Retail News

[adam]

What about things like buy local, support Canadian made, take care of your own, support your community? Everything from Walmart is made in China. How does that help out anyone in North America?

[FairHamilton]

Let's keep things straight here.

The developer is doing clean-up at the site, and it's not all remediation, some is just capping the problem. More importantly, the developer is not paying for all of the clean-up as they are getting a grant from the city to clean up the site.

Don't believe everything you read about the largesse of the developer.

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by adam

Everything from Walmart is made in China. How does that help out anyone in North America?

I've never shopped at Wal-Mart but I can pretty much guarantee that's a completely false claim though.

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by adam

What about things like buy local, support Canadian made, take care of your own, support your community?

That kind of protectionist sentiment is what has contributed to the shutdown of our steel mills.

[Jon Dalton]

Walmart

(puke)

Now for some good retail news: James South Book Cellar is back. They moved upstairs in the same building, and are thus renamed James St. Book Seller. The S&M store moved into the basement. I had the privelage of meeting a relative of the proprietor of this establishment, and rest assured it is here to stay.

[emge]

Originally Posted by Jon Dalton

(puke)
They moved upstairs in the same building, and are thus renamed James St. Book Seller.

The S&M store moved into the basement.

Is it just me, or is this hilarious?

[adam]

Nice to see a couple of locally owned and operated shops doing well.

[ryan_mcgreal]

Originally Posted by adam

Nice to see a couple of locally owned and operated shops doing well.

You could say the one business dominates its respective market.

[adam]

I guess this kind of domination doesn't lead to a monopoly?

[SteelTown]

Winona Wal-Mart divides councillors
No agreement on development plan

July 06, 2009
Nicole MacIntyre
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/595077

A contentious big-box proposal in Winona is now dividing councillors, much like it has the community.

An attempt to allow the development to go ahead with conditions failed this morning after a tie vote at the city's planning committee. The matter will now be decided at Thursday's council meeting.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger appeared at the meeting to oppose the application. He said wanted to be consistent with his previous position that the land should be used for employment, not commercial.

Penady, the developer, wants to build an approximately 440,000-square-foot development, including a Wal-Mart, near Fifty Road and the QEW.

The proposal has divided the rural hamlet with residents arguing the shopping complex is either too big or desperately needed.

At a previous planning meeting, the committee voted to defer the application until more studies were complete. Penady argued the delay was unreasonable and threatened to appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.

Yesterday, Councillor Brad Clark put forward a revised motion to permit the development with several holding conditions and new agreements about a transit hub and storm water management system. He said the new conditions eased his concerns about the development.

[SteelTown]

Winona Wal-Mart gets green light

Mayor, Terry Whitehead change their votes
July 09, 2009
Nicole MacIntyre
Winona's contentious $85 million retail development, including a Wal-Mart, has been given a green light.

Council approved the shopping complex in a 9-7 vote after several politicians, including the mayor, changed their positions.

An attempt to have council reconsider its previous decision to designate the land as commercial, instead of employment, failed.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who wanted to keep the land for industrial growth, said the decision was key and argued it doesn't make sense to reject the proposal if it matches the new zoning.

The case would likely lose at the Ontario Municipal Board, he said.

"Clearly the train has left the station," said Eisenberger, who voted against the proposal earlier in the week. "I'm not interested in adding extra cost to the taxpayers just to make a point."

Councillor Terry Whitehead, who was also opposed, changed his position for the same reason.

The councillors who continued to oppose the retail complex argued the land should be reserved for prime employment, not commercial.

"We have to have a vision. We have to look forward," said Councillor Robert Pasuta, adding he was sticking up for small business that would be hurt by the big box development.

But supporters argued the city couldn't turn away $1 million in new taxes and roughly $8 million in development charges.

[SteelTown]

Great leadership by Mayor Fred again. Votes against the Winona Wal-Mart proposal at committee, which he rarely attends committee meetings, than eventually votes in favour of the Winona Wal-Mart proposal. Geez.

[Jon Dalton]

Epic fail. At least can the 'gateway project' for this area, please. The walmart sign says it already.

[BrianE]

OMB - 5468

Urban Planning Fundamentals - 6

OMB wins again!

[SteelTown]

I actually personally don't mind the Centennial/QEW proposal. Already has tons of retail along Centennial so it'll fit right in. This is where I rather see Public Works focus on the GO Transit terminal instead of the Winona location. Close to Red Hill, QEW, HSR and on the edge of both Hamilton and Stoney Creek.

[matt602]

Huge disappointment again. 20 years down the line all of these projects will be abandoned stucco boxes, once we finally realize how useless these mega retail complexes are.

[FairHamilton]

Originally Posted by matt602

Huge disappointment again. 20 years down the line all of these projects will be abandoned stucco boxes, once we finally realize how useless these mega retail complexes are.

20 years!!! Heck, Walmart is already abandoning their original boxes (some much less than 20 years old) for their new ones with a grocery section. And the new stores are only a stones throw away from the old ones.

Happened in Scarborough on Eglinton & Warden, happened in Orillia on the west side of Hwy 11 at Hwy 12.

In Scarborough, I think after about 2 years of vacancy Lowes is taking over the former Walmart property (I only think, as I don't get to those parts much anymore). Though taking over the property only after the old Walmart building is torn down and replaced with a new Lowes.

That will most likely mean the Rona at Warden & Comstock will most likely close, as it's in a crummy location and never seemed to be very busy.

[markbarbera]

I think you'll find the Scarborough and Orillia locations, like Hamilton's Eastgate Square and Upper James locations, were all former Woolco locations that Walmart 'inherited' when they bought out that chain for their initial entry into the Canadian market. These were always generally seen as undersized locations for Walmart, but they provided Walmart with an instant presence in the Canadian market. So it is no surprise that these locations are now either being rebuilt on-site to the larger format (Mountain Plaza) or being relocated to sites that will accomodate the larger format (Eastgate to Centennial & QEW).

[mic67]

Since there is NO regular HSR Transit on Centennial Parkway, and many in the lower city use the Walmart at Eastgate. What provisions are being made, if any for HSR Transit to the new Wally world location?

mic67

[adam]

Many of us here in the lower city don't feel the need to shop at Walmart at all!