[Burnaby] The Amazing Brentwood | 15 Towers | 186m | 56 flrs | U/C & Proposed

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by Lexus

Thank you for your feedback and suggestions, I just returned from my bike ride at the North Shore, and will be uploading videos in a few days!

[Klazu]

Starting to look like a cluster, but too bad about the lack of variation in height, as well as the boringly similar architecture. I hope they will do something more exciting with the final set of towers.

[SpongeG]

O'Kitchen at tables has closed down, and Soon coffee is gone too, 2 days later.

https://nomsmagazine.com/o-kitchen-brentwood-closure/

Comments I read on Facebook blamed it on pay parking, most people said they refuse to go there because of the parking issue and no wonder everything in there seems to be closing down etc.

[NetMapel]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

O'Kitchen at tables has closed down, and Soon coffee is gone too, 2 days later.

https://nomsmagazine.com/o-kitchen-brentwood-closure/

Comments I read on Facebook blamed it on pay parking, most people said they refuse to go there because of the parking issue and no wonder everything in there seems to be closing down etc.

That's pretty surprising to me to be honest. The food court is literally almost always busy when I've been there at 12pm - 4pm in the past. Maybe it gets too quiet during dinner time? As the immediate area gets more built out, perhaps it won't be an issue in the future as more people can just walk there.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

O'Kitchen at tables has closed down, and Soon coffee is gone too, 2 days later.

https://nomsmagazine.com/o-kitchen-brentwood-closure/

Comments I read on Facebook blamed it on pay parking, most people said they refuse to go there because of the parking issue and no wonder everything in there seems to be closing down etc.

I mean they probably had a sublease so it probably forced them to make a decision. I mean A&W will probably do better than any of the other stalls that closed down recently. And Soon's stall was way too big for just serving coffee.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I mean they probably had a sublease so it probably forced them to make a decision. I mean A&W will probably do better than any of the other stalls that closed down recently. And Soon's stall was way too big for just serving coffee.

That makes sense. The story said their lease was expiring but they only opened in Fall 2024 in the former Chef Hung stall.

[53064043]

Originally Posted by officedweller

That makes sense. The story said their lease was expiring but they only opened in Fall 2024 in the former Chef Hung stall.

A lot of the stalls probably signed 5 year leases when the mall reopened in 2021, I think O-Kitchen took over the existing lease from Chef Hung.

Glorious Bao's lease runs until 2031... and they're currently trying to sell their business or find a sublease. I wonder how much the rent is, because 5-6 stalls closing within 2 years is not a great look. There are some office tenants arriving in the near future, which may help with the lunch crowd.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by 53064043

A lot of the stalls probably signed 5 year leases when the mall reopened in 2021, I think O-Kitchen took over the existing lease from Chef Hung.

Glorious Bao's lease runs until 2031... and they're currently trying to sell their business or find a sublease. I wonder how much the rent is, because 5-6 stalls closing within 2 years is not a great look. There are some office tenants arriving in the near future, which may help with the lunch crowd.

Another question is whether the food court will survive with the reduced level of retail planned for the project in the future. It was probably planned to support shoppers in an expanded mall, not necessarily as a drawing card/anchor on its own.... and the office workers and residents alone probably wouldn't sustain it both day and night.

As SpongeG mentioned, people may pay for parking if going to a restaurant, but not stopping in to spend $10 at a food court.

[Lexus]

Untitled by Lexus LX 700, on Flickr

[logicbomb]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Another question is whether the food court will survive with the reduced level of retail planned for the project in the future. It was probably planned to support shoppers in an expanded mall, not necessarily as a drawing card/anchor on its own.... and the office workers and residents alone probably wouldn't sustain it both day and night.

As SpongeG mentioned, people may pay for parking if going to a restaurant, but not stopping in to spend $10 at a food court.

It's astonishing to see the difference from 2024 to now. The old mall got surprisingly busy on rainy days and offered a place for children and families to run around. The indoor playground was very busy. Tab Lab for Kids was popular and the mall used to organize events for kids.

Now? It's totally dead on weekends. Good job I guess?

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

It's astonishing to see the difference from 2024 to now. The old mall got surprisingly busy on rainy days and offered a place for children and families to run around. The indoor playground was very busy. Tab Lab for Kids was popular and the mall used to organize events for kids.

Now? It's totally dead on weekends. Good job I guess?

