From one end of the mall to the other

The vast empty spot that used to sit at the Beaconsfield Shopping Centre's parking lot is no more, taken over by the Metro Plus grocery store that used to be at the other end of the same shopping mall. "The move was mostly in order to be able to expand, to provide larger services," explained Metro spokesperson Josée Lessard.

The 43, 000 square feet store will offer a sushi counter, a prepared food service counter, a flower shop run by a florist, a meat counter, and a variety of meals prepared by an in-store chef. "There will be 30 new jobs created out of the expansion," Lessard said. The store currently employs around 95 employees, she added.

Metro invested about $10 million into expanding the store.

Beaconsfield mayor Bob Benedetti, present at the store's ribbon-cutting ceremony last night, said he was thrilled about the store's opening. "It's a show of confidence on the part of Metro," he said, that they are willing to invest so much into Beaconsfield. "It's a really nice store," Benedetti added, stating it is over twice the size of the older one.

He added the major investment by Metro into the city proves there is room for commercial retailers to grow there.

Benedetti said Metro is the only large grocery store of its kind in the city.