Vancouver-based outdoor retailer MEC plans to open a flagship store near the Olympic Village, on the northeast corner of East Second and Quebec streets, next to a Shell gas station, the company announced October 8.
The store would replace its current 20-year-old location at 130 West Broadway.
Burnaby-based Beedie Group is expected later today to submit to the city a development application to build the three-storey, mixed-use 60,000-square-foot building.
MEC would then take 45,000 square feet in that building on the lower two levels, under office space on the third floor.
“We have owned this gateway site since 2007 and wanted to ensure any future development would enhance the area,” said Ryan Beedie.
The building is designed to achieve a minimum LEED Gold certification.
“Relocating MEC Vancouver nearby our existing location boils down to having a bigger, better and more accessible store to serve our 400,000-plus members who live in the Greater Vancouver region,” MEC CEO David Labistour said.
Construction could start as early as 2017 and continue for 18 months.
The project comes on the heels of MEC relocating its head office to the False Creek Flats.
