamentals of retail. You want population. You want density.”

Learn more about Royop at royop.com