It's a mystery with as much speculation and intrigue as who shot JR.
What business is going to be the new anchor tenant at Royal City Centre?
The owners aren't saying, and for months now there has been various theories on which business will go into the fledgling mall. Speculation amped up recently after the city received a development permit application from the mall to build an atrium-style entrance off Sixth Avenue near Eighth Street, beside the Dynamic Health and Fitness entrance, for a new anchor tenant for the first and second floors of the mall.
The names being kicked around the rumour mill include Target, Wal-Mart and Winners/HomeSense, but the property's owner, Strathallen Capital Corp., hasn't announced what new business the mall will house.
Monika Hildebrand, vice-president of the company's Western Canada corporate office, said it's not in her company's control to say what store is going into the space, located at the west side of the shopping centre.
"We'd love to say something, but we can't," Hildebrand said. "When the time is right, everyone will know, but it's just something we cannot comment on because we signed confidentiality agreements that are legally binding.
"So, unfortunately, everyone is going to have to wait," she added.
She expects the announcement to come "soon," likely by summer.
"We believe everyone will be pleased, and it will be an excellent thing for Royal City Centre and for the New Westminster community," she said. "To have a notable tenant would be a good thing for everyone, for obvious reasons."
When asked about his theory on what it will be, Uptown Business Association president Bart Slotman said it's not his place to say.
"I really don't want to add to the speculation," Slotman said. "As far as I'm concerned, we should leave it up to the retailer to announce when they are ready to announce."
The mall owners are likely keeping the identity under wraps because there are many at play for a large retail tenant to enter into a market, Slotman said.
"There's staffing issues, there is competitive forces . there's all kinds of issues that could be at play, " he said. "They will announce the market when they're ready and when they have their things under control."
Still, Slotman, who owns Uptown Property Group, appreciates the public's interest in knowing which tenant it will be.
"I think it's a very important piece of the puzzle for Royal City Centre, and I think it's very important that they have the right retailer to take that space, and I think it's great to hear the community being so interested in it," he said.
City council received a staff report about the development permit application on March 11. Once a technical review of the application is complete, the matter will be considered by city council.
