The anticipated return of Zellers to Windsor has been delayed after the City of Windsor ordered Tecumseh Mall’s owner to comply with building permit requirements for construction work underway at the new store. The city issued an order to comply to Europro GP Inc. on July 13 after an inspection on June 30 found renovation and construction work for the new Zellers location being carried out without the required building permits. The order directed the property owner to obtain permits for the tenant fit-out and any required signage before continuing construction. City inspectors also ordered that no work be covered up before the necessary permits are issued and inspections are completed. The city said Monday that permit applications had been submitted and were under review. Zellers said in a statement it is not responsible for obtaining the permits related to the store entrance. The company said it is working toward opening the location as soon as possible and anticipates an early fall opening. The Tecumseh Mall location was originally expected to open in July. It would be one of just three Zellers locations being revived in Canada, joining stores in Toronto and Edmonton. For Windsor residents, the return has generated plenty of excitement, in part because of the memories attached to the Canadian retailer. Janette Lesperance said she remembers going to Zellers on Saturday mornings with her newspaper, having breakfast and a coffee. “It’s a Canadian thing,” Lesperance said. “People just loved going in there and browsing around.” Lesperance said she is looking forward to the store reopening and would be shopping for slippers, winter boots, and other items. Joe Romandia said he and his family have missed Zellers during its roughly 13-year absence. “We love anything Canadian!” Romandia said. He said he plans to shop at the Windsor location once it opens. “We’ll wait for them,” he said. “We’re loyal to them.” Pat Toal also recalled fond memories of Zellers, particularly its restaurant, where her son once worked. “My kids loved Zellers. They loved shopping at Zellers,” Toal said, adding that she remembers the store as clean and tidy, with reasonable prices. Toal questioned why the opening has been delayed, saying she believes Zellers could be an anchor for Tecumseh Mall. “I do not understand that because, I mean, Tecumseh Mall isn’t exactly thriving, and one would think that having Zellers is an anchor, that they’d be turning themselves inside out to help them open,” she said. Not everyone is convinced the revived retailer will succeed in Windsor. Bob Sumner said he would like to see Zellers open, particularly because Canadian shoppers have relatively few options outside of retailers such as Canadian Tire and Walmart. But he questioned whether the revived Zellers brand will be able to compete. “I shop Canadian whenever I can,” Sumner said. “But I don’t know, Zellers probably won’t even be 30 per cent Canadian product that they’re going to be selling in a store as a Canadian store.” Sumner predicted Zellers could struggle in Windsor, saying he expects the brand will perform better in Toronto. The company has not provided a specific opening date for the Tecumseh Mall location beyond its expectation of an early fall opening. CTV News and AM800 have reached out to Tecumseh Mall and its property manager, Europro, for comment but did not receive a response. -With files from AM800 News
