It would be nice to see Lowe's set up shop there for sure. I'm sure there will be a grocery store as well....most likely Coleman's, as both Sobey's and Dominion are nearby. Besides, Coleman's were planning a Southland's location a couple of years back. It would be nice to see Whole Foods Market come here. They are slowly expanding their Canadian presence, however, I don't think that expansion has even made it to Atlantic Canada yet, so I doubt it.

I think Galway would have been the ideal spot for another Target store, and the rumour was even the case awhile back. Unfortunately, I don't believe Target is doing well enough to warrant another store right now. It's even rumoured that they may reduce their presence in Canada or even pull out completely. They've been plagued with problems at all their stores from day one....all self inflicted in my opinion.

Some very good speculation..I think you guys have the place pretty much full now! Let's see what happens.

WOW. I thought they would give Target a bit more of a chance. They are pulling out of Canada after only one year.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/targe...sion-1.2189973

Too bad, I actually liked going to Target.

Wow! Are you an oracle or something? A tarot card reader at least. :)

I agree, definitely self-inflicted. It seems like executives got together and said, "Let's sell products similar to those at Walmart but for a little more and make sure the shelves are never stocked". What a great business model!

The strange thing is that Target stores in the US are awesome, I don't understand why they decided to set up a 'slightly' better Zellers in Canada. I had high hopes for Target, but a year later and stock issues (i.e. empty shelves), something had to give.

I have a funny feeling about Best Buy as well. The company has not been doing very well in the past couple years and have closed multiple locations in North America. It's been here for a couple years now and the place still has empty shelves.... what gives??? I hope they prove me wrong.

More Retail Chains Following Target Out of Canada
 

VOCM
Jan 21, 2015

http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?...52158&latest=1

I didn’t realize that Bombay Co. and Bowring were looking for bankruptcy protection, if they shut down that means a couple of more empty store fronts in the Stavanger Dr. area. Add to that the incomplete strip where Golf Town is and it doesn’t bode well for retail in that area. What does all this mean for Glencrest? That could throw a spanner in the works.

For a population of our size, even if the drawing area is 250,000 to 300,000, can we really support that much retail spread over multiple sites (Stavanger, Kelsey, Mt. Pearl and Glencrest). It would be sad if this signals a shakedown in the industry, I have been to places in recent years (Florida for one) where the sight of empty strip malls and even a full enclosed mall paint a depressing sight.

Sony as a company is pretty much f***ed lately anyway

Bon Bay Co. and Bowring have been struggling to stay afloat for years. I think they plan on staying open as they go through bankruptcy protection. Time will tell if they will survive it. Not optimistic here. I do feel this is a normal thing with big box parks like this anyway. All companies go through adapting to changing retail markets. Best Buy/Futureshop is struggling now too. No one is buying DVD's, CD's, cameras, desktop computers anymore and pretty much everybody now has their big screen tv so that market is slowing down big time too. If you don't adapt your company to changing times, you are gonna be left in the dust. Some companies will no doubt perish as a result of the changing times too.

What I find about shopping/retail in St. John's, is that these big box developments don't try to attract new retailers to the scene. They seem to focus on existing retailers trying to stimulate business by making access more convenient. Kelsey Drive seems to be the epitome of this, there is nothing there that is really unique to the site. Sobey's, Walmart, Canadian Tire, Boston Pizza, EB Games, Dollarama, etc...

There needs to be a key retailer that is unique to keep drawing people back to that particular location. On Stavangar, that is Costco. That Walmart probably draws on the widest population base in the city because everybody goes up there for Costco and "hey, may as well go to Wally World while I'm here and get that overwith". Without a unique draw I think there are a few of these developments that are going to fade out, and I think Kelsey Drive is the most vulnerable. Glencrest, if it does go ahead, will likely be easier to reach from Mount Pearl and is somewhat better located in the suburbs (ie: won't need to deal with Kenmount road to get there). Unless you live in Kenmount Terrace, there wouldn't really be a need to go to Kelsey Drive. Ever.

I have a somewhat irrational hatred for Kelsey Drive - as you may have noticed. It might be my least favourite place on earth.

