The first customers checked out the new Target store at Hillside Centre on Tuesday where retailers and shoppers are relieved that major construction is nearing completion.
“I think most retailers here are anxiously awaiting the opening of some new fresh anchors in the mall,” said Samantha Bolen, owner of Bolen Books, located in the shopping centre for close to 40 years.
U.S. retailers Target and Marshalls signed on as tenants in the $80-million project to expand and upgrade Hillside. Target’s soft opening Tuesday is being followed by a grand opening at 8 a.m. Friday. Marshalls opens March 27.
“With these new anchors, I expect that will bring people back to the mall that had left because of the construction,” Bolen said.
It was difficult for some shoppers to navigate the parking lot during construction, Bolen said, adding that it could not have been done differently. Parts of the parking lots were cut off during the project.
“I’ve had customers say, ‘I stayed away, but now I’m back,’ ” she said.
Ralf Mundel, spokesman for Thrifty Foods, next door to Target, said, “I’m sure our customers will be excited to finally access our Thrifty Foods store and park with ease.”
The finished Hillside shopping centre will measure 590,000 square feet. It has more than 100 stores and services. Other anchors include Sears Canada, Shoppers Drug Mart, and SportChek and Atmosphere. Bentall Kennedy bought Hillside Centre in December.
Hillside’s redevelopment was done in stages. The first phase finished in 2011, allowing the second to begin. Kinetic Construction and EllisDon have been partners in both stages.
The 150,000-square foot, two-storey Target store at Hillside is new construction, with tall ceilings, wide aisles and easy-to-see signs. It was built on the site of a one-storey Zellers that was torn down. Shoppers can enter Target from inside the shopping centre, as well as at the Hillside Avenue side of the store.
Greater Victoria’s first Target store, at 122,000 square feet, opened in May 2013 in a former Zellers store at Tillicum Centre in Saanich.
Target began opening stores in Canada last year, saying it wanted to have 150 locations across the country by 2017, but financial results have not been what the Minneapolis-based company had hoped for.
Some of the first Hillside Target customers were full of praise.
“I love, love the store. I’m impressed,” said Melba Boraas, of Victoria, who bought grocery items. “They [staff] are so helpful — popping out from everywhere. I love the attitude.”
Nancy Boyer, who lives nearby, praised its look and product selection. Boyer and Boraas said they would shop there again.
Although a shortage of product on shelves has been an issue for Target, the Hillside store’s shelves are full.
Marshalls will be located on the second floor of the shopping centre’s new eastern wing. It is owned by TJX Companies Inc., which also owns Winners and HomeSense, with headquarters in Framingham, Mass.
“Marshalls is unprecedented here, so that is exciting,” Bolen said.
Toronto-based retail analyst John Winter said anchor stores are magnets bringing in shoppers who patronize the other stores and services.
Marshalls is oriented to shoppers seeking affordably priced goods, he said.
“Everybody’s concerned with price today because it has taken a long time to get out of the recession. ... Saving money at a store is a big incentive.”
Target is still figuring out the Canadian market, Winter said.
