Future shop is the latest casualty. Stavanger store closed this morning.

^ouch, but not unexpected.

There's a sign up for a new store at 351 Water Street. I think the name was Souls or something?

Can confirm, just passed by and there's a sign outside stating they're permanently closed. Apparently Futureshops will all be rebranded as Best Buy. I highly doubt there will be 2 Best Buy locations on Stavanger. That'll be another big empty space there.

Despite the mildish weather it was a cold welcome for the employees of Future Shop in St. John’s.

A sign on the door this morning says the store is permanently closed.

There is also word on social media that all Future Shop stores across Canada are closing immediately.

from the telegram

Big Box retail parks are imploding slowly. There may be hope yet for the enclosed shopping mall to make a comeback.

This was bound to happen sooner or later. All the things Future Shop sells have dropped of the retail market. CD sales have died, DVD sales are nose diving too or dead also, personal computer sales are dying because of tablets and mobile devices. Everyone that wants a big screen tv pretty much has one now. It's no wonder they are closing. Parent company Best Buy will probably be not far behind.

We still live in a very consumable world and nobody fixes things anymore. Throw away and buy a new one is part of our culture. Places still need to sell tablets and mobile devices, they are basically just replacing PCs and laptops for the most part. TVs will always sell and so will sound systems, appliances and all the accessories that come with them. I guess this is what happens when you saturate the market with places to buy these items. You can buy TVs at Dominion now for Gods sake. Places like Canadian Tire and Shoppers drug mart have even hopped on the electronics bandwagon. Combine this with e-commerce and something was bound to give.

Although I agree with what you said about CDs and DVDs, the profit margin probably wasn't very big on those items anyway compared to appliances and electronics.

Too bad they didn't have a liquidation event, I guess all that inventory will just go to Best Buy shelves.

I think Best Buy will survive, it's just that the company has to adapt to changing market conditions and I think this is a step in that direction, whether intentional or not.

Most people have their 40-50'' TV's now, but there is also a newer model coming out or a replacement needed for a broken down/worn out item. The video game market is still strong, they still move quality audio and musical equipment that many other retailers don't carry. People are transitioning to tablets and such, but they still aren't capable of doing all the tasks that a laptop does, and newer models are constantly upgrading (my tablet from 4 years ago now serves as doorstop in my bedroom - piece of trash that it is). People are buying those somewhere. The mobile phone market is strong and they need to find a way to get a better hold in that market and get people coming to them rather than going direct to the service provider like Bell or Rogers.

Not saying you're wrong, the market has clearly changed and there isn't room for 2 major electronic retailers on the magnitude of Future Shop and Best Buy. There is still room for 1 though, at least in my opinion.

Sephora has their "coming soon" sign up at the old Bootlegger location now.

RIP Target

Today is the last day to shop at Target. It closes forever today. Sad.
Guess its back to skanky old Walmart.

Agreed it was always a shit business model.

People gravitate to a neighborhood feel.

I think the blend is increasingly gonna be a blend of service and retail.

Circulations of demo models (tech items) at coffee shops.

The showing of fashion at music bars.

Some sort of blend.

I'm so sad Target didn't work out. It seems like those who gave the store a chance loved it. Those who went there in the beginning and saw nothing but bare shelves gave up on it. Although one of the reasons I think I - and many others - enjoyed Target was because there was never anyone there. It made for a great shopping experience.

Now it's back to the Wal-Mart People. :(

I totally agree with you. I enjoyed going to Target. Still no Wal-Mart for this guy though, I think we can survive without going to Wal-Mart.

I wonder what will take over the empty Target stores??:shrug:

Hard to know what will happen to the Target Space. They probably still hold the lease on the building unless the leaser buys it back. The space is huge so unless another big retailer takes it over like Lowes, Home Depot or Hudson's Bay (i wish), I would say it will likely be chopped up into smaller retail spaces. But really who knows. Futureshop is another big empty space now too.

I know its probably wishful thinking, but now that Target is gone, wouldn't it be nice if the Hudson's Bay Company came to Newfoundland. I think Newfoundland and PEI are the only two provinces without a Hudson's Bay Store. They seem to be profit healthy these days with the purchase of SAKS Fifth Ave.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/hudsons-...les-1428410642

I'd love that.

None in New Brunswick either. Wish their was one though.

I don't know if it has ever been mentioned here, but Kelsey's is seeking a franchisee for St. John's.
http://www.carafranchising.com/kelseys/home.html

Been hearing this for years now. Montana's on Stavanger was first rumoured to be a Kelsey's. Never been to one but I can't imagine it is much different than a Montana's or a Boston Pizza type chain restaurant, just a different theme and décor.

I was told by a waitress at the Keg back in February that the Keg itself will be moving into the recently vacated Legros & Motti next door after a few months of renovation/retrofitting and that Kelsey's would then be moving into the Keg's current location. Montana's on Stavanger Drive was shown on the Plaza Corp directory for month's as a Kelsey's back at the time that area was under development. However, it was changed to a Montana's in the eleventh hour.

