[St. John's] Retail Thread - Page 22

Townie709 · #**421** Posted **Dec 14, 2012, 11:47 PM**

That's a good idea! I'm not sure who owns it. Since Tom Woodford went out of buisness, it seems car dealers have been renting it out while they build permanent dealerships up the road. Subaru, BMW, and now Ford. I have talked to employees who work there and apparently the building is horribly designed for a car dealership (for example, the showroom is on the second floor and it has very few maintenance bays. Around 3 I think, and for comparison the new Cabot Ford they're building will have 11 I believe)

For these reasons, I think after dealerships stop renting it for short periods of time, it will be converted to retail. Perhaps one large retail store like H&M. Who knows!

Marty_Mcfly · #**422** Posted **Dec 15, 2012, 12:21 AM**

I don't think the Avalon Mall owns the building, but I agree in thinking that it would be in their best interests to inquire about getting it!

CaspinK · #**423** Posted **Dec 15, 2012, 12:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Townie709

That's a good idea! I'm not sure who owns it. Since Tom Woodford went out of buisness, it seems car dealers have been renting it out while they build permanent dealerships up the road. Subaru, BMW, and now Ford. I have talked to employees who work there and apparently the building is horribly designed for a car dealership (for example, the showroom is on the second floor and it has very few maintenance bays. Around 3 I think, and for comparison the new Cabot Ford they're building will have 11 I believe)

For these reasons, I think after dealerships stop renting it for short periods of time, it will be converted to retail. Perhaps one large retail store like H&M. Who knows!

I've heard that the city wants the mall to tear that building down. Potentially the intersection (next to ultramar) will be moved down to Polina Rd which is a really dangerous left hand turn.

Townie709 · #**424** Posted **Dec 15, 2012, 1:46 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaspinK

I've heard that the city wants the mall to tear that building down. Potentially the intersection (next to ultramar) will be moved down to Polina Rd which is a really dangerous left hand turn.

Interesting. That seems like a better solution. I think the building is in poor condition anyway. Thanks for the info!

Arrakis · #**425** Posted **Dec 15, 2012, 1:35 PM**

That would be a good idea for sure. Makes for a safer intersection there. I would say once the the new bifurcation feeder road from Old Pennywell Road is completed, there will be a lot more traffic feeding down Polina Road to Kenmount which makes sense why the city would want to re-align the intersection into a much safer layout. That old Tom Woodford building has been there almost as long as the mall has been there since the late 1960's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaspinK

I've heard that the city wants the mall to tear that building down. Potentially the intersection (next to ultramar) will be moved down to Polina Rd which is a really dangerous left hand turn.

techie · #**426** Posted **Dec 16, 2012, 8:34 PM**

I am pretty sure Crombie REIT (owner of Avalon Mall) did buy it. Also, I think they now own the Toys R Us building too.

CaspinK · #**427** Posted **Dec 16, 2012, 10:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by techie

I am pretty sure Crombie REIT (owner of Avalon Mall) did buy it. Also, I think they now own the Toys R Us building too.

Makes sense. I heard the rent in that building was insane, which means Crombie REIT probably owns it now.

Update:

http://www.crombiereit.ca/PDF/factsheet_172.pdf ... Yup, they own it.

Arrakis · #**428** Posted **Dec 17, 2012, 3:11 PM**

This is interesting. I know the owners of Avalon Mall had in the past, wanted to amalgamate the parking lots of the mall and Woodgate Plaza but Woodgate Plaza owners at the time wouldn't agree to it. I wonder now will they fill in the rest of that pesky river that runs under the mall parking lot. Certainly would give much more need parking and make access to Woodgate Plaza much easier especially if you could enter from the Avalon Mall parking lot behind it. Who knows, perhaps this is where you might end up seeing the much talked about H&M as Dooleys Pool Hall is gone now and leaves quite a large space for leasing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaspinK

Makes sense. I heard the rent in that building was insane, which means Crombie REIT probably owns it now.

Update:

http://www.crombiereit.ca/PDF/factsheet_172.pdf ... Yup, they own it.

jeddy1989 · #**429** Posted **Dec 17, 2012, 3:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arrakis

This is interesting. I know the owners of Avalon Mall had in the past, wanted to amalgamate the parking lots of the mall and Woodgate Plaza but Woodgate Plaza owners at the time wouldn't agree to it. I wonder now will they fill in the rest of that pesky river that runs under the mall parking lot. Certainly would give much more need parking and make access to Woodgate Plaza much easier especially if you could enter from the Avalon Mall parking lot behind it. Who knows, perhaps this is where you might end up seeing the much talked about H&M as Dooleys Pool Hall is gone now and leaves quite a large space for leasing.

ok it's getting a bit rediculous .. they could have at least put all these "outside the mall" stores in a new wing or something .. it's horrible to have to go outside (and tehre arnt even convenient doors leading to them) and try to venture across the death trap that is the avalon mall parking lot .. to go to a handfull of stores .. then god help ya if you wanted to also go to dollarama lol

Arrakis · #**430** Posted **Dec 17, 2012, 8:22 PM**

Yes you make a good point. The avalon mall parking lot is just nuts in its layout and lacks good planning. Seems to go off in all directions. But at least Woodgate plaza exists as a separate entity from the main mall parking lot, at least for now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeddy1989

ok it's getting a bit rediculous .. they could have at least put all these "outside the mall" stores in a new wing or something .. it's horrible to have to go outside (and tehre arnt even convenient doors leading to them) and try to venture across the death trap that is the avalon mall parking lot .. to go to a handfull of stores .. then god help ya if you wanted to also go to dollarama lol

J_Murphy · #**431** Posted **Dec 21, 2012, 11:51 AM**

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfou...high-1220.html

Quote:

N.L Retail Spending at Record High
This may be the peak of the Christmas shopping season, but retail spending in Newfoundland and Labrador is at an all-time high year round.

