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Photo by Sheena Roszell
Business

More new retailers coming to the Prairie Mall

Sep 30, 2019 | 5:30 AM

hMore changes are coming to the Prairie Mall.

General Manager Lionel Frey says two new retailers have agreed to set up shop sometime in 2020.

“Purdy’s Chocolates. They will actually be opening in February of next year. Warehouse One as well will be opening in the spring of next year. We’re certainly looking forward to those additions. we’re looking forward to 2020 as a whole.”

Frey says Purdy’s will go in where Jonathan’s used to be. Warehouse One will be relocating to a spot close by from the Prairie Plaza.

He adds women’s clothing seller Laura will open Thursday in the former R.W. & Co. location, while Poko Popcorn will open across from Dollarama, hopefully by Christmas.

Frey says many retailers see Grande Prairie as a younger market.

“Which, for a centre as a whole, is a positive thing. A lot of our retailers are geared to a younger demographic. But, I think also, with the economy, relatively speaking across the country, our economy is still fairly strong. That’s not to say there aren’t some areas of vulnerability at this point.”

Frey says a lot of businesses are also seeing strong retail sales in this area.

He adds the past several years have been busy with changes at the Mall.

“Actually, over the last three years, it’s really been a whirlwind of development. Of course, we developed the Target area and a number of premiere retailers opened up in that wing. Even just in the older footprint of the Mall we’ve had several additions over the last two to three years.”

Frey says there is still space left for development where Target used to be. He adds the Mall is hoping something will happen there next year.