General Retail News

[rakerman]

Ottawa Miele Gallery is going in the old Vistek location at Bank & Gladstone, across from Central Phase 1. Nice to see a high-end store on the street.


DSC03062 by rakerman, on Flickr

The site just has placeholder images for now

http://mieleonbank.ca/

I had thought it was only the 2nd floor that was leased but now I'm thinking the "lower level" that the leasing sign says is still left must be the basement level, not the ground floor.

(Crossposted to General Updates.)

[rakerman]

DSC03258 by rakerman, on Flickr

http://www.sunflowersottawa.com/

[Norman Bates]

I went to Hobby House tonight. It was the usual fare.

Then I drove to the Train Yards to find this place. Very low visibility location adjacent to the Scores.

Their stock is something I haven't seen in Ottawa in 30 years. Huge focus on R/C craft and gear. I last remember seeing a selection like this in the old Hobbyland in the Beacon Hill North shopping mall.

Meanwhile I think the Hobby House will soldier on.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by Norman Bates

I went to Hobby House tonight. It was the usual fare.

Then I drove to the Train Yards to find this place. Very low visibility location adjacent to the Scores.

Their stock is something I haven't seen in Ottawa in 30 years. Huge focus on R/C craft and gear. I last remember seeing a selection like this in the old Hobbyland in the Beacon Hill North shopping mall.

Meanwhile I think the Hobby House will soldier on.

What are the prices like?

[Norman Bates]

Originally Posted by reidjr

What are the prices like?

No prices were displayed. There were many bar code scanners to check prices with. It's an idea I like because it allows quick price changes to reflect competitive conditions and fluctuating exchange rates.

On reflection, I don't think I saw one product in common with the Hobby House.

[reidjr]

Sail which is a outdoor gear store will open at the train yards dec 1st.


www.sail.ca

[m3i6]

On the note of outdoor stores... MEC on Richmond is set to expand. They will be taking down the building that houses the Pita place and AutoRacks as well as a building in behind.

Looks like they will move the parking lot West and expand along Richmond.

[reidjr]

Has anyone heard of T.Hopper if so what is it a store or restaurant.

[c_speed3108]

The mall action in the city seems to be heating up...

Rideau Centre requests parking lot extension

Published on December 15th, 2010

Peter Kovessy RSS Feed
Ottawa Business Journal

Viking-Rideau Corp. says its prime 46,300-square-foot development site near the corner of Nicholas and Rideau streets won’t stay empty for long, but wants to keep using it as a parking lot for the time being.

Topics :
Rideau Centre , Congress Centre , Ottawa Convention Centre.Ms , Nicholas Street , Rideau Street , April.Along

The owner of the Rideau Centre is asking the city for a three-year extension to its current temporary zoning so it can continue using the property for surface parking.

According to the city, the temporary zoning has been in place since 1992, with the most recent extension set to expire in May.

Three years is believed to be the maximum allowable length for the extension, and shouldn’t be interpreted as an indication of when the site may be developed, says Rideau Centre general manager Cindy VanBuskirk.

While there is no timeline in place, she says an expansion is generally expected within the next four years.

“Prime real estate in the heart of the nation’s capital is not going to sit undeveloped for long,” says Ms. VanBuskirk.

The massive commercial complex has undergone hundreds of millions of dollars in construction in recent years, including the Rideau Centre’s new parking structure on Nicholas Street and renovations to the office building at the corner of Rideau Street and Colonel By Drive.

Additionally, the Westin Hotel has upgraded its facilities and the old Congress Centre was largely demolished to make way for the new Ottawa Convention Centre.

Ms. VanBuskirk says any expansion of the Rideau Centre would take place following completion of the Convention Centre, which is scheduled to reopen in April.

Along with the site at Rideau and Nicholas streets, Viking-Rideau also owns a development site that runs along Nicholas Street, between the Mackenzie King Bridge and Daly Avenue, that features the old Land Registry Office building.

