General Retail News

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by YOWflier

Nothing wrong with Dairy Queen per se but everyone I know prefers Baskin Robbins (between those two) if for no other reason than it’s actual ice cream.

Those in Ontario need to try the new Chapmans Super Premium Plus Ice Cream. Their salted caramel crunch recently won a best in the world award and it is insanely good. Possibly the creamiest ice cream I've ever tasted.

[harls]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

I think that the DQ at Merivale and Merivale has finally closed for good, also.

So what does that leave? Bells Corners, Bank at Riverdale, any others?

One in Aylmer (Principale and Bordeaux) and one still on Taché near the entrance to Gatineau Park.

I think there's still one on Maloney, haven't been out that way in a while.

When Chocolats Favoris opened near the DQ in Aylmer I thought their days would be numbered, but it's still alive and well. Maybe because CF is a bit more expensive.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Interest in downtown retail spaces rising, but ‘trouble spots’ remain, brokers say

David Sali, OBJ
September 4, 2024 3:57 PM ET



Real estate brokers say they’re seeing “renewed interest” in empty downtown retail spaces that were vacated during the pandemic – but some caution it could be years before the city’s core returns to pre-COVID occupancy levels.

...

There seems to be some evidence of the momentum on Bank. I believe at this point the entire block on the east side of Bank between Albert and Slater is now full (mostly restaurants), after it emptied out during the pandemic. If they can just get going on the development on the old Wallack's block, that will make a massive difference.

[BlackRedGold]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

I think that the DQ at Merivale and Merivale has finally closed for good, also.

So what does that leave? Bells Corners, Bank at Riverdale, any others?

Barrhaven, Riverside South, a couple in Orleans. In the exurbs they're in Carleton Place, Kemptville and Embrun.

[Richard Eade]

Thanks, to all the DQ-spotters It seems that they are not as common as Shoppers Drug Mart, but they are not so rare that we can no longer get ice cream cakes.

[OTownandDown]

Went to Bank/Riverdale DQ a few months ago. It was so filthy dirty that my partner called Ottawa Public Health and we left without ice cream. Line up out the door at the time.

The little prep station with all the toppings had food draped literally everywhere, on the lids, on the cutting board, on the floor, just spills covering 100% of the surfaces. Soft serve machine drip tray was overflowing on the floor. Flies. You name it.

Sadly, I was willing to stand in line and get my blizzard, lol, but I was told to 'get in the car'. Unlike my partner, I've had restaurant experience, and I've seen worse!

When I was a teen, I used to love the mystery paper bags with friends. For $10 you could get like 5 f*cked up blizzards, a frozen-solid drip tray gross cup/half water (assume its for a pet), and a squished ice cream cake or broken in half treatza-pizza.

[DarthVader_1961]

Originally Posted by OTownandDown

Went to Bank/Riverdale DQ a few months ago. It was so filthy dirty that my partner called Ottawa Public Health and we left without ice cream. Line up out the door at the time.

The little prep station with all the toppings had food draped literally everywhere, on the lids, on the cutting board, on the floor, just spills covering 100% of the surfaces. Soft serve machine drip tray was overflowing on the floor. Flies. You name it.

Sadly, I was willing to stand in line and get my blizzard, lol, but I was told to 'get in the car'. Unlike my partner, I've had restaurant experience, and I've seen worse!

When I was a teen, I used to love the mystery paper bags with friends. For $10 you could get like 5 f*cked up blizzards, a frozen-solid drip tray gross cup/half water (assume its for a pet), and a squished ice cream cake or broken in half treatza-pizza.

Maybe let D.Q head office know as well…

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by harls

One in Aylmer (Principale and Bordeaux) and one still on Taché near the entrance to Gatineau Park.

I think there's still one on Maloney, haven't been out that way in a while.

When Chocolats Favoris opened near the DQ in Aylmer I thought their days would be numbered, but it's still alive and well. Maybe because CF is a bit more expensive.

Yes the one in Gatineau on Maloney east of Main is still open.

I believe Orleans still might have one on St-Joseph near Jeanne-d'Arc, and might have a second one up on Innes.

[Acajack]

Just checked and there are at least a dozen Dairy Queen locations within Ottawa's city limits.

[Acajack]

I believe the legendary DQ at St Laurent and Beechwood is closed.

RIP for a classic sign, destroyed a decade ago.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=427743210658242&id=380334048732492&set=a.380380215394542

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I believe the legendary DQ at St Laurent and Beechwood is closed.

RIP for a classic sign, destroyed a decade ago.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=427743210658242&id=380334048732492&set=a.380380215394542

Yeah, it's like a gym now. I'm sad every time I drive by.

[J.OT13]

I thought I saw Harls post something about this somewhere, but Costco will add a gas bar to its location at Les Promenades de l'Outaouais.

