Giant Tiger opening planned for the spring

Kassandra Way, Chief Operating Officer for mall owners E & E McLaughlin Ltd., sits in the giant chair Giant Tiger dropped off to signify the company will be coming to the Norfolk Mall. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Giant Tiger announced on Oct. 1 that it will open a new location at the Norfolk Mall.

The news that many area residents were waiting for was speculation for most of the summer after the opening of the Winners location this summer.

The hard-discount retailer is expected to open in the Norfolk Mall in spring 2027. A Giant Tiger press release promised low prices on everyday essentials, exciting finds and convenient shopping.

“From grocery staples and household basics to fashion, home and unexpected finds, the new Tillsonburg store will focus on keeping the products customers need most in stock, at low prices they can trust,” the release stated.

“We’re excited to bring Giant Tiger to Tillsonburg for the first time as we continue to invest in our store network and grow in communities where we see an opportunity to help Canadians save more,” said Gus Kokonas, Executive Vice President, Chief Franchise Operations Officer, Giant Tiger Stores Limited. “Our customers work hard for their money, and we know we have to earn their business every time they shop with us. That means staying focused on what matters most: low prices on the everyday essentials they rely on, keeping those products in stock, being there for the communities we serve, and giving customers more reasons to shop Giant Tiger first for the things they need every day.”

Oct. 1 was a big day at the Norfolk Mall, with the new Shoes Liquidation location also opening its doors.

For Kassandra Way, Chief Operating Officer for mall owners E & E McLaughlin Ltd., it was a day of excitement as Giant Tiger dropped off a giant chair with the company logo outside the store to build momentum with the announcement. She recounted that when the company purchased the Norfolk Mall in fall 2020, the 50,000-square-foot former Walmart space had been vacant, the roof needed to be replaced, and there was water damage inside.

“Ironically, Giant Tiger was actually our very first lead for the former Walmart space,” she revealed. “We had worked through the deal, agreed to the major terms and were preparing to move forward, but at the time we weren't able to get the deal across the finish line because of an existing restrictive covenant relating to grocery sales at the property.”

Since they live and work in the community, McLaughlin said they knew the community wanted a Giant Tiger and Winners. A few years later circumstances changed, and Giant Tiger came back to the table.

“It was a lot of fun watching the excitement build before Winners opened this summer,” she said. “There was so much speculation about what was coming next, and Giant Tiger was probably the name we heard more than any other. Seeing the parking lot full again and hearing all of the positive feedback about Winners has been incredibly rewarding.”

With the Shoes Liquidation opening, Way said the new retailers are filling a void in the Tillsonburg market. Shoes Liquidation shares ownership with Shoes Factory in Simcoe and Al’s Shoes in Brantford. And there is more to come. McLaughlin shared that the company is working on an official plan amendment to build a new 40,000 square-foot retail pad on the property.

“Tillsonburg has experienced tremendous growth, and the community is large enough to support more retail options. Our location at the south end of town also benefits from the significant draw Tillsonburg receives from the surrounding rural communities and the lake communities to the south,” she said.

“One thing people don't always realize is just how long developments like this take. We started discussions with Winners more than two years before they opened their doors. With Giant Tiger, the story goes all the way back to 2020—six years from our first conversations to construction finally getting underway.”

The new Giant Tiger will create employment opportunities, with more details on hiring and the opening date to come. Tillsonburg residents can follow the Giant Tiger Tillsonburg Facebook page for local store updates and sign up for GT VIP™ at GiantTiger.com to receive the latest deals and exclusive offers.