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Local, provincial and federal dignitaries and officials at the Wednesday press conference announcing Red River Co-op’s newest store will be an anchor tenant in the redevelopment of the former Portage Place mall. \n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The store is expected to open in 2029 and create 57 local jobs. It will be Red River Co-op\u2019s 10th food store and pharmacy location, and part of True North\u2019s $650-million transformation of Portage Place.<\/p>\n
True North said a full-service grocery store has long been a key component of its plans for the project. Community consultations and surveys consistently identified access to grocery services as a \u201cpriority need.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAccess to fresh food, household needs and pharmacy services within walking distance is an essential part of improving the livability of our downtown for the thousands of people who already call downtown home, and the thousands more who soon will,\u201d said Jim Ludlow, president of True North\u2019s real estate development arm.<\/p>\n
Red River Co-op will join the Healthcare Centre of Excellence and a planned residential tower at the site. Construction of the health-care centre is underway. The the 216-unit residential tower is slated as the project\u2019s second phase.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccess to fresh food, household needs and pharmacy services within walking distance is an essential part of improving the livability of our downtown.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mayor Scott Gillingham, during a news conference at Fred Douglas Place, called the announcement \u201ca very big deal\u201d in a much larger effort to reshape downtown.<\/p>\n
\u201cA full-service grocery store downtown has been talked about for years as being one of the missing pieces in the puzzle of downtown,\u201d Gillingham said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause for people who live here and work here, having access to fresh food and household essentials and pharmacy services matters, because it helps downtown feel more complete.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n Red River Co-op CEO Craig Gilpin, left, and Jim Ludlow, president of True North\u2019s real estate development arm at the press conference, Wednesday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Gillingham said there are more announcements to come.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve recently seen proposals for downtown projects that are incredibly exciting, projects with the potential to transform entire blocks of our downtown and completely change how people experience the heart of our city,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, stay tuned.\u201d<\/p>\n Southern Chiefs\u2019 Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels said the grocery store will be especially important for the redevelopment of the former Hudson\u2019s Bay building on Portage \u2014 a $310 million project, named Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn (\u201cit is visible\u201d) that will feature hundreds of homes and affordable housing for First Nations citizens.<\/p>\n \u201cHousing cannot stand alone,\u201d Daniels said. \u201cIf we want people and families to thrive in downtown, we need some things that every neighbourhood requires. They need strong foundations, strong organizations, that will bring food, health care and pharmacy services and community spaces and create a more safe downtown and walkable connections.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniels said the announcement closes a gap First Nations citizens face, including barriers to food equity and affordability.<\/p>\n \u201cIt helps downtown feel more complete.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen fresh food and pharmacy services are not close by, people are forced to travel far, pay more or go without the supports they need,\u201d he said, adding Wednesday\u2019s announcement will support better health outcomes.<\/p>\n Kate Fenske, CEO of the Downtown BIZ called the announcement \u201creally incredible news for this community.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s one part of so many different moves, investments, commitments and collaborations\u2026 happening right now,\u201d she said. \u201cI think people are going to look back between 2025 and 2030 (and say), \u2018Wow, did downtown ever change for the better.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The province\u2019s recently released grocery price study pointed to the need for a grocery store downtown, noting the redevelopments of Portage Place and the former Bay building are \u201chelping to bring people downtown and create the business case for a new full-service grocery store in Winnipeg\u2019s core.\u201d<\/p>\n The store will be located in the Portage Avenue-facing space once occupied by Staples.<\/p>\n It\u2019ll be smaller than a typical Co-op \u2014 the supermarkets in Grant Park Shopping Centre and off Dakota Street are 55,000 sq. ft. \u2014 so the downtown departments will be \u201ca little tighter,\u201d Gilpin said.<\/p>\n Co-op hasn\u2019t designed the space yet. The company expects to take possession in 2028, based on True North\u2019s timelines. Gilpin estimated the company will spend more than $10 million on the new site.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Ruth Bonneville \/ Free Press files<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n A 22,500-square foot grocery store will be built at the Portage Place redevelopment, joining a health-care centre and residential tower as part of the $650-million project.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n True North has embedded a tenant construction allowance into its lease, Gilpin said, declining to give further details. He didn\u2019t say how long Co-op\u2019s lease would be, other than \u201cfor a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe downtown matters,\u201d he said. \u201cStrong cities need strong downtowns, and strong downtowns need everyday services. This project is about bringing food access, pharmacy care and neighbourhood services back to the core.\u201d<\/p>\n Co-op has been searching for a downtown location; talks with True North began last year. The space is ideal, in part, because of a direct loading dock off Vaughan Street, Gilpin said.<\/p>\n He said Red River Co-op\u2019s membership, currently at about 330,000, will grow after the store opens its doors.<\/p>\n Security will likely resemble measures at the grocer\u2019s nine other Manitoba locations, he said, adding the pharmacy will be separated from the food store by a hallway.<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t The owner of another area grocery store welcomed the news.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be very happy for the people who do not have a grocery store in that zone. We\u2019re a little far from them,\u201d said Kishan Zalawadia, who owns Downtown Family Foods at Broadway and Donald Street. \u201cPeople will be very happy, because they\u2019ll have a different option to explore.\u201d<\/p>\n Zalawadia said he doesn\u2019t see the new store as competition.<\/p>\n \u201cNow they can compare the prices,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He said it\u2019s uncommon for people to make the trek from the Portage Avenue area to his store, saying many people go to the nearby Giant Tiger, instead.<\/p>\n scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n gabrielle.piche@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Scott Billeck Several wise folks \u2014 ok, ok, journalism types \u2014 once told Scott he better make sure he can report on news before he learns to write about sports. In what can only be described as a minor miracle, he listened.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 Read full biography<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t
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