Canadian Retail Thread [Archive] - Page 18

eternallyme

Nov 26, 2009, 4:46 PM

It doesn't make a lot of sense unless Thanksgiving is moved here in Canada too (which may not be a bad idea - gives us a 4-day weekend, less confusion and a better chance to meet family as it would be colder and less likely to be at the cottage), right now it requires taking 1-2 days off, but...

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/730918--local-stores-give-u-s-black-friday-shopping-a-try?bn=1

Local stores give U.S. Black Friday shopping a try

Canadian sales start early as U.S. bargains beckon

In the run-up to Black Friday south of the border, Canada's retailers are ramping up bargains in an attempt to keep Canadian shoppers away from the sales in the U.S.

The efforts, planned before the biggest U.S. shopping day of the year, are also an attempt to spur dispirited, recession-weary Canadians into spending their hard-earned, well-hoarded dollars. And since wary retailers have restricted inventories during the recession, it may just make sense to buy early, since desired stock will be running low well before the traditional post-Christmas sales.

In Canada, retailers have used Black Friday – interpreted by some to mean when companies go from "in the red" to "in the black" – as a reason to launch massive sales and bring forward the holiday shopping season to lure consumers into making earlier-than-planned big purchases for Christmas, analysts say.

"People a few years ago didn't really know what Black Friday meant, but it's expanded over the border," said Wendy Evans, president of Evans and Company Consultants Inc. But here, "It's earlier than ever ... In the States, they don't usually move into Christmas until Black Friday, but here they almost use it as an excuse to go earlier and earlier."

Sears Canada Inc., for example, is currently in the middle of a "Sears Days" promotion, planned and targeted to keep Canadians shopping domestically at a time when Black Friday bargains might lure cost-conscious Canadians over the Peace Bridge or other border crossings.

"I've never seen prices go so low, so early," said Sears Canada spokesman Vince Power. "We plan it specifically at this time frame because of all the hype around Black Friday."

Mark Beazley, of the Retail Council of Canada, said: "Canadian retailers understand that they are dealing with customers without borders," Beazley said.

They will inevitably head south to malls such as the Walden Galleria in Buffalo. Retailers there have been touting their door-busting giveaways, two-for-one specials, and savings of up to 50 per cent. General manager John Ecklund said the strong Canadian dollar has already led to an "uptick" in cross-border shopping, even with a new passport requirement in place.

"I'm not sure that's been much of a hindrance," he said.

The mall's 200 retailers are expecting an even larger Canadian turnout Friday, which Ecklund said has been heavily publicized to attract Canadian shoppers. "Canadians are most welcome and we really do appreciate their business."

But if you're thinking of sneaking goods across the border without paying taxes or, in some cases, duties, the Canada Border Services Agency is warning there are no exemptions for same-day shopping.

"If you attempt to smuggle, the penalties are quite severe and are really not worth it for the few dollars in taxes you might have to pay," said Jean D'Amelio-Swyer, an agency spokeswoman. "Declare all your purchases and have your receipts in hand," she said.

"Individuals should consider re-entering Canada before 3 p.m., because if they attempt to come in after that they will experience some delay."

There are still other reasons for the push on Canadian retailers to sell earlier: the economic downturn has eroded consumer confidence and left many unwilling to spend. Lynn Bevan, a partner with RSM Richter's retail division, said retailers are willing to sacrifice profit margins this year to move merchandise that might otherwise continue to collect dust in warehouses.

"I think Canadian retailers have really moved up their sales cycle. Certainly, that's been the trend in the last few years. But this year it's been even more aggressive," Bevan said.

"It's a direct response to the dropping sales in general, to really move their inventory quickly," she added, noting a positive side effect of the retail downswing has been cautious retailers focusing more on their inventory and purchasing – making wiser decisions.

The restricted inventory issue is also a big one for consumers, since specific, big-ticket items may sell out before Christmas, leaving less stock to put on sale for clearout on Boxing week.

"Savvy retailers ordered much less stock this year," said Richard Talbot, of Talbot Consultants International, adding that this might be a reason to put up with the hassle of crossing the border.

"If you can't get something here already, it may still be available in the States."

With files from Tyler Hamilton

Acajack

Nov 26, 2009, 6:11 PM

eternallyme

Nov 26, 2009, 6:28 PM

Funny that I was reading Montreal newspaper La Presse yesterday and some retailer had a full-page ad hailing its “Soldes du Black Friday”...

I already knew the term as I have been to NYC for Thanksgiving before but I found it really weird seeing that in a Quebec paper.

Shouldn't that be "Vendredi de Noir"? Although that would be an odd translation...

Although unethical IMO (and I have never seen it), some Canadian retailers in border towns could try to lure Americans north today for those desperate to shop since most retailers there are closed today...

Acajack

Nov 26, 2009, 6:48 PM

Shouldn't that be "Vendredi de Noir"? Although that would be an odd translation...

Some stuff just doesn't translate well. Boxing Day is another one that is seldom translated, at least not literally as "Jour de la mise en boîte" or "Jour de la boxe" (sic). You do see "Soldes du lendemain de Noël" on occasion, but for the most part the signs just say "Boxing Day".

SpongeG

Dec 3, 2009, 7:00 AM

RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust Announces Firm Contracts on Four Anchored Retail Properties in Canada

TORONTO, ONTARIO -- 12/01/09 -- RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust ("RioCan") (TSX: REI.UN) today announced that it has waived conditions and expects to close on four new format retail shopping centres before the end of the year. These four properties, located in British Columbia and Alberta, have all been developed within the last several years by the vendors. Three of the four properties are anchored by Walmart, which represents 54% of the occupied space by gross leasable area and generates 34% of the gross rental revenue. In addition, 86% of the rental revenue for the portfolio is generated by national or anchor tenants. The portfolio, which totals approximately 1.2 million square feet, is currently 98% occupied and the vacancy is subject to an earn-out mechanism described below.

The total purchase price for these properties is approximately $280 million; RioCan's interest will be approximately $166 million. The overall weighted average cap rate for this portfolio of four new format retail properties is approximately 7.1%. RioCan has arranged five year conventional first mortgage financing for three of the four properties in the amount of approximately $113 million, of which RioCan's share will be approximately $94.5 million at an interest rate expected to be approximately 5.0%. The financing is expected to close shortly after the closing of the purchase of these four properties. RioCan's equity investment will be funded from existing resources.

RioCan will complete the purchase of Grandview Corners in Surrey, BC, and Edmonton West Retail Centre in Edmonton, AB, on a joint venture basis with CPPIB and Sun Life respectively. In both cases, RioCan will act as property and asset manager.

Three of the four properties are located in the primary markets of Vancouver, BC, Calgary, AB and Edmonton, AB. The portfolio benefits from a well staggered lease rollover profile with approximately 9,000 square feet, or 0.8%, on average, of the total leaseable area due for renewal, each year, for the next five years. The average lease term for these four properties is approximately ten years. The average base rental rate on the portfolio is approximately $17.70 per square foot. RioCan will benefit from additional leasing of vacant space or additional density by way of an earn-out mechanism whereby proceeds will be paid to the vendor upon completion and lease-up of the added density or vacant space as the case may be. Through the earn-out mechanism there is the potential to add approximately 86,000 square feet at a total cost of approximately $24 million, of which RioCan's proportionate share would be approximately $17 million. RioCan will maintain certain approval rights over the leasing process.

Properties under firm contract

Grandview Corners is a 529,827 square foot recently developed new format shopping centre located in the Greater Vancouver Area market of Surrey, BC. The property is situated on a 42 acre site and is anchored by a 217,278 square foot Walmart. Other national tenants include The Brick, Future Shop, and Indigo. The property is currently 95% occupied and there is the potential to add 5,360 square feet of additional density. The property is being acquired unencumbered, however RioCan has arranged secured financing to close shortly after the purchase of this property. RioCan will acquire a 50% interest in this property on a joint venture basis with CPPIB and will act as property and asset manager on CPPIB's behalf.

Edmonton West Retail Centre is a recently completed 292,826 square foot new format retail centre located in Edmonton, AB within close proximity to Mayfield Commons, a 444,263 square foot new format retail centre. Edmonton West Retail Centre is anchored by a 204,944 square foot Walmart. Other national tenants at the property include Golf Town and PetSmart. The property is currently 99% occupied with an additional 38,900 square feet of additional density available for and subject to an earn-out mechanism with the vendor. The property is being acquired unencumbered, however RioCan has arranged secured financing to close shortly after the purchase of this property. RioCan will acquire a 40% interest in this property on a joint venture basis with Sun Life, who is also a partner with RioCan on the nearby Mayfield Commons. RioCan will act as property and asset manager on Sun Life's behalf.

Lethbridge North Retail Centre is a recently completed 279,760 square foot new format retail centre located in Lethbridge, AB. The property is anchored by a 213,309 square foot Walmart. Other national tenants include Shoppers Drug Mart and TD Bank. The property is currently 100% occupied with an additional 36,800 square feet of additional density available for and subject to an earn-out mechanism with the vendor. RioCan will be the sole owner of the property. The property is being acquired unencumbered, however RioCan has arranged secured financing to close shortly after the purchase of this property.

Calgary East Retail Centre is a recently completed 83,603 square foot new format shopping centre located in Calgary, AB. The property is tenanted by national tenants such as Designer Depot and Golf Town. The property is currently 100% occupied and the vendor has entered into a firm ground lease agreement with Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse for a 127,333 square foot store. Site preparations have commenced, and completion of the building is expected to be sometime in the second half of 2010 or early 2011. RioCan has agreed to acquire the remainder of the property at a cost of approximately $19 million, which equates to a cap rate of 7.3%, once the Lowe's store is open and paying rent. In addition to Lowe's, there is the potential for 5,000 square feet of additional density available and subject to an earn-out mechanism with the vendor. RioCan will be the sole owner of the property. The property is being acquired unencumbered.

"RioCan is excited to be able to acquire these very well anchored centres in excellent markets as well as expanding our relationship with Walmart, which will become RioCan's third largest tenant upon the completion of this acquisition," said Edward Sonshine, Q.C., President and CEO of RioCan. "These four centres represent an excellent addition to RioCan's core portfolio and provide an opportunity to acquire a number of strategic assets while expanding our important relationships with CPPIB and Sun Life. We are particularly gratified with the acquisition in Surrey, BC, as it is a very competitive and desirable market where we are purchasing an asset of a type and quality that rarely come to market in Canada."

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/riocan-real-estate-investment-trust,1068046.shtml

SpongeG

Dec 5, 2009, 10:45 AM

Woodward's comes back to life

London Drugs, Nester’s open a new retail era in the Downtown Eastside

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.vancouversun.com/travel/Woodward+comes+back+life/2305030/2305098.bin?size=620x400
Nesters Market, on the site of the retail-residential complex that replaces the old Woodward's department store in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
Photograph by: Bill Keay, Vancouver Sun

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.vancouversun.com/travel/Woodward+comes+back+life/2305030/2305094.bin?size=620x400
Mike Pare (left) and Sam Corea with 'Santa' in front of the new Nesters Market, part of the retail-residential complex on the old Woodward's department store site.
Photograph by: Bill Keay, Vancouver Sun

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.vancouversun.com/travel/Woodward+comes+back+life/2305030/2305049.bin?size=620x400
The entrance to the new London Drugs store on the former Woodward's department store site in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
Photograph by: Bill Keay, Vancouver Sun

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.vancouversun.com/travel/Woodward+comes+back+life/2305030/2305056.bin?size=620x400
Remember this? Woodward's peanut butter jars at the new Nesters Market in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, where the market opens its doors next week on the site of the former, long-standing Woodward's department store.
Photograph by: Bill Keay, Vancouver Sun

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.vancouversun.com/travel/Woodward+comes+back+life/2305030/2305040.bin?size=620x400
The new deli in Nesters Market at the former Woodward's site in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.
Photograph by: Bill Keay, Vancouver Sun
VANCOUVER — The Downtown Eastside has been a retail no-man’s land for decades.