Viking-Rideau is “constantly assessing” the highest and best use of the sites, says Ms. VanBuskirk. While additional retail space is likely, there are also frequently discussions about a new high-end hotel.

“There is going to be a requirement over time for an additional hotel in the downtown core, which could very comfortably end up on our site,” says Ms. VanBuskirk, adding there are no agreements in place with any hotel operator.

She says it generally takes 12 to 18 months of planning before shovels could hit the ground. However, Viking-Rideau still has studies from its previous expansion plans, filed in 2006 and ultimately abandoned, that will allow it to move forward with an “aggressive schedule” once a decision has been made.

The Rideau Centre currently has roughly 1,400 parking spaces, according to Ms. VanBuskirk. The parking structure off Nicholas Street was designed to eventually accommodate another two levels of 116 parking stalls each, she adds.

While sales numbers for November are not yet in, Ms. VanBuskirk says traffic has been “fantastic” this holiday season and that retailers are anecdotally saying revenues are up.

The mall is currently fully occupied, save for some space under construction to accommodate tenant movement.

The former ancillary food court inside the mall, across from Shopper’s Drug Mart near the east Rideau Street entrance, is reportedly being replaced with a two-storey, 16,000-square-foot Forever 21 store.

[kevinbottawa]

Originally Posted by c_speed3108

The mall action in the city seems to be heating up...

It'll be interesting to see what they build on that site on Nicholas between the Mackenzie Bridge and Daly. I think that's the land next to Sears across from the Arts Court. More development would be good for that area. I don't know if I'd prefer a high-end hotel like they mentioned or more retail. With St. Laurent Centre becoming the 10th largest mall in the country and probably the nicest in the capital region they have to do something spectacular.

[c_speed3108]

Big day for retail news!

First off Target has bought all of Zeller's 220 stores leases.

100-150 will become Target and the remainder will hit the auction block.

Target to buy Zellers for $1.8 billion


Postmedia News January 13, 2011 10:01 AM



Target Corp. said Thursday it is buying Zellers Inc., a subsidiary of the Hudson's Bay Company, for $1.8 billion.

U.S.-based Target said the purchase will allow it open its first stores in Canada beginning in 2013.

"This transaction provides an outstanding opportunity for us to extend our Target brand, Target stores and superior shopping experience beyond the United States for the first time in our company's history," Gregg Steinhafel, Target's chairman, president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Target expects to open 100 to 150 Target stores throughout Canada in 2013 and 2014.

Under the agreement, Target will acquire the leasehold interests of as many as 220 sites now operated by Zellers Inc.

"Zellers Inc. will sublease these sites from Target and continue to operate them under the Zellers banner for a period of time," Target said.

Hudson's Bay Company said in a statement Thursday that it was also anticipated that a number of Zellers locations will be assigned to other retail enterprises.

Fred Waks, chief operating officer at RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust, told the Financial Post in October that Target is looking for an urban strategy and will roll out first in the Greater Toronto Area.

Meanwhile, Steinhafel said Target's chief marketing officer, Michael Francis, will lead the company's move into the Canadian market.

"Under Michael's leadership, Target has emerged as one of the most recognizable brands in the world and I am pleased that he will guide our expansion into Canada," Steinhafel said in a separate statement.

Read more: http://www.canada.com/Target+Zellers...#ixzz1AvbrJ0aY

And for the next purchase....Shopper's drug mark has picked up the Glebe Apothecary. They expect it to be a nice compliment for the other shopper's store two blocks away.

Glebe Apothecary sold to Shoppers chain


By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen January 13, 2011 9:55 AM



OTTAWA — The Glebe Apothecary, a landmark independent drugstore for more than a quarter of a century, has been sold to the giant Shoppers Drug Mart chain.

A statement on the store’s website says simply: “To our friends and loyal customers:

“You may have noticed that we have become part of the Shoppers Drug Mart family, and you may be wondering what this means to you, our customer.

