The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[Capitol Hill]

Originally Posted by bluefox

Also, does Simons even have the capital to open a store of this scale without closing Park Royal? For example, I recall they had to solicit investor funding just to open a new distribution centre... the company historically was very stringent on remaining family-owned and privately held, so the possibility of further diluting their share of ownership just for the sake of being downtown, when they seem fine not being downtown in other major cities and have another store less than 5 km away? It seems very much counter to their business model. I'm skeptical it'll be Simons.

It may only be 5km away, but it may as well be 50km with the Lions Gate Bridge traffic.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Capitol Hill

It may only be 5km away, but it may as well be 50km with the Lions Gate Bridge traffic.

Unless there's someone jumping or there's an accident traffic isn't bad enough for even that to justify two locations that close together. Only reason The Bay exists is probably because of some sweetheart grandfathered lease.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Unless there's someone jumping or there's an accident traffic isn't bad enough for even that to justify two locations that close together.

True, but I would go to a downtown location often, while I only go to the Park Royal on a yearly basis.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Oh interesting! Wonder if the space is already spoken for? Too small for Uniqlo. This ends almost 40 years of Club Monaco on Robson. First store was on the 1100 block where Roots is now.

From September 2023

Primary Location: 1040 ROBSON STREET, Vancouver, BC


Specific Location: 1040 Robson St = Primary Address


Work Description: exterior alteration and rear addition with request for loading relaxation and reduced recycling room size
-to expand floor area on ground floor level, TI to existing and new space (incl adding digital signage, revising interior partitions layout, electrical/lighting layouts, mechanical/plumbing and stair formation and layout. Building facade upgrade for new tenant.
**PS-2023-00235


Type of Work: Addition / Alteration

https://plposweb.vancouver.ca/Public/Default.aspx?PossePresentation=Guest&PosseObjectId=211487529

[svlt]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

True, but I would go to a downtown location often, while I only go to the Park Royal on a yearly basis.

Simons alone would not warrant me going to Park Royal, ever, and I live within a 5-10 minute drive of downtown. If Simons was in downtown I'd be there multiple times a year, and probably spend money there multiple times a year.

People underestimate how big of a deterrent taking the Lions Gate truly is. If it's not in downtown, there will be a decent alternative in CoV. There is nearly nothing solely in terms of retail that is worth justifying going across the Burrard Inlet for if you're in Vancouver.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by svlt

Simons alone would not warrant me going to Park Royal, ever, and I live within a 5-10 minute drive of downtown. If Simons was in downtown I'd be there multiple times a year, and probably spend money there multiple times a year.

People underestimate how big of a deterrent taking the Lions Gate truly is. If it's not in downtown, there will be a decent alternative in CoV. There is nearly nothing solely in terms of retail that is worth justifying going across the Burrard Inlet for if you're in Vancouver.

I pop over on the nights they’re open late. Easy to go after rush hour dies down.

[Tvisforme]

Originally Posted by svlt

....People underestimate how big of a deterrent taking the Lions Gate truly is....

It's not just about the Lions Gate Bridge; while that certainly is a factor, there are other reasons that create different preferences for North Shore shoppers versus those in downtown Vancouver. The downtown core is well suited to shopping by transit, for one thing, while West Vancouver is more challenging in that respect. Conversely, many NS drivers are quite happy to stay on this side of the inlet since you generally don't have to pay for parking or hunt for a spot.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by RDW989

Seems to me someone posted a while back that this would happen ...
Club Monaco on the 1000-block Robson is now closed

[IMG][url=https://flic.kr/p/2puVNfD]

Looks like both Victoria Secret and Club Monaco are choosing the mall over street retail.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Vin

Looks like both Victoria Secret and Club Monaco are choosing the mall over street retail.

Yes, both are downsizing quite a bit. Fortunately Adidas are choosing Robson Street over the mall, and there's also another retailer taking the Club Monaco space on Robson. There's are several 'Leased' signs along Robson, with almost no vacancies on the main shopping stretch.

[jollyburger]

For Seymour Creek Village maybe a new big box mall.

Proposed 430,000 sq ft of commercial and retail development over 12 ha. One of the big box retail outlets will be 116,000 sq ft. Pre-development agreement with tentative retailers include Home Depot, Best Buy, Office Depot and Michaels. Project in development stage and has been approved by band council and members. The development will be constructed in four stages.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Yes, both are downsizing quite a bit. Fortunately Adidas are choosing Robson Street over the mall, and there's also another retailer taking the Club Monaco space on Robson. There's are several 'Leased' signs along Robson, with almost no vacancies on the main shopping stretch.

