The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by ozonemania

I see potential at Alberni and Thurlow, when they get rid of that concrete abomination. People have mentioned office tower there, which is an excellent use. But a multi-level upscale retail a la Ginza would be pretty cool too.

Yes, that's a potentially chic area.
What concrete abomination are you referring to?
(I ask this because there are several right around there)
Thanks

[Smooth]

Originally Posted by vanlaw

If we were thinking outsode of the downtown core (as yorkville is outside of the main business core in TO) I would say south Granville 6th -16th.

That area came to mind for me too as the closest to a Yorkville equivalent.

Doesn't Yorkville have a pretty big mall just to the South of the high end shops? I wonder if a large retail development would ever be built near Granville & Broadway. That would provide some larger anchor tenants do draw people to that shopping region.

[vanlaw]

Originally Posted by Smooth

That area came to mind for me too as the closest to a Yorkville equivalent.

Doesn't Yorkville have a pretty big mall just to the South of the high end shops? I wonder if a large retail development would ever be built near Granville & Broadway. That would provide some larger anchor tenants do draw people to that shopping region.

Manulife Place on bloor/bay?

[officedweller]

Yorkville property has Hazelton Lanes - it expanded back in the early 90s and then lost its cache because of it.
Yeah, Manulife is across Bloor I think it links up to a n underground mall under Holt Renfrew too that eventually connects to The Bay at Yonge & Bloor.

**********

I don't mind Superstore - the worst part is the line-ups.

They pioneered the 3 cent plastic bag (now 5 cents) before it was enviro-trendy to do so.
Their President's Choice house brands are very good quality (also @ Extra Foods) - but maybe Extra Foods doesn't have the housewares.

WRT produce they have pretty high turnover so the produce is usually fresh. They also bring in giant bins of fruit when its in season (i.e. apples that haven't been coated in wax and stored in cold storage for 6 months). They just had big bins of POM-brand pomegranates for $1.48 each.

Superstore (in Vancouver, anyways) is now open til 11:00 pm because Wal-Mart Supercentre (on Grandview) is open til 11:00pm.

BTW - anyone else notice that Wal-Mart has motion sensors on all of its freezer compartments - the lights stay off until someone walks in fromt of them. Haven't seen that in any other stores. The lighting level in the store is quite low as well.

The Wal-Mart Supercentre has an instore bakery and pretty inexpensive specialty breads (i.e. rye bread - pretty dense and I think $2.99).

[Yume-sama]

I do really like most PC Brand products, and PC Brand Blue Menu (the healthy version..) is really good!

But yes, I do not buy anything at Superstore that does not come in a can or box. Their meat makes one want to become a vegetarian.

I am pretty sure they get the "left overs" that other stores reject

"Is ground chicken supposed to be brown / purple? I don't know, let's sell it to Superstore..."

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

Extra Foods is their small format store. They're essentially the same as superstore. For some reason, I don't mind Extra Foods... but don't like Superstore.

There's one on Fraser Highway which was opened up a few years ago.

Friendly staff, they actually bad your groceries ( unlike self-service superstore ) and I don't think they charged for bags. Though that may have changed.

I can't stand ANY massive grocery stores, but I have a particular disdain for Superstore...

• They tend to have bad produce and meat
• They attract the budget asian shopper. I have seen some of these peel corn in the store, leaving the husks there... presumably to not have to pay for the extra weight.
• According to a friend who's husband is a Loblaws exec, they targetted this demographic early on because they were less "brand" conscious ) They now have mindshare in the Asian community as the "cheapest" place to shop.
• They never have enough tellers, creating line-ups
• They're huge and force you to go through the whole store to get to basic things ( I realize that all grocery stores do this, by putting dairy, bread and meat on opposite corners of the store )
• They're only open until 10PM, even though they're usually busy until 9:59. I can only imagine this is a cost cutting measure and a way to ensure the store is always busy.

extra foods now charges for bags - but they still bag it for you
superstore is open until 11 pm now - since walm-art changed its hours to 11 pm

I agree though superstore is pretty gross at times but i live close to all 3 no frills, extra foods and superstore and most of the time i go to superstore - usually cause they have the bank machines and some of the prices are cheaper - i always buy this one juice the same kind - presidents choice - its $2.89 at superstore and $3.49 at extra foods but usually the prices match up

as for high end - I think its getting better but we did have a lot more in the early 90's - across from the VAG there was romeo gigli, versus, etc, chanel was on burrard, valentino, fendi, furla were on burrard - most moved or closed down

Robson used to have Polo Ralph Lauren than they moved to gastown and shut down a few years later

if anyplace could become a hazelton lanes I think sinclair centre would be the best - other than escada and leone its mostly crappy nothing retail - most could be replaced by some better brands and with the canada line connection it would be great for richmond shoppers

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by officedweller

BTW - anyone else notice that Wal-Mart has motion sensors on all of its freezer compartments - the lights stay off until someone walks in fromt of them. Haven't seen that in any other stores. The lighting level in the store is quite low as well.

the price smart foods on north road has freezers that do that too - i think its going to become more common

[delboy]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Yes, that's a potentially chic area.
What concrete abomination are you referring to?
(I ask this because there are several right around there)
Thanks

He must be referring to the above ground parkade (there is a mcdonalds at ground level - real eyesore. There are still a few around downtown - real relics from the seventies when everything seemed to be about function and not form - very, very ugly.

[GeeCee]

Originally Posted by delboy

He must be referring to the above ground parkade (there is a mcdonalds at ground level - real eyesore. There are still a few around downtown - real relics from the seventies when everything seemed to be about function and not form - very, very ugly.