In October, Statistics Canada said consumer spending was up 5.7 per cent from the same month the year before, with $697 million being spent by shoppers in this province during that month alone.

"I'm a shopper, I'm a shopaholic," admitted Heather Predham as she pushed her Costco cart through the store's crowded parking lot.

Not only is Predham an enthusiastic spender, she said she also witnesses the spike in spending at the business she owns - the Wendy's Restaurant in Mount Pearl.

"Yeah, our sales are up, we're one of the highest in Canada," she said.

More money, more jobs
"[There's] more money, more jobs, more everything," observed Elaine Careen, who has come home from Ottawa for a Christmas visit.

She noted that Dec. 25 may come once a year, but the way she has been watching people in her home province spend, it might as well be Christmas all year long.

"I just noticed that people don't have to wait until Christmas to get what they want. If people want something today they just go out and buy it," Careen said. "Is it because there's so many people working in Fort McMurray now and they get so much money?"

By the end of 2012, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are projected to have spent about $8 billion on consumer goods this year.

Wow..that last figure is a bit surprising. Certainly is a lot more money in NL these days.

jeddy1989 · #**432** Posted **Dec 21, 2012, 12:00 PM**

wowzers!

That's awesome, I mean it is obvious that a lot more money is around and a lot more people. It definitely has to do with the economy and mostly all the huge projects happening in the province and all the spin offs of those (I for one see it personally from my job .. existing and thriving as a spin off to the mega projects AND MANY TO COME) It gives people more job oprion .. and more people are hear which means more services .. which means more jobs which attracts more people etc.

Good times to be had all round

I was strolling around downtown yesterday evening and popped into a few store.. and I must say we are definitely getting much more selection! and many local stores are thriving!

we have so many specialty shoppes and like a vintage store lol stuff that caters to niches that we never use to see and would have to go to bigger cities to get .. even hempware has much more cool stuff! and that has always been our "unique" store in the past.. I must say I was impressed

also the abundance of cafes!! holy sweet god! it's awesome to see though! very urban and european of us

Downtown is a very nice place now even very much more so than when I was in high school

I'm VERY please

Arrakis · #**433** Posted **Dec 21, 2012, 6:12 PM**

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...01948991_n.jpg

I am pretty sure this is what the new Harvey's Restaurant on Hebron Drive will look like when finished. This is the most current look for stand-alone Harvey's Restaurant.
This is a photo from their website.
http://www.harveys.ca/eng/franchising.php

Townie709 · #**434** Posted **Dec 21, 2012, 6:31 PM**

Sorry, I should probably know this, but where exactly is Hebron drive? I assume field power center?

J_Murphy · #**435** Posted **Dec 21, 2012, 6:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Townie709

Sorry, I should probably know this, but where exactly is Hebron drive? I assume field power center?

Correct.

Townie709 · #**436** Posted **Dec 21, 2012, 6:46 PM**

Wohoooo! 500 points for me

Arrakis · #**437** Posted **Dec 21, 2012, 7:33 PM**

That's quite ok. Hebron Drive is a new street so most people wouldn't really know where it is yet as it's not in public use yet though. It's off Torbay road in the new Field Power Centre development across the street from RONA on Torbay Road.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Townie709

Sorry, I should probably know this, but where exactly is Hebron drive? I assume field power center?

statbass · #**438** Posted **Dec 21, 2012, 9:29 PM**

I was out around the east end today and decided to run into the NLC on Stavanger..... boy, what a bad mistake that was. It took me almost 20 mins to get from Boston Pizza to Dominion... gross!!!!!

J_Murphy · #**439** Posted **Dec 22, 2012, 3:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by statbass

I was out around the east end today and decided to run into the NLC on Stavanger..... boy, what a bad mistake that was. It took me almost 20 mins to get from Boston Pizza to Dominion... gross!!!!!

It is brutal. I work down that way and the intersection of Torbay and Stavanger is the worst. Everytime I go to Stavanger Drive, my immediate thought is "how can I do this without having to make a left turn".

I hate "power center" designs, horrible land use. I have to stop typing now because I am starting to get wound up just from thinking about how much I hate it down there. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy having the variety of retail in the city, but the design is just horrible....especially in the winter.

mwd · #**440** Posted **Dec 22, 2012, 1:17 PM**

yeah stavanger is def a s$#! mess, i guess they never thought it would be what it is today back in the early 90's when it started to be built. Like i said in my first post i remember when the whole stavanger, clovelly area was just "the pole line" and woods a place to ride bikes around. It started with the 2 brick buildings,where "ru a sports fan" is now and the old rogers building, and that torn down used car dealership. From what i can remember that was the only thing up there unill they built the price club and zellers in '95