While Target is opening most of its 22 new Canadian stores this week, the Prince George location, as well as one Calgary spot, will have their unveiling on May 14.
"The later opening date is just based on store readiness," said Target spokewoman Lisa Gibson. "We felt that for your particular store, next week we would be in a better position. We had to significantly renovate inside and out, and a whole new team was hired, so we wanted to be fully ready on both those fronts. Next week looked better for that."
It will be one of Pine Centre Mall's anchor stores, filling the space previously occupied by Zellers.
Exact terms of the renovation investment were not disclosed but Gibson said when calculating all of the store projects in Western Canada, the renovations generated, on average, $10 million in mostly local trades work, hardware purchases, professional services and other economic spinoffs.
"When you see it next week you will see all that was done, and get that unique brand experience - the true Target experience," she said, stressing that it isn't just Target signs up on the old Zellers walls and shelves. Too many people are well aware of what Target stores look like in the U.S. to try cutting those kinds of corners. "We were told very strongly that what people were used to seeing in the U.S. was what they wanted in Canada."
Target is in the process of opening 124 stores across Canada. It is the first foray into this country for the U.S.-based retail giant.
"Target is thrilled to be opening stores in Western Canada, providing a one-stop shopping destination that meets the wants and needs of our guests," said a written statement by Tony Fisher, president of Target Canada. "It was exciting to see the response to our Ontario store openings, which have produced valuable insights (for) our soft openings in Western Canada."
All of these are so-called "soft" openings, allowing the public to shop and the staff to develop their operational systems before a grand opening is held in the near future.
Workforce numbers for Prince George were also unavailable as of yet, but Gibson said the 22 new stores were running with a staff of somewhere between 150 and 200 people.
