D’Arcy Crossing will see additional store openings before the end of the year and expects to have more tenant announcements early in 2024.
Jeff Pockett, a senior director with Anthem Properties Group, said the shopping centre at the north end of Okotoks has the vast majority of its 150,000 square feet either leased or deals are close to being finalized.
“We have three deals that we’re working on right now that are all conditional and getting towards the end of their condition period that will eat up a fairly substantial chunk of that remaining 20 per cent (of available space),” Pockett said. “We're kind of getting down to our last few vacancies.”
The opening of anchor tenants Safeway and Shoppers Drug Mart this summer was followed by several others in the ensuing months, with Popeyes, Noodlebox and Tower Cannabis all slated to open shortly.
“I would suspect that each of those will be open and fully operating prior to the end of the year,” Pockett said.
He said the building in the northeast corner is where lease deals are being finalized and he expects those tenants, a mix of retail and quick-serve restaurants, to take possession early in 2024 and open by next summer.
Morning Brunch Co., CEFA Early Learning and others have leased units along High Street at the northern edge of the site that will be the last building to come on stream. It will include second-floor office space for professional tenants.
One unit that remains unleased is a prime restaurant spot — a 3,300-square-foot space with a 1,500-square-foot patio — in the southwest corner of the development. Pockett said Anthem is looking for just the right operator for the desirable location.
“When you drive by it, you can probably understand and appreciate why we want to put the right user into that space. It's turned out better than we expected, to be honest with you. It's beautiful, and that patio will be something else.”
He said Anthem has had interest from several groups but is still exploring its options when it comes to the restaurant space.
A grand opening is tentatively planned for next spring or summer.
"Once the weather turns a little bit warmer and we're able to have a few more people outside, we'll schedule something and throw a little bit of a party,” Pockett said.