No more.

Last Tuesday, London Drugs quietly opened a new 27,000-square-foot store on Hastings near Abbott in the Woodward’s complex.

This coming Tuesday, Nesters Market opens a 15,000-sq.-ft. supermarket around the corner at Abbott and Cordova.

Almost 17 years after the Woodward’s department store closed, the long-awaited revitalization of the landmark site is finally taking shape.

Construction will continue for a few months, but bit by bit, what architect Gregory Henriquez calls “the most complicated mixed-use project in the history of Vancouver” is coming together.

The project’s two residential towers (43 and 32 storeys) are occupied. Workers are racing to put the finishing touches on Simon Fraser University’s School for the Contemporary Arts, which will relocate there. A spectacular Stan Douglas photo of the Gastown Riot commissioned for the project is already up, although it won’t be officially unveiled for a bit.

London Drugs and Nesters are open, TD Canada Trust will open in January, and several smaller retail outlets — including a JJ Bean coffee shop, a “gastro-pub,” a pizza place, a dental office and a cigar shop — will be unveiled over the next couple of months.

Developer Ian Gillespie stressed retail in his pitch to develop the Woodward’s site.

“We thought what that neighbourhood needed was really strong tenants that had the ability to survive, to last through the good times and the bad times, and had the ability to pull lots of people into the area,” Gillespie said.

“What that area needs more than anything is people with money in their pockets going to buy their toilet paper, milk or batteries or whatever.”

Gillespie thought London Drugs would be an ideal tenant, and pursued the chain.

“By coincidence, the Louie family [which owns London Drugs] has a long history in that part of town,” he said.

“To them it was a natural fit, to come back and do something. [But] I think the London Drugs people, to be frank ... saw it as an obligation. They saw it as important for Vancouver to be there. Brandt Louie is not just the owner of London Drugs, he’s also the chancellor of Simon Fraser [University]. I don’t think that’s coincidental.

“They struggled, when you look at the demographics, [with] making that store make sense. But they bought into the vision that Woodward’s was going to make a real substantial impact on the neighbourhood.”

London Drugs president Wynne Powell concurs.

“We knew this was going to be a very tough construction job, and a very tough issue to turn around into a positive icon for Vancouver,” Powell said.

“But we felt that it was a socially responsible decision to support this initiative. Because if people like us don’t support it, how can we sit on the sidelines, complaining that the area isn’t up to what it could be? If we want it to be what it should be, we should be willing to participate.”

The London Drugs outlet is a little smaller than the norm, but offers all the merchandise and services normally available.

“It’s two floors, similar to Georgia and Granville,” Powell said.

“The first floor has general merchandise and cosmetics, and a pharmacy with private medical consultation booths. The second floor [has] the technical [departments], photographic, audio/video, the computers and the one-hour photo.”

With London Drugs onside, Gillespie went looking for a grocery store. Nesters signed on about three years ago, and has really got into the heritage of the site: It will be selling reproductions of Woodward’s peanut butter and cottage cheese.

For the opening, Nesters will be bringing back Woodward’s legendary “$1.49 Day” sale. It has even licensed the old $1.49 Day jingle (“Dollar forty-nine day, Tuesday!”) to promote it.

“It’s part of the fabric of this city,” said Laura Ballance, who is doing publicity for the Nesters opening. “It’s a tip of the hat to the history of this site, to start on a Tuesday and tie so much in on opening day.”

“We thought it would be a special touch for a special event,” said Sam Corea of Nesters.

Gillespie loves the way that Nesters has embraced the heritage of the old Woodward’s Food Floor, which may have been the most beloved department of the beloved store.

“The whole Pattison group [which owns Nesters] really took that project on,” Gillespie said.

“Jimmy [Pattison] took that project on very similar to Brandt, in that you probably couldn’t have had a pro-forma that you could have taken to the owner and said, this makes a lot of economic sense. You had to have a vision and say, ‘You know what, we really believe this is going to be a good long-term investment.’

“Jimmy had that same confidence in the project as us. We’ve done a lot of business together; he bought into it much the same way as Brandt did. This is a long-term deal.”

Nesters and London Drugs aren’t being entirely altruistic by locating at Woodward’s, of course. Several thousand people are expected to go through the site per day, once it’s all up and running.

“There will be 1,500 people living there,” Henriquez said.

“One thousand kids at the art school, 500 people working there, and about 2,000 people a day going to shop there.”

Henriquez said Woodward’s is a $300-million project. It includes three new buildings — the two residential towers on Cordova and a nine-storey building on Hastings — plus the restored six-storey heritage building at the corner of Hastings and Abbott, which dates to 1903.

There will be 736 housing units (536 condos and 200 non-market apartments), 60,000 sq. ft. of office space, and 54,000 sq. ft. of retail. Simon Fraser’s School for the Contemporary Arts will take up 120,000 sq. ft. of space, including five performance venues or theatres.

Gillespie said Woodward’s was a daunting project to do. “It probably amounts to 10 per cent of our company’s business, but probably 50 per cent of our company’s time.” But he thinks the end result is worth it.

“I think in the big picture, long-term, Woodward’s is going to turn out to be substantially better than we ever would have imagined it to be,” Gillespie said.

.....

http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Woodward+comes+back+life/2305030/story.html

SpongeG

Dec 6, 2009, 10:36 PM

Crate and Barrel looking to open Toronto CB2 location

The rumours of U.S. decor retailer Crate and Barrel opening a CB2 store in Toronto began last Tuesday when Toronto realtor Andrew LaFleur tweeted that Bloor Street would be home to the design shop next year. (CB2 carries furniture that blends minimalist Italian design with mod ’60s style, as well as sleek housewares for the kitchen and bath.) So far, there are no CB2s north of the border and only seven in the States, so budget-conscious decorators will be delighted to hear that the rumours are partly true.

“We’re actively looking at locations and hope to have a CB2 in Toronto by the end of 2010, but Bloor Street is not on the map,” said Crate and Barrel PR rep Bette Kahn. “Well, it’s on the map, just not ours. I can’t get into specifics about potential locations.”

...

http://www.torontolife.com/daily/style/shop-talk/2009/12/01/crate-and-barrel-looking-to-open-toronto-cb2-location/

SpongeG

Dec 17, 2009, 9:26 PM

Globalive Opening Retail Stores in Toronto Today

By Hugo Miller

Dec. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Globalive Communications Corp.’s Wind Mobile is opening 18 stores and kiosks in Toronto today after winning permission from the Canadian government to start offering wireless service.

“Our big focus right now is on expanding our footprint,” Wind Mobile Chief Executive Officer Ken Campbell told reporters today in Toronto. “There’s a lot of work to do to build this network nationally.”

Globalive, backed by Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris, is challenging BCE Inc., Telus Corp. and Rogers Communications Inc., which account for 95 percent of the Canadian wireless market. All three are cutting jobs and investing in their discount brands as they gear up for a clutch of new mobile-phone operators led by Globalive.

The company has almost 800 workers now and plans to employ more than 1,000 by year’s end as it hires more staff across Canada, Campbell said. Research In Motion Ltd.’s BlackBerry Bold 9700 is one of the handsets being offered.

Globalive’s network will start in Toronto and Calgary, with plans to add coverage in Vancouver, Ottawa and Edmonton. Globalive, based in Toronto, won permission to operate Dec. 11, after the government overturned a regulatory decision. Industry Minister Tony Clement deemed Globalive a Canadian company -- a requirement for it to compete in the mobile-phone market against the three largest carriers.

Handsets Offered

...

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=ab0NkIi13O1M

SSLL

Dec 30, 2009, 3:27 AM

McNally Robinson closes Don Mills store
The Toronto Star - 12/29/2009 - VIT WAGNER

McNally Robinson Booksellers has closed its Don Mills store as part of a larger bankruptcy restructuring.

The independent, Winnipeg- based bookseller, which launched its Shops at Don Mills mall outlet in April, will also shutter one of its two Winnipeg outlets. A second Winnipeg store and another in Saskatoon will remain open.

A total of 175 jobs will be lost in the move, according to a company release, while 250 others will be spared.

The Don Mills outlet, measuring 20,000 square feet, included an 80-seat restaurant and, like other McNally Robinson locations, served a focal point for daily readings, book signings and other literary events.

"It is heartbreaking to see so many hardworking booksellers and restaurant staff lose their jobs," said Paul McNally, who co-founded the company in 1981. "We are very hopeful, however, that we can save many more jobs and renew the company."

A McNally Robinson location in Calgary closed in 2008 after six years in operation.

Surrealplaces

Dec 30, 2009, 4:51 PM

I know we've already seen lots of stuff about Calgary's new Holt Renfrew on this thread. I came across this on flickr and thought I'd post it. It's a good overall look at the new store. You can see a little bit of the mall's new skylight in the upper right hand corner.

taken by Joeyjacobsdad on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeys_picz/
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2555/4179450717_c16a5a37dd_b.jpg

Gerrard

Jan 1, 2010, 2:57 PM

I'd say one of the strengths of Canadian retail is that on the street it's still a lot of independent retailers. Sure there are areas that are chain magnets like malls and certain tourist areas but there's still room for independent businesses which adds a lot of interest to the retail landscape.

mersar

Jan 6, 2010, 10:11 PM

Chinook expansion to include first Abercrombie & Fitch in Calgary
By Dan Healing, Calgary Herald
January 6, 2010 11:33 AM
http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/2010wintergames/Chinook+expansion+include+first+Abercrombie+Fitch+Calgary/2411911/story.html

CALGARY - Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister Co., and Apple will be included in Chinook Centre's expansion project, the shopping mall announced Wednesday morning.
The new additions are to open next fall with the rest of the expansion project.

Abercrombie & Fitch, renowned for casual, classic and trend-right clothing, will open its first Calgary store, a 7,811-square-foot store on the main level, while Hollister will open a 7,014-square-foot location on the upper level. Hollister Co. offers Southern California inspired clothing for the laid-back and free-spirited. Both stores mark their foray into the Calgary market with their Chinook Centre locations.

Apple will increase its Calgary presence with over 5,000 square feet of new retail space for Apple fans to test-drive new products and learn more about the latest and greatest Apple products.

“Chinook’s Boxing Week traffic was up 11 per cent over last year which was an encouraging way to end a challenging year in retail,” said Terry Napper, general manager, Chinook Centre.

dsim249

Jan 7, 2010, 12:54 AM

^ Finally. Now Calgary just needs Urban Outfitters and I'll be happy. :D

craneSpotter

Jan 7, 2010, 5:07 AM

^ Finally. Now Calgary just needs Urban Outfitters and I'll be happy. :D

I wonder how many Calgarians currently drive to Edmonton to shop at Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister and Urban Outfitters?

Coldrsx

Jan 7, 2010, 4:24 PM

Congratulations to Calgary for catching up to Edmonton circa 2005.

kirjtc2

Jan 7, 2010, 5:48 PM

Or catching up to Bangor, Maine, circa 10 years ago.

Bigtime

Jan 7, 2010, 6:33 PM

So if we are getting an A&F does that mean Calgary has reached the required douchebag percentage of population to support them? ;)

Doug_Cgy

Jan 8, 2010, 1:44 AM

The Herald has updated the very same previous article to speculate that Victoria's Secret is likely to join the expansion as well!

Upscale U.S. clothier sets sights on Calgary market
Mall Attracts Abercrombie & Fitch; $275M Chinook expansion to add 80 stores

Dan Healing
Calgary Herald

Thursday, January 07, 2010

Abercrombie & Fitch, the U.S. retailer known as much for its buff , shirtless models as its upscale casual clothing, will open its first Calgary store this fall.

