SAINT JOHN – The opening of a new Gap in Saint John will have a large impact to fashion as Atlantic Canada’s largest Costco did to the general market when it opened in the city two years ago, says developer Troy Northrup.

“For clothing, it’s like another Costco,” Northrup said. “It’s a huge win for the community and for fashion.”

A Gap Factory Store will open at East Point in November – just in time for the holiday shopping season, Northrup announced Friday.

Construction work has already started in the former Urban Planet location, at the corner for Fashion and Retail drives. The store is 7,500 square feet (or nearly 700 square metres).

“It’s an opportunity to get a stronger retailer into the centre and bring a new brand to the city,” he said.

“It’s been a long time coming and I think there’s going to be a lot of people really excited.”

The store will offer trendy clothing and accessories, including premium denim for men, women and children at “very accessible price points,” he said, noting the store is not an outlet, but a “factory store,” which traditionally means lower prices.

The only other Gap in New Brunswick is located in Champlain Place in Dieppe.

Northrup said the new Gap will continue to put Saint John on the map as a place to shop.

“I think it’ll certainly continue to build Saint John as a premier retail shopping destination in New Brunswick and certainly continue building East Point as the premier shopping centre in New Brunswick,” he said. “And it will build the regional draw we already have because of Costco.”

Since Costco opened in 2010, shoppers from across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and even Maine have come to the Saint John warehouse to shop, he said.

Business at the other East Point stores continues to go well, Northrup said, and shoppers can expect new stores to open in the coming weeks.

A Halloween Store as well as Christmas Discounters are both expected to open soon, he said.

East Point Shopping established in 2006 with the opening of the Home Depot and is located on a distinctive mountain view overlooking East Saint John.

The retail area is now home to a wide variety of fashion retailers, hospitality and specialty stores including Atlantic Canada’s largest Costco, New Brunswick’s only Indigo Books & Music, a Hampton Inn and Suites, a Montana’s family restaurant, Starbucks and TD Canada Trust.