Vancouver-based retailer London Drugs has launched a new urban concept store, called LDEXPRESS, in downtown Calgary.
The 4,000 sq. ft. store is a condensed version of a regular London Drugs, with a full-serve pharmacy, cosmetics, housewares, photo kiosk and grab-and-go food from a local deli.
There are also two customer service desks, and a ship-to-store service for everything available on the retailer’s website.
The ship-to-store service will no doubt help the retailer take on the likes of Amazon.ca and Walmart.ca, both of whom are boosting their online shopping presences by installing pick-up lockers in apartment building lobbies and convenience stores.
“LDEXPRESS features products and service offerings dedicated to making our customers’ lives easier. You can quickly pop in and grab what you need or shop online and pick up at LDEXPRESS,” said Clint Mahlman, executive vice president and CEO of London Drugs.
As London Drugs is locally-based, it’s conceivable the retailer will eventually expand the concept to Metro Vancouver, although a spokesperson told urbanYVR no information on a future Vancouver-location was available at this time.
On the reason to open the first-ever LDEXPRESS in Calgary, Mahlman said, “The decision to open on Stephen Avenue was based on a number of factors. Stephen Avenue was the first location in a Western Canadian city that matched our specific criteria, as well as the City of Calgary and the Landlord (Grosvenor) had a “can do” approach to making this opportunity happen.”
LDEXPRESS is now open on Stephen Avenue inside Scotia Centre in downtown Calgary. The store address is 230 8th Ave SW.
