The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[Hed Kandi]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

It also carries more ridiculously priced items, such as a $198,000 Hermes hand bag, in the largest Hermes boutique in Canada.

[Smooth]

If I was buying a $198,000 hand bag then I'd probably make the trip to Alberta just to avoid paying PST on it. That is a completely hypothetical scenario for me though.

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by phesto

^First McDonald's in Canada (well, Richmond).



They've got an application in now to consolidate their land along Knight Street, so it's likely they'll go for rezoning/development applications next year.

They went through this process in 2002 and then put it on hold. At that time the plan was to demolish the existing store and build a new 300,000 sq ft store.

Someone mentioned it earlier, but they will likely build a new structure to the East and keep the existing store in operation until the new one is ready. It will be the same type as Coquitlam with some surface/ some covered parking, and around the same size.

awesome stuff! I hate going out to COQ for Ikea.....will be stoked to have a full store in the Ditch

[LotusLand]

Originally Posted by nova9

Right. So my completely biased assessment is that they get everything because you cannot ignore Calgary because of its wealth whereas in Vancouver 'deserves' it more. Haha. But let's mover this thread out of the city comparison track which I apologize for.

When was the last big name to move into Robson, I feel like it's been kinda stagnant. It needs a few new stores.

Like OMG Crocs just moved on to Robson! Big name, hello

[johnjimbc]

I don't think Robson necessarily needs to build up to be better. It's not bad as it is now. It just feels a bit dated. Storefronts have been getting renewed over the past few years though. Even I can see a difference since I moved here. So I think the trend to renewal is underway, just sort of slow.

I think what Robson really needs more than anything is for the merchants who are there to create - or be more active as - a business improvement district. They seem to rely on the steady traffic they have and past reputation. I think it would do wonders for them to start making nice touches to the area. Perhaps they could have seasonal or even monthly organized events. Imagine if there was a Saturday in December touted as "Holiday on Robson." They could place special banners for the event up and down the street, merchants could have special coupons for the day, offer hot cider and treats in the stores, hire street performers to set up in a few locations for the day (like the musicians on Granville Island), or roving carolers.

In a general sense, perhaps they could make small, but notable, improvements along the stretch itself. Perhaps some new benches along the street, hanging planters in the spring and summer, etc.

In short, I just think Robson merchants need to band together to "refresh" the Robson street brand as a District. I know not everyone here is a big fan of Yaletown, but the merchants there do a much, much better job of hosting events to draw people to the area . . . tasting fares, the street race they had over the summer, the lighting event that one evening a few months back. I never see Robson host anything like that . . . they seem content to just rest on their laurels. As such, there isn't really a sense of place or excitement, even though it's arguably one of the most memorable stretches in the heart of downtown.

[Shibuya]

Bebe at $290+psf? Impressive.

That's a pretty big jump from what I have been hearing. The last few new deals on Robson were around the $220 psf, but none would compare to the corner of Robson and Burrard.

[Yume-sama]

That's nothing! According to an article I read awhile ago, the famous "Shibuya Starbucks" pays over 100 million JPY ($1.1 million CAD) per month in rent.


^ My photo

I wonder how much JapaDog is paying? That end of Robson must surely not be as expensive.

[Jacques]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

That's nothing! According to an article I read awhile ago, the famous "Shibuya Starbucks" pays over 100 million JPY ($1.1 million CAD) per month in rent.


^ My photo

I wonder how much JapaDog is paying? That end of Robson must surely not be as expensive.

Don't they also (Starbucks) have exclusivity in the Louvre museum, Paris, and if my memory serves me right, they paid an astronomically crazy amount of money to be the only one located inside near by the mall entrance.
it kinda has a killing effect on the whole Louvre experience to see such place instead of true french coffee bar for me anyway.

[Yume-sama]

Yes, I think with some locations Starbucks believes more in "being there" than "making money"

Think of the brand advertising with the Shibuya store alone. 3 million people are there everyday, millions of photos, etc.!

The store is so ridiculously busy though, that, to make it easier, you can only order one size

[vancityrox]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

All this is testimonial to original question some days ago, why don't we have a chic shopping district, "THE District," such as Yorkville in Toronto, Crescent Street in Montreal, or Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills?

Of course, these cities are much larger than Vancouver. Perhaps Vancouver hasn't reached the size to support such a district.

But, if as one contributor said, Calgary is consistently ahead us when they are half the size, then surely we could develop something, instead of having our "chic" stores diffused throughout the city, with no really centralized, high-fashion area.

