CF Polo Park mall undergoes changes every ten years or so. Sometimes these changes come as a surprise, such as when Sears or Zellers closed, and other times they involve expansions initiated by the mall itself. This adaptability is what makes this particular shopping center the number one in Manitoba and one of the top in Canada.
The second floor has seen several transformations. After many years of housing department stores like Brettons and Zellers, the mall decided to create a horseshoe-shaped area with a variety of stores. Some, like Tommy Gun’s, have been very successful and will be moving to a larger location. Others, unnamed, will close, while some, like Famous Footwear, are relocating.
London Drugs will be the new store occupying second-floor space at CF Polo Park. A few more stores are expected to close or move before this happens. Below the Belt and Urban Outfitters will no longer be in the mall, and Build-A-Bear has already moved. London Drugs is expected to open sometime in 2025, which will mark 25 years since it first arrived in Winnipeg at St. Vital Shopping Centre.
There is already a Shoppers Drug Mart in the mall, but London Drugs is also known for electronics and other items that Shoppers Drug Mart does not carry. With over 80 stores across Western Canada, it is curious why Manitoba has had only one location for 24 years, while Saskatchewan has five.
The horseshoe section of the mall has had more difficulty attracting and retaining stores than other parts of Polo Park. A pharmacy and store like London Drugs could be a game changer. It will stabilize that area of the mall and make it an attractive stop for those not wanting to travel all the way to St. Vital Shopping Centre.
This has been a guest editorial by John Dobbin.
To read more from John, visit his blog Observations, Reservations, Conversations