The only unique thing to Kelsey would be Home Depot. Although not that unique because it is just another hardware/home renovation store, but it is the only Home Depot in NL. Personally, I like home depot over any of their competitors so I find myself on Kelsey a bit more often. I share your hatred for this area....but not as much as Stavanger. Costco is more of a deterent than an attraction for me. I don't shop there because being only 2 of us living together, I don't need to buy in bulk (plus the crowds drive me absolutely crazy).

If Glencrest big box area goes ahead you can be sure there will probably be a Home Depot there. There's already a Kent and Rona in the Mt Pearl and Paradise area.

I tend to stay away from Stavanger Drive more than Kelsey but not by much. I can't stand the bottleneck of Costco and Stavanger Drive and Kelsey Drive. Merchant Drive in Mount Pearl can be pretty backed up too at times, especially if you want to exit out onto Ruth Ave.

If they could only get the TGH extension finished, the west end of the city would have an easier access to Kelsey Drive and so reduce some of the traffic-induced reluctance to visit that area. It's easier for Cowan Height residents to go to the CTire/Marks/ WalMart/Kent in Mt. Pearl than to go to those on Kelsey.
BTW - work continues on Blackmarsh Rd to site-prep for the underpass with TGH, so work hasn't completely stopped for the winter.

I just heard another rumour. I heard that Walmart will convert 3 of the 4 Metro St. John's area stores to Supercentres this year. I don't know if this means building on or just rearranging the existing layout. There is definitely expansion room at Kelsey, Aberdeen and Merchant. Of course, we all know that Topsail Road is the store that won't be converted.

That won't be good for the Loblaws and Sobeys if its true. I don't believe any rumours though until I get some kind of confirmation from Walmart itself. Three of the Walmart stores just spent a good deal of time updating their stores here (if you can call it that). Will they do it all again converting them to super centres?
Not a whole lot of land to build onto at the Walmart on Aberdeen unless they go down over that embankment towards the golf course. Pretty big drop there and fairly close to the existing building. Stavanger Drive is fairly close to it on th other side too. Probably easier if they just build a new building.

There's been rumours about building a super centre for severals years. Supposedly there's not enough space on Aberdeen for an extension. I had heard someone say several years ago that Canadian Tire would go in that location and Walmart would go elsewhere, but that's obviously not the plan now.

I know its coming as a walmart empoyee but not when its actually coming

The soon to be empty Target building on Stavanger Drive, in my opinion, would be a great location for IKEA. Sandwiched right in between Costco and Kent, it would certainly be an ideal spot.

Apparently Goodlife are eyeing the Target Stores

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/good...yees-1.2919823

That would be one awfully large gym.

A typical IKEA building is about 3 times the size of the current Target Building on Stavanger. St john's does not have the population base to support an IKEA store anyway. Though IKEA is talking about opening smaller stores in Canada, they would only be about 37000 sq feet and basically be a pick up for catalogue orders from what I understand.

A Walmart Canada rep told me on their favebook page that there are no plans for a Walmart Supercentres in the metro area in the immediate future.

Interesting. Walmart staff I've talked to have been told that renovations will start Feb/March to convert at least two of the stores into Supercentres. The Kelsey and Merchant drive stores already have the area on the side ready for expansion.

i work at walmart and its been said a few times by management that at least two of the stores are being converted but they arent going to come out and tell the public until they officially announce it

I would say that if they do it will be Kelsey and merchant. They won't bother to put a superstore by Costco. Wonder will Topsail Rd close then?

I notice that the space in the Avalon Mall that used to be Bogarts and the Sony Store is being renovated for a new Bootleger. Given then that Bootleger is moving up from downstairs, and that next door Rickies is moving to Aberdeen Avenue in the old Pets Unlimited building (along with a new Cleo store), I wonder what they have in mind for this downstairs space? This is a big area!

Maybe thats where sephora is going?

Perhaps we'll hear something soon - According to today's news -
"Walmart Canada Plans Major Expansion: $340 Million For 29 New Supercentres
CP | By The Canadian Press"
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Wal-Mart Canada says it plans to complete another 29 supercentre projects in the fiscal year beginning Feb. 1.

The retailer says the expansion is expected to generate about 3,700 construction jobs, 1,000 store jobs and 300 distribution centre jobs across Canada.

The new supercentres are in addition to the 11 Wal-Mart supercentres which opened across Canada in January.

Wal-Mart Canada says the supercentre projects will cost about $230 and include the remodelling and expansion of several stores to add full grocery departments.

