The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[kikin]

Originally Posted by s211

And I'll bet a dozen slices of costco pizza that Pivot Legal gave him the lighter and fuel.

Pivot are Eby's old pals, right?

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by C3YVR

Brunello Cucinelli is expanding into the Thom Browne space at Alberni and Thurlow as Thom Browne is moving to Oakridge. Cucinelli will have locations at both so sales must be very good.

Here's a Retail-Insider story on it:
https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2026/04/brunello-cucinelli-expanding-vancouver-flagship/

[SpongeG]

A few new stores are coming to Richmond Centre. I didn't take pics, but Abercrombie & Fitch is closed for renovation, Purdy's has moved, and is in a much busier spot.

UG tea is opening soon, it's on the south side across from Roots. This will be their first store in Canada. I copied this from google.

UG Tea (Unique Green) is a high-end Taiwanese tea brand founded in 2024 by Sharetea, specializing in premium floral teas, matcha, and low-calorie teas with a modern, minimalist aesthetic. Using AI-powered brewing technology, they serve fresh, customizable drinks in just 7 seconds, with US locations in San Gabriel, CA, and Bellevue, WA.

PXL_20260402_232957026 by snub_you, on Flickr

Another Asian beauty store is coming. Sukoshi out of Toronto, it's also expanding rapidly in the USA, selling Korean, Japanese and Chinese beauty products. This will be their first store in BC, the closest store is in Bellevue Square over the border in Bellevue.

• Video Link

PXL_20260402_233047140 by snub_you, on Flickr

Artbox is opening next to Sukoshi
PXL_20260402_233104194 by snub_you, on Flickr

Samsung is also opening a store, this will be their second for the Vancouver area.
PXL_20260402_233216647 by snub_you, on Flickr

[SpongeG]

Metrotown is 40 years old, the mayor says the overpass to nowhere will get taken down whenever redevelopment happens

• Video Link

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Metrotown is 40 years old, the mayor says the overpass to nowhere will get taken down whenever redevelopment happens

It's what they've been saying the whole time. The section over Central Blvd (that's blocked off) isn't over parking so they could take that section out but...

I still don't really get why the city wants to break Metrotown up when he even starts by saying 'it's a big hub'.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Sheba

It's what they've been saying the whole time. The section over Central Blvd (that's blocked off) isn't over parking so they could take that section out but...

I still don't really get why the city wants to break Metrotown up when he even starts by saying 'it's a big hub'.

Same reason Surrey wants to be a second city centre.

I mean do the economics of a mall versus a bunch of 50 storey towers all over the mall footprint with commercial underneath.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Same reason Surrey wants to be a second city centre.

Surrey didn't decide it wants to be a second city centre. The Surrey Central area is actually designated as the downtown for SoF as part of regional planning.

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Metrotown is 40 years old, the mayor says the overpass to nowhere will get taken down whenever redevelopment happens

• Video Link

Originally Posted by Sheba

It's what they've been saying the whole time. The section over Central Blvd (that's blocked off) isn't over parking so they could take that section out but...

I still don't really get why the city wants to break Metrotown up when he even starts by saying 'it's a big hub'.

He continues to be obtuse.

The with the current strata market, the redevelopment of the mall isn't likely to happen for the next several years,...and quite possible the next couple of decades.

That was a vision and plan that was predicated on the notion that you could get a good ROI on 50 or so strata towers over what used to be the footprint of the mall,

A good chunk of the recently completed towers in the area are largely empty with a lot of unsold units in this terrible market, so the appetite to redevelop the mall and start building towers now?
I don't know about that.

On the current state of things, the question of whether the economics of a mall (work better) versus a bunch of 50 storey towers all over the mall footprint with commercial underneath,....I'd give the point to the former.

It still remains one of the best (top 5 to top 3) performing malls in the entire country (in terms of revenue generated per sales square footage) even at a time when mall shopping as a culture is dying.

Besides which, what makes him believe that even if they do pull the trigger to start their redevelopment, that they'll begin on the southern side where that overpass is?

I more likely see redvelopment starting with a phase over the surface parking lot in front of the superstore in the north west or possibly in the location of the old Bay store at the north east, which is now sitting empty and isn't likely to get a new anchor tenant anytime soon.

