New LCBO store under construction in north Welland

A new parking area and LCBO store are being worked on near Woodlawn Road and Primeway Drive in Welland. KRIS DUBE / TORSTAR

By Kris Dube
Courtesy of The Welland Tribune

Work is underway on a $1-million LCBO store in north Welland.

Part of the SmartCentres retail cluster along Woodlawn Road at Primeway Drive, it is being built next to Dollar Tree on the southeast end of the property, near Mark’s.

Also taking place is the construction of an additional 104 parking spots, said Grant Munday, Welland’s manager of development approvals.

The build is part of a site plan agreement the developer has with the municipality. Permits allow for a 720-square-metre addition.

A spokesperson from LCBO’s communication team could not be reached Wednesday to confirm its plans — and whether liquor stores at Rose City Plaza on Ontario Road and at Fitch Street Plaza are slated for closure.

Munday said it has been SmartCentre’s intention to build something on the land for a while.

“Generally, SmartCentres don’t build things unless they have it leased out,” Munday said Wednesday.

Neither Munday nor Sandra Kaiser, vice-president of corporate affairs for SmartCentres, had information on when the project that started more than a month ago will be completed.

Munday suspects LCBO is moving into the area a result of new homes in that part of Welland, as well as in south Thorold, which is mostly served by Welland amenities.

“There’s a lot of growth and development happening in the city.”

The nearby Canadian Tire will soon be expanded, sitting in front of an 80-room Holiday Inn Express under construction.

Munday said another building is expected to go up in the near future.

Walmart and Rona are other major retailers in the same group of stores.