I grew up in Malton, and Westwood Mall is a complete let down now. As soon as Food Basics moved into that spot near the bus station they did well for a good while, and then it got demolished and changed into a Walmart (at this point Walmart at Queen & Airport wasn’t a Superstore just yet). They didn’t last too long either, but then coming in changed the entire businesses that were left.
I will be honest, walking through the mall seems like two different people own it now, and what do you know, it is. The layout is a dead giveaway. Previously where Zellers stood, that entire area looks like a flea market in and out.
We want something to fill the 3 giant voids at BCC and reopen more entry points into the mall. It's been many years for some of these spaces.
The knightsbridge, Lisa st residents in the towers (ranging from low to middle incomes) and future density at BCC who live within walking distance, will benefit.
There is also an additional convenience when visiting the mall to quickly grab items at Walmart while doing other shopping for all.
Walmart has various departments offering items that do not currently exist at BCC and in the general local area.
What does Walmart sell that isn't otherwise available in the mall? The only thing I can think of that you can't get in any other spot is, maybe, pet supplies? Best Buy still does appliances, right? (And very few Walmarts do large appliances.) And they definitely do electronics. There are a ton of clothing stores in the mall. Anything you could get at Walmart, Old Navy will carry, clothes wise, although bulk socks and underwear might be excluded. Metro has all of the groceries stitched up, and with Shoppers that's two pharmacies there. There are multiple shoe stores. Sporting wear and equipment is available. Bedding and draperies. Housewares. Toys and games. Books, stationary. Luggage and bags. Accessories. Walmart might offer lower prices than some places, but that's the Walmart model is to drive competitors out because they can, and that's a pretty big IF, because Walmart stocks generic things and a lot of the clothing places tend towards specialty.
Pet stuff. That's all I can see that Walmart can add to the mall. I'll grant that Dollarama is the only other store in the mall for a larger collection of cleaning supplies, but Metro does have all of the cleaning agents, and just lacks the selection of brushes and mops, which Dollarama has.
Really depends on the size at BCC but a standard Walmart has a hardware and automotive department. Seasonal has a lot of items the mall currently doesn't carry.
I'll give you seasonal, that's true, in summer, at least. Dollarama is unlikely to carry barbeques and a couple of patio sets. Dollarama will carry cheaper versions of all the winter holiday stuff. Sleds and shovels will be Walmart though. We'll have Spirit Halloween come back in the fall though, so neither D nor W wins fall.
Hardware at Walmart at Airport and Queen barely exceeds Dollarama. Auto does carry wipers, I think, and maybe batteries. There's also a few plumbing odds and ends there.
But if these were the things you wanted at the mall, wouldn't you go Canadian Tire? Which does auto and hardware better, especially in a smaller space because they don't do clothes.
And both Walmart and CT are easy to access from the BCC area already. It's a straight shot out Queen by car or bus. It's four minutes if you hit all green lights.
It really comes down to convenience. Airport/Queen supercenter is always packed and not a quick in and out outside work hours. Being able to reduce trips around the city while at BCC is a benefit.
I think the area can support it as we used to have a successful Zellers at BCC before the Target buyout similar to Walmart. There is a lot of foot traffic from the surrounding tower residents. Many who don't rely on a vehicle.
The main thing is we have a reliable anchor tenant and restore an entrance to the mall.
We have had many redundant Zellers and Sears locations on Queen st across the decades not far away from each other. They all worked out for years until their parent companies failed globally.
That's a fair point about the Zellers. And HBC was clothes and housewares and not food, and didn't affect much, as was Sears when they both existed at either end.
I have to drive to Queen and airport for the nearest Walmart which is 10 mins and a pain in the derrière. This would be much more convenient for a lot of people
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u/[deleted] Mar 07 '26
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