The scarcity of Canadian Real Estate in big Canadian cities is encouraging takeovers of well known retailers with ready-made store and shopping mall locations.

Why Canada? We have a strong retail market, a growing economy, a common language and close proximity to the bigger U.S. market.

One of the bigger U.S. retailers, Target announced a recent $1.83-billion deal to take over Canadian leases of up to 220 Zellers stores.

This move signaled a growing interest by other U.S. companies who desire to explore similar opportunities like Target.

Some of the bigger U.S. retailers without a Canadian presence include:

• J.C. Penney
• Kohls
• Walgreen
• Macy's

It remains to be seen who will be one of the many coming to a Canadian mall near you.