Perhaps Fog City has realized its sorta a lost cause to build a stand alone restaurant outside of the mall when Cineplex are building a huge indoor restaurant and entertainment mecca next door to its cinemas called the Rec Room. Plus there are so many other competitive options along Kenmount Road.

I posted here back in March that Winners was moving to Sears space and H&M was going into the space the Winners was located.

The Winners space is 42k sq ft. That's a little large for the average H&M. Maybe they'll divide it.

Ron.

Today I went to the Avalon Mall and decided to try and park in the new Parking Garage. All I have to say is that it is a complete NIGHTMARE. The lighting is poor and with it being dark the arrows are very hard to see. The corners are very tight and with the garage having to entrances it causes the traffic to have no real flow. Traffic is going in every direction with no stop signs no one has any idea who moves. The lower level was full but I could not find my way to the second level so I drove out of the garage and parked in the lot next to the parking garage. Also, having no left turn advanced green makes it very difficult to get into the main mall marking lot off of O'Leary. Someone has dropped the ball on this construction.

Yeah it's not ideal. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that unlike most parking garages which are perfectly square...this one is not.

Well that was no surprise. Costco moves its opening to spring 2019.

http://vocm.com/news/costco-move-del...l-spring-2019/

Well another retail giant comes to an end in Newfoundland. RONA shuts down Jan27. . I’m most curious what might end up in RONA’s building on Torbay Road. It’s still pretty much a brand new building. Hope it doesn’t sit empty like the Target building at Stavanger.

http://vocm.com/news/local-rona-stor...-closing-date/

I used the new Avalon Mall parking garage this weekend past and I am not a fan. It was like an obstacle course. The turns were pretty tight, especially with 2-way traffic and watching for pedestrians. It was a tricky spot in an SUV. If I were driving a pickup, I'd park outside. As for access to the mall, that part was great. There are elevators and escalators and signage is good. The renovated part of the mall also looks great with the new floors. The ceilings look awesome. The look is very bright and modern.

I used the parking garage as well and I must agree, the turns are really tight and there didn't seem to be a lot of signage, not that I noticed at least. I have been in worse parking garages though... not saying that makes it any better... :). I also agree on your other points. Access to the mall is nice and laid out. The interior renovations really brighten up the space and makes it look modern. Definitely needed, that mall used to be so dark and dingy.

Just noticed in the job listings that LUSH Cosmetics national chain are opening a location in Avalon Mall. Wasn’t there a store downtown called Lush but wasn’t a cosmetic store?

https://boards.greenhouse.io/lush/jo..._src=ad1a1b2b1

I’ve heard from a few people now that Fog City isn’t moving into their own space, but closing their Avalon Mall location all together. Once the Rec Room is open, they will be in direct competition and won’t be able to keep up.

I heard that the soon to be empty Dooly's space on water street won't be empty for long. The word is that Dollarama will be setting up shop in that space.

Please tell me this is a joke.

Does Fog City have a location outside of the Avalon Mall? May be I'm misreading your post. Either way, I wonder if Fog City is thinking of setting up shop elsewhere in the city.

Oh brother....:uhh:

Fog City has only one location inside the mall. With the Rec Room reno, Fog City was supposed to move to a custom built 2 story location on one of the new corners of the newly realigned intersection. The Golden Phoenix was to move to the opposite corner as the strip mall they are in will be expanded with more retail.

I find it kind of odd that they would just throw in the towel. They're doing well enough now as it is, I would expect them to at least give it a go. I think both the Rec Room and Fog City could succeed given the limited options for sit-down food in the mall.

I do think Fog City would be smart enough to know that they would never succeed in a stand-alone restaurant. I'll eat there if I'm at the mall for an extended period of time, but I would never drive there specifically to eat there.

You hit the nail on the head. I think most would probably agree. I have only ever eaten at Fog City if I was already at the mall for something else whether it be shopping or going to the movies, but I would never make a special trip to just go to Fog City. I also think they realized it would be sorta futile to open a stand-alone on the parking lot when The Rec Room is inside the mall and attached to the cinemas. I would imagine Cineplex will be promoting the The Rec Room big time when it’s opened. You gotta have big money to compete against the other big restaurant chains.

I still miss Pasta Plus when it was in the mall lol. It would be nice to have another option other than the Rec Room for a sit down meal in the mall. If I'm there I'll alone I'll grab something at the food court but my mom (who is a senior) hates the food court so its Fog City if I'm with her. I can't see her liking the Rec Room. Maybe Starbucks will move and expand from their current mall location as after the renovation it won't be by an entrance anymore.

I miss The Strand! :)

But seriously, many malls have multiple eat-in restaurants.. there's no reason the Avalon Mall cannot support both.

Ron.

Agreed. For whatever reason, the Avalon Mall seems packed any time I venture near it (and usually keep driving once I see the parking lot). It could definitely support another sit-down restaurant. I'm surprised a ~meh~ franchise like BP's isn't already in-place.

Just wondering when they will be proceeding with the expansion that will extend out into the parking lot outside of Starbucks? I originally thought that it was part of the current work, but I noticed in a couple of news reports that they said that particular expansion will happen 'eventually'. Not sure what this means. Did anyone hear anything re this?

It's being done in phases. A PDF with tons of details on the malls plans was shared on this page recently. I think the first phase is just the new Winners space + a few additional stores in the hallway connecting new Winners to the mall. Then I think in the spring they are starting to build out in front of that, then finally some time later next year they will build by the Starbucks/CIBC entrance.

Lush are advertising on indeed for a sales manager at the Avalon Mall, so I guess that is confirmed.

