The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[SpongeG]

its opening on Davie Street - i think in Alto? a block and 1/2 west of granville on davie...

[johnjimbc]

Thanks, SpongeG. That sounds right.

I hope it stays on track, and they do open a location there. I was riding my bike near there today, and it just crossed my mind.

[Vancity]

A Nando's restaurant opening in downtown? NIIICE. Anyone know when it's scheduled to open?

[sono65]

Can't seem to figure out the draw of Nando's. I decided to try one day at the Metrotown food court and wasn't impressed. Lame, dry chicken with some orange sauce on top and a 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 iceberg lettuce salad. Kind of like a "healthy" take on KFC, but void of any real taste.

[hollywoodnorth]

nandos @ alto

[Built Form]

Re: Alto, Starbucks on the corner of Howe and Davie, then Nando's then an as yet to be leased CRU at the alleyway end.

[johnjimbc]

wow, sono, that doesn't sound good. But it also doesn't match up at all with my experiences dining at the Nando's in Kits.

The salads at the Kits restaurant are quite good, and I don't recall any iceberg lettuce in them. I actually can't imagine what the orange sauce would be, though I guess it might be the Peri sauce they serve (I just never thought of it as an orange colour). Maybe they serve the Peri sauce with the chicken at the mall store. In Kits, the Peri sauces are in bottles at each table.

And one of the main reasons I like Nando's is because the chicken is juicy.

I am not saying Nando's is the pinnacle dining experience (big grin at the thought). I just enjoy it as a quick, pleasant alternative when you're out and about. The service is nice and friendly, prices are reasonable, healthy servings, and a clean, interesting casual spot. Stopping at the one in Kits is always a treat so I am looking forward to having one an easy walk from home.

But if it ends up more like your experience at Metrotown than mine in Kits, I'll just continue going to trek over to the one in Kits .

[sono65]

Hmm, well maybe I should give the one in Kits a try. Seems weird they would be so inconsistent between the different stores!

[SpongeG]

well it was a mall food court

[officedweller]

From CKNW:

Shots fired at Robson Street store

4/14/2009

Witnesses say at least one shot was fired this morning during a brazen, daylight jewellery store robbery in the 200-block of Robson street, in downtown Vancouver.

They say three men entered Atson's Jewellers at Robson and Hamilton shortly after 10am.

But they were surprised when the store clerk opened fire.

One shot was heard and then the trio fled the store, with an employee of the adjacent tailor's shop in hot pursuit.
The trio was able to make it into a getaway car and speed away.

No word yet on how much jewellry they got, but the store's display cases were smashed.

[jlousa]

1177 W Hastings
Interior and exterior alterations and to add approximately 463 SF to the ground floor to create a new commercial Retail space and to provide new storefront windows and doors along Cordova St for this existing commercial building on this site.

Having a hard time picturing this one, anyone have any insight?

[SpongeG]

the area could use more retail - maybe a McDonalds?

I was just at the new wal-mart in east van and they have a sign on the door that says "excuse our appearance while we renovate" or something to that effect...

but inside nothing was going on - it was really quite dead inside even though the parking lot looked pretty busy - no line ups barely anyone in the food section

there is some stuff in the parking lot to the north maybe they are redoing some stuff outside?

[SpongeG]

A Week In Vancouver
by: Lisa Tant - Flare Magazine April 14, 2009 9:33 AM comments: (1)

Warning: shameless promotion of my hometown follows!

I spent last week in Vancouver. After the Junos and catch-up time with family, I checked out a few new hot spots. I’m often asked for a West Coast shopping and dining guide so here are a few more places I’ll be adding to my hot list:

Shangri-La Hotel
I stayed at this stunning new hotel and was, quite simply, blown away. I loved the restaurant – Market by Jean-Georges. His original Paris restaurant turned him into a favourite among foodies – and now in-the-know stylish Vancouverites tell me that this is the new hot spot. And after an amazing seafood dinner – try the sesame crusted tuna – I know why. The next day, I checked out the CHI spa. Each of the six treatment rooms is decked out with Asian artifacts and a relaxation lounge with a fireplace. It was ridiculously fabulous – seriously! I tried the Jade Jewel Facial – smooth jade stones were used to massage my skin.
Toronto’s own Shangri-La Hotel is due to open in 2012.

Blubird
Alberni Street, a block north of Robson, is home to a host of new boutiques (Blubird) and restaurants (Salt Lik and Italian Kitchen). Blubird is run by the fashionettes behind Boboli and Max Mara – and fortunately, not at their Italian designer prices. I scooped up a stunning floor-length printed silk dress by Single Dress and will head back for a hot orange Toy Watch. Unfortunately, Agent Provocateur across the street has closed down.

A few other must-stop spots:
In Yaletown: Basquiat (cool chick fashion), Beauty Mark (sweet beauty treats) and the Cross (romantic home décor)
On Burrard: side-by-side pedis for all of your gal pals at Absolute Spa in the Century Plaza Hotel
On Robson: Gyoza King – apparently chef Jean-Georges kept coming back night after night once Market closed to feast on Japanese specialties (but no sushi)

I’ll be back next week! Cheers, lisa tant

www.flare.com/fashion

http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/blog/post/212851

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by jlousa

1177 W Hastings
Interior and exterior alterations and to add approximately 463 SF to the ground floor to create a new commercial Retail space and to provide new storefront windows and doors along Cordova St for this existing commercial building on this site.

Having a hard time picturing this one, anyone have any insight?

I believe that is the round glass restaurant across the street from Urban Fare. Currently it is a cafe called Kasas, and they have a small grass plaza beside the restaurant's glass rotunda. That's my bet.

[SpongeG]

i don't think its that part - it sounds like they are creating space where none existed before - so like maybe making a lobby smaller to put in retail?

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by jlousa

1177 W Hastings
Interior and exterior alterations and to add approximately 463 SF to the ground floor to create a new commercial Retail space and to provide new storefront windows and doors along Cordova St for this existing commercial building on this site.

Having a hard time picturing this one, anyone have any insight?

That's the parking garage of the Renaissence/black towers complex. On the Cordova side (north side) it's currently an open parking level. Sounds like they'll enclose part of the parkade for a retail space.

[osirisboy]

that would be so freakin nice, i always thought it looked weird.

[jlousa]

1177 is definately the black tower not the renaissance, but I'm not sure if it's an expansion of the existing coffee shop or something completely different.

[SpongeG]

night market starts may 15th


http://www.summernightmarket.com/default.html?s=y


lets hope its better than last summer - i went twice last year and both times were awful - the one night we went i would say only 40% of the stalls were occupied and the amount of food stalls and foot traffic was down big time from previous years

seems like its the same people who ran last years markets - whatever happenned to the original group and their big move?

[Built Form]

Another Waves is going in on the east side of Howe near Smithe st were the old Yaletown Sofa was. Some of you may recall before that it was the Michel Blais gallery.