Business

The Westcoast invades Leaside

WESTERN INFLUENCE: Westcoast Kids, a children's store based out of Richmond, B.C. has moved into Leaside at the corner of Manor Road and Bayview Avenue. Manager Michelle Halasi says they had customers approaching them before the store was open.
WESTERN INFLUENCE: Westcoast Kids, a children’s store based in Richmond, B.C., has moved into Leaside at the corner of Manor Road and Bayview Avenue. Manager Michelle Halasi says they had customers approaching them before the store was open.

Westcoast Kids are invading the east.

That’s the happy sentiment from the month-and-a-half old baby store that opened where Moms To Be and More used to be — at the corner of Bayview Avenue and Manor Road East — a week before Halloween.

Manager Michelle Halasi of the 1646 Bayview store said it tongue-in-cheek, but the Richmond, B.C. company has landed in the heart of Leaside and is offering shoppers a boutique feel, even though it touts the largest square footage in the city.

But the biggest surprise, she added, was the local following that had heard about the Canadian chain.

“It’s been interesting to learn how many customers have heard about Westcoast Kids from family in Calgary, Winnipeg and Vancouver,” Halasi said. “I am really surprised by a lot of loyal customers who come across from Winnipeg.”

Westcoast Kids, which created by Robyn Moar, daughter of Winnipeg-based entrepreneur Marsha Deshefsky, started in August 2007, with a focus on baby registries and an online element.

That means relatives in Toronto can buy gift registry items for family members in the six other locations: one in each of Richmond, Vancouver, Edmonton and Winnipeg, and two in Calgary.

“It’s nice having seven locations across the country — so it’s nice to see family members shopping for people in other cities,” Halasi said.

Not just focusing on newborns, the store offers clothing sizes to 4T as well all the essentials needed for a burgeoning family. The store also sells furniture, accessories, toys and more.

“We really offer everything you would need for babies from furniture to gear,” she said.

As for the square footage — it really doesn’t seem that big.

“It’s definitely more of a small boutique feel,” Halasi said. “It doesn’t feel like that big of store. It allows people to browse around and not feel overwhelmed.”