It’s finally opening.
After years in the making, the much talked about Tsawwassen Mills megamall celebrates its grand opening this morning.
Close to 500 people were lined up with around two hours to go before opening.
The Optimist spoke to a couple of South Deltans who were very excited about having the mall in their backyard.
Live music and entertainment greeted shoppers, the first 1,000 to receive $50 gift cards in addition to the other deals and contests at the heavily promoted mall.
Prior to the doors opening at 10 a.m., a ceremony takes place with Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Bryce Williams performing a traditional Coast Salish song on his drum. The event also feature speeches from Ivanhoé Cambridge, the company behind the huge CrossIron Mills shopping mall north of Calgary and Vaughan Mills outside of Toronto.
Featuring 1.2 million square feet of retail, the Tsawwassen mall has five distinct “neighbourhood” sections: Fashion, Outdoor Life, Coast Salish, City and Nature.
Located just off Highway 17 and 52nd Street, the new mall will have 200 stores, including 16 anchor tenants, although it’s starting off with about 180 retailers. The mall features a 1,100 square-foot food hall and three restaurants. There’s also space for a fourth large restaurant but it’s not occupied yet. In addition, located within the Bass Pro Shops is an Uncle Bucks Fish Bowl & Grill, which also has a bowling alley and large bar.
While shoppers are checking out the Mills, directly across the street on Salish Sea Drive, construction continues on a second mall, the Tsawwassen Commons. To open in phases over the coming months, it’s a 550,000-square-foot outdoor shopping centre with approximately 100 tenants, including Walmart, Canadian Tire and Rona. The two malls will have a combined footprint almost identical to Metrotown.
The area could further transform if the B.C. Lottery Corporation decides to select the TFN as a preferred host community for a casino. Both the TFN and Corporation of Delta submitted expressions of interest. Even if BCLC chooses the TFN over Delta, a proposed casino would have to go through the First Nation’s community approval process.
