Westfield Wants St James Name, Edinburgh Says No

Owners of Edinburgh's billion pound St. James' quarter want to slap the Westfield name on it, calling it Westfield St. James' quarter with shiny new.

Signs, they pitched the idea to the city of Edinburgh Council, but it's already stirring up trouble in the capital.

The spot sits at the east end of Princess Street, not anywhere near the west, which has folks scratching their heads.

Plus, Edinburgh already has a Westfield neighborhood out in Gorge, way on the other side of town.

Locals are firing back hard on social media, calling out the geography mix-up and saying it'll confuse tourists big time.

Many want to hold on to the historic St. James' name from way back, though a few shoppers dig the Westfield vibe for the fancy stores it brings.

The massive complex open in 2021 and draws crowds, but Edinburgh has a track record of ignoring these corporate name swaps.

Remember, when Waverly Market became Princess Mall, people kept calling it Waverly until the owners caved.

Weed, expect the same stubborn spirit here. St. James' quarter will stick in minds no matter what signs go up, keeping that local pride alive.

Stay informed with Edinburgh News Today, AI-powered updates. I'm Corey, with the story.