Downtown Athabasca is getting a new strip mall and maybe some new big names in chain outlets by this fall.
Developer Donna Gallinger said her phone has been ringing off the hook since the billboards went up on the lot in front of Home Hardware, advertising the new retail and office space with an artist’s impression of the attractive building.
Gallinger, who is developing the mall with her husband William, said she couldn’t give an exact date for when the new stores will be opening their doors, but she is hoping to finish by this fall.
The development will provide new shopping outlets on the ground floor and office and services space on the upper floor.
“This is something which will benefit the whole town and create new employment,” said Gallinger.
The strip mall will be close to 15,000 sq. ft., and the number of stores at the site will depend on the square footage each tenant requests.
Gallinger said they are talking to some chain names but she couldn’t give any particulars at this early stage, other than that she would like to see some kind of eatery or restaurant there.
“Nothing is set in stone yet,” she explained. “We are going to be very particular about what goes in there. This is the downtown core and by the waterfront, so we want something that goes hand-in-hand with that location.”
This is the Gallingers’ first foray into retail property development. The pair previously lived in Fort McMurray but moved to Athabasca three years ago.
Developing a mall has been a long time dream for Gallinger, a former beauty business owner.
“I’m nervous and excited at the same time,” she said. “It’s a new adventure but I’ve always wanted to do something like this.
“We looked for years for the right property and this one came to our attention last year. Now, I’m glad we waited because this is the perfect site. Hopefully we can bring vendors here that the whole of Athabasca will be pleased to see.”
Mayor Roger Morrill welcomed news of new downtown development.
“We need to keep the downtown core alive and vibrant,” he said. “It would be wonderful to see this development start.”
Work was somewhat delayed by the discovery of a gas line crossing the site.
“We don’t have a date for when AltaGas are going to move it but if everything goes according to plan, I would love to see the mall open in the late summer or fall and coincide with the centennial celebrations in town,” concluded Gallinger.
