[Moncton] Retail Thread

[Tmaz]

I always thought a St. Hubert would be very popular during the summertime in Shediac, considering the large amount of tourists from Quebec.

[MonctonRad]

Granite Centre Update

- Signage has appeared for the barbershop soon to be moving in.
- Signage has also appeared in the last vacant CRU next to Take it Outside. The signage here is for an upscale fitness centre called Lagree East.

Here is the website:
https://lagree-east.com/

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I went to Montana's for supper this evening, and, as usual, it was packed.

This led me to thinking. Metro Moncton is now within a hair of a CMA population of 200,000. At what point will the national fast casual restaurant chains already established in the city start thinking about opening second locations?

Swiss Chalet has two locations in the metro area already. St. Louis Bar & Grill has two locations now, and is in the process of opening a third location in Shediac. We know that Boston Pizza wants a second location in Shediac too. When will Montana's open a second location, most likely in Dieppe? How about St. Hubert?

In terms of busyness of the current Montana's location on Mapleton, I think they could probably justify one now.

Other chains like Moxie's, Milestones, East Side Mario's and Kelsey's aren't there quite yet, but, the time may be coming soon.

Other chains like The Keg, Baton Rouge and Gahan House likely will never have more than one location in the metro area.

Thoughts anyone???

Considering that Milestones, Kelsey’s, Montana’s, Swiss Chalet, Eastside Mario’s and St Hubert’s are all owned by the same company, I’m sure it’s safe to say that have a good idea of what the market can hold. The better question is what is the best location for some of these restaurants to have a new location. Champlain area, Riverview, Dieppe Blvd. Granite Center, North Moncton/Magnetic Hill area and Shediac are all potential locations. I’d have to say the Wheeler Park/Mapleton area is pretty well saturated at this point so I can’t see any new restaurants being built in that area.

[MonctonRad]

Permanent signage for Laura and Melanie Lyne has finally been installed at Wheeler Park

Meanwhile the Cleo/Ricki's combo store is in the process of closing up.

[MonctonRad]

Interesting that there are prominent "store closing signs" mounted on the combo Ricki's/Cleo store at Wheeler Park, and at the Ricki's and Bootlegger stores in Champlain Place, but, there is currently no similar signage mounted on the Cleo store at Champlain Place. It appears to be business as usual there.

Has Cleo at Champlain Place escaped the carnage???

[MonctonRad]

Update:

It sounds as if Cleo at both Champlain Place and Regent Mall will survive.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Permanent signage for Laura and Melanie Lyne has finally been installed at Wheeler Park

Meanwhile the Cleo/Ricki's combo store is in the process of closing up.

I imagine Leyad will have the space leased in no time. Their tenure as owners thus far has been impressive.

It would be great to see them make a further investment in Moncton! When they acquired Wheeler Park, Leyad owner Henry Zavriyev hinted that they were open to the idea.

Quote from news release Oct. 2023

The site is large enough to accommodate future development and Zavriyev is open to the idea down the road.

When I went back and read the news article, I happened to see the following tidbit: "The largest apartment property in Leyad’s portfolio is a three-tower complex comprising 450 units." Isn't this exactly the same as the Three Sisters?

[DyAm00394]

Bootlegger at Champlain Place will not be surviving. It's listed as a "Last Chance Store" on their website. The Regent Mall location in Fredericton is not on the list, so that location remaining open. https://www.bootlegger.com/last_chance_stores.html

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Bootlegger at Champlain Place will not be surviving. It's listed as a "Last Chance Store" on their website. The Regent Mall location in Fredericton is not on the list, so that location remaining open. https://www.bootlegger.com/last_chance_stores.html

I wonder what's up with that?

The Champlain Place Bootlegger was relocated and renovated just last year. Maybe Regent was more willing to give them a break on their lease than Champlain Place was.

[MonctonRad]

Happy Belly Food Group signs area development agreement for Rosie’s Burgers in Atlantic Canada
Retail Insider
By Mario Toneguzzi
Date: March 3, 2025
https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...t-for-rosies-burgers-in-atlantic-canada/

Happy Belly Food Group Inc., a leading consolidator of emerging food brands, has announced the signing of a significant area development agreement covering the Atlantic provinces. The deal will bring 15 new locations of Rosie’s Burgers, a popular boutique QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) brand, to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and Labrador.

Rosie’s Burgers is known for its original recipe smash burgers, poutine, onion rings, milkshakes, and more. This expansion marks another major step in Happy Belly’s ongoing strategy to scale the brand nationwide.

If they are planning 15 Atlantic Canadian locations, at least one (if not two of these locations will be in the greater Moncton region.

