The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[dreambrother808]

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[dreambrother808]

Confirmed Apple Store site in Pacific Centre, opening Spring/Summer

[mr.x]

^ that's an unfortunate location, appears to be no street entrance.

[204]

Home Depot, nice building....


freedryk on flickr

[204]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

Confirmed Apple Store site in Pacific Centre, opening Spring/Summer

freedryk on flickr

[officedweller]

Thanks!
Apple will work well in the upper mall (despite the lack of a street level entry) with its modern look.

WRT Home Depot - I think that corner must be the main entry for it @ Yukon & 8th - not sure what the interior access is like (there must be a circulation stair/elevator to all of the stores from the parkade rather than separate access points.

[SpongeG]

grocery mania

they should turn that capers into a london drugs or shoppers perhaps

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Thanks!
Apple will work well in the upper mall (despite the lack of a street level entry) with it's modern look.

WRT Home Depot - I think that corner must be the main entry for it @ Yukon & 8th - not sure what the interior access is like (there must be a circulation stair/elevator to all of the stores from the parkade rather than separate access points.

there also looks to be a cambie street entrance

whereis the save on going? above it? below it?

and winners/homesense is in there too?

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

there also looks to be a cambie street entrance

whereis the save on going? above it? below it?

and winners/homesense is in there too?

the save on is beside it i think, on the southwest corner.

[officedweller]

The NW corner has the characteristic "Save-on-Foods" canopy. Looks like the Home Depot (stairs just inside its entry) is above the Save on Foods (looks fairly level through its entry).

[deasine]

That will be a good spot for Apple. The apple storefront (usually silver, but sometimes seen in black) will match really well with the clean lines of the Harry Rosen store.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The NW corner has the characteristic "Save-on-Foods" canopy. Looks like the Home Depot (stairs just inside its entry) is above the Save on Foods (looks fairly level through its entry).

ah

we rtried to walk from best buy to wendys the other night but it was rainy so we never walked

we wondered how they could fit three big box stores in there - it really doesn't look like they could all fit - the apartments are pretty low down - i would have thought there is a retail level above home depot but it was hard to tell from the vantage of best buy/CT

[Rusty Gull]

Re: Apple. Disappointing, but at least we're finally getting a store. We could do worse than Pacific Centre. I was hoping for something with the same kind of presence of Holt Renfrew, though.

I wonder if a flagship store might be still be in the cards in the future for West Hastings, at Jamieson House?

[SpongeG]

not here but nice to see the company expand

Blenz Coffee Finds a New Home in Manila

(PRLog.Org) – Feb 01, 2008 – Manila, Philippines – Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd. has signed a Master Franchise agreement with Alfred Lim of Maple Leaf Coffee Corporation, based in Manila. The first Philippine Blenz Coffee, boasting a modern contemporary design, will open February 2nd, 2008 at Unit E02-E03 Harbor Drive, SM One ECom Centre in Pasay City.

Blenz Coffee served its first guest in 1992 in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Since that time, Blenz has become a global presence with operations in Canada, Japan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, China and now, the Philippines. Blenz Coffee proudly offers top quality beverages including specialty coffees, high-end teas and innovative specialty drinks (such as Ceremonial Matcha and hot chocolate crafted from real Belgian chocolate), delicious food and a comfortable atmosphere that is perfect for business or pleasure.

Mr. Lim and his Director of Operations, Dale Maktal, completed an intensive 5 week training course at the Blenz Coffee Academy in Vancouver, Canada. Throughout their training, they learned the finer points of creating premium beverages and the high standards of operations that all Blenz Coffee franchises provide. Mr. Maktal achieved the level of Master Barista, the highest level of certification awarded by Blenz Coffee.

“All Blenz Baristas are trained to create coffee and tea based beverages at a world class level,” stated George Moen, President of Blenz Coffee. “They [Baristas] are provided with skills and knowledge on everything from espresso technique to creating latte art that not only contributes to the aesthetic of a drink, but also to the overall taste,” He went on to say. “I am proud to see how much emphasis has been placed on training by Mr. Lim and Mr. Maktal. They understand it’s the people as well as the product that make Blenz Coffee great.”

As part of the opening celebrations, many of Blenz Coffee’s executives including Sarah Moen (Director and Co-Founder), George Moen (President), Tak Aramaki (Vice President), two-time international Millrock Latte Art Champion, Layla Osberg (Director of Training), and Ron Downie (Director of Operations) have made the trip to Manila. Ron and Layla will publicly demonstrate award winning latte art and showcase the skills and techniques that are the foundations to Blenz international success, providing a wonderful learning experience for employees as well as a spectacle for Blenz Coffee’s guests.

“We are very excited to see our organization expanding to the Philippine market,” says Geoffrey Hair, Director and Co-founder of Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company. “We have enjoyed building a solid friendship and business partnership with Maple Leaf Coffee Corporation, and we wish Mr. Lim and Mr. Maktal the best of success with their operations.”

About Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company™
Blenz Coffee is a premium retailer of coffee, tea and other innovative and delicious specialty beverages. All of Blenz' beverages are hand crafted from only the highest quality ingredients available. Their commitment to staff training, providing an excellent customer experience and a great cup of coffee has fueled Blenz' growth from its inception. Blenz operates a network of over 85 franchise locations in British Columbia as well as Japan, China, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and now, the Philippines.

http://www.prlog.org/10048783-blenz-coffee-finds-new-home-in-manila.html

[Jacques]

way to go BLENZ like it alot, my kind of place

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by Jacques

way to go BLENZ like it alot, my kind of place

Blenz coffee is garbage to me. If I ask for the dark roast it should be dark, not light. I do rather love their dark chocolate mochas though. It's like drinking a chocolate bar.... mmmmmm....

[Jacques]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

Blenz coffee is garbage to me. If I ask for the dark roast it should be dark, not light. I do rather love their dark chocolate mochas though. It's like drinking a chocolate bar.... mmmmmm....

Well I do not support Starbucks, MacDonald, Cosco, Walmart, I buy locally and organics and made in Canada as much as possible, my little ways to help reduce my foot print.

BTW: the best coffee for me is at home, I have a Delonghi espresso coffee maker, after a three hour walk around the seawall, I reward myself with a home made cafe latte.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by Jacques

Well I do not support Starbucks, MacDonald, Cosco, Walmart, I buy locally and organics and made in Canada as much as possible, my little ways to help reduce my foot print.

BTW: the best coffee for me is at home, I have a Delonghi espresso coffee maker, after a three hour walk around the seawall, I reward myself with a home made cafe latte.

There are good local companies like JJ Bean, Bean Around The World, Saltspring, the Grind... but in the end we don't grow coffee beans in this area. No matter what, you are buying something that has been shipped quite a distance. Local companies are only roasters, not producers.

[Jacques]

I never said I bought my coffee beans at Blenz, I buy at Bean around the world, fair trade, organics.
But eh if we could grow beans here don't you know we would, still anything one can do to help the planet in even small manners is a step in making good for the future of our children.
look at what they just turned down the proposal to rid of plastic bag, for godsake we all carry back pack why use plastic bags.

[osirisboy]

^^ whats the diff between starbucks and say jj bean? they both import their coffee. also costco walmart etc sell local/ national products, so you could shop their nd buy local nationally produced products. thereby reducing your "footprint"