The other major problem with starting redevelopment on the south side is you have to untangle all the RoW issues involved with relocating the bus loop and convincing Translink to get on board - which they didn't seem too keen on.


He just doesn't want the city to be on the hook for building a new pedestrian overpass so he'd just rather kick the can down the road and hope the mall owners stump the money themselves when they do redevelop

I believe it was the mall owners that built the current overpass (though,....not the current owners but the previous ones), so the thinking is that they should pay to tear it down (....and possibly build another one.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Spr0ckets

He continues to be obtuse.

The with the current strata market, the redevelopment of the mall isn't likely to happen for the next several years,...and quite possible the next couple of decades.

That was a vision and plan that was predicated on the notion that you could get a good ROI on 50 or so strata towers over what used to be the footprint of the mall,

A good chunk of the recently completed towers in the area are largely empty with a lot of unsold units in this terrible market, so the appetite to redevelop the mall and start building towers now?
I don't know about that.

On the current state of things, the question of whether the economics of a mall (work better) versus a bunch of 50 storey towers all over the mall footprint with commercial underneath,....I'd give the point to the former.

It still remains one of the best (top 5 to top 3) performing malls in the entire country (in terms of revenue generated per sales square footage) even at a time when mall shopping as a culture is dying.

Besides which, what makes him believe that even if they do pull the trigger to start their redevelopment, that they'll begin on the southern side where that overpass is?

I more likely see redvelopment starting with a phase over the surface parking lot in front of the superstore in the north west or possibly in the location of the old Bay store at the north east, which is now sitting empty and isn't likely to get a new anchor tenant anytime soon.

The other major problem with starting redevelopment on the south side is you have to untangle all the RoW issues involved with relocating the bus loop and convincing Translink to get on board - which they didn't seem too keen on.


He just doesn't want the city to be on the hook for building a new pedestrian overpass so he'd just rather kick the can down the road and hope the mall owners stump the money themselves when they do redevelop

I believe it was the mall owners that built the current overpass (though,....not the current owners but the previous ones), so the thinking is that they should pay to tear it down (....and possibly build another one.

It was ~15 towers and the mall wouldn't be touched until 2054 in the most optimistic phasing. So all the surface parking/parkades/bus loops would be the first phases. I mean if the strata market is going to get worse than I doubt the mall business will be much better in 15-20 years.

Does Translink have any say on the bus exchange other than using the land courtesy of the mall? They considered moving the exchange back in 2013:

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/burna...e,move%20the%20electric%20wiring%20above.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Spr0ckets

He continues to be obtuse.

...

To be fair I think the mall redevelopment plan was across 80 years - but yeah I don't see much more happening anytime soon. Plus I agree if they do start anywhere it's likely on the surface parking and the empty Sears and Bay locations, despite their initial plans. Why would they want to pull down the functioning parts of the mall the way real estate is nowadays.

At this point I don't expect anyone to rebuild the overhead walkway to the Skytrain in the next decade. What I want to see is them starting to take out the blocked off section of the old walkway that crosses Central Blvd.

Btw when I e-mailed about it quite awhile ago, I was told building the new walkway would be between the city, mall and TransLink. Also it would connect over by the elevators, basically at the other end of the (current) bus loop, so that may rope Station Square into any discussions about it.

[SpongeG]

Kioki and in Guildford TC opens April 18, I thought it would take longer, but its ready to open.


wem.ca

Sunrise Records had this spot in GTC and a few weeks ago it was closed and a sign by the door said that they were moving to a spot on the upper level across from Nike, but absolutley nothing has happened with the space, I have doubts that it will even open, it was always devoid of customers.
But Build A Bear is taking over the spot, surprised to see them open a store, but apparently the company has turned around and is doing really well now. Most of the stores near it are child related so it's a good fit.

PXL_20260411_033112835 by snub_you, on Flickr

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by Sheba

To be fair I think the mall redevelopment plan was across 80 years - but yeah I don't see much more happening anytime soon. Plus I agree if they do start anywhere it's likely on the surface parking and the empty Sears and Bay locations, despite their initial plans. Why would they want to pull down the functioning parts of the mall the way real estate is nowadays.

