Disney’s back in Scarborough

Scarborough Town Centre reopened Disney Store in late October. The shopping centre said it would boost its overall holiday season sales. 

Merbin Bagaindor’s family walked out of the new Disney Store at Scarborough Town Centre. Her husband pushed the stroller with the Disney bag attached as their little one hugged her favourite Finding Nemo character: Doris.

“We got a pet shop play-set and few t-shirts for our friends’ children,” Bagaindor said.

It’s been almost a month since the store’s return in Scarborough. The mall’s marketing director, Jai Lee, wrote in an email that both Disney and the Town Centre desired to have it back.

Its Eaton Centre location closed in December 2011 according to DISboards.com, an online Disney fan forum. Some Toronto-based fans wrote they were outraged, and the decision was a poor one since the shopping centre is one of Toronto’s busiest tourist spots.

Now Scarborough has one of two Disney Stores in the city of Toronto, the other is at Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

Although the Town Centre offers more toy choices, Disney seems to maintain the popularity for its uniqueness. Bagaindor said she preferred Disney to everything else because she used to be another little girl who was in love with its characters. She said she plans to come back for more holiday gifts.

Another two young women carried bags full of the classics, Pooh and Eeyore.

Angela Martone’s voice was full of excitement as soon as she heard the word, Disney.

“It’s awesome,” she said.

The fan of the old Disney Store remembered it closing three years ago. Martone said she already shopped once after the re-opening. She praised the cozy setting and atmosphere.

Her friend, Alexandra Clarke, remembered the former store located where Victoria’s Secret now operates.

“The old store felt bigger … probably because we were little back then,” Clarke said. “The new one’s still awesome. Angela still goes through the tunnels that’s in the middle of the store.”

The shopping centre explained its first month has been very successful.

“I am sure Disney will bring positive results for the Town Centre overall but especially around the holiday period,” the marketing director Lee wrote.

About this article

By: Jiyoon Ellie Kim
Copy editor: Nathan Bailey
Posted: Nov 27 2012 1:17 am
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Filed under: Arts & Life Community
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