Chinook Centre a nnounced Wednesday that the trendy clothier will open a 7,811-square-foot store on the main level of the expansion now under construction and expected to be operational in October.

"I think it'll be cool," said shopper Kat Oughton, 21, interviewed at the mall, who said one of her favourite comfy sweaters came from the only current Alberta outlet in West Edmonton Mall.

But shopper Karla Thompson, 22, said she's been to the same store in Edmonton and remembers it as "loud" and full of items that are "really expensive for what you're getting."

Hollister Co., owned by Abercrombie & Fitch, will also open its first Calgary store, a 7,014-square-foot location on the upper level. The mall also announced a new 5,000-square-foot Apple retail outlet.

Mall general manager Terry Napper said Chinook has booked or is in "mid to final negotiations" on all 180,000 square feet of the expansion and, over the next three months, will be releasing more names of tenants.

He said Boxing Week traffic was up 11 per cent over last year.

One of the new retailers could be Victoria's Secret. Napper confirmed Chinook has had talks with the lingerie chain that was reported this week to be set to open its first Alberta store in West Edmonton Mall this summer.

"The global brands are starting to look more and more at Calgary for expansions," he said.

"The fact there are so many Americans that live in Calgary because of the oil business and so on, every time one of these American or global retailers opens up, they take off like you wouldn't believe," Napper said.

Chinook's central location is attractive to retailers such as Williams-Sonoma or Pottery Barn, U.S. brands that have opened in the mall over the past couple of years, he added.

When the expansion is complete, Chinook Centre, owned by Cadillac Fairview Corp. Ltd., will have a total of about 280 stores and about 1.9 million square feet of retail space.

The $275-million expansion will add about 80 new stores, and will include two levels of heated underground parking with 1,200 stalls.

Retail analysts said Calgary shoppers will welcome Abercrombie & Fitch and its novel approach to marketing.

John Williams, a senior partner with J.C. Williams Group in Toronto, said the stores are well-run operations and management is continually trying new ideas and innovations and throwing out ideas that don't work.

He said Abercrombie & Fitch will do well in Calgary because it is "a vibrant city with lots of young people."

But David Ian Gray of Vancouver's DIG 360 Consulting pointed out the company is experiencing "horrific" year-over-year double-digit sales contractions in the U.S., which suggests its teen-targeted approach to retail may have run its course.

"In the teen category, a lot of those that are a little higher-end trendy have just been whacked," he said.

"The thing about Abercrombie that almost became a joke in the States is the kind of sexual innuendo around its ads. It's risque and trendy but after it's been out there for a long time, it's hard to keep that fresh."

The analysts agreed American retailers have discovered Calgary and will be opening more stores.

"They've probably been reading about the boom and to a certain degree there just wasn't enough opportunity in the right places," said Williams. "That has been resolved with the expansion of Chinook and the new mall (CrossIron Mills)."

Abercrombie & Fitch recently announced plans to open its first retail outlets in Asia.

It operates 347 Abercrombie & Fitch stores, 209 Abercrombie stores, 509 Hollister Co. stores, 27 RUEHL stores and 16 Gilly Hicks stores in the United States.

It also operates three Abercrombie & Fitch stores, three Abercrombie stores and six Hollister Co. stores in Canada, one Abercrombie & Fitch store and seven Hollister Co. stores in the United Kingdom, and one Abercrombie & Fitch store and one abercrombie store in Italy.

The company reported November comparable store sales decreased 17 per cent from the previous year.

dhealing@theherald.canwest.com

© Calgary Herald 2010

Plus15

Jan 8, 2010, 3:33 AM

n/m

Coldrsx

Jan 8, 2010, 3:42 PM

It is nice to see Calgary finally getting some retail we have currently or announced for here. Edmonton typically gets retailers first foray into Canada due to WEM.

SpongeG

Jan 8, 2010, 11:18 PM

So if we are getting an A&F does that mean Calgary has reached the required douchebag percentage of population to support them? ;)

douchebags wear ed hardy not A&F

Coldrsx

Jan 8, 2010, 11:26 PM

^Ed is the new A&F

SpongeG

Jan 8, 2010, 11:53 PM

do they have an ed hardy store in alberta? West vancouver's Park Royal was getting one but it looks like it never opened perhaps the douchelook is over?

Jay in Cowtown

Jan 9, 2010, 2:27 AM

Congratulations to Calgary for catching up to Edmonton circa 2005.

:haha: Fair enough! of course there needs to be a retort now...

Maybe someday Edmonton will catch up to Calgary's skyline circa 1981.

Coldrsx

Jan 10, 2010, 12:56 AM

:haha: Fair enough! of course there needs to be a retort now...

Maybe someday Edmonton will catch up to Calgary's skyline circa 1981.

personally i would rather have A&F and all of the other stores than 10-20 more office towers.

Plus15

Jan 11, 2010, 10:06 PM

personally i would rather have A&F and all of the other stores than 10-20 more office towers.

So...you keep the five or ten stores Edmonton has that we don't, we keep the five or ten stores that WE have that Edmonton doesnt, PLUS we get 20 bonus skyscrapers? DEAL!

Bigtime

Jan 11, 2010, 10:08 PM

douchebags wear ed hardy not A&F

^Ed is the new A&F

Damn I'm out of the loop!

Jay in Cowtown

Jan 11, 2010, 11:43 PM

So...you keep the five or ten stores Edmonton has that we don't, we keep the five or ten stores that WE have that Edmonton doesnt, PLUS we get 20 bonus skyscrapers? DEAL!

I thought that was an uncharacteristic response from Cold... I was hoping for a football stadium or stanley cups dig.

CondoKing

Jan 18, 2010, 7:06 AM

It is nice to see Calgary finally getting some retail we have currently or announced for here. Edmonton typically gets retailers first foray into Canada due to WEM.

Even though Ed gets them first, Calgary seems to be the target for flagships or multiple locations. Holt Renfrew is a good example, even though there location at Ed is dated and small they choosen us over them. In addition, other stores like Harry Rosen, Pusch and Banana Republic have also introduce there flagship stores in our city. Plus other retailers like Apple, Coach and Tiffany. Co have choosen to place more locations in city compared to Edmonton where they have one location in WEM.

Jay in Cowtown

Jan 18, 2010, 5:07 PM

The wife nor I had been up to the Chuck for about 10 years, so we took a road trip to WEM on Saturday. My favorite spot in that palce still remains the observation area of the waterpark :tup: It's a great mall, with great stores, but the first few phases are in bad need of renovations. There's really not many stores at WEM that you can't find somewhere in Calgary, especially come this fall... the nice thing is it's all under one roof there.

by the way... AH freeway is great for getting to WEM now, saves about 1/2hr driving!

Coldrsx

Jan 18, 2010, 5:23 PM

Even though Ed gets them first, Calgary seems to be the target for flagships or multiple locations. Holt Renfrew is a good example, even though there location at Ed is dated and small they choosen us over them. In addition, other stores like Harry Rosen, Pusch and Banana Republic have also introduce there flagship stores in our city. Plus other retailers like Apple, Coach and Tiffany. Co have choosen to place more locations in city compared to Edmonton where they have one location in WEM.

Call me when you have a WEM in your city (no CIM it is not) and see what that does to shift the retail strategy or environment.

kind regards,

reality.

SpongeG

Jan 18, 2010, 10:26 PM

Agrium to open 33 new retail stores

Agricultural supplier Agrium Inc. said Monday it is jumping into the Canadian retail market for the first time, opening 33 new stores in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The company purchased the locations, 27 in central Alberta and six in southern Saskatchewan, from five Engro franchise dealers and an existing joint venture.

The new stores will operate under the Crop Production Services (Canada) Inc. banner to match up with Agrium's U.S. operations under the same name, which have been in business for 17 years.

Terms were not disclosed, but the outlets have a combined annual revenue of US$162-million.

"The purchase of these retail assets marks our entrance into the Canadian retail market and will enhance our ability to serve all our customers in these regions," Mike Wilson, Agrium chief executive, said in a release. "We will continue to look at selective retail opportunities as they arise."

...

http://www.cbc.ca/fp/story/2010/01/11/2428376.html

SpongeG

Jan 19, 2010, 12:18 AM

Plans afoot for downtown aquarium

Canada Lands and Ripley's close to partnership

http://media.mmgcommunity.topscms.com/images/0e/98/10407ba7491d841050ccb56432a2.jpeg
Plans afoot for downtown aquarium. The 150,000 square foot Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, to be located at the base of the CN Tower, could be the first new tourist destination built in Toronto in more than 15 years. Illustration/COURTESY

Toronto may be home to a new 150,000 square foot aquarium at the base of the CN Tower if a proposed partnership between the Canada Lands Company (CLC) and Ripley's Entertainment comes to fruition.

The two sides have been discussing an agreement that would see Canada Lands lease a portion of the five-acre site that houses the landmark tower to Ripley's, with the entertainment company footing the bill for the aquarium.

Canada Lands would be responsible for upgrades to the surrounding area to make the entire site, including the CN Tower, more inviting and accessible.

While plans for a Toronto aquarium have been discussed in the past, those discussions have never led anywhere. With CLC and Ripley's closing in on a deal, the current proposal has made it further than other plans.

CLC spokesperson Gordon McIvor said the deal would benefit both sides and would be a boon to the city's stagnating tourist industry.

"Toronto has really not had any new tourist facilities in the last 17 years (since the Hockey Hall of Fame opened)," he said.

McIvor said building the aquarium near the CN Tower would help both facilities in terms of attracting tourists and would help rejuvenate the downtown core.

"(The CN Tower) is the most trafficked tourist area in the country, at least in terms of man-made attractions, so you already have people in the area," he said. "It really has become Canada's icon internationally, along with the Niagara Falls and the Rocky Mountains. Will (an aquarium) enhance the business of the CN Tower? You bet."

He said Ripley's made for an ideal partner, having an extensive history of building world-class aquariums in the United States in addition to dozens of other tourist attractions.

While the plan is in its infant stages - it went before Toronto and East York Community Council for a preliminary reading on Tuesday, Jan. 12 - it will likely take the form of a 100,000 square foot aquarium at first, with an additional 50,000 square feet of aquarium space added in a second phase.

Additional retail and entertainment space would bring the entire facility to 193,750 square feet, with considerably more aquatic space than the 100,000 square foot Vancouver Aquarium.

Ripley's spokesperson Tim O'Brien said the proposed facility, coupled with the already-popular CN Tower, would help boost tourism in the downtown core.

"It's a great location, right in a tourist hub," he said. "It will bring another option for families and bring about a critical mass of people coming down to that area."

The aquarium would also provide educational opportunities, creating a downtown destination for schools throughout the GTA where students can learn about marine life and conservation.

"Kids can learn while they're having fun, which is what (Ripley's is) all about," he said.

There has been little discussion at this point as to what sorts of marine life would inhabit the tanks, but both CLC and Ripley's are optimistic the plan will gain enough approval to allow those discussions to take place in time.

"We're really comfortable with the project," O'Brien said. "It's really something that will fit in that space."

McIvor agreed, saying the two sides were close to reaching a deal to allow the proposal to make more progress.

"We hope to be able to, in the very near future, announce this is definitively going forward," he said.

On Tuesday, the Toronto and East York Community Council sent the proposal out for public consultation.

Local councillor Adam Vaughan said from a pure planning perspective, the aquarium seems to make a lot of sense.

...

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/cityhall/article/412651--plans-afoot-for-downtown-aquarium

SpongeG

Jan 22, 2010, 11:32 PM

Cheap-chic retailer Target coming to Canada

Discount chain mulls international expansion after sales and profits plunge in home market

Dana Flavelle
Business reporter

The much-loved ``cheap-chic'' discount chain, Target Corp., referred to by fans as "Tar-Jay," says it has Canada in its sights as part of a future international expansion plan.

