No Frills Opening Draws Praise

Brantford Expositor:

As the new No Frills grocery store on Colborne Street opened for business Friday morning, city Coun. Marguerite Ceschi-Smith breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’m just delighted,” said the Ward 5 representative, who was on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremonies at the 27,711-square-foot store, rebuilt in the shell of a former Zehrs market.

“I was so afraid that it (the former Zehrs) was going to fall apart and be a continuation of that stretch of grey-fields.”

Ceschi-Smith was referring to the plaza immediately west of the No Frills plaza, where a long-vacant Canadian Tire, BiWay and Bank of Mont real sit unattended. Some smaller storefronts within the No Frills plaza have also lost tenants in recent years.

But, on Friday, the councillor was instead looking positively to the future.

“I am excited about the opening of the No Frills store,” she said. “I know the store will be welcomed and will have great success.”