I mean it's the same for any dying mall that converts dead retail space into some other purpose regardless if it makes them any money (while they wait to redevelop or whatever). I mean if their business model is just to have old people and kids walking the hallways good luck to the landlord. I mean

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

It's astonishing to see the difference from 2024 to now. The old mall got surprisingly busy on rainy days and offered a place for children and families to run around. The indoor playground was very busy. Tab Lab for Kids was popular and the mall used to organize events for kids.

Now? It's totally dead on weekends. Good job I guess?

Let that be a lesson to other prospective mall re-developers in the region.

The 'Open-air' mall concept simply doesn't work in this climate and locale.

There's only one Alberni and Robson streets respectively around these here parts, and you're not it.

The fact that it's this dead even in the summer with the weather as great as it is now, and when you'd expect people to want to be out and about says a lot about mall/retail culture and shopping habits here.

Down the road, you'll find the mall at Metrotown packed - with people going there to hang out and also if for no other reason, just to cool down in the mall A/C and get out from the hot weather.
Same case at Crystal Mall close by.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Spr0ckets

Let that be a lesson to other prospective mall re-developers in the region.

The 'Open-air' mall concept simply doesn't work in this climate and locale.

There's only one Alberni and Robson streets respectively around these here parts, and you're not it.

The fact that it's this dead even in the summer with the weather as great as it is now, and when you'd expect people to want to be out and about says a lot about mall/retail culture and shopping habits here.

Down the road, you'll find the mall at Metrotown packed - with people going there to hang out and also if for no other reason, just to cool down in the mall A/C and get out from the hot weather.
Same case at Crystal Mall close by.

I mean it's more of a residential development and not just an indoor/outdoor mall so that changes whatever you think about how they are dealing with their commercial offerings. If anything the more residents that move into Amazing Brentwood and neighbouring developments will stabilize the commercial component.

[griswold]

It's funny they try and pass this off as the "Amazing Brentwood"

More like the Pretty Nice Brentwood

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I mean it's more of a residential development and not just an indoor/outdoor mall so that changes whatever you think about how they are dealing with their commercial offerings. If anything the more residents that move into Amazing Brentwood and neighbouring developments will stabilize the commercial component.

You're right, I suppose.

We still need to see how it settles down once the other towers currently under construction get completed (not just in this development, but also at Brentwood Block and the last Solo Tower across the streets, Concord's second phase down the road, along with the South Yards towers farther down) and get occupied and provide more foot traffic.

But thus far,......as a potential draw to foot traffic and visitors from outside the area (part of what other malls like Oakridge and Metropolis succeed in), this isn't quite yet hitting that spot from the looks of it.

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by griswold

It's funny they try and pass this off as the "Amazing Brentwood"

More like the Pretty Nice Brentwood

That's the power of marketing slogans (....and 'suggestion') for you.

[Lexus]

• Video Link

[Redtruck]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

It's astonishing to see the difference from 2024 to now. The old mall got surprisingly busy on rainy days and offered a place for children and families to run around. The indoor playground was very busy. Tab Lab for Kids was popular and the mall used to organize events for kids.

Now? It's totally dead on weekends. Good job I guess?

It was a huge mistake letting them change their plans and get rid of the indoor section of the mall. If I were on city council, I would not have allowed this. There needs to be more pushback, or time for new city planners that are not in bed with the developers. It is mind-blowingly dumb to think an outdoor mall will work in Vancouver’s climate. That being said, Isn’t Metrotown next on the chopping block?

[officedweller]

If there is a noticeable drop in traffic at the plaza without the indoor mall - or "anchors" (is the new LD still big enough to be an anchor?) the commercial viability of the whole complex (and their ability to retain names like Sephora and H&M) may be in question, as those stores would have been attracted (pre-construction) on the premise of a larger "luxury" mall.

It'll be curious to see what happens on the first round of lease renewals (maybe 10 years for the bigger tenants with renewal options).
Seems like the first lease expirations in the Food Court have already happened (5 years already!)

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by officedweller

If there is a noticeable drop in traffic at the plaza without the indoor mall - or "anchors" (is the new LD still big enough to be an anchor?) the commercial viability of the whole complex (and their ability to retain names like Sephora and H&M) may be in question, as those stores would have been attracted (pre-construction) on the premise of a larger "luxury" mall.

It'll be curious to see what happens on the first round of lease renewals (maybe 10 years for the bigger tenants with renewal options).
Seems like the first lease expirations in the Food Court have already happened (5 years already!)

I mean that will only happen if the housing market completely tanks and they stagnate at current population levels around Brentwood. It's not like they would suddenly have 200% the foot traffic because they built an indoor mall.