Link to parkade in question from Street View:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s...JantT-iWiEuuyv4jg&cbp=12,283.17,,0,-15.3

I don't think it's really that bad. Sure, the space could be utilized in a much better way but it doesn't really stick out to me as ugly.

[SpongeG]

compared to its neightbour to the north though...

[ozonemania]

Originally Posted by GeeCee

Link to parkade in question from Street View:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s...JantT-iWiEuuyv4jg&cbp=12,283.17,,0,-15.3

I don't think it's really that bad. Sure, the space could be utilized in a much better way but it doesn't really stick out to me as ugly.

Yes delboy, that was the building I was referring to. It really is an awful building, although I can see that the building has done its best to integrate with the street. You look at the side facing Alberni, and it's just a 5 storey high concrete wall. I don't see how that is 'okay' considering that this is a prime retail location, and across the street from a development like the Shangri-la. Sure, it would be fine leaving as is, but it's not really a best use of land and market forces are putting pressure on this lot to be redeveloped. It is located on the #2 most expensive retail rental strip in Canada.

I think a building with a 5 to 7 story height (or, an office tower with a 5 to 7 story podium) for retail and restaurants would be nice there. Faced with glass you can see the interior of all the shops from the street. At night lighting would further showcase the stores, and the stores would be open late! Could you see a Harrods, or Sogo, or Selfridges, Marks & Spencer, etc there? Maybe! What would be even neater is if the development had a pedestrian connection underground to the Shangri-la and then on to the Burrard Skytrain via the Royal Centre. I know, pretty wild, eh?

[Rusty Gull]

check out superstore on mt seymour parkway... Really well managed, though still very busy. I find Superstore's prices superior to Extra Foods. I also like the Joe clothing brand.

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

Extra Foods is their small format store. They're essentially the same as superstore. For some reason, I don't mind Extra Foods... but don't like Superstore.

There's one on Fraser Highway which was opened up a few years ago.

Friendly staff, they actually bad your groceries ( unlike self-service superstore ) and I don't think they charged for bags. Though that may have changed.

I can't stand ANY massive grocery stores, but I have a particular disdain for Superstore...

• They tend to have bad produce and meat
• They attract the budget asian shopper. I have seen some of these peel corn in the store, leaving the husks there... presumably to not have to pay for the extra weight.
• According to a friend who's husband is a Loblaws exec, they targetted this demographic early on because they were less "brand" conscious ) They now have mindshare in the Asian community as the "cheapest" place to shop.
• They never have enough tellers, creating line-ups
• They're huge and force you to go through the whole store to get to basic things ( I realize that all grocery stores do this, by putting dairy, bread and meat on opposite corners of the store )
• They're only open until 10PM, even though they're usually busy until 9:59. I can only imagine this is a cost cutting measure and a way to ensure the store is always busy.

[SpongeG]

was at Oakridge today - the new Murale store is really nice - some of the wall lighting is really cool and they have a large video screen on the dead outside wall which looks cool - nice layout - definately good competition to Sephora plus you can use your optimum card and points at it and the mall itself was really busy - much busier than I've usually seen it - must be thanks to the Canada line... Zellers in particular was really busy, busier than I have ever seen it ever - also the apple store was really buzy, Quicksilver has shut down, Fossil opens soon though and Benetton now sells mens Clothing!


beard papa coming to robson and it will be next to JapaDog

and some pics

[djh]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

was at Oakridge today - the new Murale store is really nice - some of the wall lighting is really cool and they have a large video screen on the dead outside wall which looks cool - nice layout - definately good competition to Sephora plus you can use your optimum card and points at it and the mall itself was really busy - much busier than I've usually seen it - must be thanks to the Canada line... Zellers in particular was really busy, busier than I have ever seen it ever - also the apple store was really buzy, Quicksilver has shut down, Fossil opens soon though and Benetton now sells mens Clothing!


beard papa coming to robson and it will be next to JapaDog

There's also a Beard Papa's going into City Square too (12th/Cambie). Saw it this weekend. I wouldn't have looked twice had it not been for all the raving on this forum about the place. Now I'll have to go and try it out once it opens...

[quobobo]

I think that's been open for a while.

[Yume-sama]

Holy 🞵🞵🞵🞵. A beard papas too?! That corner will be like Japan Central

That's amazing !

Though, I wonder, how long do you think these will be there? Something tells me they might only be there for the Olympics when it'll be a pedestrian only thing going on down there. I thought all of those storefronts would be demolished and re-developed to be more "modern" like the rest of the street.

[Rusty Gull]

^I actually hope those old buildings stay. They are refreshing in contrast to all of the sleek glass and steel elsewhere. But you're probably right -- they'll probably be razed at some point.

By the way, that area will now defy the old stereotype that Japanese food is healthy for you! A JapaDog/Beard Papa lunch makes a trip to McD's look positively healthy by comparison!

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by Rusty Gull

^I actually hope those old buildings stay. They are refreshing in contrast to all of the sleek glass and steel elsewhere. But you're probably right -- they'll probably be razed at some point.

By the way, that area will now defy the old stereotype that Japanese food is healthy for you! A JapaDog/Beard Papa lunch makes a trip to McD's look positively healthy by comparison!

Don't you dare try telling me creampuffs and *Japanese* hot dogs are unhealthy.

I'm on a diet, and they will be part of it!

[SpongeG]

beard papa - had them once they are pretty good - metrotown has one its seems to be quite busy, there is also one opening in Surrey Central City

[Rusty Gull]

I think one creampuff has about 220 calories, so it's probably not a lot worse than Tim Hortons.

On an unrelated note, I had to do a doubletake, but it looks like Marine Drive in North Van is going to get a Thrifty Foods. At least their logo was on a development site sign I saw there. It's about time that Thrifty Food starts having a bigger presence in the Lower Mainland.