Originally Posted by Urban recluse (Post 8385393)

I am looking forward to this.

Originally Posted by rrskylar (Post 8385289)

More people at the Forks hasn't translated into increased sales for any of the retailers.

The supposed 300K visitors to the CMHR which includes virtual visits hasn't translated into much if any increases in spending at the Forks, more stores have closed than have opened, in fact two restaurants at the Forks have closed since it's opening, pretty hard to ignore that.

A high density residential neighbourhood might be the saviour of the Forks which is good, don't exactly get the correlation to the CMHR for spurring this development. The development was eventually going to happen with or without the CMHR.

Originally Posted by trueviking (Post 8385519)

^ I certainly hope not. Most of the developers are waiting for the green light to get building.

Originally Posted by trueviking (Post 8385527)

it doesn't include virtual visits.

the forks is upgrading its tenants as their sweet leases come to an end.

Originally Posted by Riverman (Post 8385522)

Then I hope you are young because if you are not you will be dead before this happens.

Originally Posted by Tacheguy (Post 8385668)

I personally know a retailer who was dying to go to the Forks but found the proposed rent too high ( I think the it was 15% of gross sales). This person has since gone elsewhere and is doing quite well. Retailers still want in to the Forks but will have to pay a premium for the privilege. The people leaving are basically the low end operators it seems to me. the target market there is changing. Some will like it, some won't.

Originally Posted by rrskylar (Post 8384828)

Spoke to a former store owner at the Forks who said things for retailers there are far from rosy. Forks management is indifferent to their tenants and any suggestions fall on deaf ears. More stores are closing than opening and opening of the CMHR has had no positive effect on retail. Paid parking at the Forks has been the biggest detriment for retailers, you can't charge for something that was always free especially with so many other shopping options in the city.

Originally Posted by Ando (Post 8385209)

I would take anything said by a "former store owner" (i.e. failed businessperson) with a grain of salt

Originally Posted by rrskylar (Post 8385473)

Yup, no proof at all just two restaurants shutting down and six or seven stores, everything's good though! Go ask someone at McNally Robinson how they're doing at the Forks, selling three books a week just isn't cutting it at that location, but since most of you seem to be business experts carry on...


Kind of like Joseph Hazelwood stating it was just a small hole in the Exxon Valdez!

Originally Posted by Tacheguy (Post 8385668)

I personally know a retailer who was dying to go to the Forks but found the proposed rent too high ( I think the it was 15% of gross sales). This person has since gone elsewhere and is doing quite well. Retailers still want in to the Forks but will have to pay a premium for the privilege. The people leaving are basically the low end operators it seems to me. the target market there is changing. Some will like it, some won't.

Originally Posted by borkborkbork (Post 8384976)

I want to know which retailers they're talking about. If Forks Trading Co. is suffering, I'll count that as proof that something's wrong. If it's the place selling Ukranian tschotskes and unlicensed Jets junk, I'd take that all with a big grain of salt.

I'm guessing that the tacky souvenir places are blaming everyone but themselves.

Originally Posted by optimusREIM (Post 8385148)

I think part of that attitude has to do with the absolute shitshow that winnipeg transit is. If I can take a train or a bus and not have to screw around parking and get more or less where I want to go then I'm happy. It also allows you to have a good night out instead of being stuck having to say "sorry I have to drive later" all night.

Also i have to add that BRT is a garbage idea unless we find a way to make weatherproof stations i.e. heated in winter and out of the wind. Rail has always been the better idea, and preferably underground. I think having access to that would change a lot of winnipegers minds about needing to drive everywhere. The forks would almost certainly be able to do more if better transit existed.

Originally Posted by Hecate (Post 8385197)

I know I’m in the minority here but I think free parking should be maintained at the forks. The majority of people that go there are spending money on something. So to me the idea of trying to push people to use transit to access the forks and it’s amenities is short sighted and foolish. What family of four is gonna take the bus there to go skating for the afternoon?

Originally Posted by buzzg (Post 8387256)

Most of the parking has been paid parking for a long time, the parkade was the last free piece. I have no problem paying (just as I would anywhere else downtown, or in any other city) if it means The Forks is going to continue this incredible trajectory they're on.

Originally Posted by Hecate (Post 8385197)

I know I’m in the minority here but I think free parking should be maintained at the forks. The majority of people that go there are spending money on something. So to me the idea of trying to push people to use transit to access the forks and it’s amenities is short sighted and foolish. What family of four is gonna take the bus there to go skating for the afternoon?

Originally Posted by wardlow (Post 8387443)

Eliminating free parking will bring more people to The Forks to spend money and reduce traffic. It benefits The Forks by not having to pay the costs of subsidizing free parking (which they pass onto Forks visitors some other way), and it benefits drivers arriving by car by freeing up parking spaces.

Here's a good interview with Donald Shoup, which outlines some of the issues with free or underpriced parking.

Originally Posted by rrskylar (Post 8385289)

More people at the Forks hasn't translated into increased sales for any of the retailers.

Originally Posted by h0twired (Post 8387500)

Kite and Kaboodle recently doubled their space and are doing a full reno in the process.

Originally Posted by h0twired (Post 8387500)

Kite and Kaboodle recently doubled their space and are doing a full reno in the process.

Originally Posted by wardlow (Post 8387443)

Eliminating free parking will bring more people to The Forks to spend money and reduce traffic. It benefits The Forks by not having to pay the costs of subsidizing free parking (which they pass onto Forks visitors some other way), and it benefits drivers arriving by car by freeing up parking spaces.

Here's a good interview with Donald Shoup, which outlines some of the issues with free or underpriced parking.

Originally Posted by buzzg (Post 8387256)

Yup – Forks Trading Co, Jenna Rae, Ellement Wines, Coal and Canary are al doing massive numbers (I've seen them). I don't think many people are going to miss the several stores that sell the same crap from China you can find in the PP skywalks, the long-gone Irish themed store, factory made incense, etc. Those businesses only survived because they had such low rent before.

And yes The Forks takes 15% of revenue – as they should. Most of the businesses before had horrible marketing, if any. They did nothing to promote their businesses, just hoped people would show up, and complain when they didn't. Meanwhile TFNP spends a ton of time and money and other resources to program The Forks and bring people to the Market.

The reason why this beer lab idea and some of the other ones have come up, is they do want to slowly move away from non-destination retail on the second floor, and let some of those tenants take spaces in Railside.



It's funny because all the small stations in residential areas are heated, but the flagship showpiece Osborne Station is a frigid wind tunnel.

One of two things should be done. Either just install really fast garage doors – the ones at Portage Place are amazing. Rubber and go up and down in literally one second. OR enclose the waiting areas and put sliding doors where the bus doors would line up, like at an airport tram or some LRT stations.




Most of the parking has been paid parking for a long time, the parkade was the last free piece. I have no problem paying (just as I would anywhere else downtown, or in any other city) if it means The Forks is going to continue this incredible trajectory they're on.