The Ultimate Vancouver Rumour Thread!

[SpikePhanta]

But I like the Capers

[hrhsheba]

They could take over one of the now-idle floors at Sears

[vancityrox]

Originally Posted by awvan

It is what it is. No one concerned about money goes to Whole Foods for their everyday grocery shop (hell, they may not even go in at all). But there are certain things there you don't find at Capers or Urban Fare. Their take out food is amazing. Their floral section is better than any other grocery store, and rivals many florists (for content, not price). I find their produce to be fantastic, and I've seen things there I've never seen any other grocery store (specialty places like Kin's or even T&T not included).

Every time I've been to the Cambie location it has been pretty busy, the Park Royal location is rammed all the time. I've been told their Park Royal location is an anomaly with regards to its size (33k sq ft) and only did that deal because they needed to be in West Van and Larco wouldn't give them any more space. The Cambie location (57k sq. ft.) is much closer to their proto size, and when I heard they had secured a downtown location it was said to be a full size store.

Still, I don't really know where they'd go downtown, and they supposedly won't consider a deal unless the average household income of the area isn't $100k or above, so I'm not sure anywhere downtown meets those parameters.

I heard about this a couple weeks ago and didn't to post it. But the rumor thread needed a little life.

I'd rather go shop on Commercial Drive at Santa Barbera. The produce there is a lot cheaper and probably better then Whole Foods. Fast turn around.

Who wants to pay 2.49 per pound of grapes when you ca get it for 99 cents to 1.25 a pound at Santa Barbera. Looks to me people like to throw their money away. Welcome to Vancouver! haha

[CBeats]

The Whole Foods in Park Royal is jam packed all the time - it's one of the most successful locations in the entire company, including US locations. In 2008, it was the second most successful after a Manhattan location!

I don't know if there's enough demand downtown to merit a location there, but there is certainly demand for the brand in general.

[SpongeG]

well they would likely shut capers down and gain all those shoppers

[phesto]

I think Whole Foods floated around as an idea for part of the Bay Parkade redevelopment a couple of years ago (along with Wal-mart and some other big retailers), but there is no activity on that project right now...

I would be a bit surprised to see them downtown, as the grocery market is pretty saturated, especially with Urban Fare in 3 locations.

Even when the Pattison site on Burrard is redeveloped it is likely to be a Nesters and not a Save-on due to size. (Downtown South being the one area that could use a grocer in close proximity).

Personally I like Whole Foods way more than Urban Fare - much more variety in fresh stuff/deli/takeway...

[wrenegade]

Did some rough math on the Capers site on Robson. Site size appears to be around 31,000 sq ft. Multi-level food store could work there. Still, the incomes aren't there so I don't know.

And Vancityrox, I had never heard about that Santa Barbara place on Commercial, I'll definitely have to check it out.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by awvan

... I've been told their Park Royal location is an anomaly with regards to its size (33k sq ft) and only did that deal because they needed to be in West Van and Larco wouldn't give them any more space. The Cambie location (57k sq. ft.) is much closer to their proto size, and when I heard they had secured a downtown location it was said to be a full size store.

Still, I don't really know where they'd go downtown, and they supposedly won't consider a deal unless the average household income of the area isn't $100k or above, so I'm not sure anywhere downtown meets those parameters.

Wow - full sized store downtown.

Originally Posted by hrhsheba

They could take over one of the now-idle floors at Sears

Umm... maybe it is a floor in Sears?

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Wow - full sized store downtown.



Umm... maybe it is a floor in Sears?

maybe *replace* sears?

[officedweller]

Sears is 600,000 sq ft. on 7 (or 8) levels.

[EdinVan]

Originally Posted by vancityrox

I'd rather go shop on Commercial Drive at Santa Barbera. The produce there is a lot cheaper and probably better then Whole Foods. Fast turn around.

Who wants to pay 2.49 per pound of grapes when you ca get it for 99 cents to 1.25 a pound at Santa Barbera. Looks to me people like to throw their money away. Welcome to Vancouver! haha

Conspicuous consumption.

[mezzanine]

I also would look at the ritz. their retail areas have been empty for the longest time, it is a sizeable floorplate and it is in coal harbour. it wuold also be a natural fit with shoppers drug mart. close to 2 urban fares, but maybe this will bring their prices down..

I also agree that non-grocery business, especially take-out, seems to be a the major moneymaker for them. the take-out counter at the 2 urban fairs are always packed at lunch with business folks.

[jlousa]

Last week Sears' US parent company bought up almost all of Sears Canada, they now own over 90% of the company which will enable them to take it private. What does this all mean, it means should they choose to, they are now in a position to offload all of Sears Canada if they need to pad the bottom line of the US parent, or if the parent company gets into trouble again it would bring down Sears Canada as well. So for all intents and purposes it's now more likely that we could see change, because Sears Canada itself was never in any trouble.

[MechMike]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Last week Sears' US parent company bought up almost all of Sears Canada, they now own over 90% of the company which will enable them to take it private. What does this all mean, it means should they choose to, they are now in a position to offload all of Sears Canada if they need to pad the bottom line of the US parent, or if the parent company gets into trouble again it would bring down Sears Canada as well. So for all intents and purposes it's now more likely that we could see change, because Sears Canada itself was never in any trouble.

Are you implying that if the Parent company dives down again that our charming lego block we have downtown could possibly release its contract?


Because that would be awesome...

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by MechMike

Are you implying that if the Parent company dives down again that our charming lego block we have downtown could possibly release its contract?


Because that would be awesome...

more likely, if Sears Canada goes bankrupt (because if the US parent or any other reason), whoever buys the Sears Canada assets would also get the lease (just like Sears picked up the lease when buying the bankrupt Eatons assets)

[entheosfog]

Originally Posted by awvan

And Vancityrox, I had never heard about that Santa Barbara place on Commercial, I'll definitely have to check it out.

There's many other fruit & veg stands on The Drive that have super cheap stuff and tastes better than the supermarkets stuff. (there is merit to Kramer buying from Joe's and not wanting his fruit from the grocery market on that Seinfeld episode!)
But yeah SB is quite good, but always busy with cramped isles.

[LeftCoaster]

Personally I love fruit and veg stands, the majority of the time their products are much better than the local grocery stores.

Regarding whole foods though, you have to keep in mind that their products are entirely organic though, so you cant really compare the prices of f/v stands selling traditional produce and wholefoods selling certified organics. I personally like whole foods, they ahve some great stuff and their attention to detail and customer service cant be beat... I dont buy everything there though, some of their goods are just a total ripoff. I get most of my non-perishables from regular grocery stores.

[SpongeG]

i think most people in vancouver buy at produce stores - and its a pretty much a vancouver thing too - people I know who move here always remark how many produce/fruit places there are and how come some streets have two right next to each other - every mall as well as a kins or langley farm market in it

[vanman]

All this talk of grocery stores be moved to the retail thread. There is a reason I never visit that thread.

[mezzanine]

Steve munroe's blog has increasing chatter that the TTC will buy our Mk1s to extend the use of their scarbourough ICTS route for another few dozen years. According to him, all will be revealed at a metrolinx meeting May 19.

http://stevemunro.ca/?p=3655#comments

The SRT will continue operating until after the Pan Am Games in 2015 at which point it will close for reconstruction. Second-hand Mark I ICTS cars will be purchased from Vancouver to supplement the existing fleet in the interim.