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“Winners has told us that they wanted to do a somewhat different store, but they aren’t prepared to make a commitment to having that store be unique so we’re not calling it unique,” Greenberg said.

Although some Winners outlets feature a high-end designer department called The Runway, what’s in store for the new Lansdowne outlet is unclear. The company did not return calls for comment.

Capital Coun. David Chernushenko said he was “shocked” by the news.

“Over and over again, the proponents have assured us it was not going to be a shopping mall and took great insult at any accusation that that’s what it was going to be. Well, what’s left to say here?,” he said. “When you start to get a series of chain stores, you can’t pretend it’s a unique, distinct urban village any more.”

But Greenberg objected to such a characterization, saying the retail component at Lansdowne won’t have the look or feel of a suburban box-store mall.

“I guarantee you anybody who walks through Lansdowne will never say that,” he said.

Box stores are usually about 40,00o-square feet; Winners will be less than half that size, Greenberg added, while the PetSmart will be just 6,ooo-square-feet.

OSEG has been canvassing existing businesses in the Glebe, Westboro and the ByWard Market to try to entice owners to move to Lansdowne or open new stores.

But Greenberg said it’s a tough sell until the park opens on July 18 and people can see it for themselves.

Some of the new-to-Ottawa Lansdowne tenants include Vancouver-based chain JOEY Restaurant, burger-and-fry joint South St. Burger Company and Local Lounge and Grill.

Whole Foods Market and an LCBO store that will include a VQA Destination Boutique featuring hard-to-find wines from smaller producers are also set to open at Lansdowne.

mpearson@ottawacitizen.com

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