Shoppers Drug Mart opens Yonge-Dundas location

The Shoppers Drug Mart in Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square was a flurry of activity on a Wednesday afternoon in late June as staff and construction crews put finishing touches on displays and window treatments ahead of the grand opening.

The 16,000-sq.-ft., three-storey location, housed within a former Hard Rock Café restaurant (and a longtime Toronto institute), officially opened its doors to the public June 28 with beauty events taking place the following weekend.

Customers walking through the main doors off Yonge Street immediately enter the 5,000-sq.-ft. Beauty Boutique, which owner and operator Andrew Yeh called the heart of the new store. A staircase on the left leads to the second floor where produce, pantry items, frozen food and grab-and-go items such as wraps, sushi, fresh pastas, sauces, quiches and meat pies can be found.

Approximately one third of the upper level has been devoted to food, including 16 ft. of refrigeration. The area is also equipped with self-checkout stations. "Today's urban shopper wants to fill their basket and get out with a cashier or self-checkout," said Yeh, who has been a pharmacist in the Yonge-Dundas area
for the past 10 years. "Convenience is first and foremost in their lives... We aim to deliver."