Giant Tiger Downtown To Close

There was a deep concern that this might happen. Giant Tiger at the corner of Donald and Ellice has seemed defiant to keep operating although circumstances of shoplifting seem brazen and dangerous even to faithful customers there. Food has always been priced better than almost anywhere else in the downtown. 

Back in 2024, Giant Tiger closed shop at 305 McPhillips Street and at 1441 Main Street. The claim was that theft from stores wasn't sole reason for the closures there. The company continues to have eight stores in Winnipeg but the trend is obvious: none in the core. This is true for companies like 7/Eleven as well unless you count Slurpies in the Canada Life Centre.

To the people experiencing the loss of their local store for groceries and merchandise this is pretty devastating news. Downtown Family Foods at the other end of Donald Street at Broadway is the last general grocery store in the area. However, their prices are higher than the national retailer. The Downtown Family Foods manage has also said how difficult is with constant shoplifting.

Food is being used as a currency for drug use. This isn't so much about people starving to death. A hot meal at many of the missions can't be used as currency. Many of the addicted have a need for drugs that exceed what many of us could pay for on age wage we have. This results in people trying to sell whatever it is they can get their hands on. 

Even as a number of apartments go up, it is obvious the downtown is struggling with more affordable grocery options. Everyone is crying for more security. It seems to come in dribs and drabs. Meanwhile, city councillors are headed for the exit exhausted. The chief of police is next with 37 years on the job. Something the new council will have to figure out with chiefs going every few years now.

Poverty and addiction might be main driver of the grocery exodus but it won't be confined to downtown. Strong evidence suggests it will be go as far as any bus route extends. And while meals and shelter might be on offer, the need for drugs might prevent people from accessing it because the addiction will drive behaviour. 

A multi-pronged approach will help but not in time for Giant Tiger. I suspect that it will take more consequences for anything to work. The traffickers have to be stopped. Housing has to be built at a faster pace for all income levels. Treatment centers have to have a faster response and transition housing with supports put in place. And for those who resort to violence and repeat offences, society can't function in fear of ones safety and security. Yes, the police will have to charge people, the courts will have to hear their case and in some instances, remanded for some time to prevent arson, murder, home invasions and theft at an epic scale.