Celebrity handyman to check out massive local reno project

A vacancy in Sault Ste. Marie’s retail sector caused by the closure of the Zellers store on Northern Avenue and Great Northern Road has been filled by the recent opening of Lowe’s hardware store.

The chain store is currently open to customers, but will celebrate its grand opening later this week, with events scheduled Thursday through Sunday, with an appearance by celebrity handyman Bryan Baeumler.

Baeumler is the host of numerous television shows on HGTV, including Disaster DIY and is a judge on Canada's Handyman Challenge.

With approximately 91,500 square feet of retail pace, the remodelling of the former Zellers was a complete gut job.

As part of the renovations, Lowe’s installed high-efficiency heating and air-conditioning systems, a white TPO “cool roof” membrane and low-consumption LED lighting for the parking lot and garden centre, said an email statement from a Lowe's representitive.

Lowe's looked at various factors before coming to the Sault, including revenue levels, employment level, age of housing and proximity to the United States market.

Each day during the grand opening will include giveaways for the first people in line. 

The first 200 customers on Thursday will each receive an electric string trimmer, with chances to win a dishwasher, barbecue or Dyson canister vacuum cleaner, among other prizes.

Details of the giveaways can be found on the Lowe’s website.

When the Zellers chain of department stores permanantly closed its doors in 2013, the leases of many locations were taken over by Target, who chose not to include Sault Ste. Marie in their Canadian expansion.

The Zellers store at Station Mall was taken over by Wal-Mart, which opened that location in 2012.

Previous SooToday coverage of this story:

Half Lowe's Sault workforce will be full time, says president

(HANDOUT PHOTO: Bryan Baeumler)