I was speaking with a friend over the weekend and she said that a big company involved in the oil/gas sector she works with laid off 20 people last week...So it may be starting.

It most certainly has started. My former employer has laid off dozens of people in the last year, myself included.

It started a while ago. I know people who've been laid off in the field. It's just been more subtle than what's happened in Alberta.

Anyone hear the rumor that The Village mall is being sold again and will be converted to a factory warehouse style mall? Just a rumor I heard floating around.

I see that the old Dominion on the corner of newfoundland drive / Torbay Road has now been Leased.

Seen recently on Facebook that a Trampoline Park, is scheduled to be coming to St.John's.

Could this be their operating location ? They are going to need a fairly large space to open such a facility.

Lowe's buying Canadian rival Rona for $3.2B
 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/lowe...over-1.3431463

This was bound to happen sooner or later as Lowe's attempted to buy RONA previously but unsuccessfully. Hopefully this won't turn out like the ill-fated Target/Zellers buyout.

The former Dominion on the corner of Newfoundland Drive and Torbay Road has finally been leased by another owner. Have heard that it will be a Colemans which is exciting.

Also Ricki's is closing in the mall. Heard through a friend that the mall rent was too high and they are hoping to open a stand alone on Merchant or Kelsey (like the Stavanger area one I would say). Lululemon going in that spot. I saw a hiring ad for them already on linkedin.

I think we had heard about Ricki's leaving the mall a while back, right around when Sephora was taking over next to them. Not surprised, really.

According to the job ads online the Lululemon store is a 'Pop-up-Store', which means that is is only a temporary location. Seen them around before, usually in the downtown.

I was in Sears this weekend and noticed they don't sell electronics anymore. So if you are planning to go to Sears to look for a TV, don't waste your time.

Sears gave up selling electronics some time ago now. They are slowly bleeding to death.

The Avalon Mall has been in the news again. Apparently, a proposal is forthcoming on the reconfigured intersection of Kenmount and Polina Roads to be done with the City of St. John's. It will be part of a bigger proposal for the area. My guess is that there will be at least a free standing restaurant or two included on each side of this new intersection. I also heard that there are big plans for the nearby Woodgate Plaza which is now owned by Crombie (the Avalon Mall's owners). I can speculate that the lots will be merged. The rumour of H&M has been swirling around again for the Avalon Mall. I know the Woodgate will soon have lots of free space when Leon's moves to their new location in the old Canadian Tire building on Elizabeth Avenue.

Hmm, funny you say that. I was driving by that part of the mall parking lot last week and noticed a guy taking pictures of the brook that separates the Avalon mall and Leon's/Toys R Us. At first I thought it was a little strange but after reading your post I'm thinking it could be the beginning of some geotechnical work. Interesting stuff....

I said this before and I say it again. Avalon Mall is so behind the times. It's old and so out of date with the modern mall/shopping centres everywhere else in the world. I mean, they still have that tacky stone facade on the front of Sears thats been there since 1967 when mall first opened.

They don't realize how good they have it here where the weather sucks most every day of the year (LOL) so its nice to be able to shop inside instead of going to a big box park. But the mall looks like 1980's when you walk inside there. Time for a major update.

On a side note, I wonder if they could somehow link the Woodgate plaza to the existing mall by going over the river. At least link the parking lots.

The Avalon Mall bears a striking resemblance to the Toronto underground PATH system. The Village actually looks more like the type of mall you would find anywhere else in the world. As for the stone facade on Sears, the mall must be hoping if they leave it like that long enough, it will come back in again.

You are so right, last time I was in Toronto underground PATH mall, that's what it totally reminded me of, the Avalon Mall. How can a mall like Avalon Mall be only mostly one floor and be so dull and dreary? They even have skylights in the newer 2-story section and you wouldn't know it. And let's not forget, the main entrance is through a food court. LOL. They should just bulldoze the whole thing and start from scratch. Lol.

Inside the Avalon Mall has had a number of renovations over the last decade or so.

I also heard that H&M has a coming soon for St. John's on their website.

Unfortunately, that's not true. H&M to St. John's rumors are as old as time itself, it'd be unnatural if they were to ever be true. What else would we have to look forward to? :haha:

I couldn't find any such information. I agree with Marty, this rumour is as old as time...LOL