Like many U.S. retailers, Target is mulling a move outside its home market after sales and profits took a nosedive in the past year.

The announcement comes years after Target was rumoured to be eyeing an entry into Canada through the purchase of Hudson's Bay Co.-owned discounter, Zellers. Hudson's Bay was publicly traded and widely held at the time.

Instead, HBC was bought first by South Carolina businessman Jerry Zucker and, after his untimely death, sold to its current owners, NRDC Equity Partners.

Target said it would be at least three years before the international expansion plan takes place. In the meantime, the Minneapolis-based retailer said it would focus on updating its existing United States stores.

Target plans to invest $1 billion (U.S.) renovating 340 stores, adding more groceries to its general merchandise as hard-pressed consumers continue to buy staple goods.

The retailer said it also plans to improve its beauty, home, electronic and video-game departments.

Depending on economic, real estate and internal retailer conditions, Target said it would open at most 10 new stores this year in existing markets. That's well below the 58 it opened in the 2009 fiscal year ending Jan. 31 and the 91 it opened in fiscal 2008

It's also developing a new smaller store format, which it plans to open in the "next few years," the company said at an investor meeting in Philadelphia Thursday.

"We are excited about the growth potential for Target and believe we have the capital, talent, and right blend of discipline and innovation to deliver meaningful value to our guests and shareholders," Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel said in a statement.

The chain has faced tough competition from Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer. Customers turned away from Target's cheap-chic styles toward retailers they believed were offering lower prices during the recession.

...

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/754191--cheap-chic-retailer-target-coming-to-canada

SpongeG

Jan 26, 2010, 2:34 AM

Joe’s Fresh Take

How Loblaws became the new king of Canadian fashion

by John Intini

http://macleans.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/100121_joefresh.jpg?w=660&h=277

Although it’s just a construction site right now, the southwest corner of Toronto’s Queen Street West and Portland Street holds great promise for fans of fast fashion. That’s because here, on the edge of one of Canada’s busiest shopping strips, and just a few blocks from H&M, Urban Outfitters and American Apparel, Joe Fresh plans next year to swing open the doors of a shiny new 8,000-sq.-foot store. Loblaws’ cheap ’n’ cheerful clothing line has been in the fashion war for a few years, but this is the first time it has decided to do battle on its competitors’ turf.

For the most part, the brand, which is available across Canada in more than 340 Real Canadian Superstores and Loblaws stores, has gone after a slice of Canada’s $19-billion apparel market from the friendly—and some would say unlikely—confines of suburban grocery stores. And though a Loblaws will occupy the second floor of the future condo tower at Queen and Portland (a Winners will take the third floor), Joe Fresh’s simple yet stylish basics will be responsible for catching the eyes of shoppers at street level. This is, arguably, the biggest test of the brand since it launched in 2006. But retail experts think it’s up for the challenge. “They’re really poised for some explosive growth,” says David Ian Gray, principal of Vancouver-based DIG360 Consulting. “I have clients, in specialty chain retail, that are concerned about them.”

By last summer, Joe Fresh, the brainchild of Joseph Mimran, co-founder of Club Monaco, had already become Canada’s second-largest clothing label, according to market research. And despite the recent downturn, the brand is still aiming to hit its rather ambitious $1-billion all-time sales target. Thanks to low-priced items like $29 skinny jeans and $59 down jackets, the tough times have been a boon for the bottom line. “It’s brought us new customers who may have been more skeptical at the beginning,” says Elizabeth Margles, a vice-president of marketing with Loblaw Companies Ltd. “It gave them a reason to try us. And once they try us, they keep coming back.”

Since its inception, Joe Fresh has been a smash hit with suburban soccer moms. But experts have been a little surprised by how many young urbanites, regulars at Holt Renfrew and other high-priced boutiques, are willing to snap up $29 cable-knit sweaters and $49 skirts without the slightest hint of shame. Many, in fact, openly boast to friends about their great finds. “It’s not so much the quality, it’s more the fit and the style that has really surprised them,” says Gray. “They expected a lot less for what they’re paying.” Or maybe the real appeal is buying clothes at Wal-Mart prices in a store that’s somehow managed to create a trendy image.

Runway shows during Toronto Fashion Week have helped bolster the brand’s appeal with twenty- and thirtysomething professionals. Last October’s show was one of the hottest tickets in town, with many of the city’s biggest names in attendance, including Raptor superstar Chris Bosh and celebrity chef Susur Lee. And there’s nothing down-market about its ad campaigns. In fact, Joe Fresh features Lisa Cant, a Canadian supermodel who has appeared in campaigns for Chanel, D&G and Versace, as the face of its cosmetics line. “We had a built-in barrier originally—‘Oh, will I put lettuce in the same cart that I’m going to put a silk blouse?’ ” says Margles. “In order for us to overcome that right out of the gate we really had to establish ourselves as a fashion brand—we needed to give a reason for people to take that leap of faith with us.”

Though uncommon in North America, the mixing of food and fashion has proven to be a successful retail combination in Europe and the United Kingdom. The competitive advantage of this set-up for the clothing brand, of course, is the built-in foot traffic a grocery store affords. By one estimate, Canadians go to grocery stores 1.8 times a week, but only visit a mall about once a month. Margles says 12 million people walk through a Loblaws every week. And though she refuses to divulge any specifics, she says this “point of differentiation” is paying off. “We’ve done the research,” she says. “We know that we’ve converted customers from other grocery stores because of Joe Fresh.”

So why haven’t there been copycats? For one thing, the food at Loblaws, due largely to the company’s private labels, “is more fashionable” than many of its competitors, says Maureen Atkinson, a senior partner with Toronto-based J.C. Williams Group. This helped make the somewhat odd pairing of food and fashion more palatable. Of course, there’s also the fact there aren’t all that many Joe Mimrans to go around.

As creative director, Mimran doesn’t sketch every blouse and sweater that makes its way onto the rack. He has a team of more than 150 product developers, trend forecasters, managers and designers. But Mimran has “his hand on every design,” says Margles. In the unlikely event he needs a second opinion, he has plenty of fashion sense at home. His wife, Kimberley Newport-Mimran, is the creative genius behind Pink Tartan, the popular high-end women’s label. Meanwhile, his older brother Saul’s company—Mimran Group Inc.—produces Pure, the Alfred Sung-designed clothing line at Zellers. Fashion is in their blood: their mother Esther was a tailor in Morocco. And in the late ’70s, she and Saul opened Ms. Originals, a dressmaking business in Toronto.

Joe’s big splash came in the mid-’80s, when he launched Club Monaco with Saul and Sung. The business had grown to 125 stores and had gone public when, in 1999, Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. bought it—as well as Caban, Mimran’s home-furnishing chain—for $79 million. Mimran stayed on as chairman, president and CEO. But about 18 months later, after sales slipped, he was fired.

Following that setback, he started Joseph Mimran & Associates in 2001. He became the creative director of Loblaws’ President’s Choice Home collection and designed a private label for Holt Renfrew. So when the Weston family, which owns Holt Renfrew and a majority stake in Loblaw, was looking for a fashion fix to combat Wal-Mart’s aggressive move into grocery a few years ago, they didn’t need to look very far.

In the last 16 months, to better position itself against the other cheap-chic labels, Joe Fresh has added cosmetics, jewellery, bags and shoes to its line. And just before the holidays, it launched bath products—including body washes and moisturizers. When asked about further expansion plans, Margles says much of the focus in the next year will be expanding existing departments in Loblaws stores. Stand-alone locations in malls, without a link to a Loblaws, are not part of the game plan right now. And Margles dismisses talk of U.S. expansion. The American apparel market is worth nearly US$190 billion and the recession has hit the U.S. harder, making consumers there more likely to give fast fashion a shot. But Loblaws doesn’t have any operations in the U.S. And, she says, there’s still a lot of potential in Canada. In 2009, Joe Fresh was added to 43 stores. And though the line is sold in every Superstore already, this is a company with 1,100 stores in total.

...

http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/01/25/joes-fresh-take/

miketoronto

Jan 26, 2010, 3:36 AM

I do not think this is cool at all. Queen Street is not suppose to be about these mega Canadian chains, opening stores on.
Why should we be happy a store is opening on Queen that sells the same products in every superstore in the suburbs and country?
Yet another reason for people not to trek down to Queen Street for a day of shopping.

At this rate, there will be nothing to draw people to Queen in a few years, if all the companies keep opening suburban stores on Queen.

It will be interesting to see if Queen actually declines and sees its status as a shopping destination go down the tubes, if it keeps turning into nothing but a suburban mall/loblaws.

Coldrsx

Jan 26, 2010, 4:51 PM

WhipperSnapper

Jan 26, 2010, 6:36 PM

Who says Queen Street is not about chain stores. I don't see how developing a parking lot with a mixed use complex and chain clothing stores replacing obsolete resale appliance dealers, tv repairman, and shoe cobblers will hurt Queen Street West. Those independants you are so fond of that offer something more than just higher prices will manage to survive.

SpongeG

Jan 26, 2010, 10:41 PM

last time i was in toronto on queen was 1994 - thats when the chains started to creep in - when i see pics now its all chains by the looks of it

new areas will emerge queen street evolved

its part of the cycle of a city

waterloowarrior

Feb 24, 2010, 7:49 AM

Wal-Mart to expand Canadian supercentres
Last Updated: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 | 3:21 PM ET Comments137Recommend41
CBC News
Wal-Mart Canada plans to open 35 to 40 supercentres across Canada in 2010.

Through a combination of new openings, relocations and renovations of existing stores, the company will spend $500 million and create more than 6,500 jobs, it said Tuesday.

The company said specific store locations will be announced over the coming weeks and months.

Traditionally a department store retailer, Wal-Mart brought its supercentre concept, which includes groceries, to Canada in 2006. Major Canadian foodsellers engaged in price wars as a result, eating into profit margins to a level from which they are only now beginning to recover.

Although the company frequently meets local resistance when it plans openings in new markets, Wal-Mart's international operations have outpaced the growth rate at its core U.S. market for several quarters.

If the actual number of opening comes in closer to the high range of the estimate, the move will bring Wal-Mart Canada's store count to as many as 325 stores by the end of the year, including 124 supercentres and 201 conventional discount stores.

After opening its first location in Canada in 1994, the company has 317 locations in the country.

In a related move, the company said it will spend $115 million to build a refrigeration facility in Balzac, Alta., in the fall. The facility will create 1,400 jobs, the company said, and open in the fall of 2010.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2010/02/23/walmart-canada-supercentres.html#ixzz0gRBjSek2

MolsonExport

Feb 24, 2010, 2:06 PM

YARK.

Personally, I hate the grocery area of Walfart. While (some) prices are indeed very low, the aisles are insanely long and narrow, the produce is not very fresh, the meats are second/third rate cuts, the customers/staff are fugly, the Walmart house brands are shite, and the damned intercom speakers sound off with a shrill voice ("ASSOCIATE TO SHOES FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!") every 30 seconds.

MolsonExport

Feb 24, 2010, 2:07 PM

MolsonExport

Feb 24, 2010, 2:11 PM

Joe’s Fresh Take

How Loblaws became the new king of Canadian fashion

by John Intini

http://macleans.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/100121_joefresh.jpg?w=660&h=277

http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/01/25/joes-fresh-take/

fvck, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing that stale 80s-camp Joe's crap. Come to think of it, this is what we see that Galen Weston Jr. wearing in his smirking commercials.

Joe? WTF is that supposed to mean? Like Walfart and its stupid George label. Wow! Loblaw's is hip!

I am going to start a label and call it Archibald.

