Cranbrook Zellers targeted as one the first Target Stores in Canada

Target Corporation has announced that it will convert 105 Zellers stores into Target stores by 2013.

Target Corporation has announced that it will convert 105 Zellers stores into Target stores by 2013. Zellers, located in the Tamarack Shopping Centre in Cranbrook, is one of the stores to be converted in the first phase. The Zellers in the Trail's Waneta Plaza did not make the initial list of stores to be converted to Targets.

The current Zellers will close for about six months in 2012 while the conversion, extensive renovations and expansion to a Target take place. It is estimated that the renovations and store conversion will run at around $10 million.

Current employees will be given an opportunity to apply for positions at the new Target store. The new store will employ up to 200 once it is fully operational.

Target recently announced it had concluded a deal with the Hudson's Bay Company to purchase and take over the Zellers retail outlets.  As one of the leading hardgoods retailers in the US, Target has long sought an entry into the Canadian market. The Cranbrook Zellers is one of only three stores slated for conversion in the BC Interior.