Avalon Mall have confirmed on their Facebook that Lush is opening in Spring/Early Summer. Lush also did a press release where it says the store will be 1,777 sq. ft. The only vanacy I can think of in the mall right now is next to The Source which is only 1,350 sq. ft. So I guess that means Lush will be the first store opening in the mall's expansion???

Interesting. I'm not sure if the expansion will be completed by spring/summer, so the only current mall stores which come near the 1777 sq. ft. area are Olson Europe (1688) and Northern Reflection (1627). Unless one of them are going to move? I guess only time well tell.

I believe I have figured it out. I noticed the other day that the Aldo accessories store is closed, and I don't think there is anything where Claires accessories is (I'm referring to this map: https://shopavalonmall.com/themes/av...-directory.pdf

Both of these stores combined is 1777 sq. ft. So looks to me like it will be directly across from Sephora.

I'm pretty sure Claires is still there...? Unless I completely missed that news :haha:

Claire’s will be moving to another spot in the mall, so Lush will be taking over the Aldo Accessories and Claire’s spots in the Spring.

Fog City is closing at the end of February, and apparemtly Pseudio is moving into the Fog City space.

Is Fog City still moving into the parking lot??

I'm kind of surprised about the PSeudio moving part, seems like a weird space for them and I thought for sure that Cineplex would use that space for either the Rec Room or something else.

I thought I had read that was the plan? Although perhaps it was just speculation that the Fog City space was going to be part of the Rec Room

Needs on Merrymeeting Road
 

When I lived nearby, the Needs was convenient on holidays when the Sobeys and NLC were closed. Assuming that it doesn't relocate somewhere nearby, it will be the second convenience store to close in that neighbourhood after Long's Hill Convenience.

Axe-throwing, bowling, food and virtual reality: A look inside the Rec Room:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfo...plex-1.4991368

They had this on the news yesterday. Opening in April.

Originally, the Rec Room was going to take a little bit of Fog City space, but not all. As soon as construction began for the Rec room, the lines were drawn well before the exit stairway behind Fog City.

In other news, Panizza in the Avalon Mall had its last day yesterday. The space is boarded up already too, which is quite the change from leaving everything open the last time they tried to open.

I found confirmation of four more stores for Galway: Dollarama, Michaels, First Choice Haircutters, and Urban Shoes.

So much for Galway bringing in new stores and looking different than all the other shopping centres.

http://www.olympic-construction.nf.ca/tenders/
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1v0qok05cm...ments.zip?dl=0

I was at Shoppers Drug Mart on Freshwater/Empire yesterday. The clerk mentioned that that structure is going to be torn down in April to make way for a new structure. I’m interested to see what it is going to look like.

Was just remarking the other day to a friend that its crazy Shopper's has allowed that to exist. We almost went in for little bit of retail history sightseeing.

I notice that Furniture Market on Kenmount Road is having a moving sale, everything must go. Anyone know what's up with that?

Heard on radio commercial they are moving into basement of Lane Furniture across the road. Think both companies have same Owner...

Just what we need in this city is another Goddamn Dollarama Store !!! They appearently are opening on Water Street as well, in the old Dooly's (post office) location.

Galway is just going to be a total knockoff of Stavanger drive. Nothing different whatsoever. Danny Williams just likes to hear himself talk --- total blowhard

We have to be leading the nation in Dollaramas per capita. It's mind blowing how so many can be sustainable. We are the deep south of the north however.

I'm kinda surprised they are putting one downtown to be honest..

I like that!

Gonna use it, "Deep South of the North"

:cheers:

I'm curious whether this is in any proposed city or business related documentation, or just arose from somebody trolling?

I've seen posts on here about a Dollarama and Mary Brown's going downtown. At least the Mary Brown's in Second Cup's ex-location would make logistical sense from a George Street perspective.

Dollarama on the other hand, there's like 4 parking meters near the old Dooley's. I wouldn't expect people shopping at Dollarama to park in 351 Water for $4/hour lol.

Seems like that would be a pricey location for a store that presumably tries to keep overhead costs at a minimum. I mean, I'm sure all stores do this, but I think it would be more true for a dollar store.

In somewhat related news, the dollar store in Torbay Road mall appears to be closing. So it seems Dollarama is successful in driving all other dollar stores out of business.

Then Dollarama changes it's name to TwoDollarama after it hikes it's prices... :haha:

Hakim Optical now has a store in the Village. First location for them in the province.

Brewery Lane is moving from their current location in Coakers Meadow Plaza into a larger space closer to Torbay Rd. I believe there was an appliance place there previously.

There was a permit issued to Winners at the Mall for a change of occupancy/renovations from the last City council agenda. Starting their new space I presume.

Just gonna throw this out there. This is total speculation on my part. But while checking out various concept illustrations of the new Avalon Mall expansion, one pic seem to feature a big book store facade. I realize the concepts drawings are only concepts but perhaps Crombie Properties are trying to whoo Chapters/Indigo to move down to the new mall expansion area. It would be a pretty good anchor along with the Winners store moving there too. Crombie REIT already owns the land right up to Chapters so this would not be that far fetched if they offered to purchase the current Chapters store building.

Here is the concept drawing of the book store at the mall.

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...c4&oe=5CF28E19

Don't forget that there is already a Coles in the mall. So I think it would more so replace Coles than Chapters, cause I don't think they would replace two stores with one. If they replace Coles with a proper large Indigo store they could probably justify having Chapters up the road, OR move Chapters to Galway. Either way, I like the idea of this happening :)

I believe Coles is also in the Chapters/Indigo brand. I wouldn't put too much stock in concept drawings.