Shopping Center Pros In Town

The city will be a shopping Mecca of sorts over the next couple of days -- delegates from both sides of the border are attending the annual Atlantic conference of the International Council of Shopping Centers underway at the Trade and Convention Center. Provincial director John Johnston of Eastpoint Shopping says the energy hub concept and the city's emergence as a retail destination is catching the attention of national retailers and shopping center professionals. Some of the sessions will deal with the impact of effective branding -- understanding the retail site selection and approval process -- as well as -- urbanization and waterfront redevelopment happening in the region.