Winnipeg Retail

[CoryB]

Something is definitely happening with the former Unicity Sportschek. Shortly after the retailer moved out the interior was given a light retouch which I felt was odd at the time but was not anything obvious other than tidying up the exterior visual appeal (ie removing traces of the former signs).

This past weekend though the tell tale construction sign is in the window and the former display windows (drywall inside behind windows to show off merchandise) are being torn out. Sort of wonder if it may be another Party City location as both that and Sports Chek are extended Canadian Tire brands. Also Party City is showing up all over the city right now.

[bomberjet]

I actually used to shop at Sport Chek regularly for hockey gear. Specifically sticks but gear in general when I need it. Which for big box type stores is usually very limited in type and quality of hockey gear. Sport Chek was decent.

Their selection of gear in general has diminished over time. I assume they are moving away from that and relying on Pro Hockey Life to cover that market. PHL is usually fully stocked with all levels of gear.

My original go to was Royal Sports. But they no longer operate the Raleigh location and I don't make it out to Pembina much.

[pegcity]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Something is definitely happening with the former Unicity Sportschek. Shortly after the retailer moved out the interior was given a light retouch which I felt was odd at the time but was not anything obvious other than tidying up the exterior visual appeal (ie removing traces of the former signs).

This past weekend though the tell tale construction sign is in the window and the former display windows (drywall inside behind windows to show off merchandise) are being torn out. Sort of wonder if it may be another Party City location as both that and Sports Chek are extended Canadian Tire brands. Also Party City is showing up all over the city right now.

Planet Fitness Unicity

[Jeff]

Polo Park Hudson's Bay location was closed and dark today.. wasn't hot outside so they can't blame the a/c not working as the excuse. CF better be actively looking at a replacement plan as time sure is ticking for this operation to stay relevant.

[bon_vivant]

Originally Posted by Jeff

Polo Park Hudson's Bay location was closed and dark today.. wasn't hot outside so they can't blame the a/c not working as the excuse. CF better be actively looking at a replacement plan as time sure is ticking for this operation to stay relevant.

Simons! Simons! Simons! Naysayers, I know what you're gonna say. Just let me dream.

[cslusarc]

Originally Posted by Jeff

Polo Park Hudson's Bay location was closed and dark today.. wasn't hot outside so they can't blame the a/c not working as the excuse.

Thank for sharing your experience. I wonder when Hudson's Bay Polo Park was last open a full day.

[Winnipeg Grump]

Originally Posted by cslusarc

Thank for sharing your experience. I wonder when Hudson's Bay Polo Park was last open a full day.

Happened to stop in there on Sunday afternoon around 4:00 for the first time in a while. Most zones I went through were comfortable but others they had to set up fans to move air around and cool things down. Was only there for about 20 minutes before they came over the PA and told people they were closing up because of the HVAC issues.

[OTA in Winnipeg]

I was there a week ago.

[blueandgoldguy]

I was at Polo Park today and The Bay was closed again due to HVAC issues. The rest of the mall was very busy for a Wednesday.

I walked through the east wing on the second level where Zeller's used to be. Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters are still opened but there are a large number of empty spaces. Around 10 spaces or so. Half that area of the mall is void of any retail.

London Drugs will only be in the Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie space, correct? I wonder if Polo Park has anything else lined up for the remaining spaces?

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

I actually used to shop at Sport Chek regularly for hockey gear. Specifically sticks but gear in general when I need it. Which for big box type stores is usually very limited in type and quality of hockey gear. Sport Chek was decent.

Their selection of gear in general has diminished over time. I assume they are moving away from that and relying on Pro Hockey Life to cover that market. PHL is usually fully stocked with all levels of gear.

My original go to was Royal Sports. But they no longer operate the Raleigh location and I don't make it out to Pembina much.

Backi n the day, Athletes Wear was king. Through to the late 80s, they were arguably the premier place to get not only hockey gear, but anything team sports related. Then they expanded, and I believe had as many as 5 stores, trying to make an impact into the retail side of things.

