Shopper"s Drug Mart McKellar Opens!
by Scott A. Sumner
Thunder Bay Business
A drive down Arthur Street East past the old McKellar site will now feature a brand new Shopper’s Drug Mart store. In the spring work will begin on a second retail building on the site. Local developer and contractor Peter Belluz of Manshield NWO Construction is pleased with
the outcome of their second investment project in Thunder Bay.
“The site was a challenging site. It had the former McKellar Hospital on it and we had asbestos contaminated materials in the old building that we had to clean up before we did the demolition. It took about 6 months to do the clean up and demolition. The clean up involved
asbestos, PCB’s and lead contaminant’s removal. The asbestos was hidden in the walls, ceiling space and around the pipes. You have to dispose of it according to the Ministry of Environment regulations,” noted Peter Belluz. “We had 3 or 4 pieces of equipment and 4 or 5 men working along with trucks to haul it all away. It was a costly clean up of the 2 1 /2 acre site. Both ourselves and Shoppers feel it is a desirable location.”
The project started December 1st of 2007 with demolition. Construction started early spring in March and Shoppers moved in August 14th, 2008. The building is 17,000 square feet, a typical steel structure with stucco and brick exterior finishes. The interior is according to the Shoppers specifications. It is their latest prototype model and the highest level store. All of the subtrades on the project were local.
“ We have room for another 3 or 4 commercial tenants in the second building which will be about 10,000 square feet and hope to start in the spring of 2009. There is strong interest and we have a couple tenants signed already. We could start this winter but want to wait for
better weather as the quality of the work isn't as good in the winter,” noted Belluz. “ The McKellar property has been subdivided. We got our property cleaned up and 3/4’s of the site built with Shopper’s and the parking lot. The other site is associated with the second building and it’s parking. The other part of the old McKellar site is not our project.”
“ The office building is our first investment building and the Shopper’s site is our second investment here in Thunder Bay. We will be looking for other opportunities. Our company has other real estate holdings in Manitoba and Alberta and we see no reason why properties in
Thunder Bay will also do well,” noted Belluz. “ The waterfront development is a high profile project we are spear heading with Laureate Developments, investment company, Lombard North our planning consultant and Resolve who is our marketing representative. “
The old Mckellar Hospital was built in 1915 and 1925. Manshield has cleaned up the contaminant’s, made the site better and provided a space for the new Shopper’s location for Thunder Bay.
“ It is a great new store, more spacious and well lit,” smiled Vinay Kapoor, the Pharmacist/ Owner of Shopper’s Drug Mart McKellar. Kapoor is a Thunder Bayite who went to school at Hammarskjold and then to the University of Manitoba. “ I enjoy working with Shopper’s. They are the largest drug store chain in Canada with over 1100 stores. Customer response to our new store has been great by our customers as they get a full selection of products in addition to their pharmaceutical. At the end of the day it is much better lit and provides better access for
our patients.”
“ Thunder Bay is a great community to live in and we made an investment in the city. It is good place for a drugstore with the aging population.” noted Vinay Kapoor.
