Winnipeg | Downtown | Portage Place | Redevelopment | U/C

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Buried deep in the ChrisD coverage of the provincal government's grocery affordability announcement yesterday (June 22) is a mention that they have heard RRC may be opening a grocery store and pharmacy in Portage Place. If that happens it likely also means that Weston owned Shoppers ends its presence in the mall which would effective bring an end to a 4+ decades presence downtown on Portage for the brand.

New downtown grocery store in the works?
The study also recommends a new grocery store for downtown Winnipeg, an area long identified as having limited access to affordable food. Sources tell ChrisD.ca that Red River Co-op is planning to open a food store and pharmacy in the Portage Place redevelopment. A spokesperson for the grocery chain declined to comment.

“Full-scale grocery has always been part of our vision for the redevelopment, but no announcements have been made in this regard,” said Krista Sinaisky, director of corporate communications for True North Sports + Entertainment. The company’s construction division — True North Real Estate Development — is spearheading the mall’s redevelopment.

“More people are choosing to live downtown and that means we need more amenities,” the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ added in a statement. “Significant mixed-use development projects are taking shape and we’re seeing different kinds of businesses open in 2026 which reinforces the confidence we’re seeing downtown as it transforms into a vibrant urban neighbourhood.”

ChrisDca

[ColdRain&Snow]

A Red-River Co-Op would be huge for downtown.

[neutroniks]

With two residential buildings directly linked & several apartments near by + Central just behind Portage Place, it would be quite busy. I always envisioned the Giant Tiger expanding onto the Enterprise lot to house either a No Frills or a Freshco or a smaller Save on Foods

[Wpg_Guy]

Jim Ludlow did recently say a downtown grocery announcement was imminent.

[pegster]

Originally Posted by ColdRain&Snow

A Red-River Co-Op would be huge for downtown.

On one level, yes, but I do worry about the market placement. Co-op's tend to be upmarket grocery stores, and the area around Portage Place (Central Park, UofW) is fairly low income. It should be closer to a FreshCo or NoFrills level store (lower prices, good ethnic food selection), I think.

[trueviking]

[FactaNV]

Thats some petty lol.

Im stoked to have a major grocery down the road. We have safeway nearby across the Osborne bridge but a walking distance cheaper option like No Frills or Freshco would be elite

[Mr Tall Forehead]

Originally Posted by trueviking

He’s too busy collecting on all those bets claiming Polo Park was dead.

Oh wait…

[trueviking]

I made $1100 betting my hockey team that the Jets were coming back six months before the announcement. I gave 10-1 odds. It took a while but everyone eventually paid. They were mad at me but happy to have a team.

[BAKGUY]

Originally Posted by trueviking

Good on you for this reminder.
For all the time I have been on here, said individual has always been
a know-it-all, a Sourpuss & Excruciatingly Pessimistic on retail in the city.

[trueviking]

[WinCitySparky]

He has the receipts!!!

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I was wondering if you were going to dig that up

[peg]

amazing

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by trueviking

And as I CORRECTLY predicted it is NONE of the major grocery players opening a store in downtown Winnipeg. Further, it seems there is government money in opening a store, something else I said would likely be needed.

@Trueviking no need to pay me with the check, instead you can send your losing bet payout to Manitoba Harvest.

[CoryB]

It is also shocking how bad reading comprehension is on this forum.

Red River Coop is not considered a major player in grocery market. I also I have previously said both that they may open downtown but that it would take government money to make it happen. Gee what is happening...

Also as I said unless the rent is free or better than free on an on-going basis I don't see this lasting long term.

[trueviking]

Damn, I need to go grocery shopping. I wish there was somewhere to go.

Why don’t you go to Portage Place. There’s a huge grocery store there.

No. No. It’s not owned by Gaelan Weston, so it’s not a grocery store.

[BorealLynx]

Originally Posted by CoryB

It is also shocking how bad reading comprehension is on this forum.

Red River Coop is not considered a major player in grocery market. I also I have previously said both that they may open downtown but that it would take government money to make it happen. Gee what is happening...

Also as I said unless the rent is free or better than free on an on-going basis I don't see this lasting long term.

As someone who lived in Oakbank for decades, where Red River Co-Op is the only grocery store in town, I can assure you that they are every bit the equal of Safeway, Sobeys, Save On, Freshco or No Frills. They have the same supermarket scale, the same scope of foods and services, and they serve the same needs. Oakbank is relatively upscale as bedroom communities go, and there isn't a single person there clamoring for an "upgrade".

As for requiring government subsidization, the long-term viability of a downtown grocery store remains to be seen. But kudos to Red River Co-Op for venturing forth where the others have feared to tread. They dominate the suburban bedroom communities, and they have pushed into Winnipeg itself in a number of prime locations. The Big 2 needed competition, and Co-Op seems to be up to the task.

[Sheepish]

Well I guess its official. CBC reported that RR Co-op is doing a store at PP. Who could have guessed that (sarcasm alert)?

[peg]

Co-op grocery store to open in downtown Winnipeg as part of Portage Place redevelopment