Another $75 million will be spent to add distribution centres and $35 million will be spent on e-commerce initiatives, raising the total capital outlay to about $340 million.

Wal-Mart says the locations of specific store and distribution centre projects will be announced over the coming weeks and months as projects become finalized.

The expansion will bring Wal-Mart Canada's store count to 396 by the end of January, 2016, consisting of 309 supercentres and 87 discount stores.

That's the location for Sephora.

I thought Sephora might go where Eddie Bauer was. Another large area.

Interesting article.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/wha...hed-2015-02-11

Realistically speaking can this area sustain multiple Walmart SuperStores and a Costco?

Why won't they put one by Costco? Costco is competition, to compete Walmart must improve the shopping experience. Converting a store to a Supercentre improves the shopping experience.

Ron.

i thought walmart was planning to make all walmarts supercentre stores.

My understanding is that a WalMart Superstore is just a regular WalMart with an expanded grocery section with fresh produce, meats and bakery - maybe a bit bigger of a store? Don't see why this would not survive - especially in the Stavanger Drive area. Let's face it, that area is 'the' shopping district for the metro area - as much as the west-enders may not want to admit it. Don't think Galgay is going to be another Stavanger drive - maybe a watered down version such as Kelsey and Merchant. I'd say bring on the Supercenters at all locations (except Topsail of course - that store is just there to prevent a competitor from going in - I mean really, that store is just not up to par.)

Interesting story on Loblaws. I wonder if St. John's or Newfoundland is part of this plan? I know they have renovated two stores in St. John's so far.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/bus...295583871.html

Also noticed that the area on Hebron Way where the now defunct cinemas were supposed to have gone has a new sign on the site advertising the space for lease. So I guess the hopes of the cineplex happening there are has now been decided. Too bad for the new restaurants that opened in that area for the sole purpose of servicing the movie going customers.

Huge blow that area/street if true. How many cinema screens were supposed to be going in that Cineplex?

I think it was suppose to have been 8 screens. I think.

The Cineplex purchase of Empire is about 18 months old now. I wonder if the Cineplex folks assessed at the entire market & the proposed retail in Galway & saw that as a more appropriate site for a new theatre. It becomes a solution for the closure/relocation of Mount Pearl Square & easier to capture patrons from young, higher growth areas of CBS & Paradise.

Funny, I was thinking the same thing. Kinda makes more sense economically to be in Galway than on Hebron Way. But who knows, they may not open there either.

They should put one downtown(something I'm obsessed with actually)

Even if it was a simple two screen or something I think it'd be a great alternative to getting drunk downtown.

Yeah that would be a better plan. Keep Avalon Mall Cineplex open, close Mount Pearl Square Cineplex and open an new theatre in the Paradise area (Galway comes to mind). Because when you think about Mount Pearl, Paradise and CBS combined have a population of about 70,000 and I would say 2/3's of that are young families. It could definitely support a 8 studio theatre. I don't think a lot of people (especially families) even go to Mount Pearl Square because it is kinda old/no other amenities in that mall or around it anymore.

So instead of having to drive 20+25 minutes AND look for parking at the Avalon mall it would be more like 5-10 minutes tops with dedicated parking for people in that area. I think it would have to be put in a retail area though.

if i remember it right i thought i heard danny say that they've had a dicussions with a theatre company for one in Dannyland

Definitely. Mt Pearl Square has seen better days, and the west end suburban market would be perfect for a cinema.

While there is a lot of talk about the CBS area, which is a great area to be in, I think we need to acknowledge that the east end (specifically the Stavanger Drive area) is definitely where it's at. This is the premiere shopping area, hands down, and I don't see this changing. Galway will be great I'm sure, but I doubt if it could be another Stavanger Drive - unless the Costco would relocate there! LOL

Ricki's, Bootlegger and Cleo Shutting Down Stores Across Country
 

Looks like there'll be more retail space opening up in the Avalon and Village malls as another Canadian retail company files for bankruptcy. It seems like retailers just can't compete with online competition.

VOCM News
March 27, 2015

http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?mn=2&ID=53625

They just need better styles. That generic mainstream look Isn't enough for a lot of people anymore when they can get things with some real design online.

Wasn't it announced that they were moving stores outside the mall and smallers stores at that