[Taeolas]

Hmm 15 locations in Atlantic Canada.

Figure most will probably land in Nova Scotia; maybe 5-6 in NS, 3 in the Halifax area + Sydney and maybe Truro or Antigonish.

3 in Newfoundland, probably 2 in Saint John's and one elsewhere somewhere (Cornerbrook perhaps?)

4-5 in NB, 2 in Moncton, one each in SJ and Freddy.

And 1 in PEI for Charlottetown, maybe a second there but I doubt it.

Seems like an aggressive launch plan but doable as long as the training and supplychains are in place.

[MonctonRad]

According to this article from Retail Insider, western Canadian chocolatier Purdy's is planning a Maritime expansion.

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...-discusses-canadiana-tariffs-and-future/



This is the company website:

https://www.purdys.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopTbMaH5EGsoapzRmj7CDqyFxc22Nft4Kyeo3PzoVUwSyqD9D8l

They currently have about 85 locations from BC as far east as Ottawa.

A Halifax location is a slam dunk. Will they also look at an NB location as well? They appear to be primarily a mall based retailer. Likely candidates would be Champlain Place or Regent Mall.

[Taeolas]

2 Halifax locations (HSC and MicMac mall) are pretty much givens.

Champlain Place would make a lot of sense.

Regent and MacAllister Place are iffier. Regent already has Rocky Mountain and Laura Secord, but I could see Purdy's squeezing in there. Freddy's market seems to feel to hit higher than you might expect. SJ I'm not as sure, at least not for an early wave.

[MonctonRad]

The presence of Rocky Mountain at Regent may make Champlain Place more likely in NB. We only have Laura Secord here.

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The presence of Rocky Mountain at Regent may make Champlain Place more likely in NB. We only have Laura Secord here.

Same with McAllister Place, only Laura Secord here. I agree with Rocky Mountain and Laura Secord at Regent Mall, would make Champlain Place more likely. I think Champlain will be the first location and if a 2nd NB location happens it might go to McAllister since Regent already has 2 similar stores. And if Westcliff ends up being the one that is buying McAllister Place it might increase the odds for McAllister, the mall is for sale and is currently under contract. Just waiting for the deal to close.

[MonctonRad]

Hudson's Bay Bankruptcy imminent

https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2025/03/hudsons-bay-facing-imminent-bankruptcy-report/

With a bankruptcy filing looming, questions remain about what this will mean for Hudson’s Bay’s remaining stores, employees, and suppliers. While the retailer has attempted to modernize and adapt through strategic restructuring and brand revivals, it has faced continued financial headwinds that may now prove insurmountable.

Industry experts speculate that if Hudson’s Bay proceeds with bankruptcy, it could attempt to restructure its debt and continue operations in some form. However, given the company’s ongoing struggles and reliance on real estate sales to stay afloat, a more drastic reduction in store footprint—or even a full wind-down of the business—is also a possibility. One landlord told Retail Insider this week that they were hearing that about 50 of Hudson’s Bay’s stores could close with a bankruptcy filing.

This is only of casual interest to New Brunswickers since there are no HBC stores in the province, but it remains very sad news nonetheless.

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Happy Belly Food Group signs area development agreement for Rosie’s Burgers in Atlantic Canada
Retail Insider
By Mario Toneguzzi
Date: March 3, 2025
https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...t-for-rosies-burgers-in-atlantic-canada/

If they are planning 15 Atlantic Canadian locations, at least one (if not two of these locations will be in the greater Moncton region.

According to Retail Insider, Happy Belly Food Group has just announced another one of their brands called Heal Wellness is planning 20 locations in Atlantic Canada.

Source: https://retail-insider.com/bulletin/2025...evelopment-agreement-in-atlantic-canada/

Heal Wellness Website:https://www.healwellness.ca/

[MonctonRad]

It appears that the old Thai Express location at Champlain Place is under renovation, and possibly being expanded. This location is at one of the main entrances into the mall, and features it’s own outside entrance, therefore the tenant does not have to abide with mall hours. The location is perfect for a QSR type operation.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

It appears that the old Thai Express location at Champlain Place is under renovation, and possibly being expanded. This location is at one of the main entrances into the mall, and features it’s own outside entrance, therefore the tenant does not have to abide with mall hours. The location is perfect for a QSR type operation.

There is a strong rumour that Starbuck's will be trading in their current kiosk location at Champlain Place for a new sit down location in the former Thai Express.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

There is a strong rumour that Starbuck's will be trading in their current kiosk location at Champlain Place for a new sit down location in the former Thai Express.

The Starbucks employees have been talking about this for years. Apparently it was planned before the pandemic. It wouldn't surprise me if they finally made the move to expand.