Comox Valley Record: Around the island
January 16, 200

Wal-Mart’s first supercentre in B.C. is headed to the Cowichan Commons retail mall.

The mega-store — dwarfing the retail giant’s current Duncan Mall outlet — will offer even more services, particularly for Cowichan’s growing ranks of seniors, said spokesman Kevin Groh.

The $25-million branch, opening in spring of this year, will be a pilot operation for the Island.

“The idea behind our supercentres is to improve all of our customers’ favourite categories and introduce a full grocery component. It gives more selection than ever under one roof.”

The idea is to get better not just bigger, he stated.

The supercentre will offer a full automotive, lube and tire department, plus specialty services such as a pharmacy, optical services, photo centre, hair salon, a hearing-aid centre, a garden department, and a McDonald’s restaurant.

“It’ll be a unique store,” Groh said.

The new Wal-Mart will measure 172,000-square-feet, 2.5 times larger than its downtown store, Groh said. — Cowichan News Leader & Pictorial