At this point I don't expect anyone to rebuild the overhead walkway to the Skytrain in the next decade. What I want to see is them starting to take out the blocked off section of the old walkway that crosses Central Blvd.

Btw when I e-mailed about it quite awhile ago, I was told building the new walkway would be between the city, mall and TransLink. Also it would connect over by the elevators, basically at the other end of the (current) bus loop, so that may rope Station Square into any discussions about it.

Nobody wants to do it because they all don't want to pay for it.
The people who probably could pay for it (the mall owners), don't want to do it without a concession from Translink/the City to relocate the bus loop to allow them to redevelop that part of the mall in the future.

Translink (despite the likelihood that they would benefit from such walkway in the near-term) don't want to relocate the bus loop because of the complexity involved in said relocation, and while the city wouldn't oppose either a relocation or a new walkway - they probably have the least say in the whole matter (despite bearing most of the brunt of the public pressure and clamour to replace it). But they aren't going to stump up any capitol projects funds or rainy day cash to do so either.

So we'll remain at a stalemate for the foreseeable future,... as will that old walkway likwise remain the eyesore itos.

Oh, and the old Sears store and parkade in front of it is owned by Concord Pacific, not Ivanhoe,.... and they do plan to redevelop it as part of the final phase of their redevelopment plan (with an office and rental tower).

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

It was ~15 towers and the mall wouldn't be touched until 2054 in the most optimistic phasing. So all the surface parking/parkades/bus loops would be the first phases. I mean if the strata market is going to get worse than I doubt the mall business will be much better in 15-20 years.

Does Translink have any say on the bus exchange other than using the land courtesy of the mall? They considered moving the exchange back in 2013:

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/burna...e,move%20the%20electric%20wiring%20above.

But that's just the thing, though...

The mall business and economic health isn't necessarily or directly predicated or dependent on the state of the housing market - and specifically the strata market.

Without direct data to support this, I would bet you that the majority of the mall shoppers and visitors are not necessarily home owners or strata folks but rather renters.

Thanks mostly to the presence of anchor tentants like the Superstore, Walmart and T & T, and also thanks due to the fact that it's a convenient side-stop at the second busiest transit hub in the metro region - which effectively ensures that busness gets funnelled in as long as people are riding to and from places of work or school.

In other words, whether or not Metrotown area itself has a high vacancy rate in the immediate strata market and towers in the neighbourhood, it doesn't change the profile of the kind of mall visitor and shoppers they are always going to get nor the likelihood that they won't keep getting them.
(....unless we get another pandemic-like event in the future that keeps people home again from commuting through the area, that is)

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Spr0ckets

Nobody wants to do it because they all don't want to pay for it.
The people who probably could pay for it (the mall owners), don't want to do it without a concession from Translink/the City to relocate the bus loop to allow them to redevelop that part of the mall in the future.

Translink (despite the likelihood that they would benefit from such walkway in the near-term) don't want to relocate the bus loop because of the complexity involved in said relocation, and while the city wouldn't oppose either a relocation or a new walkway - they probably have the least say in the whole matter (despite bearing most of the brunt of the public pressure and clamour to replace it). But they aren't going to stump up any capitol projects funds or rainy day cash to do so either.

So we'll remain at a stalemate for the foreseeable future,... as will that old walkway likwise remain the eyesore itos.

Oh, and the old Sears store and parkade in front of it is owned by Concord Pacific, not Ivanhoe,.... and they do plan to redevelop it as part of the final phase of their redevelopment plan (with an office and rental tower).

Oh I know it's all about the money (and who has to pay for it)...

When I went to the BC Parkway stakeholders meetings around 2007 / 2008 TransLink was open to moving the bus loop to Central and Beresford - it's the city that's dead set against moving it there. They want Beresford to be kept as a quiet-ish local street with as few vehicle connections to Central / the mall for as long as possible (even their downtown plan doesn't have many streets crossing the parkway).

