This is the former Woodgate Plaza on Kenmount Road. They demolished maybe a 1/3 of it and are reusing some of the steel (I think) to re-confiqure into what I assume will be the new "Brick" furniture store. The shape certainly shows the typical Brick store facade. I attached a couple of pics of the new construction and and google shot what the Brick store usually looks like. Should be a nice addition to the plaza with Toys R Us.


https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...70&oe=5F1726C8

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...56&oe=5F168174

Has anything been confirmed about The Brick going there?

The render on their website shows a mixed-use design:
https://www.crombiereit.com/property/woodgate-plaza

It was announced a few months ago i believe

https://www.retail-insider.com/retai...-redevelopment

I actually havent heard a confirmation that the Woodgate Plaza is going to be The Brick but Avalon Mall/Crombie REIT did announce that The Brick was going to be part of the Avalon Mall renovation project as a stand alone big box store. The only real logical location for that right now is the former Woodgage Plaza location.

Not sure if this fits here but it doesn't fit anywhere else that I can see. Jack Axes announced on their facebook page last week that they are moving to a new location and hoping to reopen in September. Reason was the landlord of their current building who a few people have had issues with over the years. Not sure if Trapped and the archery place moving with them.

https://www.facebook.com/JackAxesInc...24360277892065

Slumlord Torontonian - and he owns a whole lot of buildings downtown SJ. Same owner as the former Fixed location and others.

Would seem to rather have his buildings empty than to decrease rents to a reasonable amount. And there are tax breaks for doing this, after all..

So yeah looking at this pic that Mayor Danny Breen tweeted out it looks that the patios will actually be on the road(good news imo):

https://twitter.com/DannyBreenNL/sta...96261563158528

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eb7Xd6RX...pg&name=medium

:cheers:

Madison MacKenzie Home announced on their Facebook that they are closing their stores (2 i think) and going online only.

The retail scene in Canada is currently in dire straits thanks to a dismal 2020 and COVID-19. Here is a partial list of some national brands (some of which have locations here in St. John’s) that are currently in financial trouble and may disappear from the retail scene altogether in the near future.
https://www.retail-insider.com/retai...6307-113844953

Yes - I believe many of the companies mentioned have been on thin ice for a some time. I think COVID-19 became a catalyst that accelerated the inevitable. Globally, the retail landscape is going to look very different in the near future.

Can't help but wonder if some of the stores that were opening in the Avalon Mall expansion will end up not happening - at least not right now. Several brands on that list are in the mall including
Nygard
Le Senza
Victoria's Secret
Le Chateau
Starbucks
David's Tea
Gap/Banana Republic (a combination store was previously announced)
Old Navy (store previously announced)

I suspect a combination of delays and reassessments made by corporate. Not just locally - this is a global situation.

Saw a Giant Tiger transport truck this evening. I had heard rumors that they were coming here but I didn't think they were close to opening. Anyone have an update?

Saw a sign at the intersection of Thorburn, O'Leary, and Larkall (aka the upper mall intersection) advertising that GNC is closing down, so that would be store on that list.

Michaels is now opened at Galway. Thought it was gonna be a much smaller store but it seems pretty close in size to the Stavanger Drive.

Confirmed The Brick is going in Woodgate Plaza

Basically screwed all 3 (jacks, trapped and narrows) from what i've heard from insiders, put an ad up a few weeks ago for staff for axe throwing showing pictures of jacks.

They are now eyeing the former Needs Location on Merrymeeting Road. Which seems like an odd place for such a business, but I guess they think it will work for them. This is the location where I thought there was approval for a few townhouses. Not sure what happened to that plan.

Looks like David's Tea won't be back. They are down to just 18 locations now and NL isn't on the list..

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/busi...-18-locations/

I’ve heard from a few people that Victoria’s Secret and Pink are not reopening in the mall. Does anyone know if that is true?

Can't confirm, but Victoria Secret was in a dire financial situation so it's very possible that they close stores including the Avalon Mall location.

VS/Pink is now closed permanently in Moncton. The only Maritime store now is at HSC in Halifax, so the Avalon Mall location may be toast too.

My thought is unsubstantiated but I figure that's the case. VS/Pink were in rough waters prior to COVID-19. I think COV-19 essentially provided a catalyst to accelerate the closures.

Spirit Halloween (or whatever its called) is going into the former Pier One location this year. You can see costume packages in the window.

