About a year after construction began, Lordco Auto Parts and Shoppers Drug Mart are almost ready to open their doors as part of the third phase of the Tsain-Ko Village Shopping Centre expansion in Sechelt.
“We are currently in the final stages of setup and staff training. Our target date for opening is Oct. 1, providing we get all the approvals required,” James Ward, general manager for Lordco, told Coast Reporter.
The B.C.-owned company has hired 10 local employees to start with, Ward said.
Shoppers Drug Mart, meanwhile, is expected to open at the end of October.
“We are excited to re-enter the pharmacy space in Sechelt and look forward to providing the community with support and convenience while also contributing to growth in the area,” said Loblaw Public Relations in an email.
In 2014 a Shoppers located at Trail Bay Centre in Sechelt was ordered closed by the Competition Bureau of Canada because its parent company, Loblaw, was seen as having too big a share of the market since it also owns a grocery store – now called Your Independent Grocer – at the Tsain-Ko shopping centre.
A pharmacy is situated inside the grocery store but the company declined to comment about whether it would be affected by the new Shoppers. “Our new site is also compliant with all local and competition requirements,” said the emailed statement.
As for the BC Cannabis Store, which is also coming to the shopping centre as part of the third phase expansion and will be located next to Lordco: the election is in the way of any announcements.
“During the interregnum period of B.C.’s provincial government, the BC Liquor Distribution Branch cannot comment on media inquiries related to future initiatives, such as the opening of new BC Cannabis Stores,” said a statement by the BC Liquor Distribution Branch.
There are 12 retailers at the shíshálh Nation-owned shopping centre, located at 5500 Sunshine Coast Hwy. The first business to open in the Phase 3 expansion was Tim Hortons in the spring of 2019.
Construction for the third phase began in the fall of 2018. One building near the end of the mall closest to the highway is still under construction, but the building’s tenant has not been disclosed. Another building is set for construction in 2021, according to Tsain-Ko project director Jason Jenkins.
Due to COVID-19, public opening events will not be taking place.
