By Darren Lum

Published May 30 2017

Haliburton’s Shoppers Drug Mart plans to move and expand later this year.

Aimee Mansfield an associate owner and pharmacist at the location is happy about the plans for her business to move from its current location at 49 Maple Ave. to 186 Highland St. (the current location of the Bargain Shop).

The Minden resident and graduate of Haliburton Highlands Secondary School started with the store when it opened back in 2008. She runs it with sister Breanne Mansfield who is the front store manager and learned of these plans more than a week ago.

Aimee Mansfield deferred questions to Loblaws and Shoppers Drug Mart’s spokesperson Tammy Smitham. Smitham said there are many details still unknown at this time. Plans are still in the early stages and a move isn’t expected until late-2017 or early-2018.

She said customers can expect to see a “large format” store similar to what they associate with larger urban centres measuring from 10000 to 14000 square feet.

“Obviously we need to add a pharmacy at this space which isn’t currently there … you’ll probably see a larger food offering like dry groceries” she said referring to Loblaws’ President’s Choice products.

“[Customers] will be able to gain more access to convenience food items and probably some expanded beauty offering as well.”

Although the layout of the store is not yet known this larger location gives customers “a wider offering of our merchandise and services” and it will demand more staff Smitham said. She did not have an exact figure.

“It’s so early. It’s really early days. People have just been notified. As we plan out the store and get closer we’ll have a better idea.”

Smitham said plans came from customer demands about product availability and services.

“We’ve been renovating our store network to bring it up to those standards so we can give a broader offering to the customers” she said.

Loblaws which owns Shoppers owns the building and leases it to current occupant the Bargain Shop. Smitham was not able to elaborate why the location was made available except to say  “The opportunity came to us.”