Stores switching at Portage plaza
LCBO move creates domino effect
It’s like a really complicated episode of Trading Spaces. The Sobeys plaza at 3714 Portage Rd. has started a major renovation project that will completely change the look and layout of the strip mall that opened in the late 1990s.
Making way for the changes was the October closure of Blockbuster Video, one of the biggest tenants in the 14-unit plaza.
The plaza’s owner, Crombie REIT, which is a sister company to Sobeys, is bringing in the LCBO store currently located across the street in the Town and Country Plaza.
That addition will result in six businesses moving and one closing in a three-stage project expected to take much of this year.
“Change is good,” said Rob Mckay, who owns Vita Health Foods. “The liquor store will be a huge draw.
“It will increase the traffic in this plaza by probably 10 to 15%.”
The former Blockbuster store has been sectioned off into five individual storefronts and construction is underway on all of them.
Once completed in late March, Vita, First Choice, Bell, Aquatrue and Eyewear Studio will all move in.
The second phase of the project will then see four of the
Change is good. The liquor store will be a huge draw. It will increase the traffic in this plaza by probably 10 to 15%.”
Rob Mckay Vita Health Foods owner
units being vacated combined into one 4,200-square-foot storefront to make room for Pet Valu, which is essentially moving one spot to the right.
“We just renovated last year, but it’s positive.
“It will be a good thing for this plaza,” said Peter Pierson, the Pet Valu franchisee.
As soon as the Pet Valu moves, the final phase of construction will get started.
The north half of the plaza, from where the pet store currently resides to the end closest to Sobeys, will be torn down to allow construction of the new LCBO store.
Currently in the section that will be torn down are Pet Valu and First Choice Haircutters, which will move, Wine Rack and a vacant unit that used to house Fashion Max, which closed more than a year ago.
The Wine Rack is the one business that won’t relocate or reopen and an employee there said the five staff members hope to be offered positions at other locations around Niagara.
As for the new LCBO, company spokesman Chris Layton confirmed the move and said it will include a new, larger building style.
“We’re definitely always looking at our store network and looking at areas where we can improve service because the market it always changing,” he
said.
WALMART PLAZA ADDING PETSMART
The new detached structure in the south part of the Walmart Supercentre property will be a Petsmart. Company officials said the building will be more than 16,000-square-feet and the business will include areas for pet grooming and training, as well as an adoption centre. The Petsmart location will open July 9.
NEW SALES MANAGER FOR CONVENTION CENTRE
Lisa Serada has joined the Scotiabank Convention Centre as a senior sales manager for national and international associations. Serada is a native of Niagara and spent the previous 10 years working as the director of meeting and convention sales for the Niagara Parks Commission. Serada can be reached at lserada@fallsconventions.com.
FLEET SPONSORING AIRCRAFT EVENT
Fleet Canada, the Fort Erie-based, employee-owned aircraft parts manufacturer, is sponsoring a specialty aviation event in Sidney, B.C.
The Viking Air All Operators Forum, being held April 17 to 19, is a trade show for the Viking de Havilland aircraft.
Fleet Canada has been producing parts for the Viking Twin Otter since 2007, but the former Fleet Aerospace has had an association with the storied de Havilland aircraft since the 1960s.