I assume the bus loop will be converted back to parking to replace what will be lost of the gas bar.



This is going to be a mess.

[Acajack]

This is long overdue. Not that I care personally as I have an electric vehicle. But members of my family still have ICE vehicles.

And that old STO terminal was becoming an eyesore.

[wingman]

Anybody have any timelines on this? I heard about this a couple years ago but nothing since. Agree. Long overdue.

[Catenary]

A couple of the units at South Keys between the Marks and the Bulk Barn have been renovated and the Shoppers Drug Mart sign has gone up.

This fills an important gap in the Bank Street Shoppers Drug Mart population, until now one would have had to go as far Walkley to the north, or Hunt Club to the south to find another location - ignoring the Loblaws pharmacy next door of course.

[Uhuniau]

So there's suddenly going to be a bunch of small main street retail spots open again with the closure of that chain of fine mushroom retailers.

[J.OT13]

La chaîne Archambault quittera les Promenades Gatineau
Par Daniel LeBlanc, Le Droit
25 novembre 2024 à 17h41

Le centre commercial Les Promenades Gatineau perdra l’un de ses plus importants locataires dans quelques mois: le détaillant de livres et de musique Archambault déménagera et installera ses pénates en bordure de l’autoroute 50.

Après presque deux décennies à cet endroit, le magasin voisin du Simons quittera le boulevard Maloney Ouest pour aller s’installer trois kilomètres plus loin dans un local d’une superficie plus vaste sur la propriété de RioCan, sur le boulevard de la Gappe, près de l’autoroute 50.

L’ouverture de la nouvelle adresse est prévue au printemps 2025 et les travaux d’aménagement ont déjà commencé, confirme Floriane Claveau, porte-parole du groupe Renaud-Bray, propriétaire de cette enseigne.

La bannière québécoise spécialisée dans le divertissement s’installera dans un local de 15 000 pieds carrés de ce site commercial où on retrouve une vingtaine de chaînes dont Winners, Bouclair, Walmart, L’Équipeur et Boston Pizza.

Le magasin de jeux et de jouets Griffon, aussi propriété de la Renaud-Bray, quittera également les Promenades Gatineau pour s’installer dans le local voisin du futur Archambault, précise-t-on. Sa surface de vente augmentera de 2000 pieds carrés.

«Les baux se terminent en mars et chaque fois qu’il y a une fin de bail, on évalue si nos besoins ont changé, s’il faut agrandir, réaménager, déménager. Là (à Gatineau), on avait besoin d’augmenter la surface de nos magasins et une opportunité s’est présentée très près (des lieux actuels)», explique Mme Claveau.

Les locaux qui seront utilisés dès le printemps sont ceux laissés vacants dans les dernières semaines par le Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO), qui y exploitait un centre de prélèvement et de vaccination depuis 2021. Avec un préavis de 30 jours, l’organisation qui renouvelait le bail au mois a toutefois dû quitter les lieux en octobre.

L’entreprise précise que comme il s’agit de deux succursales qui vont bien, on pouvait se permettre d’investir afin d’élargir l’offre à la clientèle de l’Outaouais.

Les montants des investissements n’ont pas été précisés.

Archambault, une chaîne fondée en 1896 à Montréal, compte une douzaine de magasins à travers le Québec, au même titre que la bannière Griffon.

Par écrit, l’entreprise Westcliff, qui gère les Promenades Gatineau, indique qu’elle ne commente jamais les mouvements de ses locataires.

https://www.ledroit.com/affaires/affaire...des-gatineau-7FQMEUQHQ5AH3DJO5NJTPQFTCY/

[wingman]

Not being attached to the interior of the mall was a problem. I wouldn't go there specifically, but if it had an entrance inside I would have perused for sure. Sounds like getting customers was not an issue though, as they are increasing size and can sort of consolidate their two banners. Probably a good addition to the la Gappe shopping centre.

I am interested to see what les Promenades can fill that space with.

[Acajack]

Les Promenades will still have a pretty nice Renaud-Bray bookstore from the same chain, that was there before RB and Archambault became the same company. Archambault was much larger and is a large music store in addition to a bookstore, but there was probably some redudancy.

And RB is integrated in the main mall concourse. That's where I'd usually go to buy books.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by wingman

Not being attached to the interior of the mall was a problem. I wouldn't go there specifically, but if it had an entrance inside I would have perused for sure. Sounds like getting customers was not an issue though, as they are increasing size and can sort of consolidate their two banners. Probably a good addition to the la Gappe shopping centre.

I am interested to see what les Promenades can fill that space with.

Yes, La Gappe has been struggling quite a bit and there of course has been talk of redeveloping it with mixed commercial-residential. It's a great location for sure.

As for the old Archambault location, the obvious use for it is some type of large restaurant. Probably some chain from the Montreal area we don't have in Gatineau yet.