I hope it doesn't. Is Kelsey's really that much different than Jack Astor's or the new Boston Pizza. We will then have four national chain restaurants all very close to one another in prime downtown real estate. I Would much prefer see something local pop up there, or maybe a new micro brewery.

Well going local proved to be the wrong move with Legros & Motti so I would say they will likely go with something along the lines of Kelsey's. Only makes sense really. People like what they are familiar with. Kelsey's, whether you like it or not will prob be very successful there if the Keg moves into Legros space and Kelseys into the Kegs space.

Heard a rumor at Goodlife the other day that they will move the Torbay Road location into the former Target location on Stavanger Drive. (And also become the third 24 hour Goodlife in the Metro area) Of course, they will only need a portion of that space and sublet the rest to another retailer/business or divide the space even further for multiple retailers or businesses. I use the word sublet, as the rumor was that Goodlife plans to lease or buy the entire building.

As for the former Future Shop location on Stavanger Drive, I think it would be the perfect location for a Shoppers Drug Mart. (Even though I'm not a big fan of Shoppers myself) The location is very high profile and it's parent company, Loblaws is just across the street. The footprint of that space is very similar to that of the newer Shoppers locations.

I think they went too big too fast and under performed in terms of the quality of their product and the service. They set a high expectation with a big expensive restaurant and quickly got a bad reputation which was their downfall. Because one person failed at it doesn't mean another will, if done correctly. I would however rather see it occupied by someone than sit unoccupied for a long period of time. I personally think the restaurant market has become too saturated, but I do wish anyone who tries to operate in this City success and prove me wrong.

I could get behind this.

Or if no one wanted to take the reigns on a new local brewery, I noticed Gahan Brewery (Charlottetown PEI) expanded their brewpub to Halifax. I'd welcome a location here; EXCELLENT beer :cheers:

Looks like there is a new building going up in the parking lot of the Village Mall. Any word on what's going in there?

What part of the parking lot? On Front or back? I drove by there yesterday and didn't really notice anything.

I heard that the Telegram offices are moving out too soon and locating at Austin Street which will leave a fairly large rental space for someone.

Down in the front, near the gas station. All fenced off and there is a backhoe/excavator there today.

Bank of Montreal perhaps? City approved a bank for that area, but I thought it was going into the Village.

The relocated Smith's Home Hardware should be opening in a few weeks at the Village. I wonder what's going into their old lot.

I would guess it's a new bank of Montreal. All the banks have been updating recently with drive- throughs. Leaves a sizeable space in the mall if that is the case.

I think the Village only still exists because the Avalon has such annoying parking. I think the only times I go there are when I can't be arsed to find a spot at the Avalon.

I usually only go there to go to Sportchek, maybe twice a year.

American Eagle sale rack here lol. I don't think it's in there any more.

Must be Bank of Montreal. Development permit approved at Monday's City Council meeting ( http://www.stjohns.ca/sites/default/...%2C%202015.pdf ). Excavators on-site three days later. Moving quickly.

Not great. Especially with a drive-through. But I am glad to see the parking lots reduced.

Noticed in the news that Hudson's Bay Co. has expressed interest in some of the vacated Target locations. I wonder if they ever consider coming to Newfoundland? Would be nice.

Was at Avalon Mall the other day and noticed that construction is goin on at the former Eddie Baur store. Hopefully it's not another lingerie store.

FYI. The new Home Hardware Store in the Village Mall is now opened. It's more spacious than I thought it would be. Weird seeing that part of the Village parking lot filled with cars again.

Lowes has bought 13 former Target stores in Canada, I wonder if ours is one of them. I don't know how many home improvement stores we can support but it never hurts to have another option and further competition.

Was wondering that too if Lowes would build right next door to Kent and with Rona just down the road. Rather see it become a Hudsons Bay as they have expressed interest in some of the Target locations too.

Considering Lowes Canada only exists in 4 provinces, (AB, ON, BC and SK), in seemingly highly populated areas, I doubt they will move into NL. I guess it's possible but I would be surprised, especially given the high number of home improvement/hardware stores we already have in the City.

On another note, I read that Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire are also buying up old Target stores. Again, another unlikely scenario for that location.

Though Lowes did say in the news article they were looking at locations to expand where they didn't already have stores so you never know.

From the press release...Although declining to list the specific locations until the deal officially goes through, Lowe's said it will be opening new stores in markets where it is currently "under-penetrated" since opening up shop in Canada in 2007.

Its prob too small for a Walmart super centre and Canadian Tire prob would have grabbed it up if they hadn't built that new store on Hebron Way.

New business approved by the city on Peet Street - Marijuana for Trauma !

The City is really grasping for any good economic news...lol. Probably just another small business that will go up in smoke.

hehehe

It was featured on the news tonight. Has been open a few weeks.

London Ont announced as the first of the new IKEA Drop-in stores, opening late fall. Several other locations to be announced Thursday. If we can't have a full store in St. John's, this would be a start. Here's hoping.

The location formerly taken by Eddie Bauer, will soon be a Boathouse. It is opening mid-August 2015.

http://www.boathousestores.com/