Actually I have lived in Montreal my whole life before moving to Vancouver and Crescent Street isnt really a fashion street and REALLY cantcompare Rodeo to it lol.

Crescent has only a Hugo Boss store. There is a Holt Renfrew on the corner of Crescent and Sherbrooke though. Then there is a Gucci, Dior and Hermes store around the corner on Sherbrooke attached to the Holts. Thats pretty much a big name brands we have. We have otheres scattered around downtown though. We have a mall that is very chic and classy that holds only high end shops called Cours Mont Royal.

We have the first Diesel Flagship store in Canada on De La Montagne street, which is one parallel street away from Crescent. Then there is the other high end department store called Ogilvy's on St. Catherine which is like Holts but better.

I mean yeah we do have some stores in Montreal that are here first but Vancouver has way more interesting stores that Montreal still doesnt have.

We also just got a Seffora same time as Vancouver and a Forever 21 downtown one or two weeks before the Metro town one opened. We still dont have a Hollister, Armani Exchange or even a A&. Also Burberry and Versace stores we dont have. We have stores in Ogilvy that carry the brand but not store front itself. We dont have that much stores.

We also just got our 2 floor Apple Flagship downtown like 2 yrs ago. Dont worry Van will get it soon.

Anyways the point im trying to make is dont be so hard on yourselves. Vancouver has soooo many stores and great shopping areas. The only thing that I think is missing is a district or shopping malls downtown. Pacific isnt enough. Montreal just on St. Catherines street has more then 4 malls that all connect underground to each other!


Vancouver will get there soon. Just a little more time.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Actually, Calgary's new Holt Renfrew which just opened has been called the "flagship" and is bigger than the Vancouver store by nearly 15,000 square feet, carrying more brands, and etc.



It also carries more ridiculously priced items, such as a $198,000 Hermes hand bag, in the largest Hermes boutique in Canada.

its only large cause it has instore boutiques - vabncouver has stand alone stores for a lot of whats inside holt renfrew

Calgary lacks the stand alone stores for Chanel, Hermes etc

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

That's nothing! According to an article I read awhile ago, the famous "Shibuya Starbucks" pays over 100 million JPY ($1.1 million CAD) per month in rent.


^ My photo

I wonder how much JapaDog is paying? That end of Robson must surely not be as expensive.

the sil vous plait in the same building that closed down amidst much sorrow saw its rent jump from something like $3500 to $8000 or something in that range per month - japadog must be close to $5000 per month I would guess

[johnjimbc]

Speaking of which, someone was doing work inside the old S'il Vous Plait location tonight. I could see lights on inside and someone working near the windows (through the paper covering all the windows . . . you could just see shadows so couldn't tell exactly what they were working on.

[SpongeG]

new 7-11 for downtown - this one going in on pender at bute

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

its only large cause it has instore boutiques - vabncouver has stand alone stores for a lot of whats inside holt renfrew

Calgary lacks the stand alone stores for Chanel, Hermes etc

Well, duh! That's why we started WestJet; so we could go to Vancouver 12x per day.

The main problem with Calgary's retail is that there really is nothing downtown, and everything else is spread impossibly far through various malls at opposite ends of the city.

[Rusty Gull]

Great to see the 7-11 opening up. We need more of 'em. On a recent trip to Chicago, I was really impressed with the 7-11s there - in terms of their promotions and their proliferation. Very convenient.

The 7-11s in Japan are amazing, by the way... they have an amazing array of baked goods and meals that are constantly being trucked in.

For some reason, most of the old 7-11s in Metro Vancouver have the 1980s design, and are prime targets for hold-ups.

[SpongeG]

yah - its funny me and my friend were walking down around coal harbour area last week - near to this new to be 7-11 and we were both like this area really needs a 7-11 or something thats open 24 hours cause besides the shoppers and urban fare theres not much else going on

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by Rusty Gull

Great to see the 7-11 opening up. We need more of 'em. On a recent trip to Chicago, I was really impressed with the 7-11s there - in terms of their promotions and their proliferation. Very convenient.

The 7-11s in Japan are amazing, by the way... they have an amazing array of baked goods and meals that are constantly being trucked in.

For some reason, most of the old 7-11s in Metro Vancouver have the 1980s design, and are prime targets for hold-ups.

They would be more amazing if they sold Slurpees.

[nova9]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

They would be more amazing if they sold Slurpees.

I KNOW!!!!! In HK too, right where you'd need it the most. Buuuutttttt being able to buy beers with your Octopus card at 7/11 is pretty awesome.

[officedweller]

7-11 without Slurpees? Wow.