The Avalon Mall Sears section re development progress pic

https://i.imgur.com/vbMFZ4K.jpg

I think they are doing a great job with the Avalon Mall. It's going to be much larger once they develop the parking lot area outside of Starbucks. Interested to see what new tenants are on the way as the Mall claims that they have stores on a waitlist wanting in.

I find the updated lighting to be a bit intense. Was talking to one of the kiosk employees at Bell one day and he was saying the same thing that it's a bit hard on the eyes all day. other than that, it's looking nice and the work seems to be moving along at a good pace.

I must agree that it is pretty bright, especially if you are working there all day.

Noticed yesterday that Newfoundland Chocolate Company are setting up in the Torbay Road Mall, next to Home Hardware. They are taking over the space that used to be the dollar store.

Large day..

H&M to open in Avalon Mall in St. John's next year

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfo...mall-1.5238936

We just found out #2 is H&M. Any guesses on 3,4 & 5?

Here's mine:

Mountain Warehouse for 3.

Forever 21 for 4.

And the long shot....a relocated Chapter/Indigo for 5.

I'd almost go with a relocated Sportchek/larger Atmosphere location over Mountain Warehouse. Either would be great though.

Not sure if it means anything or not but in many of the original concept drawings of the mall renovations and expansion, it shows a book store that looks kinda large. Could they be trying to woo Indigo to move down from up the road perhaps?

Forever 21 are in trouble, are closing stores, not opening.

Ron.

Avalon mall just posted on Facebook that other stores are Banana republic, gap and old navy.

https://i.imgur.com/Ov3deqR.png

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/2ae10...8655e0a663.pdf

This is the floor plan of the new mall expansion, anybody got any guesses for whats going where?

I'm guessing H&M will be next to Coles (29,540 sq/ft), Banana Republic next to that (15,620 sq/ft), Gap in the 10,000 sq/ft spot, and Old Navy next to the new Winners (25,600 sq/ft).

Was kinda hoping they might bring back a fountain. They are still in vogue in other locations. Wonder why we can't keep a fountain running in St. John's?

There have been many down thru the years. My favourite as a kid, was the old Colonial Building, with the colour changes.

I can’t remember a fountain at the Avalon Mall, only the iconic one at The Village. Was sad to see that one go.

My god.....years and years of rumors and they're finally coming true. I do love myself some cheap H&M clothing.

I assume that the Old Navy location will be a second one? I’m sure we can support two of these stores as they seem quite popular.

I saw a comment on Avalon's FB page (on the announcement of the stores) that Old Navy was moving from Stavanger. Don't know what truth there is in this?
Maybe someone should pop in to Old Navy and ask a manager?

So much for that old saying "three things are guaranteed in St. John's: death, taxes and H&M rumours" :haha:

A second Old Navy isn't surprising, that brand is doing well. I'm surprised to see a GAP and Banana Republic store opening, they've been closing stores, GAP is not doing well.

They're actually separating Old Navy into it's own entity (company), distancing it from the other brands.

Ron.

Banana Republic and Gap could be in the one location. Can’t remember where too, but I remember being somewhere where Gap was in one side of the store and Banana Republic in the other side. So maybe one of the bigger stores will be Gap/Banana Republic.

I'm surprised to see the Gap returning as I thought they were busy closing stores like Forever 21. And why return so soon to the same location?

Kinda over fountains but my favorite was on Prince Philip Parkway (Long Pond?)

Dropped by the mall today to checkout the new Winners/HomeSense store and it was quite busy as usual. The new store is quite nice and I noticed many new kinds of merchandise as I quickly browsed around as the store was crowded. The new entrance is also nice. So When you now enter what use to be the Sears entrance inside the mall, there is a short hallway which will eventually have smaller stores on both sides. Winners HomeSense has a very prominent store sign facing you as the hall turns and eventually leads out to the new exterior entrance which is right next to Winners/HomeSense exterior entrance. I look forward to see all of this completed eventually.

The Avalon Mall renovation and expansion is getting some national coverage from The Retail-Insider. Some more details how H&M, Old Navy, Gap and the other new tenants will fit in to the existing and new floor plan.

https://www.retail-insider.com/retai...verhaul-photos

Was just taking a look at the renderings of the mall expansion and noticed that they left a few logos on the store. Not sure if it was mentioned previously, but according to their mock-ups, it looks like the mall will be getting a Levi's, Tommy Hilfiger, Steve Madden, and an Indigo to replace the Coles. In addition, according to the exterior storefronts, it looks like Roots will be moving in from the parking lot.

They have a new walkthrough rendering available on the expansion website.

https://www.avalonmallredevelopment.com/video

https://ibb.co/BrsdRj8

https://ibb.co/DrD7Wmy

This is just an educated guess, they wouldn't create mock-ups of specific stores if they weren't going to be at that specific location

https://ibb.co/jHKSQg0

I don't think the people doing the mockups/design would be privy to information on what retailers the mall were negotiating with.

