Loblaw has reopened the historic West Block building in Toronto that formerly housed the first Loblaws Groceterias warehouse.
In 1928, the warehouse highlighted how Loblaws Groceteria was a pioneer in modern retailing.
Today, the new location brings retail, office and residential space to the Lakeshore and Bathurst area, building a community in this urban setting.
“The reopening of the West Block building is an important milestone in Loblaw’s history, and a cornerstone of our future,” said Sarah Davis, President, Loblaw.
“The building is an architectural representation of our company, and our role as an ongoing retail innovator. It brings together our century-long story, combining convenient bricks-and-mortar store locations and the new hub of our digital, loyalty and financial services teams.”
Today, the building reaffirms Loblaw’s commitment to innovation and to the digital talent in Toronto. The office space is the new home of more than 1,100 digital economy workers across five floors, including teams from Loblaw Digital – recently voted one of the top Toronto tech employers – PC Optimum, and PC Financial, which focuses on digital-first everyday payments.
“When the building first opened in 1928 it was hailed as the most modern warehouse of its kind. Our task was to reconstruct a space that represents Loblaw’s exciting future and properly captures the essence of both its history, and that of the city,” said Galen G. Weston, Executive Chairman, Loblaw.
“Brick by brick and stone by stone, West Block’s historic façade has been restored so it once again becomes a destination within the community.”