Merchants at East York Town Centre have different stories about who will occupy the former Target space which is now heavily under construction. The most common belief among tenants on information gleaned from workers on the site is that a dialysis centre affiliated with one of Toronto’s major hospitals will take as much as half the space. Another story is that the mall owners, Morguard Corporation, had persuaded Walmart to move into the large two-story space but that Metro Inc, owners of Food Basics, the long-standing budget grocery store at the west end of the mall, had strenuously objected because Walmart sells groceries. It is also speculated by merchants that at least some of the space will be turned into smaller retail outlets with their doors facing toward Overlea Blvd on the west side of the EYTC. This would fulfill the retail dictum to make sure your front entrance and sign are “on the street.” The long western wall of the Target space has been changed from solid construction to glass, apparently permitting such retail access. So far as is known, no release or information of any kind has been sent by Morguard. Interest is high in this matter and people are talking.
