The newly announced Walmart supercentre will boost Chilliwack’s economic activity, says the financial partner of the Eagle Landing retail site.

League Assets Corporation, partnering with Squiala First Nation and Property Development Group for the Eagle Landing development, near the Evans Road Connector, announced last Thursday that Walmart would be building a 150,000 square-foot supercentre in the retail complex.

“Walmart is the biggest retailer [coming to Eagle Landing] by far,” said Adam Gant, co-founder of League Assets Corporation.

“It should definitely bring in added economic activity to the area ... shoppers from Abbotsford, Hope, even Merritt, are likely to come and shop here.”

The new Walmart will be quite a bit larger than the current one, which is located at Chilliwack Mall. It will offer everything from clothing, personal care, household goods, and even a full grocery selection.

“It’s the full meal deal,” said Gant.

With Walmart now in place, Gant is confident other retail outlets will quickly sign on.

“There’s been a number of [prospective] tenants we’ve been talking to – about a dozen,” said Gant, who expects to announce more retailers over the next three to four months.

“Once you have a Walmart in place, many other retailers want to get in next to them.”

Walmart is the second retailer to commit to Eagle Landing, a 700,000 square-foot destination power centre and retail village, which is located on Squiala First Nation land. Cineplex Entertainment announced, a week earlier, that it would be opening a 31,000 square foot, state of the art movie theatre in the complex.

Construction on the buildings will start in the spring. Walmart is expected to be open for Christmas 2010.

The future of the current Walmart retail site, at Chilliwack Mall, is unclear at this time.

A representative from Arcturus Realty Corporation, which manages Chilliwack Mall, said that Arcturus Realty is in negotiations with potential tenants for the site, but that it is still too early to disclose any information.

kbartel@theprogress.com