DHLawrence

Feb 24, 2010, 3:04 PM

Maybe they thought it would bring back memories of Snoopy's 'Joe Cool' persona.

Mmm....nope.

Coldrsx

Feb 24, 2010, 3:39 PM

Walmart Expansion - another sign that our world is moving closer and closer to implosion

isaidso

Feb 27, 2010, 9:16 AM

fvck, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing that stale 80s-camp Joe's crap. Come to think of it, this is what we see that Galen Weston Jr. wearing in his smirking commercials.

Joe? WTF is that supposed to mean? Like Walfart and its stupid George label. Wow! Loblaw's is hip!

I am going to start a label and call it Archibald.

They're a mass marketer, and that's what the masses wear. Look at GAP in the 1990s! That stuff was far worse than what Joe Fresh sells, and they became one of the planet's most successful apparel retailers. H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch, Joe Fresh, etc. all sell bulk clothes for the masses and will never appeal to fashionistas.

Snappy dressers will continue to flock to boutiques and a few personal niche brand favourites, but the big money is selling to the other 90% of the population.

Honestly, in the branded (non-boutique) apparel sector, what percentage of the population want or can afford Tom Ford or Prada? Style conscious people make up a fairly small percentage of the population. Joe Fresh is there to make money, period.

;)

Gerrard

Feb 27, 2010, 2:57 PM

The measure of a true fashionista/someone with true style is the ability to mix high fashion, high street and vintage finds into one look.

SpongeG

Mar 6, 2010, 11:56 PM

Chinook Centre second downtown

By Richard White, Calgary HeraldMarch 6, 2010

Love it or hate it, Chinook Centre has evolved into Calgary's other downtown.

By this, I mean Chinook Centre rivals or has surpassed the city's traditional downtown as the place for Calgarians of all ages and backgrounds to shop, browse, stroll and just hang out.

While Market Mall, Southcentre and Sunridge Mall, serve somewhat the same purpose, they are more regional centres. By contrast, Chinook is gradually becoming "centre ice" in Calgary's urban arena.

I have to declare up front that I am not a big fan of shopping centres, but it quickly became obvious how animated and vibrant Chinook Centre was compared to recent trips downtown and to other malls.

The parallels between Chinook Centre and downtown begin at the parking lot, where you have to drive around and around looking to snag a spot.

But as everyone likes to remind me, "at least you don't have to pay when you do find a spot -- and it is nice knowing you can stroll and linger as long as you want without the parking bill increasing every 30 minutes."

To be fair, downtown has plenty of parking evenings and weekends for a toonie. But unfortunately, this fact seems to be overshadowed by horror stories of the weekday ticket you get for being a few minutes late at a meter -- or how it costs $20 to park for a few hours to have lunch and do a bit shopping.

Once inside Chinook Centre, I couldn't help but notice that there were people everywhere. In contrast, other than at rush hour and lunch hour, downtown streets, sidewalks and Plus 15s are pretty empty most of the time.

And why not? After all, people are downtown to work.

The food court at Chinook Centre was like an urban plaza -- a hub of activity. Walking downstairs from the food court, I heard the distant beat of a drum.

It attracted me to wander over to another courtyard where a Chinese dragon dancing demonstration was taking place. I could have been on Stephen Avenue Walk.

While Chinook Centre may not have the traditional downtown Main Street look, with designer banners, lamp posts and benches, its many skylights give it an outdoor streetscape quality.

In fact, shopping at Chinook Centre is not very different than shopping in downtown's Plus-15 system.

While traditional downtown plazas and pocket parks have benches and steps to sit and watch the world go by, Chinook offers clusters of comfy chairs everywhere that serve the same purpose. Someone once said a city's downtown should be its living room. I couldn't help but think that these seating areas are little living rooms.

When it was built 50 years ago, Chinook Centre sat at the edge of the city. Today, it is literally part of our inner city.

No other major North American city I am aware of has its major indoor shopping mall within five kilometres of downtown. Imagine if the West Edmonton Mall was located on Whyte Avenue, or if Vancouver's Metro Town was located at South Granville or Commercial Drive.

Toronto's major mall, Eaton Centre, is right downtown so it actually enhances the downtown experience rather than competing with it.

An argument could be made that Chinook Centre is Calgary's uptown, like Bloor Street is to Toronto's downtown. Uptown is a term used in larger cities referring to a vibrant, upscale, boutique shopping and residential district a few kilometres from downtown.

While Calgary's 17th Avenue calls itself Uptown 17th, in many ways Chinook Centre is taking on the messy, congested, urbanism look and feel that better fits urban guru Jane Jacobs' vision of urban vitality.

Author of 1961's The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Jacobs' thesis was that you need plenty of shops with entrances to the sidewalk -- as well as small strategically placed intimate gathering places that are attractive to a diversity of people -- in order to create urban vitality.

Chinook Centre has this under one roof -- a bonus for a winter city like Calgary.

The mall's current expansion will bring it closer to Macleod Trail, better linking it to the street. I can envision a time when there will be no surface parking and the entire area will be one big indoor urban playground, with only underground parking and a dramatic Plus-15 promenade spanning the entire way to the Chinook LRT Station, which will be surrounded by ultra cool office and condo buildings.

The argument that Chinook Centre is Calgary's uptown is further strengthened when you realize it is just three LRT stops from downtown (I combined the two Stampede stops -- do we really need two stops so close?)

This is the equivalent to Dundas Street in downtown Toronto to Bloor Street.

What Chinook Centre is missing, however, are the restaurants, pubs and lounges that are commonly associated with urban places. After we went to a movie at the mall, we tried to get into a nearby restaurant, but it was full.

The mall is also missing the high density residential development that is also associated with uptown communities.

But perhaps we are on to something new and we don't even know it -- that major cities can have more than one downtown. Our traditional downtown focuses on head office and government during the weekdays and cultural activities most evenings and weekends, while our casual downtown (Chinook Centre) is where people relax in blue jeans and Lululemon gear in the evenings and weekends.

Or maybe it is just a winter city like Calgary that needs to have a winter downtown and a summer downtown.

In the summer, our downtown is a much more appealing place, with its patios and vendors on Stephen Avenue Walk, festivals in Prince's Island and plenty of hanging baskets and banners adding colour and charm.

But in the winter, it is a pretty cold, dark place. which is when Chinook Centre serves as our winter downtown.

"Downtown is more than just a corporate ghetto" you cry. "It is also our cultural headquarters -- Epcor Centre; the Grand, Vertigo, Lunchbox and Pumphouse Theatres; the Glenbow Museum; Art Gallery of Calgary; and the Triangle ..."

Agreed, but Chinook Centre has the Scotia Centre Cineplex with its IMAX theatre -- with 16 cinemas and 4,000 seats (compared to the Epcor Centre's 3,200 seats).

With two seatings per night, the cineplex has the capacity to entertain 8,000 people every evening. For many Calgarians, the cinema is the ideal art form, combining the novel, the play, the concert and the visual arts.

After seeing Avatar at the IMAX, I had to wonder (for just a second or two) if people, after experiencing this, will ever go to an art gallery again; the visuals were simply outstanding.

It was interesting to contrast the Avatar experience with the graphic visuals of the PIG: A Back Door Peep Show I saw a few weeks before at One Yellow Rabbit's High Performance Rodeo.

Talk about both ends of the spectrum! Though for me it was great, I think the average Calgarian feels the cinema gives them the best bang for their buck. The fact that the Scotia Centre Cineplex is the number one cinema complex in Canada in terms of attendance tells me my hunch isn't far off the mark.

Times change, cities change.

The emergence of Chinook Centre as part of Calgary's urban place-making is perhaps something that I and other urban snobs in our city need to embrace.

The City planners already have, with the development of the Chinook Station TOD (Transit Oriented Development) Plan.

This plan calls for the densification of all blocks surrounding the station with mixed-use high density housing, offices, medical, retail, restaurant and recreational buildings.

...

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Chinook+Centre+second+downtown/2647974/story.html

crooked rain

Mar 7, 2010, 12:11 AM

Chinook Centre second downtown

By Richard White, Calgary HeraldMarch 6, 2010
...

HUZZAH!! Three cheers for the mall!

crooked rain

Mar 7, 2010, 12:14 AM

Chinook Centre second downtown

By Richard White, Calgary HeraldMarch 6, 2010

The food court at Chinook Centre was like an urban plaza -- a hub of activity. Walking downstairs from the food court, I heard the distant beat of a drum.

It attracted me to wander over to another courtyard where a Chinese dragon dancing demonstration was taking place. I could have been on Stephen Avenue Walk.

The food court is not a friggin' urban plaza, its a goddamn food court where people stuff themselves with Arby's before going to The Gap.

Reading this article, it sounds like the author has never seen a mall before. In next week's column, is he going to marvel at the horseless carraige that brought him there?

crooked rain

Mar 7, 2010, 12:22 AM

In fairness to the 'author' or this drivel, Chinook is better than most malls in that it is reasonably centrally located, accessable to mass transit and in an area with the potential to become more densley built.

I just don't share his entusiasm and question the need for an article extolling the virtues of Chinook Mall which, to my knowledge, does not need such a strident and passionate defense in our local paper.

Also I think Jane Jacobs is spinning in her grave at his assertion a mall is a better example of urbanism than a store lined city street.

(last post on this, I promise - I just don't know how to do that multiple quote thing people do)

SpongeG

Mar 7, 2010, 12:42 AM

hopefully they offer more - amazon.com is like a huge general store you can get clothers, shoes, household items, kitchen items, food etc and none of it is shippable to Canada

It’s official: Amazon wants in to Canada

March 5, 2010 | 6:11 PM | By Stuart Woods, with files from Scott MacDonald

After several days of speculation, the rumours have been confirmed: Amazon is seeking government approval to establish physical operations in Canada, a move that could have a big impact on the Canadian retail scene.

According to documents obtained by Q&Q from the federal government’s Privy Council Office, Amazon’s application to “establish a new Canadian business” – filed on Jan. 27 – is now being reviewed by Governor General Michaëlle Jean to see if it complies with the Investment Canada Act. The new business would be called Amazon Fulfillment Services Canada Inc.

An Amazon spokesperson would not elaborate on the company’s Canadian plans while the application is being reviewed. “We’re always looking for new ways to serve our Canadian customers, but it’s premature to discuss our plans right now,” the spokesperson said.

If Amazon were to be given the go-ahead to open a Canadian warehouse or home office, it could mean the end of its distribution partnership with SCI Logistics, formerly known as Assured Logistics, a subsidiary of the Canada Post Group of Companies. It could also be a sign that Amazon plans to expand its offerings of non-book products in Canada. At present, Amazon.ca sells books, CDs, and DVDs, as well as home and garden products. Amazon’s U.S. website, meanwhile, offers a much wider array of products, including the Kindle, jewellery, health care products, electronics, and groceries.

While details about Amazon’s Canadian plans are still scarce, it seems that members of the publishing community were the first to learn about the Privy Council review. Late last week, Association of Canadian Publishers executive director Carolyn Wood sent out a notice to members about the application.

One industry source, who did not want to be named, told Q&Q that an expanded Canadian presence for Amazon wouldn’t be a bad thing if it improved the company’s services for Canadian publishers. In particular, the source said, a Canadian office might lead to more stringent enforcement of territorial rights on Amazon.ca: “If opening their own business in Canada means they’re going to tidy up their website, which is very frustrating for a lot of us now, that would be great.”

...

http://www.quillandquire.com/google/article.cfm?article_id=11174

niwell

Mar 7, 2010, 2:09 AM

That article on Chinook was painful to read. I don't even know where to start so I won't, but the author clearly missed the point of Jane Jacobs and references things in Toronto with a clear lack of knowledge (Bloor is not uptown).

