CALGARY — Retail sales in Alberta rose to $5.8 billion in January, according to Statistics Canada.
The federal agency reported Thursday that sales were up 1.3 per cent from December and by 2.9 per cent year-over-year.
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Ground was broken last fall on a new retail development in Sherwood Park along Broadmoor Boulevard’s Heritage Mile.
Ground was broken last fall on a new retail development in Sherwood Park along Broadmoor Boulevard’s Heritage Mile.
Named Broadmoor Heritage Plaza, the site is located just south of Kaska Road and will feature 73,000 square feet of commercial businesses — the plan calls for retail and at least one restaurant — in 11 buildings.
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Shoppers, on your marks: Calgary is set to gain an estimated 10.7-million square feet of retail development over the next couple of years.
But what that’s going to look like is up in the air.
With half of Calgary’s existing retail in large format, there are concerns for just how many big-box stores the city can sustain.
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The city will study where and how retail and commercial developments of all sizes fit in Calgary’s market as bureaucrats expect applications to increase over the next years.
The Planning and Urban Development Committee approved administration’s plan to conduct a $350,000 study that will aid planners understand the financial and other impacts related to different forms, locations and scales of retail and commercial developments.
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The arrival of American retail giant Target will have a major impact on St. Albert, increasing competition, attracting more shoppers and creating jobs, say local experts.
Construction of the St. Albert outlet is well underway, though the opening date remains a secret. There is speculation it will open in late spring or summer.
In all, Target will open 124 stores across Canada, most in former Zellers’ locations, and hire some 27,000 employees, not including an unknown number of marketing specialists and consultants who were brought in to help the retailer enter the Canadian market.
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Expansion in Strathcona County is expected to continue in 2013 as the municipality continues to attract major retailers to the county and housing prices remain some of the highest in the Edmonton Metro area.
According to Gerry Gabinet, director of Strathcona County’s Economic Development and Tourism, the county’s development has consistently increased in the last few years.
“I see real strong growth here in Strathcona County for at least three per cent this year going forth in terms of our GDP,” he explained to members of the Sherwood Park and District Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 16.
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The clock is ticking down for the Canadian penny, leaving retailers only a few more weeks before they are urged to adopt the federal government’s new “rounding guidelines.”
Effective Feb. 4, the Royal Canadian Mint will no longer distribute the one-cent piece. While phasing out of the penny will have no affect on payments made by cheque, credit or debit card, Ottawa is asking business owners to begin rounding cash transactions to the nearest five-cent increment on this date.
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At Fiona’s Cafe, Tanya Schultz whips up a foamy cafe latte while Pat Branson stirs the homemade soup and tends shortbread made with local organic flour.
Just nine months ago, the two women – best friends for 16 years – opened the coffee shop and joined the impressive ranks of local entrepreneurs in downtown Camrose, a city of 17,286 southeast of Edmonton.
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Sherwood Park is seeing retail and industrial markets spring up in both development and redevelopment deals.
According to Gerry Gabinet, manager of Strathcona County Economic Development and Tourism, various areas throughout the Park have been pinned for commercial development, with businesses ready to take to the local market.
The first of four areas emphasized by Gabinet is the Strathallen Redevelopment, located on the north side of Baseline Road and Broadmoor Boulevard.
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Owners of businesses and commercial property are being asked to help develop a revitalization strategy for downtown Sylvan Lake.
Many were recently surveyed about their needs, and ideas for boosting retail activity along the lakefront, and they are being encouraged to participate in a Nov. 20 workshop where the survey responses will be reviewed and a plan formulated. READ