Noticed that “The Brick” are now looking for staff on the local job sites for its new location on Kenmount Road, next to ToysRUs. Anyone know when it’s supposed to open? The exterior looks pretty much complete.

Can confirm that both Pink & Victoria Secret in the Avalon Mall are closed.

'The Brick' furniture store on Kenmount Road seems to be coming along nicely and quickly I might add. They recently listed job postings for staff so I assume it will be opening some time this fall by the looks of it. Probably gonna be a shot in a the arm for the former Woodgate Plaza site which is now owned by Crombie REIT, the owners of Avalon Mall.
Here are a couple of pics I took this past week.

https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net...f4&oe=5F81CA02

https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net...7e&oe=5F80A19B

The Brick / Crombie Reit
 

That's an attractive looking storefront, a vast improvement over what the building used to be. :)

Will Toys R Us get a refresh too?

I would hope so. Plus the Toys R Us logo has now changed and has a maple leaf inside of the R.

GoodLife Fitness Avalon Mall location, which closed in March due to Covid-19, never re-opened in July like the other GoodLife locations in Metro. I just heard it will be rebranded and re-open as a Fit4Less location. I am not sure when. Fit4Less is basically a white label brand also owned by GoodLife, which offers just the basics and fewer perks in exchange for lower priced membership fees....sort of like a No Frills for the gym world.

Crews are working on the former Quizno's in Mount Pearl and also the former Madison MacKenzie on Kenmount Road. They obviously have tenants but I have no idea what they are. Anyone else know?

Does anyone know when The Brick is opening? Will it be before December?

300 Kenmount Road
 

This looks to be new tenant for former Madison MacKenzie space:

https://www.kivik.store/

The Starbucks at 351 Water Street is permanently closing. Since Starbucks was looking to close locations this is not a surprise.

As you mentioned, not surprising seeing that Starbucks have been closing locations throughout NA. However, Starbucks will be opening a location in CBS. So it looks like we will net a difference of 0.

No starbucks downtown is a bit surprising. Perhaps the fact they now charge over $3 for a medium drip coffee has been people not going there as much. I know that I don't go there 1/4 of what I used to.

Yes, no doubt the cost of a regular coffee at Starbucks is becoming egregious... and this is coming from someone who enjoys Starbucks coffee. However, I normally only buy coffee at the store when I have gift card. It's usually brewed at home. :)

There was another Starbucks ready to open in Delta Hotel lobby in early Spring. I've heard construction is complete but it has yet to open.

Many big employers downtown are either downsizing or moved out of downtown (or both). Doesn't surprise me to see that Starbucks going because of that alone. Also I believe the federal government is still working from home (feel free to correct me on that one) so there aren't many people who would be working downtown right now.

Any word on any other Starbucks locations closing in NL?

I work for the feds downtown and went to this location at least once every two weeks for lunch. I’ve been working from home since March.

Kind of surprised by this. The Husky employees (even post-layoffs) kept fairly constant traffic through that location.. although I'm sure their lease is insanely expensive.

Starbucks had plans to close down 200 stores nationwide this year, I guess this was one of the locations. I was reading somewhere (may have been on another SSP thread) this is a common practice with Starbucks. They constantly reassess locations and close some spots when leases expire while opening others (CBS location for example). The 200 closures are much higher than normal... no shocker there.

The Starbucks on Water Street may be closing, but the new location in CBS is open for business now.

I’m happier that Second Cup in the Avalon Mall just FINALLY announced they’ll be back soon. Apparently they couldn’t get out of their lease with the mall so they are opening back up, under new management. ❤️❤️

Is the second cup location on Stavanger opened up again?

No, just the Avalon because they couldn’t get out of their lease. The previous owner of both was a franchisee, and now the Avalon store has gone corporate instead.

Don't have a picture of it but there is now a map of stores in the mall's expansion section, which includes Levi's which hasnt been announced yet! Levi's, Bikini Village, and Skechers will be next to each other in the new section of the mall

I think allnewfoundlandlabrador.com reported Levi's was coming back at the beginning of the year.

https://i.imgur.com/7IuW3Hq.png

Here's a picture of the map in the new mall expansion!

Lawtons Drugs is closing it’s Campbell Ave location at the end of the month. It’s been for quite a long time. It will be missed as that’s where I get my prescriptions. Link to story below...

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfo...sing-1.5792322