It could be a win-win for bargain shoppers.
A new 20,000 square foot, two-level commercial store will be opening next year in The Bay Centre in downtown Victoria, the mall’s management announced Monday in a statement.
Media reports claim it will be a new Winners store. Currently that discount retail chain has two locations in Greater Victoria — one at Tillicum Centre in Saanich and the other in Westshore Town Centre in Langford.
“I cannot confirm anything at this point; it’s up to the tenant to announce this,” Bay Centre general manager Darlene Hollstein told the Vic News on Tuesday. “The store is opening around April 2019, so I imagine when the new store takes possession, they’ll make a formal announcement.”
In announcing the large new space, the moving of some current tenants to others spaces within the mall, and various mall upgrades, Hollstein said the goal is to become a “shoppers’ first destination.”
“Over the long term, the realignment of the stores and services that are in The Bay Centre is intended to further enhance the shopping experience for those who live, work, and play downtown,” she added.
The addition of a large new anchor store to complement The Bay is expected to generate more traffic to the Douglas Street retail hub, which already attracts seven million visitors per year.
Currently, The Bay Centre has more than 90 stores, with the other largest spaces taken up by Sport Chek, GoodLife Fitness, Urban Planet, Coast Capital Savings, Le Chateau, Earl’s Restaurant and Passport Canada.
anna.james@vicnews.com
