The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[Vin]

City Square is an under-appreciated mall. It looks like it is slowly making a comeback with the popular Dollarama, Sungiven and Daiso opening there.

I love how they incorporated the preserved colonial architecture into the rest of the mall when it was first built. The building looks especially good from the north side. A bit of fresh funds for a bit of renovation and maintenance by management can revitalize the space even more, especially the food court area. How about transforming it into a really nice food hall?

North View:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2613291,-...fo100!7i8704!8i4352?coh=205410&entry=ttu

West View:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2612128,-...8978!7i16384!8i8192?coh=205410&entry=ttu

[jollyburger]

Seems more likely they redevelop portions of the mall with towers.

[bluefox]

Originally Posted by Vin

City Square is an under-appreciated mall. It looks like it is slowly making a comeback with the popular Dollarama, Sungiven and Daiso opening there.

I love how they incorporated the preserved colonial architecture into the rest of the mall when it was first built. The building looks especially good from the north side. A bit of fresh funds for a bit of renovation and maintenance by management can revitalize the space even more, especially the food court area. How about transforming it into a really nice food hall?

Hell must be freezing over, Vin, as for once I agree with you.

I have a lot of affection for this mall and, even, as stores come and go, the mix of retail and services they have in there has actually been more useful personally for me than even many A-1 malls. I've had my wedding rings polished there, bought groceries, Halloween party supplies, workout supplements, and bed linen, seen a nutritionist and had physical therapy, and met friends for coffee. And on and on. I also find people don't appreciate how convenient it is to get to and from CS.

Kingsgate might be loved for being weird but City Square has "quietly useful" locked up. And the architecture is a bonus.

When Safeway left, I was worried about the future of this place, and even more worried during the pandemic, but it has hung in there.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by bluefox

Hell must be freezing over, Vin, as for once I agree with you.

I have a lot of affection for this mall and, even, as stores come and go, the mix of retail and services they have in there has actually been more useful personally for me than even many A-1 malls. I've had my wedding rings polished there, bought groceries, Halloween party supplies, workout supplements, and bed linen, seen a nutritionist and had physical therapy, and met friends for coffee. And on and on. I also find people don't appreciate how convenient it is to get to and from CS.

Kingsgate might be loved for being weird but City Square has "quietly useful" locked up. And the architecture is a bonus.

When Safeway left, I was worried about the future of this place, and even more worried during the pandemic, but it has hung in there.

And the Millennium line will bring it more customers and more residents. Too bad there wasn't a way to connect it up with the station!

[Vin]

Originally Posted by bluefox

Hell must be freezing over, Vin, as for once I agree with you.

I have a lot of affection for this mall and, even, as stores come and go, the mix of retail and services they have in there has actually been more useful personally for me than even many A-1 malls. I've had my wedding rings polished there, bought groceries, Halloween party supplies, workout supplements, and bed linen, seen a nutritionist and had physical therapy, and met friends for coffee. And on and on. I also find people don't appreciate how convenient it is to get to and from CS.

Kingsgate might be loved for being weird but City Square has "quietly useful" locked up. And the architecture is a bonus.

When Safeway left, I was worried about the future of this place, and even more worried during the pandemic, but it has hung in there.

I think the mall first lost its foot traffic synergy due to two reasons:

1. Being uphill on a relatively steep slope from the major retail/commercial/transportation hub at Broadway and Cambie.

2. Residential development in the 90s between the mall and Broadway broke up retail continuity along Cambie. That was bad planning as a continuation would help the mall tremendously.

Like you said, once people find stuff they need there, they will trek up the hill to the mall as it is actually really close to the skytrain station.

[officedweller]

City Square also services the large VGH employee population.
It's a good neighbourhood anchor.

[jollyburger]

US-based membership-only wholesale retailer Costco is taking steps to ensure the exclusivity of its shopping experience in Canada. The company has begun testing a new membership verification system at several locations across the country, signalling a shift in how customers access their stores.

The new system, which involves scanners placed at store entrances, is currently being piloted in Ottawa, Edmonton, Regina, and British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. This move comes as part of Costco’s ongoing efforts to address the issue of non-members gaining unauthorized access to their facilities.

Under the new protocol, members will be required to scan either their digital or physical membership cards upon entry. For those whose membership cards do not include a photo, additional photo identification will be necessary. The measure aims to prevent the sharing of membership cards among friends and family members who are not registered members themselves.

https://retail-insider.com/bulletin/2024...rification-system-in-selected-locations/

Montreal store

Birks to Open TimeVallée Luxury Multi-Brand Watch Concept Stores in Canada

Time Valée’s second Canadian location will open in 2025 at the overhauled Oakridge Park in Vancouver, which will be home to some of the world’s top luxury brands. More details will be revealed about the Vancouver TimeVallée store, which will also carry a range of the world’s top watch brands.

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...ti-brand-watch-concept-stores-in-canada/

[svlt]

Nice to see City Square getting some deserved attention. Daiso and Sungiven are excellent boons for it, and with parking verification being almost at every store it's not that hard to get to.

[jollyburger]

Standalone store for Ferragamo at Oakridge

#3431 (Ferragamo)
First Tenant Improvement for this Retail Store (Group E) on the ground level of the Oakridge Mall.

https://plposweb.vancouver.ca/Public/Default.aspx?PossePresentation=Guest&PosseObjectId=238370399

[SpongeG]

are they going to close the Robson store? I know it has had some busted windows over the years and its awkward and small.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

are they going to close the Robson store? I know it has had some busted windows over the years and its awkward and small.

Actually Retail Insider already confirmed the move next year.

On the 900 block of Robson Street, luxury brand Salvator Ferragamo is expected to eventually vacate its space at 918 Robson Street, in a building also targeted for redevelopment. Ferragamo would relocate its Vancouver retail operations to Oakridge Park in 2025, according to sources, vacating its 918 Robson Street premises where Ferragamo has had a store since the spring of 1981.

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...etailers-prepare-to-open-stores-feature/

[SpongeG]

ah ok. Much better move for them.

[RedArbutus]

I can't afford their high tier stuff, but they do make good ties. Glad they're staying in the city.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

ah ok. Much better move for them.

Not such a great move for downtown though. What other high end retailer might follow suit?

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Not such a great move for downtown though. What other high end retailer might follow suit?

Everyone big will open in Oakridge Park but it seems doubtful that they'll do a relocation vs a second boutique.

[officedweller]

Each potential move or 2nd location would be a case-by-case business decision based on investment in the downtown location and market share (tourist and/or local and whether 2 locations can be supported financially).

[Vin]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Not such a great move for downtown though. What other high end retailer might follow suit?

Downtown could've captured this market if they were to build a new mid-to-high end multi-storey mall like 10 years ago to complement Robson Street and Pacific Centre mall. They missed the opportunity because everyone thought it was a good idea to move high-end shops to the street. With rampant lawlessness street retail has lost its shine even further.

Without this secondary mall available, Oakridge in the burbs becomes the defacto high-end mall.

[jollyburger]

^^ They already captured the luxury market it's called Alberni.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Everyone big will open in Oakridge Park but it seems doubtful that they'll do a relocation vs a second boutique.

You may be surprised, there will be some big players not at Oakridge.

[officedweller]

Downtown and Oakridge are relatively close to each other, so are basically the same market.
Not nearly as far apart as Bloor-Yorkville & Yorkdale Mall in Toronto.
Anyone that has built a flagship downtown may forego the opportunity for a small satellite at Oakridge.