[Moncton] Retail Thread

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

The Simons CEO’s comments about the new Halifax store makes it clear that they are only focusing on Halifax for our region. He stated multiple times it’s to serve the entire Atlantic region and said it took them 10+ years to find the right location at the right time. Saying the Halifax store is almost a dream come true for him, now their goal of coast-to-coast is complete. He is very much giving off that they only plan for the one store in the region, just like other big brands like IKEA. He also made comments that they chose Halifax for their large population and that it's the hub for big brands to set up shop here in Atlantic Canada.

I know it's wishful thinking that Simons would come to the Moncton market any time soon. It'll be Halifax only for a long time.

But it still would be nice to see the Sobeys end of the mall get a revitalization. A couple of years ago Starbucks was considering a store front location with sit down service. Considering how popular that brand is, relocating them as part of a bigger facelift could be a good way to help stimulate the dead zone.

[OUIR@random]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

The Simons CEO’s comments about the new Halifax store makes it clear that they are only focusing on Halifax for our region. He stated multiple times it’s to serve the entire Atlantic region and said it took them 10+ years to find the right location at the right time. Saying the Halifax store is almost a dream come true for him, now their goal of coast-to-coast is complete. He is very much giving off that they only plan for the one store in the region, just like other big brands like IKEA. He also made comments that they chose Halifax for their large population and that it's the hub for big brands to set up shop here in Atlantic Canada.

1. Amen!
2. IKEA and Simons are not coming, let's all move on.
Let's stop beating that dead horse known as IKEA and now Simons.
Selling CF Champlain will not change anything regarding Simons, it's not coming. In real estate and in stocks, buy low, sell high, CF Champlain is not in a sell high position as of now. As of today and since at least the pandemic CF Champlain is a HOLD location in the market and within the CF portfolio. Not buy, not sell, hold!
In any event,
I'm also not very convinced that Simons in Halifax will work-out ''as planned'' anyway, I was expecting a more a higher-end selection, the selection is nowhere near what a full-fledged location would be, it seems to be at most a mid-tier level location like the one in Sherbrooke QC. Luxury brands are missing. I really think that the Halifax market was ready for something a little bit more upscale. They might reposition themselves in the future I suppose, if need be.

[Photo1]

Heard from someone the other day that MAC in Champlain is apparently leaving.

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by Photo1

Heard from someone the other day that MAC in Champlain is apparently leaving.

There is a sign on the door saying closing April 26th. And the manager confirmed the closure over on Retail Talk & Share NB Facebook group. Just leaves Halifax as the only store in our region of Canada. Makes you worry about the other more higher end stores like Fossil and LL Bean. From what I've heard, customer traffic isn't the greatest at these stores. They may be next

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

There is a sign on the door saying closing April 26th. And the manager confirmed the closure over on Retail Talk & Share NB Facebook group. Just leaves Halifax as the only store in our region of Canada. Makes you worry about the other more higher end stores like Fossil and LL Bean. From what I've heard, customer traffic isn't the greatest at these stores. They may be next

You know it's not an upscale mall if LL Bean is considered "higher end"

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by sailor734

You know it's not an upscale mall if LL Bean is considered "higher end"

Only referring them to that because a lot of people complain their prices are too expensive lol. Hence why there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of customers seen inside the store a lot of the time. I’m thinking MAC leaving may signal that the Moncton market might not be able to support bigger brands like MAC and Fossil for the long term, (like Coach not lasting at the mall for an example). There may need to be a shift in the type of retailers being brought in if vacancies start popping up again.

There’s been a good period of just openings happening and little to no closures. Seems the momentum may be slowing down at not just CF Champlain but at McAllister Place too (with the closures of the Body Shop and now Coles). A wave of some closures may be coming in.

[new kid in town]

Hopefully the retail closures aren't a portent of the growth of the city. I think times are just hard in general so the public really can't spend that much outside necessities like food.

[Colouratura]

Originally Posted by Photo1

Heard from someone the other day that MAC in Champlain is apparently leaving.

I don't like seeing people lose jobs but I'm not shocked. I think there are so many skin care brands that are hot right now that a store like Sephora is more popular than MAC where you have just one brand. Any time I went into MAC I never felt super welcome or was flat out ignored. It is an odd ball shape unit with it being wide open to passers-by as you're getting your face done up too.

