A new mega-mall in the Lower Mainland is attempting to entice Island shoppers with a free shuttle from the Tswwassen ferry terminal.
Tsawwassen Mills is a new 1.2-million square foot shopping centre, with capacity for 200 retailers, including 16 anchor tenants.
The shopping centre, which opened last week, claims it will be a destination retail stop for Vancouver Island shoppers, providing access to retailers at the mall without shoppers having to make the trip into downtown Vancouver.
The mall includes first-to-market retailers, including Saks off 5th, Bass Pro Shops, Harry Rosen Outlet, Lululemon outlet and more.
Based on opening-day interest, a free shuttle from the ferry terminal might be the best transportation option. There were heavy delays on traffic routes through Delta on opening day and travellers taking B.C. Ferries were warned to allow extra time to make their sailings.
The 42-passenger shopping shuttle provides free round-trip transportation from Tsawwassen ferry terminal to Tsawwassen Mills daily, coordinating with the Nanaimo and Victoria ferry sailing times during mall hours.
The shuttle pick-up location is outside the passenger building at Tsawwassen ferry terminal.
The shopping shuttle will drop off and pick up passengers at Tsawwassen Mills outside Entry 3 next to Montana’s, Boston Pizza and Milestones.
Despite the throngs of shoppers coming for deals, mall outlets have struggled to attract enough staff.
Tsawwassen Mills is also running its own private employee shuttle to carry workers to and from the Scott Road SkyTrain station, to make transportation easier for them. Public transit to and from the mall is limited, adding to the car traffic flowing to the new retail magnet.
Mall hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday and holidays. Information about the shuttle can be found on the Tsawwassen Mills website at www.tsawwassenmills.com/info/ferry-shuttle/.