The opening of the new Sears store at Eastgate Square solidifies the mall's place as a top shopping destination in the city.

That's the view of Don Burton, senior vice-president of the shopping centres group for Redcliff Realty Management.

"They did a great job," he said of the renovations of the old Bay store at the mall. "Obviously Lime Ridge (Mall) is the No. 1 in the region, but Eastgate is also obviously a great alternative. Sears has given a great boost to the property."

Sears' move from its old location at Centre Mall to Eastgate is just the latest in a string of major renovations at the mall, including new stores, an overhaul of the lobby and a new bus transit area.

Centre Mall, also managed by Redcliff, is in the midst of total demolition and rebuild as a series of stand-alone buildings, estimated by some local officials to be worth about $100 million.

The mall's old food court closed last weekend and will reopen in about a year in a building along with community policing and mall administration offices.

Several banks are under construction along Barton Street, with TD expected to open in late November. Shoppers Drug Mart, also located on Barton, is slated to open in January 2009.

Other stores will close and reopen in a kind of domino effect, before the original mall is torn down.

For example, Wayne Roberts, the mall manager, said Zellers will close its old store on Dec. 5 and reopen the next day at its new location at the back of the property. Other changes expected at the mall include the move of Canadian Tire to a new property next to the new Zellers.

Burton said Redcliff is in the midst of acquiring Canadian Tire's store at the corner of Ottawa and Barton streets. Plans for the store will require city approval, he said.

The Barn will close its doors, but another grocery store, Metro (parent company of The Barn) will open near Zellers, Burton said.

Some details about the Centre Mall renovations were included in a notice sent to neighbours in advance of a community meeting organized by Sam Merulla, Ward 4 councillor, on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. at the Pat Quinn Parkdale Arena on Main Street East. Flooding and other issues were covered in the update.

lmarr@thespec.com

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