Centre Mall -> The Centre on Barton

[markbarbera]

Nevermind my Metro musings. The Redcliffe site plan now lists Loblaws as its grocery tenant. Interesting, it is Loblaws listed, not Fortino's and not RCSS.

http://www.redcliffrealty.com/leasing/retailFacts/Centre.pdf

[raisethehammer]

Loblaws owns the company...that makes sense.

[fastcarsfreedom]

Well--the "Loblaws" nomenclature may be explained by the fact that as the RCSS format is rolled-out, they are trying the alternate name "Loblaw Superstore" in some markets--currently Sarnia and Toronto. Elsewhere they are still using "Real Canadian Superstore"--Windsor, Chatham, Ottawa, etc. Not sure what Loblaws' intent is by trying out these alternate names, remains to be seen. Remember, while Fortinos is owned by Loblaw--the individual Fortinos locations operate as franchises--if the Centre site is going to be a corporate store, it would not likely carry the Fortinos name. Frankly speaking, I think you'll see little, in any, future expansion of the Fortinos banner.

They are going through some crazy branding exercises of their own at Loblaw right now--the renovated "traditional" stores are now called GreatFood--the Zehrs units here in Essex County are all being torn-up--some are reopening as no frills, one as an RCSS, and the rest are going to this new 'traditional' grocery format called Zehrs GreatFood. They are doing this elsewhere also, they have a couple of renovated stores in Toronto now called Loblaws GreatFood.

[adam]

Well fastcarsfreedom, I heard that Bob Loblaw (blahblahblah) is a very powerful man.

[raisethehammer]

lol...Wow. Adam is on fire!

[hammergirl]

A poster at another board I go to works for Loblaw. This is what he's said in the past about the store names/formats

All the RCSS are going to turn into Loblaw Superstores like the one in Scarborough and a few of the Loblaws will also be turning into Loblaw Superstores. The Loblaws in the trendy areas will be changing their names to 'Loblaw Great Foods'.

[astroblaster]

Originally Posted by adam

Well fastcarsfreedom, I heard that Bob Loblaw (blahblahblah) is a very powerful man.

do you ever read Bob Loblaw's Law Blog ?

[raisethehammer]

Originally Posted by hammergirl

A poster at another board I go to works for Loblaw. This is what he's said in the past about the store names/formats

Lol...yea, that's a real trendy name. Good to see corporate Canada is still in touch with real people. haha.

[fastcarsfreedom]

I think Loblaw Superstore is an unappealing name, to say the least. I don't understand the thinking behind it at all--just creates confusion in the consumers mind--one set of prices/items at Loblaws and another set at Loblaw Superstore.

[MatchstickMan]

Originally Posted by fastcarsfreedom

t. They are taking down the A&P name, as well as Dominion, The Barn and Loeb in the GTA, Hamilton and Ottawa respectively--erasing years of brand equity in order to roll out a name/brand that has zero equity outside Quebec.

The Barn has not been The Barn in quite a few years. The name once stood for quality produce in my mind, but that changed with the A&P purchase. I wish that the name had been retired long ago rather than attached to what I consider to be fairly mediocre supermarkets.

[ryan_mcgreal]

Originally Posted by astroblaster

do you ever read Bob Loblaw's Law Blog ?

Breaking: Bob Loblaw lobs law bomb.

[LikeHamilton]

Most of the foundations along Barton Street are in. There are other steel structures up along Barton and there are at least 6 trailers of steel at the site waiting to be put up. The TD Canada Trust building looks like it will have no problem opening in November. They have been working at the rear with sewer, water and gas but no new foundations in as of yet.

[mishap]

Originally Posted by MatchstickMan

The Barn has not been The Barn in quite a few years. The name once stood for quality produce in my mind, but that changed with the A&P purchase. I wish that the name had been retired long ago rather than attached to what I consider to be fairly mediocre supermarkets.

You nailed it. That's also my take on The Barn. It was really good once, but the A&P purchase degraded it. Sad to see it go, but it's for the better.

I heard that at one time, a merger was considered between the Barn and Longo's. That could've been good...

[fastcarsfreedom]

A Longo's merger may be been an option at one point--when G.A. Love Foods was up for sale I think there may have been numerous interested parties. A&P won out--essentially trying to bolster a sagging presence in Southern Ontario where it was once dominant...having eaten up both Dominion Stores and Miracle Food Mart, but was continuing to lose ground to Loblaws. I suppose they felt the Barn brand had some local cache--and patched over almost all the local A&Ps to the Barn name (save for a lone A&P in Dundas and two Ultra Foord & Drug locations in Burlingston)--and going so far as to open a Barn all the way out in Oakville.

The problem was, in my humble opinion, that The Barn as it was known--a fresh market concept with a limited grocery selection--disappeared entirely, and instead became a brand on stores that were identical to what A&P was/is elsewhere. It was an odd play on A&Ps part--comparitively speaking A&P had far better real estate--so it wasn't a real estate play--and the legacy Barn operated somewhat outside of A&Ps market. On that note, are there any "legacy" Barn locations that operate--or are all the locations ex-A&Ps?

[beanmedic]

Originally Posted by MatchstickMan

The Barn has not been The Barn in quite a few years. The name once stood for quality produce in my mind, but that changed with the A&P purchase. I wish that the name had been retired long ago rather than attached to what I consider to be fairly mediocre supermarkets.

Is it just me, or did the old Barn have a certain distinctive smell?

[hammergirl]

I was down at the Centre tonight. Sears has started a "Store Closing" clearance. Appliances and vacuums have moved to the furniture store in the mall and it looks like housewares are starting to make their way downstairs. The women's clothing is consolidating and most of it is now on long rolling racks. Some of the fixtures have been removed. Some fixtures have "KEEP" labels on them and many others have "Re-Direct To Store XXX" on them. A quick look said that the Chatham store is getting most of the redirect fixtures.

In the mall itself, not much left. Carlton Cards is having a closing sale. Arby's and Saint Cinnamon are gone. Peoples, Payless, Easyhome and The Source seem to be business as usual.

Zellers and TD Canada Trust are really taking shape. One of the buildings next to Barton street that has been framed seems to have an arch design over the front door.

The parking lot has a layer of red dirt over it.

[DC83]

^^ I know it's very grandpa of me, but I hope Arby's opens back up into a stand-alone (or whatev) store here. Currently, this is the only one besides Limeridge that I know of in Hamilton. Hell, even Simcoe ON has a stand-alone store.

I thought that arched bldg was going to be a McDo according to the rendering, but someone on here said it's most likely a bank.

[the dude]

did you just say arby's?

[hammergirl]

Oh yeah, the seating in the food court area is for sale.

[raisethehammer]

Simcoe has not much else than an Arby's.