Big anchor stores leaving is also a good thing as their long leases end and owners can demo / renovate. Had a sidebar in a meeting about a site that is a stripmall that can have a tower on it and the leases was good until 2030 or something.

Couple flagships on Robson in a few years might get a big re-do! Just have to get those leases and owners on the same page.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Big anchor stores leaving is also a good thing as their long leases end and owners can demo / renovate. Had a sidebar in a meeting about a site that is a stripmall that can have a tower on it and the leases was good until 2030 or something.

Couple flagships on Robson in a few years might get a big re-do! Just have to get those leases and owners on the same page.

The Victoria's Secret / Adidas building is protected heritage, so that will stay, I would assume. The Club Monaco building isn't very big, and is mid-block, and doesn't look likely as a candidate for either renovation or redevelopment. There are a few sections of Robson that would benefit from redevelopment, but so far the rents the owners are already getting seem to be enough to discourage further investment. It'll be interesting if that changes in future, as you seem to suggest might happen.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by Changing City

The Victoria's Secret / Adidas building is protected heritage, so that will stay, I would assume. The Club Monaco building isn't very big, and is mid-block, and doesn't look likely as a candidate for either renovation or redevelopment. There are a few sections of Robson that would benefit from redevelopment, but so far the rents the owners are already getting seem to be enough to discourage further investment. It'll be interesting if that changes in future, as you seem to suggest might happen.

Ya apologies I did not mean the ones in question at the moment. Just a different store on that street.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Ya apologies I did not mean the ones in question at the moment. Just a different store on that street.

Roots are in a single storey building built in 1911, and the buildings Muji occupy are a mess, so there are several candidates! The 'public market' is long overdue for replacement too.

[officedweller]

The Club Monaco in Pacific Centre was women's only.
Does Club Monaco still have menswear?
If so, I guess they may change the product mix at the Pacific Centre store.

[SpongeG]

Club Monaco has gotten so expensive, that they are positioning it as the higher end of the once mid-level brand known for sweatshirts in the 80s.

I wonder if Ralph Lauren would take over the space since they are planning several stores in their Canadian expansion.


source

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Club Monaco has gotten so expensive, that they are positioning it as the higher end of the once mid-level brand known for sweatshirts in the 80s.

I wonder if Ralph Lauren would take over the space since they are planning several stores in their Canadian expansion.

Ralph Lauren owned Club Monaco for over 20 years until 2021. The new owners of Club Monaco (based in Beverly Hills) also own La Senza, bought from Victoria's Secret's parent company in 2019 and also Escada in the same year. They closed Escada in Canada last year. The Robson store doesn't seem to have been advertised for lease, (although the building was sold recently), so maybe, as they don't have a La Senza in Vancouver, and as Victoria's Secret have downsized into the mall, that could be the new tenant?

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Ralph Lauren owned Club Monaco for over 20 years until 2021. The new owners of Club Monaco (based in Beverly Hills) also own La Senza, bought from Victoria's Secret's parent company in 2019 and also Escada in the same year. They closed Escada in Canada last year. The Robson store doesn't seem to have been advertised for lease, (although the building was sold recently), so maybe, as they don't have a La Senza in Vancouver, and as Victoria's Secret have downsized into the mall, that could be the new tenant?

I posted the building permit for the building renos a few posts back..

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showpost.php?p=10130442&postcount=17644

[officedweller]

Good call.

Not sure if I could see a Ralph Lauren on Robson
- seems a bit too mass market of an area for it.
Maybe Ralph Lauren could open on Alberni in the former Brook Brothers space?

[theKB]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Good call.

Not sure if I could see a Ralph Lauren on Robson
- seems a bit too mass market of an area for it.
Maybe Ralph Lauren could open on Alberni in the former Brook Brothers space?

Especially with RRL, Purple Label and Ralph Lauren Collection with many pieces in the multi thousands of dollars competing with brands like Cucinelli, Loro Piana, Zegna etc, Alberni would be the most logical home for Ralph Lauren. The brooks brothers space is quite large especially when you match it against their new store in Yorkville Mall that they opened unless RL opts to add a ralphs coffee and or a restaurant as well, which would fit well on the alberni streetscape. Especially in European Markets, Ralph Lauren is always amongst high end designer brands on premium shopping streets.

One other space that could suit a retailer like Ralp Lauren or frankly just needs to see something happen with it is the former Italian Kitchen. That has had Monte Cristo signage on it since pre-covid. I would make the bold assumption that there is nothing going on with that space, but it's never been put back up for lease?