Oh, and Chinook really isn't all that accessible by public transit. It's not bad, certainly, but the mall entrance is over 500m from the LRT station. That's pushing it for walkability. To contrast Yorkdale mall in Toronto (which is more like Chinook than the Eaton Centre) has a direct connection to the subway system. Four of Ottawa's major malls (Rideau Centre, St-Laurent Centre, Bayshore and Place D'Orleans) have direct transitway BRT connections.

Don't get me wrong, it's an OK place for a mall. I look forward to the redevelopment of the surrounding blocks and the seemingly inevitable expansion of the mall to front McLeod directly. But it's still a distinctly suburban mall, not any sort of uptown Calgary.

Mar 7, 2010, 3:23 AM

I don't get the paying for parking arguement. It's a privilege not a right to have free parking. You have to pay for that luxury in high profile locations like Robson Street in Vancouver, 17th and 4th in Calgary, Whyte here. If you really want to whine about the paying for parking, then take transit or bike instead! Better for the environment and cheaper (well, cheaper if it's used for the majority of trips instead of cars, which isn't true for suburbanites usually).

Yume-sama

Mar 7, 2010, 3:46 AM

hopefully they offer more - amazon.com is like a huge general store you can get clothers, shoes, household items, kitchen items, food etc and none of it is shippable to Canada

They actually do ship almost everything except electronics to Canada, already.

Fully expanding to Canada would be pretty much the best thing EVER! Amazon.ca currently is so pitiful, it doesn't even really sell anything...

SpongeG

Mar 7, 2010, 4:51 AM

good to know

my friend had a $500 gift card thing for Amazon and he went to .com and picked out this stuff out and went to check out and they said they wouldn't delive and redirected him to .ca and he was not impressed - haha - that was less than 2 years ago - he mostly had wanted kitchen stuff

miketoronto

Mar 7, 2010, 5:00 AM

Why did Calgary allow such a large regional mall so close to it's downtown core? Did they not know it would suck the life right out of Stephen Ave?

While downtown Calgary still has a healthy retail area, with something like 1,000 shops and services(one of the largest downtown retail areas in North America), there is no doubt that Chinook Centre has really hurt the downtown core. And the fact aht high profile stores like Tiffany's opened in Chinook Centre instead of downtown, really shows the damage Chinook Centre has done to downtown.
Although downtown does have holts :)

But it really is a shame that a mall has become the centre of Calgary.
According to this author I guese the legendary retail/hanging out places in Canadian cities will look like this

Toronto: Bloor Street
Montreal: St. Catharine Street
Vancouver: Robison Street
Calgary: Chinook Centre :)

I agree with the article, that the best thing Toronto ever did was build its largest mall downtown. That really helped draw in everyone, and help leep the central core a shopping mecca.

Does downtown Calgary even get crowds of people on Stephen Ave on weekends, where it feels like you are strolling in a big city? Because even one of my professors was just saying how he found downtown Calgary very dead on weekends.

Pavlov

Mar 7, 2010, 6:02 AM

Why did Calgary allow such a large regional mall so close to it's downtown core? Did they not know it would suck the life right out of Stephen Ave?

While downtown Calgary still has a healthy retail area, with something like 1,000 shops and services(one of the largest downtown retail areas in North America), there is no doubt that Chinook Centre has really hurt the downtown core. And the fact aht high profile stores like Tiffany's opened in Chinook Centre instead of downtown, really shows the damage Chinook Centre has done to downtown.
Although downtown does have holts :)

But it really is a shame that a mall has become the centre of Calgary.
According to this author I guese the legendary retail/hanging out places in Canadian cities will look like this

Toronto: Bloor Street
Montreal: St. Catharine Street
Vancouver: Robison Street
Calgary: Chinook Centre :)

I agree with the article, that the best thing Toronto ever did was build its largest mall downtown. That really helped draw in everyone, and help leep the central core a shopping mecca.
Does downtown Calgary even get crowds of people on Stephen Ave on weekends, where it feels like you are strolling in a big city? Because even one of my professors was just saying how he found downtown Calgary very dead on weekends.

I've bolded the absurd parts.

niwell

Mar 7, 2010, 6:02 AM

@Mike:

Yes, Calgary does get crowds on weekends. Even on Stephen Ave, which isn't even the biggest draw in the central city. There really isn't an equivalent to Stephen Ave in Toronto, but 17th Ave is Calgary's Queen St W, or Bloor kinda, I guess.

And it's not like Calgary "allowed" such a large mall next to the core. You have to look at the historical development of Chinook. Originally it was 2 smaller malls that were eventually connected through redevelopment. The original developments were at the edge of the city at the time. This is why I say that Chinook has a lot more in common with Yorkdale, as in they were originally developed at the edge of the city as it stood in the late 1940s / early 1950s.

Mar 7, 2010, 6:30 AM

I've seen Stephen packed. Last time I was in Calgary it looked crazy wall to wall from a couple blocks away. But on Sunday it was a little less bustling :).

I don't think Chinook has stolen much from Downtown Calgary, at least no more than other cities. Eaton Centre in Toronto stole what could have been streetfront retail on Queen or Yonge or something. Metropolis at Metrotown stole what could have been on Granville (granted there is Robson). West Edmonton Mall, much further from Downtown, killed our downtown (well, not 100% accurate, more like finished an almost complete action). West Ed has sucked opportunity from our Downtown and Whyte ave. Somehow Stephen, Granville, Queen, Jasper, Yonge, Whyte, 17th, etc. manage to get by though (especially in the independent business section for a few of them).

Rusty van Reddick

Mar 7, 2010, 7:01 AM

Richard White vacillates between being thoughtful and being a complete idiot. A few years ago he wrote a column bemoaning the fact (he assumed) that, while Montreal (he specifically said "Montreal") got immigrants from the world over, Calgary only got immigrants from out east and Sask, so we weren't as cosmopolitan. This was ignorant in two respects: One, immigrants ONLY come from outside the country. Second, Calgary has, and has had for decades, a higher rate of immigration than Montreal has. I tried to contact him about his idiocy but at the time he had no contact info in his columns.

But as to this column- there are lots of examples of malls being geographically close to downtowns- Chinook isn't even the best one; yes, it's near the geographic centre of the city, but it's still 50+ blocks south of downtown. Compare that to Portland and Lloyd Centre. And I'm sure there are tonnes and tonnes of other examples.

Also. North Hill is closer to downtown than is Chinook.

Rusty van Reddick

Mar 7, 2010, 7:05 AM

Does downtown Calgary even get crowds of people on Stephen Ave on weekends, where it feels like you are strolling in a big city? Because even one of my professors was just saying how he found downtown Calgary very dead on weekends.

Your professor, like too many Ryerson profs, is an imbecile.

And Mike, pardon my French, but when in the fuck are you going to visit Calgary to see for yourself? You visit all these God-forsaken American shitholes and then subject us to your screeds about how wonderful they are, and you post these insults about Calgary when you've refused to visit it.

artvandelay

Mar 7, 2010, 7:05 AM

Chinook Centre second downtown

By Richard White, Calgary HeraldMarch 6, 2010

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Chinook+Centre+second+downtown/2647974/story.html

This article is just completely absurd, I'm sure that most would consider IMAX to be a fine substitute for arts and culture:koko:. Wasn't Richard White the President of Calgary downtown association? Maybe he got fired and wants to get back at them by trashing the downtown. :haha:

Why did Calgary allow such a large regional mall so close to it's downtown core?

If you had read the article, you would have learned that Chinook was built on the outskirts of town when it opened and the city grew around it.

For the record, I think that Chinook complements downtown. It has a great location and is easily accessible by car and transit. In the next few years we will start to see more condo office development around Chinook, much like Metrotown in Burnaby, which will improve the area a lot. Most of the upscale retail is still downtown and Eaton Centre/TD Square will become the city's premier mall once the reno's are finished.

NetMapel

Mar 7, 2010, 7:24 AM

I don't think Vancouver's Pacific Centre and Toronto's Eaton Centre are killing their respective downtowns. It's all good.

SpongeG

Mar 7, 2010, 7:36 AM

the article isn't saying it replaces downtown calgary its calling it a second "downtown" i don't see whats so negative about it

it sounds like expansion plans and development plans are going to make it like a second downtown with more towers and stuff

miketoronto

Mar 7, 2010, 2:49 PM

miketoronto

Mar 7, 2010, 2:50 PM

Your professor, like too many Ryerson profs, is an imbecile.

And Mike, pardon my French, but when in the fuck are you going to visit Calgary to see for yourself? You visit all these God-forsaken American shitholes and then subject us to your screeds about how wonderful they are, and you post these insults about Calgary when you've refused to visit it.

He was just stating what he experienced when he was there. If the streets were quiet, they are quiet. One of the students I know at school is from Calgary, and she works for the downtown Calgary Assoc in the summer. And even she has told me they have problems with getting people downtown on weekends, and that it is really really quiet.
That aside I do want to visit Calgary. Maybe pretty soon. We will see.

MTLskyline

Mar 8, 2010, 2:48 AM

Tim Hortons to boost outlets, test drive upscale U.S. format
Doughnut-coffee chain plans 900 more stores, with one-third in U.S. and the rest in Canada

Emily Mathieu Business Reporter

Feel like some ice cream with your coffee? Or how about nibbling on a cruller on sleek seats next to a flickering stone fireplace?

Tim Hortons is preparing to test drive a new upscale restaurant format in the United States and broaden its North American product line as part of a three-year expansion plan that will include the opening of about 900 new stores.

Canada will have 600 new stores, with the majority in Quebec, Western Canada and major urban locations, bringing the national total to about 3,600.

Of the chain's existing stores, 60 will be converted to include the Cold Stone Creamery concept in partnership with an American ice cream chain, with plans to co-brand stores in the US.

In Canada, 13 locations sell the product, two in Toronto.

In the U.S., 300 new stores will open, primarily in markets in New York, Ohio and Michigan. Of the existing 563 locations, 10 will be revamped as part of a pilot project for upscale locations, featuring "enhanced finishes, fixtures and seating areas." The fireplace was part of a design shown to investors during a presentation Friday.

The restaurant operator says it plans to spend $180 million to $200 million this year to support its growth initiatives and expects the expansion will be completed by 2013.

"Our strategies will continue to transform Tim Hortons, not only adding significant scale but also introducing important additional growth layers to our business platform to extend our position as a leader in the North American restaurant industry," Don Schroeder, president and CEO, said in a statement.

"We are a growth company with significant long-term opportunities in Canada, and we are also excited by the prospects of continued profitable growth in the U.S., and potentially internationally in the longer term."

Tim Hortons shares closed at $32.73, up 81 cents or 2.54 per cent.

The company also plans to expand its menu, including more soup and sandwich offerings.

David Soberman, a professor of marketing at the Rotman School of Management at the Uni0versity of Toronto, said Tim Hortons is the dominant coffee seller in Canada, but said expansion on too many fronts can carry an element of risk.

"It you do three things very well, you know that somebody can equal you but probably can't do better. But if you try to do 20 things, eventually there are one or two things the competition can do better than you," said Soberman. "That potentially has the risk that it can affect the overall brand."

During the presentation Bill Moir, chief brand and marketing officer, said extensive research went into the expansion plans to make sure the company wouldn't alienate its core customers.

"I think there are ways to stretch the brand, you have to be careful about it but certainly fit is always one of the first questions we ask."

Some associations are a no brainer.

David Clanachan, chief operations officer, United States and International, described concepts for the new sign in the U.S., including the use of the words "café" and "bakery."

"In Canada Tim Hortons gets away with just putting Tim Hortons on their building," but in the U.S. consumers need to be drawn in, he said.

The company is aiming for same-store sales growth of 3 per cent to 5 per cent in Canada and 2 per cent to 4 per cent in the United States.

It's also aiming to earn between $1.95 and $2.05 per share.

