Thursday Oct 18th marked an important day for Calgary's Beltline neighbourhood, and Calgary's inner city core in general. The highly anticipated Canadian Tire store in the new Mount Royal West development has opened its doors to the public. While the grand opening is still three weeks away, the store is now technically open thanks to their recent soft opening.

Canadian Tire store 8th street entrance, image via Kevin Cappis

New stores routinely open in the Beltline and downtown core, but this opening signifies an important milestone as local residents are now within walking distance of a big box retailer in the area that sells hardware and housewares. With the Beltline's population at 25,000 and growing, this will be a bonus to a neighborhood that continues to add new people every time a residential project is completed.

Store aisles stocked and ready to go, image via Kevin Cappis

Nearby residents can purchase a variety of common items in one stop. Everything from latex paint, to frying pans, to screw drivers, to car battery chargers. Hardware items in particular are the one product that hasn't been well supplied in the Beltline, but that has all changed.

Store aisles stocked and ready to go, image via Kevin Cappis

The Canadian Tire is located on the second level of the new Mount Royal West project at the corner of 8 St SW and 16 Ave SW in the Beltline. Financed by First Capital Realty, it will also sport an Urban Fare grocery store as well as the The Royal, a 34 storey, 223 unit condominium tower being developed by Embassy Bosa.

SkyriseCalgary will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information and updates on Mount Royal West, or The Royal check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.