Shoppers will notice a gaping hole in Hillside Centre for the coming months, as crews begin demolishing the former Zellers building as part of an ongoing $72-million redevelopment of the mall.
The deconstruction began last Thursday to make room for a two-level, 147,000-square-foot Target.
While the building is expected to be move-in ready by July 2013, Target won’t open until sometime in 2014, said Kerry Shular, general manager of Hillside Centre.
Apart from Target, full occupancy is slated for August 2013, while the new expanded food court is scheduled to be completed by next April.
“Obviously, with the restrictions that construction has caused, we are inviting customers back with special deals and offers that will be launched as part of the Christmas shopping season,” she said.
On Sunday, Nov. 25, Hillside Centre will hold its 14th annual Night Before Late Night fundraiser, where $5 ticket proceeds go to various charities.
“In previous years, the event raised upwards of $15,000 for B.C. Children’s Hospital,” Shular said.
As the name of the event implies, Christmas shopping hours of 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays will kick in on Monday, Nov. 26.
“We’re hopeful that customers will remember us and come back and we’re trying to make it as easy as we can,” Shular said.
For a list of charities selling Night Before Late Night tickets, visit hillsidecentre.com.
Alternatively, the public can pick up a ticket at the Hillside Centre customer service desk.
dpalmer@vicnews.com