[MonctonRad]

Fredericton Walmart is currently under renovation. Apparently the Walmart at CF Champlain will also be renovated later this year. This will not be a minor redo. The entire character and layout of the store will be completely redone. The end result should be quite nice.

[MonctonRad]

Signage for the soon-to-be-relocated Hallmark store in Wheeler Park has been installed.

EDIT - Apparently they are now open.

[MonctonRad]

A couple of CF Champlain notes:

1) - The expansion of SportChek into the former Boathouse space is confirmed. Signage has appeared on the construction hoarding out front.

2) - Interior demolition has begun on the former Shoppers Drug Mart space. Does this mean they are preparing for a new tenant???

[drewber]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

A couple of CF Champlain notes:

1) - The expansion of SportChek into the former Boathouse space is confirmed. Signage has appeared on the construction hoarding out front.

2) - Interior demolition has begun on the former Shoppers Drug Mart space. Does this mean they are preparing for a new tenant???

Some talk from an employee at Five Guys Halifax of a pending Moncton location. Could they move into part of the shoppers space?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by drewber

Some talk from an employee at Five Guys Halifax of a pending Moncton location. Could they move into part of the shoppers space?

Certainly possible. They would want to have an outside entrance, which is certainly feasible in this location.

Rents at CF Champlain however are pretty astronomical compared to a regular plaza location. They would benefit however from being only the second sit down restaurant in the mall.

[OUIR@random]

Five Guys is not really a mall tenant. This would be very surprising. If it's coming to Moncton it's not @ Champlain.
Five Guys is not a sit-down restaurant more than Thai Express. It's mostly take out orders with a dozen tables at most.

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by OUIR@random

Five Guys is not really a mall tenant. This would be very surprising. If it's coming to Moncton it's not @ Champlain.
? Five Guys is not a sit-down restaurant more than Thai Express. It's mostly take out orders with a dozen tables at most.

They have a sit down location at Avalon Mall in Newfoundland. And looking online it’s not uncommon to see them at a mall.

[OUIR@random]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

They have a sit down location at Avalon Mall in Newfoundland. And looking online it’s not uncommon to see them at a mall.

Most locations are not mall locations, I never said never, I said they are not really a mall tenant. Their business model is not one that is usually attracted to a mall setting, look it up. I've been to more Five Guys locations than I can count or recall and none were in malls.

IF they come to Moncton they are heading to Trinity or Granite.

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by OUIR@random

Most locations are not mall locations, I never said never, I said they are not really a mall tenant. Their business model is not one that is usually attracted to a mall setting, look it up. I've been to more Five Guys locations than I can count or recall and none were in malls.

IF they come to Moncton they are heading to Trinity or Granite.

They can’t go to Granite, it was said long ago there is leasing agreements preventing them from opening there because of McDonald’s. A lot of the plazas in Moncton/Dieppe have similar leasing agreements. Hence why they still haven’t came. They were originally announced to be coming in 2018.

What I’m trying to say is you can’t completely rule out CF Champlain like you are trying to do. Five Guys does exist in malls and the options for the Moncton market are quite limited so a mall location is possible if that’s pretty much their only good option left. They can easily carve out a location at the back of the shoppers space and just have an exterior entrance only. Would be no different then opening in an strip mall/plaza.

[David_99]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Would be no different then opening in an strip mall/plaza.

Wouldn't a strip mall at least give them the option for a drive thru?

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by David_99

Wouldn't a strip mall at least give them the option for a drive thru?

If there is room to build a standalone building with a drive thru. Or if there is a end unit available that they could install a drive thru. Again for the Moncton market it depends if they can find a plaza with no leasing agreements in place preventing a food service like them from opening, (because they would be competition to one of their other tenants). What I mean by no different than a strip mall is that they have locations that are just inside a strip mall building with no drive thru at all. So it would be no different from that if they just open at CF Champlain with just an exterior entrance only, no inside mall access.

[MonctonRad]

I don't think Five Guys is big into drive thrus.

Here are some pics of the Five Guys in the Avalon Mall in St. John's:





Both outside and inside entrances



Seating available (but perhaps a bit cramped).