Ah yes I remember when Ivanhoe and Concord had their duelling lawsuits over redevelopment (gets all misty eyed). Concord buying Sears when it died and then trying to claim the contract Sears had with the rest of the mall / Ivanhoe was no longer binding. Oh what fun!

I'm pretty sure Concord wouldn't be paying anything for the overhead walkway. Station Square / Anthem (it was always a separate mall) would likely throw some money at it as it would practically funnel people from the Skytrain to their stores. The only one who could get pouty about it would be Ivanhoe.

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by Sheba

Oh I know it's all about the money (and who has to pay for it)...

When I went to the BC Parkway stakeholders meetings around 2007 / 2008 TransLink was open to moving the bus loop to Central and Beresford - it's the city that's dead set against moving it there. They want Beresford to be kept as a quiet-ish local street with as few vehicle connections to Central / the mall for as long as possible (even their downtown plan doesn't have many streets crossing the parkway).

Ah yes I remember when Ivanhoe and Concord had their duelling lawsuits over redevelopment (gets all misty eyed). Concord buying Sears when it died and then trying to claim the contract Sears had with the rest of the mall / Ivanhoe was no longer binding. Oh what fun!

I'm pretty sure Concord wouldn't be paying anything for the overhead walkway. Station Square / Anthem (it was always a separate mall) would likely throw some money at it as it would practically funnel people from the Skytrain to their stores. The only one who could get pouty about it would be Ivanhoe.

Yeah,....those good old days of Ivanhoe and Concord going at it in court over the Concored redevelopment.

In retrospect, it seems even more ridiculous now given the fact that Ivanhoe's argument was essentially (though not in totality), that thanks to their previous handshake agreement with the previous mall owners and Sears, they should have a say in how Concord were going to redevelop those surface parking lots - primarily because they felt it would negatively impact the business of the mall units facing Kingsway - and specifically, the Bay.......which is now.......dead.

And which they themselves are likely going to tear down and redevelop anyway.

And yeah, Concord don't have anything to do with the Cental Blvd. walkway.
Besides which, they have their own spanking walkway over Kingsway that's going to connect directly to their Phase two towers whenever those do end up getting built.
(Yes, that one is the city's walkway and the city that paid for it, I believe....or the city through donors).

I could see Anthem building one at the western end of the skytrain station over Central, if they ever do end up redeveloping the Holiday Inn end of Station square
(which, I believe is part of their long-term plans for farther down the road.
Right now though, I think they're primarily focused on getting Citizen completed and the Telus 'Boot' redevelopment project off the ground)

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Spr0ckets

Yeah,....those good old days of Ivanhoe and Concord going at it in court over the Concored redevelopment.

In retrospect, it seems even more ridiculous now given the fact that Ivanhoe's argument was essentially (though not in totality), that thanks to their previous handshake agreement with the previous mall owners and Sears, they should have a say in how Concord were going to redevelop those surface parking lots - primarily because they felt it would negatively impact the business of the mall units facing Kingsway - and specifically, the Bay.......which is now.......dead.

Shows the benefit of change of control provisions in joint venture, collaboration, shareholders' agreements or even leases. They had a cooperative partner in Sears, but not after its interest was sold.

[Vamo]

Any update on all the commercial/light industrial spaces at Main @ 1st av. (Archetype)? They have I believe a dozen of spaces, but I did not see any signs/work done on any of the spaces...

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Vamo

Any update on all the commercial/light industrial spaces at Main @ 1st av. (Archetype)? They have I believe a dozen of spaces, but I did not see any signs/work done on any of the spaces...

I only see one BP for a Fitness Centre

https://plposweb.vancouver.ca/Public/Default.aspx?PossePresentation=Guest&PosseObjectId=276070733

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Vamo

Any update on all the commercial/light industrial spaces at Main @ 1st av. (Archetype)? They have I believe a dozen of spaces, but I did not see any signs/work done on any of the spaces...

They may take a very long time to fill up as they're for sale, rather than for lease, and they're technically industrial, so more limited than retail. (The office space is strata, too).

[C3YVR]

Bunch of changes coming to the west side of Burrard between Robson and Alberni - Nespresso is opening next to Arc'teryx, Wolford closed but is leased and Coach has moved out.