Quote:
Originally Posted by toaster
The Costco in Gatineau is in the mall, although I heard they are trying to get out of it, and try to get closer to the Ontario border.
One of the reason's Sudbury has a Costco (and Thunder Bay doesn't) is because of the much larger secondary market it has. North Bay, Sault Ste Marie, Timmins, and all the surrounding communities are part of Sudbury Costco's market area. Thunder Bay doesn't have that kind of population surrounding it.
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You're right about Sudbury having a larger market. But Thunder Bay's isn't that small and the city has major institutions just like Sudbury. There are also many towns and First Nations where people from them would travel to make large purchases including fly-in places.
A Costco opened in Peterborough a few years back and its market size is no bigger than T-Bay's.
I have been to the Gatineau location and it is rare to find one attached to a shopping mall. I would be very surprised if they want to move as that warehouse is actually a relocation. The original Costco (actually is was Club Price then later Costco) was located here in this building just off Autoroute 50 along Boulevard Labrosse:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.51441...7i13312!8i6656
Here is a view of it from the other side where you can see the tire centre and entrance. It has blue instead of red because that was the Price Club (known as Club Price in Quebec) colour. Interesting that the building seemed abandoned and the streetview was done in 2015. Costco's website shows that the original location opened in 1993. I remember shopping there in 2000 and 2001 and maybe a few years after that. Just read that it moved into Les Promenades Gatineau in 2006.
But a HUGE part of that location's business is Ontarians buying beer.