With files from The Canadian Press
http://www.thestar.com/business/companies/timhortons/article/775839--tim-hortons-to-boost-outlets-test-drive-upscale-u-s-format

Looks like more Tims are on the way. I can already think of 4 within a block at Concordia University in Montreal. Hopefully they won't be adding any more there...

mike474

Mar 8, 2010, 2:59 AM

Hooray! Perhaps this will balance off the noticeable absence of Tim's in Montreal.

As for Chinook, I think calling it a second downtown is an overstatement. Large malls in even smaller cities will often have more people mulling around than most streets (especially in winter). The first time I visited it I remember being underwhelmed that this was the biggest mall in Calgary (this coming from someone raised in rural sask). I don't see how it's any different than any mall built on an urban fringe that has been surrounded by a fast growing city and now acts as a bit of a hub for retail and entertainment.

SteelTown

Mar 8, 2010, 3:02 AM

Looks like more Tims are on the way. I can already think of 4 within a block at Concordia University in Montreal. Hopefully they won't be adding any more there...

In Hamilton this isn't rare especially in busy intersections. There's an intersection that has a Tim Horton's on each in Hamilton.

What's really nuts is having a regular Tim Horton's and next door another Tim Horton's expect it's a drive-thru. Another one is a regular Tim Horton's and a gas station behind it with a Tim Horton's inside the gas station.

Darkoshvilli

Mar 8, 2010, 3:12 AM

Second, Calgary has, and has had for decades, a higher rate of immigration than Montreal has.

While its true that Calgary attracts a higher rate of immigrants relative to its population than Montreal, Montreal does have a more "diverse" immigrant pool, which is what that guy said.

Doug_Cgy

Mar 8, 2010, 3:35 AM

It may be a second downtown, but it is taking some of the thunder from downtown. Stores like Tiffany and Zara usually open in downtowns for their first store in a city. Calgary saw these stores open in Chinook instead.

The only Tiffany's in Calgary is located inside Holt Renfrew in the CORE (Eaton Centre/TD Square) Downtown. Plus with the new reno's of the CORE mall DT, there are apparently plenty more big announcements coming down the pipe regarding retail in the Calgary market

habfanman

Mar 8, 2010, 5:05 AM

re: Tim Hortons to boost outlets, test drive upscale U.S. format

Egads! I hope we don't get any more of these shithole, swill-dispensing dumps in Montréal.

niwell

Mar 8, 2010, 5:22 AM

Apparently one of the new "upscale" locations will be in Oakville. Go figure. The stone cold creamery stuff isn't bad though, certainly FAR better than anything Tim's has to offer.

God forbid any new locations in central Toronto though. We've had an explosion of GOOD coffee shops in the last year so good riddance to Tim's. They opened a location at Christie station to my horror, in the location of a former 24 hr Korean place (which was very sketchy). There is so much more that location could house. Luckily the nearest Tim Hortons to me is 1.5km away, yet there are at least 6 independent coffee places in that radius, most of which could qualify as third-wave (thanks for the term Rusty).

Colin

Mar 8, 2010, 6:58 AM

It may be a second downtown, but it is taking some of the thunder from downtown. Stores like Tiffany and Zara usually open in downtowns for their first store in a city. Calgary saw these stores open in Chinook instead.

As Doug_Cgy mentioned, there is no Tiffany & Co. located in Chinook Centre. Tiffany along with stores like Holt Renfrew, Harry Rosen, Hermes, Betsey Johnson, Club Monaco, and Banana Republic have all established their flagship stores in The Core Shopping Centre and Fashion Central located on Stephen Avenue in the heart of the the CBD. The fact that retail establishments have chosen to setup on Stephen Avenue confirms that retailers recognize the importance of our downtown area and that suburban shopping malls will not be able to replace the vitality of downtown Calgary.

SteelTown

Mar 8, 2010, 12:16 PM

You are going to see a lot of ceramic tile floors, stainless steel interior signage, modern furniture and dining design, fireplace, artwork and artistic lighting with these new Tim Horton's locations. They are taking the same approach as McDonald's has done with renvoating their chains. Wouldn't be surprised if this would include free WIFI.

Jay in Cowtown

Mar 8, 2010, 7:20 PM

Coldrsx

Mar 8, 2010, 7:46 PM

"So what's the fucking love affair with this place?"

small town comfort in our beloved Canadiana

kirjtc2

Mar 8, 2010, 8:01 PM

Good on a Canadian company like Tim's for doing well... I just don't know why!

The coffee sweetened up is average at best, and the rest of the menu minus the Chili is garbage. Donuts are better at Robins or any gas bar selling 3 day old Krispy Cremes, the greasy breakfast sandwiches are far superior at McDonalds and their coffee's no worse, if not better. I can't even compare Tim's subs to anything because I haven't tasted anything worse, anywhere!

So what's the fucking love affair with this place?

I don't get it either. It's bland crap people get almost out of blind patriotism. McDonald's has them beat by far on both the breakfast sandwich and coffee front. Even Dunkin has better donuts, but Tim's put the one here right out of business.

If you want to support a decent Canadian coffee chain....go to Second Cup.

Coldrsx

Mar 8, 2010, 8:03 PM

^or an independent.

On my walk to work in the morning I often cannot understand (xenophobia?)why people are lined up 10 or 15 deep at TH, SC, SB, when some of the independents with far better legal drug choices and fresher pastries sit marginally empty.

andyh

Mar 8, 2010, 8:07 PM

I also am bewildered on why Tim Hortons is so popular! People apparently fall for those good feeling B.S. commercials exploiting (according to them) what Canada is about. How is it different from any large American chain? But I do agree that they do serve the best coffee.....for those that don't like the taste of coffee. I will support all the independent coffee shops as much as I can.

SpongeG

Mar 8, 2010, 10:45 PM

tims is popular cause it's cheap - a large coffee is what $1.63? or something?

you can get an edible sandwich for $2.99 or so

for me i like 7-11 donuts and hot chocolate - at least they are in abundance in vancouver

brentwood

Mar 8, 2010, 11:38 PM

Chinook Centre second downtown

Quote:

"No other major North American city I am aware of has its major indoor shopping mall within five kilometres of downtown. Imagine if the West Edmonton Mall was located on Whyte Avenue, or if Vancouver's Metro Town was located at South Granville or Commercial Drive."

Just to comment on the Chinook article further. White seems to have overlooked one of the cities closest to Calgary with this example...Vancouver. Oakridge Mall, pretty much the City of Vancouver's only large mall is at least as close to downtown as Chinook is, as well as being central to the city itself. Oh and by the way, Metro Town is in Burnaby, not Vancouver.

waterloowarrior

Mar 8, 2010, 11:58 PM

It's hard to be more central than Ottawa and Toronto's downtown malls... haha. Wouldn't Pacific Centre in Vancouver also count?

MTLskyline

Mar 9, 2010, 12:07 AM

I go to Tim's mostly out of convenience. They have an outlet inside practically every building at Concordia (all of which have long lines). Sure other chains are better (even McDonald's coffee isn't half bad...), but they tend to be a little less convenient and more pricey on average.

I find the same thing with Pizza Pizza. The Pizza is below average, but once again, it is convenient and inexpensive. What might cost you well over $10 for a personal sized pizza at Pizza Hut would cost only $6-7 at Pizza Pizza.

andyh

Mar 9, 2010, 12:42 AM

Yes it may be convenient and cheap but at what cost? Our country is turning into a generic waste dump of chains. People are getting fat eating two pieces of cheap pizza for the price of a quality "home" cooked meal from a mom a pop establishment.

SpongeG

Mar 10, 2010, 10:05 PM

CB2 Toronto

this is where they are opening...

http://cb2blogger.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/bigbop1.jpg?w=520&h=344

image from their blog http://blog.cb2.com/page/3/

Most of us south of the border have never been but from the blogs and tweets we’ve read, boy did we miss out.

This past weekend, after more than 20 years of supporting Toronto’s goth, alternative, techno and heavy metal fans and local musicians with all-age shows, final acts performed then closed the legendary Big Bop.

....

rest at the blog...

ErickMontreal

May 8, 2010, 7:51 PM

Apple Store coming to Quebec City

Dee Zign
February 14, 2010

http://www.9to5mac.com/files/AppleStore%20Qu%C3%A9bec_0.jpg

Rumored for a few months, two sources in the shopping center confirm Apple will soon announce the opening of a new Apple Store in Quebec, Canada at Place Ste-Foy.

Pierre Couture in "Le Soleil" newspaper (in French) said last month:

"(Quebec) Apple is seriously considering opening an Apple Store at Place Ste-Foy. At least two sources have confirmed to the Sun that intensive discussions had taken place in recent weeks between Apple and management of shopping boulevard Laurier. Thursday at Apple Canada lips were sealed. "We do not comment on rumors", said a spokesman for the company. In Place Ste-Foy, management would not comment on the content of discussions with Apple. "We are always looking to attract new renowned tenants," said the CEO of mall, Donald Larose. "

I went about investigating on my own and have been able to confirm from two persons working at Place Ste-Foy that Apple will indeed open a new store there, strengthening its position as a leader in Canada with this new store in Québec's capital.
_________________________________________________________________

Urban Outfitters will set up shop in downtown Québec

http://www.carrefourdequebec.com/picture.php?mode=knparticle&knparticle=3081&size=big

Avec une superficie de 10 000 pieds carrés, Urban Outfitters s'installera au 509, rue Saint-Joseph Est. Fondé en 1970 à Philadelphie, ce magasin a su se démarquer en offrant des vêtements originaux et avant-gardistes destinés à une clientèle au style urbain. On y retrouvera également des souliers, des bijoux et des accessoires pour la maison. La boutique sera inaugurée à l'été prochain.

_________________________________________________________________

Remodeling/expansion work on Simons flagship store is almost completed

http://shopping.ca/cambridge/html/foy/images/maquette.jpg

http://lejournaldequebec.canoe.ca/archives/journaldequebec/actualites/regional/media/2010/03/20100318-221942-g.jpg

With a vast expansion project underway until 2010, Place Ste-Foy is thinking big, to offer you an even more exceptional shopping experience.

With the addition of some 9,000 square feet in leased premises, as well as a new 600-space underground parking to open in 2008, Simons is expanding (its size will double) which will make it the flagship store of the chain in the province of Quebec.
_________________________________________________________________

Galerie de la Capitale is experiencing expansion

http://www.quebecurbain.qc.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/image_preview.jpg

Galerie de la Capitale is now working on adding 160,000 sq feet, Best Buy, Sport Expert/Atmosphere and Toys "R" Us will be among the new tenants moving in. Once the expansion is complete next year it will grab the fifth spot of largest the center in Canada.

SpongeG

May 8, 2010, 8:12 PM

Lamborghini opens clothing boutique in B.C.

Only three stores in the world

By Steve Mertl, THE CANADIAN PRESS

RICHMOND, B.C. — They say when you’ve got it, flaunt it, and it’s hard to flaunt any harder than tooling down your street in a Lamborghini, the cheapest of which retails for around $200,000.

But what if you don’t have it and you still want to flaunt it?

Well, you can drive your Toyota Corolla to the Automobili Lamborghini Boutique in Richmond, B.C., and buy yourself a Lamborghini jacket, or a hoodie, or maybe just a coffee mug.

The purveyor of ultra-exclusive, outrageously styled exotic cars has opened only its third retail shop in the world in this Vancouver suburb — the others are in Beijing and Los Angeles.

The store in Richmond’s upscale Aberdeen Centre has its grand opening Saturday night, highlighted by a parade of Lamborghinis to the mall and then a fashion show displaying its “collezione” of Italian-designed sporty clothes carrying Lambo’s trademark Spanish fighting bull logo.

