Retail News

[SteelTown]

By the way the new No Frills is really nice. I was really surprised by the large produce selections. The aisles are clean and spacious and pretty much the end walls are side to side with fridges and freezers, so tons of options.

[interr0bangr]

Blackbird Studios is moving from 161 James North to 123 James North

Flatspot is moving from Jackson Square to 161 James North

[movingtohamilton]

Originally Posted by interr0bangr

Blackbird Studios is moving from 161 James North to 123 James North

Flatspot is moving from Jackson Square to 161 James North

Remember our recent back-and-forth about Jackson Square? Flatspot is yet another example of a store which could help make J Sq a destination mall. Nicely designed retail space. Yet the store is leaving!

Jackson Square is truly the "utility mall"

[matt602]

Thats really weird. They just moved into that freshly renovated spot in Jackson a year or two ago. Before that they had also been shuffling around King Street West a bit. They can't seem to get their feet planted in the ground anywhere...

[arch100]

The former Target/Zellers in the Ancaster Meadowlands is being renovated into 3 units - a Marshalls, a Home Sense, and a Designer Show Warehouse. (Source: City of Hamilton Building Permit Search). Work is already underway with most of the front facade ripped off.

[mattgrande]

Isn't there already a Home Sense up there?

[arch100]

Yup - beside the Sports Authority, so now that will be vacant unless someone is already lined up to move in.

[SteelTown]

Apparently the rumour is that Farm Boy is going to Mohawk and Magnolia, used to be No Frills.

The format kinda reminds me of the old The Barn, basically farm fresh produce, sourced locally when in seasoned, mostly organic options, organic meats, free range eggs and prepared foods with no preservatives. So kinda like Goodness Me meets The Barn.

• Video Link

[SteelTown]

Yep, it's gonna be a Farm Boy. There's already job postings. Based on the amount of construction it should be open before winter ends.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Yep, it's gonna be a Farm Boy. There's already job postings. Based on the amount of construction it should be open before winter ends.

My sister goes to the one in Brantford all the time. They told her early spring. So late winter is a good guess.

Where did you see the job postings.

[SteelTown]

farmboy.ca/careers

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

farmboy.ca/careers

Thanks. I found it after I posted.

[SteelTown]

https://www.farmboy.ca/hamilton-home...de348-78273223

[NortheastWind]

Farm Boy opens March 22 at Harvard Square Plaza on Mohawk Rd. West.

[thistleclub]

Will be interested to see how this plays out locally.

'Never seen anything as catastrophic': Malls in Canada face massive hit as unpaid rent surges
(National Post/Bloomberg News, Doug Alexander, Apr 27 2020)

Canada’s malls are facing a wave of skipped rents and could see vacancy rates triple by year-end, with the coronavirus poised to leave its scars on a fragile retail sector long after the pandemic ends.

In the country’s enclosed regional malls — a category that includes Toronto’s Eaton Centre and Pacific Centre in Vancouver — only 20 per cent to 25 per cent of tenants paid rent in April, according to brokerage firm JLL Canada. Big box shopping centres and community strip malls took in only a little over half their expected rent.

“I’ve been in this business over 30 years and I have never seen anything as catastrophic or as impactful in a negative way in our business,” Tim Sanderson, who heads retail at JLL Canada, said in an interview. “It’s the mid-tier smaller-scale landlord that cannot make their mortgage payments to their lender that are going to be in trouble.”

Read it in full here.

[SteelTown]

I was there this morning, it's a nice addition to the neighbourhood.

I live within walking distance so I can see myself going there a lot.

[hamilton23]

Does anyone see Hamburger re-opening on King William? I personally don't... same goes for Fish and Chip.

Both places are owned by the same company. Fish and Chip closed a year? or almost a year ago today and was set to "reopen", same with Hamburger. I know the location on Ottawa Street is still open.

I think it has to do with increases in rent? I don't see it personally re-opening.

Anyone with an inside scoop?

[LRTfan]

they are renovating and expanding Hambrgr. Should be re-opening in the next month. Rumour has Fsh and Chp opening elsewhere, or upstairs. Hambrgr will take both ground floor spaces and patios.

[StEC]

Hambrgr is NOT going anywhere, they are one of Hamilton's best success stories in the restaurant game!!! Like LRTfan said they gave up the slightly less successful FshChp location so they could expand their small King William Hambrgr location to accommodate the demand!

Their Ottawa St location is much larger and always packed as is their St.Catharines location as well!

Hambrgr has a die hard following that extends well outside Hamilton into Toronto and Buffalo even. Trust me they will be reopening very soon!

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by LRTfan

they are renovating and expanding Hambrgr. Should be re-opening in the next month. Rumour has Fsh and Chp opening elsewhere, or upstairs. Hambrgr will take both ground floor spaces and patios.

I know upstairs are apartments on most of King William, but how cool would it be for multiple floors of restaurants all along restaurant row?