The Peninsula braces for large retail ‘supercentre’

The light fixtures are in. The aisles are set out. Soon, the shelves will be filled with everything from strawberries to sprinkler heads.

Sales staff, some already sporting the signature blue vest, buzzed around the new Wal-Mart Supercentre in Grandview Heights Wednesday to prepare for its grand opening on July 30.

Store manager Dana Purington looked on as they stocked shelves with the store’s first inventory shipment, and explained what makes his “supercentre” – the largest in B.C. – different from a regular Wal-Mart.

The “supercentre” bears its name because it houses a “fresh” side: a deli, bakery, grocery, dry goods and frozen-foods section.

“You can get pretty much what you’re used to getting at any Safeway or Save-On (Foods),” Purington said, gesturing to the empty bins that will soon display fruit and veggies.

The fresh produce will be what attracts consumers, he said. “People have been waiting for it. I think it’s going to be a huge win for everyone.”

The centre’s 212,000 square feet will also offer an auto repair shop, hair salon, McDonald’s, Tim Hortons, lottery centre, kids’ centre and underground parking.

Along with the other stores coming to Grandview Corners at 24 Avenue and 160 Street, Purington said this Wal-Mart will become “a one-stop destination point.”

Ed Greenwood, manager of the Peninsula Village Safeway, said he believes his store isn’t threatened by the new competitor’s arrival.

“We realize that a piece of the pie is going to be shared,” Greenwood said. “We have a different type of offering here in terms of our deli, Chinese kitchen and bakery. We’re quite comfortable that the customers shop here for the right reasons.”

Terry Parr, president of both the White Rock & South Surrey Chamber of Commerce and the White Rock Business Improvement Association, said other merchants will notice a difference in people’s shopping patterns, but once the fuss is over, they’ll settle down.

“(Merchants) are concerned and worried, but what can they do? The whole thing’s at different price points,” Parr said. “You can’t compete with Wal-Mart.”

Parr also noted why Wal-Mart decided to come here in the first place: “Let’s not forget we’re also adding a few thousand people to the Peninsula. All those houses (in the area) aren’t full yet.”

Overall, the chamber is apprehensive, Parr said, but noted all it can do is counsel businesses to market themselves more as speciality stores.

Black Bond Books owner Cathy Jesson hopes that’s enough.

“I think we’ve been very aggressive at getting our prices in order as far the Canadian and U.S. dollar goes,” said Jesson. “We’ve been doing some aggressive promotional buying, and I’m hoping people remember good, knowledgeable service.”

Wal-Mart pushes top-selling American books, she said, and Black Bond offers more than that.

“I hope it’s not all just about prices. We hope people will come to us, and remember us,” Jesson said. “It hurts when they don’t.”

White Rock Coun. Catherine Ferguson agreed. Customers will prefer the one-on-one service, rather than the “big box experience,” she said.

The city’s Economic Strategic Plan, which will go before council’s consideration in early fall, will help businesses position themselves and deal with the competition, Ferguson said.

Like Parr, Ferguson said businesses are right to be concerned, but people will likely visit Wal-Mart just to see it.

“There’s businesses that I go to because of the owner,” Ferguson said. “They can’t replicate that at Wal-Mart.”

As with every Wal-Mart location, Purington’s store plans to sponsor a local school and charities with hopes to raise $30,000 before the store opens. The funds come from employees’ organized socials, such as a pizza night and a barbecue.

About 1,100 people applied to work at the Grandview Corners Wal-Mart, and 500 were hired.

Irene Abt worked the jewelry counter at the Guildford Wal-Mart 12 years ago, and after seeing a newspaper ad, has rejoined the Wal-Mart team.

“Putting it all together has been amazing,” the Peninsula woman said. “You always notice something new the next time you come in. I think we’re going to be so busy.”

The next “supercentre” is to open in the Okanagan, in West Bank.