In the last three years company officials have discovered what other ultra-luxury automakers such as arch-rival Ferrari have known for some time: a lot of people want to identify themselves, even in a small way, with la dolce vita.

“If you’re a luxury brand there is always the opportunity to sell even outside the core business,” says Stephan Winkelmann, president of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., in town for the store’s grand opening.

“As long as this is giving additional profit and it’s not diluting the brand, it’s a must-do because a luxury brand always has a limited opportunity to grow, because a luxury business is always to produce less than demand.”

Lamborghini, headquartered in Sant’Agata Bolognese, sells on average about 2,000 cars a year. Last year it was down to just over 1,200, 38 of which were sold in Canada.

In a good year the company sells about 70 cars in Canada, according to Winkelmann, who moved to Lamborghini five years ago from FIAT, the Italian auto giant that owns Ferrari.

The doorstop-shaped Lamborghini Gallardo, whose 560-horsepower V-10 engine rockets the two-seater to 100 kilometres an hour in 3.7 seconds, starts at around $198,000. The Murcielago — 12 cylinders, up to 670 hp, half a second faster to 100 km/h — starts at around $350,000.

Dream cars, to be sure. That’s what the clothes and trinkets are about, too, says Winkelmann.

“It’s all about emotions; it’s about fulfilling dreams and we have even the duty to do something to let the people feel part of this world of Lamborghini,” he says. “There’s at most a few brands that have this opportunity and we are among them.”

Store owner Asgar Virji, who holds the franchise for Lamborghini cars in Western Canada, calls the clothing line edgy and extreme.

Really, it’s somewhere to the right of skateboarder couture, more Euro-sleek than in your face.

But the context is really the cars. In the world of Italian exotics, Lamborghini was always the brash upstart.

...

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/05/08/13878526.html

MolsonExport

May 10, 2010, 1:31 PM

I don't get it either. It's bland crap people get almost out of blind patriotism. McDonald's has them beat by far on both the breakfast sandwich and coffee front. Even Dunkin has better donuts, but Tim's put the one here right out of business.

If you want to support a decent Canadian coffee chain....go to Second Cup.

People love the lineups. Must be. The lineups at Rim Whoreton's are legendary. Yet, the food is truly crap. Wow, look now the sandwich bread is no longer hard as a tin can!

Fuck, as deNiro says in Raging Bull (to his first wife, about the lousy cooking and why does he eat it then?) : "I've got no choice!"

qp1A-QfIg0k

Seriously, aside from Fourbucks, where the hell can you get coffee in Ontario? Yes, I know about independents, but Christ, I can't always drive 10 km's out of my way when I need a cup.

SteelTown

May 10, 2010, 2:41 PM

Williams, Van Houtte, Second Cup and independents.

Williams have been popping all over this City lately. There's now more of Williams compared to Tim Hortons at McMaster University. Five Williams, three Tim Horons and one Van Houttee on campus.

Calgarian

May 10, 2010, 3:16 PM

I actually like Timmys food, their coffee is shite, but the soup and sandwiches are pretty decent and are very reasonable priced.

For coffee, I like the local chain Good Earth, they have pretty good coffee and it's priced about the same as starbucks. Second Cup is also pretty good, though there aren't too many of them around downtown Calgary, we have a starbucks on almost every block, but only 3 or 4 Second Cups that I can think of.

Coldrsx

May 10, 2010, 3:24 PM

^so so many better places for sandwiches though... and yes their coffee is shiet.

Calgarian

May 10, 2010, 3:34 PM

^so so many better places for sandwiches though... and yes their coffee is shiet.

Pretty much any deli has Timmys in their back pocket, but like I said, it's still decent.

SteelTown

May 10, 2010, 3:49 PM

For a salad at Williams it's like $5.00 for a little plastic tray. Pricey.

But Williams coffee is the same price as Tim Hortons, $1.52 for a large coffee.

SpongeG

May 15, 2010, 2:05 AM

Canadian Tire revs up presence on race car circuit, renews focus on auto business

By Sunny Freeman, The Canadian Press

TORONTO - Canadian Tire Corp. says it is revving up its presence on the auto racing circuit as part of its renewed focus on driving growth in its core automotive business.

"Automotive is the cornerstone of our business and now we're going to act it," Canadian Tire's (TSX: CTC-A.TO) president and CEO Stephen Wetmore told the company's annual meeting Thursday in Toronto after it reported relatively flat first quarter earnings.

"Racing fans, you should also take notice as we return to prominence in Formula One, NASCAR, and Indy racing over the coming months," he added.

Wetmore said the affiliation with auto racing is key to showing customers that Canadian Tire is an authority in the automotive business.

"If you're in automotive, you're in automotive, and therefore you have to be in the racing game," Wetmore added.

The chain already sponsors a NASCAR race, but is interested in embarking on sponsorship or other partnerships in more types of racing in order to make the affiliation between Canadian Tire and autos top of mind to consumers.

The Toronto-based retailer said more details on its plan to increase its presence on the circuit will be revealed in the coming months.

"The more we look at automotive, the more opportunity we see," he said. "In 2011, we will fundamentally change the customer experience in our customer auto centre."

Canadian Tire is investing in one of its largest information technology upgrades in order to streamline how the company orders and moves auto parts and improve customer service. It has already embarked on reorganization, which has resulted in a doubling of the assortment of parts it offers.

"The goal is to always say Yes to a customer request," Wetmore added.

The company saw little change in its first-quarter profits as sales at its flagship hardware and auto parts stores merely edged ahead as an economic recovery slowly chugs into gear, though it is optimistic that consumer spending will pick up in the spring.

The iconic retailer reported Thursday net earnings or had $49.4 million or 61 cents per share, virtually unchanged from the same time last year. Operating revenue improved slightly, rising about four per cent to $1.8 billion.

Consolidated retail sales rose 5.7 per cent to $1.89 billion, with sales at its Canadian Tire retail outlets up 2.1 per cent, while sales at the Mark's brand clothing division were up 3.8 per cent and the company's gas bars increased sales by 19.5 per cent on higher oil prices.

"We saw positive trends return to all our businesses... however there are still several quarters to go until we see a top-line increase in sales that is satisfying to me," Wetmore said.

The chain's financial services business charged ahead with growth of 41.8 per cent over last year, a performance that stood out in the quarter because it is most tied to shifts in the economy and consumer spending, Wetmore said. The business is now looking at introducing new products, including extended payment plans, instant credit and warranties and insurance.

"Market conditions over the past 18 months have demonstrated that we cannot and should not primarily rely on financial services or Mark's to drive growth," he said, adding that the core retail chain was the core to ensuring growth.

He said the chain plans to focus on "customer-centric" retailing to transform the way the company does business.

"The opportunities are there for us to capture, now it's all about staying on course," Wetmore said, adding that he is confident the store can achieve it's goal of up to 10 per cent growth over the next five years.

Wetmore said the chain will introduce is much-anticipated loyalty program—that he promises won't do away with the popular Canadian Tire money— in early 2011.

Canadian Tire said its adjusted earnings before taxes were up 13 per cent in the quarter at $74.7 million or 63 cents per share, factoring out the impact of a tax gain in the first quarter of 2009 related to capital gains resulting from the sale of its shares in MasterCard in 2006 and 2007.

...

http://ca.news.finance.yahoo.com/s/13052010/2/biz-finance-canadian-tire-revs-presence-race-car-circuit-renews.html

SpongeG

May 15, 2010, 2:06 AM

Tim Hortons coffee prices could hold steady on good crop, says CEO

By David Friend, The Canadian Press

TORONTO - Tim Hortons Inc. (TSX: THI.TO) chief executive Don Schroeder is optimistic that a good year for Columbian coffee crops could mean the price of your morning cup of joe will hold steady for the foreseeable future.

While the head of Canada's iconic coffee and doughnut chain didn't make any promises about holding back from price increases, he did provide a glimpse of a brighter future for coffee lovers who were burned last year when a smaller crop and bad weather helped raise the price of a cup of coffee.

"We see this year there should be some relief by the time we get into the third and certainly the fourth quarter of this year," Schroeder said in an interview Thursday.

"Brazil has just started harvesting what is likely to be a record size crop. As that starts to hit the market, it's going to ease the pressure... on the overall price of coffee."

He added: "Our hope is that the price of coffee to our store owners will be able to keep stable."

Schroeder noted that other factors also influence the price of a cup of coffee, such as operating costs at its franchised locations. However, he noted, the industry has reached a calmer period compared with a year ago when the economy was particularly shaky.

"Last year, because there was so much uncertainty, we were reviewing the (pricing) situation almost on a monthly basis," he said.

"Normally we would do it once a year. Last year we were looking at it on a regular basis just to keep up with the changes that were happening out there. The hope is that we won't have to look at it again until later this year."

The outlook came as Tim Hortons served up a $78.9-million first-quarter profit for its investors in the first three months of this year — up 18.7 per cent from last year from $66.4 million. On a per-share basis, diluted earnings rose to 45 cents from 37 cents.

The company said its revenue was up 4.8 per cent, rising to $582.6 million including franchise fees, rents and royalties.

Schroeder told investors in a conference call that new products on its menu and stronger promotions contributed to the higher results.

Same-store sales growth, sales at locations that have been open for at least a year, were up 5.2 per cent for the quarter in Canada, which he said was the best quarterly growth in the country since the second quarter of 2008.

In the U.S., same store sales were up three per cent.

...

http://ca.news.finance.yahoo.com/s/13052010/2/biz-finance-tim-hortons-coffee-prices-hold-steady-good-crop.html

Locked In

Jun 7, 2010, 5:13 PM

Luxury storefronts at rock-bottom prices

Compared to Paris, New York, even Athens, Canada’s best retail spaces come cheap

http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/archive/00302/Versace_302081gm-a.jpg
Pedestrians walk past the Versace store on Fifth Avenue in New York.

Steve Ladurantaye
Globe and Mail Update Published on Monday, Jun. 07, 2010 10:43AM EDT Last updated on Monday, Jun. 07, 2010 10:49AM EDT

Rents for prime retail space in Canada’s swankiest fashion districts may seem high by Canadian standards, but the most expensive storefronts in the country are still being rented at bargain-basement prices compared to other global centres.

Montreal’s Saint Catherine Street and Toronto’s Bloor Street districts were the priciest in the country, with average lease rates at $294.12 (U.S.) a square foot. The cost of space placed the cities in a tie for 32nd place in the world, sandwiched between Honolulu and Amsterdam.

Globally, space along the Champs Élysées in Paris was the most expensive at $1,255.90 a square foot. New York’s Fifth Avenue, Hong Kong’s Russell Street and London’s Bond Street all saw rents higher than $1,100 a square foot.

“Regardless of what is happening in suburban shopping malls and on secondary streets, there’ll be strong demand for the number one retail street in most markets,” said Jim Smerdon, director of retail and strategic planning with Colliers International, which did the survey.

“When you look at who the retailers are on these streets in Canada, for the most part they’re many of the same stores we see in regional shopping centers, but with a higher volume of sales and in high street locations, they are willing to pay significantly more rent to be there.”

Vancouver’s Robson Street sat in 51st place, at $196.08. Other Canadian sites included Calgary’s 17th Avenue SW ($73.53), Edmonton’ downtown ($44.12), Halifax’s Spring Garden Road ($49.02), Ottawa’s Byward Market ($49.02), Saskatoon’s 21st Street E. ($27.45) and Victoria’s Government Street ($10.77).

Toronto and Halifax were the only Canadian markets to see prices rise in Canadian dollar terms, 7.14 per cent 5.26 per cent respectively. Calgary’s rents dropped 25 per cent, Vancouver pulled back 16.67 per cent and Victoria’s rents fell 10.77 per cent.

The other cities saw no change.

Source: Globe and Mail (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/luxury-storefronts-at-rock-bottom-prices/article1594735/)