NEW - Opening in Orillia - 2012

So the word we've had is that Target bought out the old Zeller's store up at the Orillia Square Mall, and will be opening up there sometime in 2012.

While I am sorry to see Zellers leaving (it's been a mainstay in Orillia since ... I believe before I was born. My mom and aunt worked at Zellers before I came along) it is also a little bit exciting to see something new coming our way.

I'm not sure why they've chosen Orillia, but they have. Currently, there isn't a Target store within 100 miles of Orillia ... at this point, I'm not even certain if there is one anywhere in Ontario. Orillia could be the first city north of the US border to have this opportunity.

While traveling in the "States" I have actually shopped in their stores (in Pennsylvania) and found the variety of products to be like those most department stores offer, with different brands and designers, but equally good. In terms of what they have over and above what Zellers might provide, there's quite a lot. At least, if Orillia is treated to the same products they have in the US, and the same variety.




For example, they have an extensive list of outdoor products for patio, and yard and garden - things we normally wouldn't see at Zellers, so I am very much hoping that what they bring to Canada is what they have in the US. It would be nice to have a new variety of options, because right now, we only have two large department stores here - Walmart, and Zellers. With Zellers leaving, we'll have Walmart and Target. Two American stores, as opposed to any Canadian shops, which is a little tiny bit disappointing, but also opening up options we might not have previously had.

One of the things I was really hoping they would carry are Riders Jeans, but they don't. They do carry a good variety, some of which I've never tried on before - Mossimo, Merona, Liz Lange, Levis and surprisingly, even Cherokee (which is a brand found at Zellers, as well). I like Levis, but Riders are pretty much the best jeans ... and finding them in Orillia isn't so easy.

Anyhow, for any of you shoppers out there waiting to see what they bring to town, you can have a look at some of their products.