That is what ultimately sunk them, and in 2001, the original store on Market Ave closed.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

London Drugs will only be in the Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie space, correct? I wonder if Polo Park has anything else lined up for the remaining spaces?

London Drugs will be taking the space in Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and all of the spaces in between. The reconfiguration of space will be interesting to see how they design it.

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

Backi n the day, Athletes Wear was king. Through to the late 80s, they were arguably the premier place to get not only hockey gear, but anything team sports related. Then they expanded, and I believe had as many as 5 stores, trying to make an impact into the retail side of things.

That is what ultimately sunk them, and in 2001, the original store on Market Ave closed.

Wow I totally forgot about them! My uncle and aunt took me to get a hockey stick at the Market location when I was super young. I always remember that for some reason.

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Wow I totally forgot about them! My uncle and aunt took me to get a hockey stick at the Market location when I was super young. I always remember that for some reason.

Interesting. This is just a second-hand account, but I knew a guy who worked at Athlete's Wear on Market Ave. His story was that the owners were cheap so-and-so's who allegedly used staff to do renovation work in their building. "Plumbing's not working, get the kid who sells track shoes to fix it".

[wani]

Originally Posted by Biff

London Drugs will be taking the space in Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and all of the spaces in between. The reconfiguration of space will be interesting to see how they design it.

the way the initial article about LD moving in sounded, the mall manager was talking about how tommygun’s was willing to move to make way for the new store as well. they were in the same area but on the other side of the hall from UO and anthro. buildabear and swarovski also moved despite not being on the same side as UO. i would have assumed they’re going to continue moving out stores from that corridor and merge most of that area into one location for LD.

[Biff]

The London Drugs at St Vital is about 33,000 sq ft. That whole wing at PP from Urban Outfitters to Anthropologie - both sides including the corridor is about 30,000 sq ft.

What strikes me as odd is that was a loop the mall created and it was for the most part fully leased. Now they are retrofitting it and moving the existing stores for London Drugs all while the second floor of the former Sears sits empty.

[bomberjet]

So are they getting rid of the entire new corridor and converting back to how it was before?

[Biff]

I don't know how they are configuring it other than they have/will be removing all the stores between Foot Locker and Famous Footwear.

Maybe a new corridor where the stores were on the west side (Journey's, Tommy Guns) and London Drugs on the east side???

[cllew]

Originally Posted by Biff

The London Drugs at St Vital is about 33,000 sq ft. That whole wing at PP from Urban Outfitters to Anthropologie - both sides including the corridor is about 30,000 sq ft.

What strikes me as odd is that was a loop the mall created and it was for the most part fully leased. Now they are retrofitting it and moving the existing stores for London Drugs all while the second floor of the former Sears sits empty.

I just looked at the leasing link for Polo Park on their webpage and as I read the plans there is only about 27,000 +/- sq ft available showing available on the former Sears 2nd level.

In touch is shown with 39,800 +/- sq ft and Polo Park Admin office with around 4300 sq ft.

The plan date is shown as 8/16/24 so it is current.

[trebor204]

Here is the leasing map of Polo Park

https://assets.cadillacfairview.com/...EASINGPLAN.pdf

I can see London Drugs take over From Lids (Unit300A) towards the SE Entrance (beside Foot Locker). They can take over some of space from the inner ring stores From old Swarovki (Unit 313B - which has been moved to Unit 255) to Sunglass Hut (Unit 309C). It's possible that London Drug could also reopen the entrance on the NE corner, which was closed after Zellers left.

In addition, it looks like Polo Park is installing some of stairs to the east of glass elevator by Centre Court.

Dollarama is rumored to move into Polo Park (might moved to the vacant store by Centre Court - Unit L115)

Tokyo Smoke was supposed to move into the mall (south end Unit L131E), and had a temporary wall saying it was 'Rolling In Soon', that wall had since been painted over.

With regards with Hudson's Bay, is the upper parkade connecting to the Bay open? I heard cases of the store being close midway through the day. If people have parked on the upper level, they have issues getting to their cars.

[horrorbro123]

What About Lids In Polo Park Will Move To New Location