Architects work closely with mall management to solidify designs plans and ensure that the facade of possible retail outlets mesh with the overall design. As an architecture student myself, I wouldn't use logos of specific brands as a way to protect myself and the firm against copyright infringement, unless the company has given permission to the architects and the mall management to use them. That's why in most cases, you get a slight variation of the name (ex - "Azure" used instead of "Indigo") in order to prevent using the name without permission, while still hinting at the retailer.

Hmm... interesting, good observation! Suffice to say nothing is set in stone until we hear the official word from The Avalon Mall. However, I think these are good assumptions given the logos in the mock-ups. The Avalon Mall seems to be moving in the direction of attracting new (to NL at least) upper scale shops. I think they've done a good job with the renos and attracting new retail. Most people seem to be in a hoopla around the Galway developments, but I think the Avalon Mall is a much more exciting development and is bringing some new retail to the city and the province.

Giant Tiger
 

Recent article about Giant Tiger Expansion with excerpt below referencing NL.

https://www.retail-insider.com/retai...w-headquarters

“At present we are from Alberta to P.E.I. We are not yet in British Columbia or Newfoundland but exploring our options for future expansion,”

Worth noting from this article:

"According to Crombie RETI’s website, the population within a seven kilometre radius of Avalon Mall is 117,144 residents. The Average household income is an impressive $92,056. Last year, annual sales per square foot at Avalon Mall were almost $700, which makes it one of the top performing centres in the Canadian Maritime provinces"

If only we were part of the Canadian Maritime provinces... :rolleyes:

After the big four announcement last week, people seemed a little upset that stores like Hot Topic, Justice, Artiza, etc weren't coming.

I think we all realized that this was only the start of the announcements. But the mall had to update their post with the following: "UPDATE - These four store are just the beginning of the announcements. Thank you for the feedback and KEEP THOSE SUGGESTIONS COMING!!!***"

Fair points about using the logos in the renderings, but I don't know how much weight those renderings hold. Only time will tell.

LOL... I guess people thought the mall expansion would only be enough for 5 new stores.

Whatever happened to the Rumours of the Old Costco location being taken over by U-HAUL , once Costco moved ?
I haven't heard a peep on this in about a year now.
I guess that was just another made up pipe dream

The building is listed for lease so I guess that's not happening. Disappointing for the area. Would be nice to see something happening with one of those spaces.

https://www.commerciallistings.cbre....e8?view=isSale

Actually looks like it's for sale.

Ron.

The Telegram reports on their Facebook page that Showcase is opening in the Avalon Mall. This is a second location to the one in The Village. I believe Showcase was in the Avalon a few years back? They said it was going in a space near the new winners. I love what is happening at the Avalon Mall, but I have to say that I am not excited about this one. :)

They were on the second floor near the food court. I didn't know they ever left.

Are you thinking of the X-store? Showcase was on the first floor, where (I think) Jump+ is right now.

I don't recall a Showcase in the Avalon Mall:koko:, The Village yes - just over from Goodlife.
I couldn't say if they're still there or not as I haven't been in the Village in ages.

Apparently it was located on the lower floor at the current Rogers location, across from where Urban Planet is now.

This is correct

Hmm, had no idea.
On another note, I'm curious about CIBC. Are they staying in the same location? Not obvious to me going on the new drawings. Anyone?

I wondered about CIBC myself, as well as Starbucks, as they are both in a corridor that will be eliminated. If Indigo/Chapters does in fact move to the mall, I'm guessing Starbucks will be incorporated into it. I'm guessing CIBC will move to a new location next to the new front entrance.

I took a stroll through the mall a few nights ago and was impressed with how the new design really improves the older area from Tip Top to Winners. That dark closed in feel is gone.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see the CIBC Bank or Scotiabank for that matter eventually moved outside of the mall onto the parking lot in a stand-alone format with a drive-thru. That seems to be the trend with banks these days

When I shop in the Stavanger Drive area I usually ask the workers if they noticed a difference since Costco left. I was shopping at Old Navy this morning and I asked the cashier and she said that for the first couple of days it was slower but after that it was business as usual. She said that the new mall location will be a smaller store and that Stavanger will be the main store for St. John's.

Also, when I was at Marshall's I asked the same question and the cashier said that they don't get as many early morning shoppers, but overall there has not been a drop in business from his standpoint. He said that the company told them that they expected and was prepared for a drop in sales once Costco moved, as they decided to open in that location even though they knew Costco was moving. He said that the company said that the store is staying.

I also had lunch at Cora's and asked if they noticed any difference. The server said that there is a slight drop in very early morning customers, but not enough to affect staffing, but later in the day is actually busier. She said that they are expecting that they may have to add staff when Exxon moves in next door.

I asked at Michael's and a manager told me that it was the plan for some time now for Michael's to have an East and West end location.

Finally, as part of my conversation at Old Navy, they told me that the talk is that Giant Tiger has purchased 48,000 sqft in the old Target building. She said it was only a rumour but that is the talk. For what it is worth!

:)

PS - I asked a manager at Wal Mart if they noticed a difference since Costco left, she laughed and jokingly asked 'Is Costco moved?'

So what you're saying is that the sky isn't falling? WEIRD.

Contrary to popular belief! Lol!