 8th Street East is an important arterial road within Saskatoon, and from Clarence Avenue to McKercher Drive is considered the city's main suburban commercial district, with many shops and businesses, including a major regional shopping centre and several strip malls located on the road.Until the 1980s–early 1990s it also featured a number of motels and hotels, but these were gradually demolished in favour of retail development (as of 2016, there are only two).8th Street East is divided by a boulevard until Boychuk Drive, where it downgrades to a two-lane road, and becomes a gravel road after leaving the developed portion of Saskatoon.