“We are and will continue to be The Glebe Apothecary, with the same people and the same commitment to customer service and our community. We will continue to offer the same mix of unique and unusual products, plus an extensive selection of Life Brand products that bring value and choice to our customers. And while Paul (Davies) will be running operations from now on, Claudia (McKeen) will remain on part time.

“Our commitment to you will not waiver, and our customers remain our number one priority.”

The website doesn’t say why the store was sold, but the business was one of a handful of independent drug stores remaining in the face of big chains.

The sale took effect Tuesday.

Paul Davies, who has worked in the store for 18 years, will now run the store as a Shoppers franchise.

“It’s the same people, it’s the same sign out front, so other than a very few cosmetic changes and some signs it really is completely identical to what you saw last week,” he said.

“The business is operated in this case by me and my company, on behalf of Shoppers Drug Mart. And ultimately they own things like the negotiated lease and all that stuff.”

The store will also stock Life brand products, the Shoppers brand.

There’s a traditional Shoppers store two blocks away, but Davies said the two stores complement each other.

The Apothecary has offered services not commonly available, including making prescription drugs in the store. It plans to continue this service.

This is called “compounding,” Davies explained, and it generally involves putting a commercial drug into a format that is not available from manufacturers.

“That’s a big part of our pharmacy. Always has been,” he said.

For instance, they turn medicine that is normally available only in adult formats into a form for infants. “You can’t give a six-month-old a pill in every case so we might make a liquid out of that.”

They also produce veterinary medicine out of drugs designed for humans.

“There’s not quite the array of drugs for pets that there is for humans.”

Former owner Claudia McKeen couldn’t be reached. Davies said only she could say why the store was sold.
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Glebe+A...#ixzz1AvcFxcNb

[c_speed3108]

...and Dalhousie street is having a rough go...

Dalhousie Street businesses closing
Some stores see hope in the building of the new convention centre
Last Updated: Thursday, January 13, 2011 | 10:06 AM ET Comments0Recommend0
CBC News

It's been a bad year for some businesses on Dalhousie Street in the ByWard Market, with six of them recently closed or about to close.

For instance, the windows of the Book Market, just north of Rideau Street, stand empty after 35 years in busines. People just stopped coming to the store, said owner Diane Sawyer Wednesday.

"My girls used to call me in the afternoon and say, 'Diane, there's not a person moving on the streets down here, nobody moving around here,' and it used to be constant traffic," Sawyer said.

It was a tough summer, she said, with construction on three sides of the ByWard Market causing traffic jams on Dalhousie Street.

That also contributed to the impending closing of the store Chinese Treasures.

"The people cannot stop. The parking is expensive and not available. The people say that it's the reason they don't come," said Andrée Vallières, who works behind the counter at Chinese Treasures.

But some other Dalhousie Street business owners say they're thriving.

Heinrich Stubbe owns Stubbe Chocolates across the street from the Book Market.

"I realized that we are a destination store, and people will come, and that's what they did," Stubbe said.

City Coun. Mathieu Fleury said that's the approach ByWard Market businesses need to take.

"The market should offer something very niche, very particular to what you cannot find elsewhere in the city," Fleury said.

The business owners who remain on Dalhousie Street are optimistic that the new Ottawa Convention Centre on the east side of the Rideau Canal will boost the downtown economy. Construction of the convention centre is expected to be finished by April.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/stor...#ixzz1Avkz1mcE

[Cre47]

Also, ads are already placed on buses for the upcoming opening of the Lowe's store on Hazeldean Road. Been awhile since there was an update about that store and didn't though it would be that imminent.

[Cre47]

Originally Posted by Cre47

Also, ads are already placed on buses for the upcoming opening of the Lowe's store on Hazeldean Road. Been awhile since there was an update about that store and didn't though it would be that imminent.

Now ads are saying that it is open.

[MichelKazan]

So WalMart is supposed to be open at Baseline and Clyde tomorrow the 28th.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/busines...872/story.html

Exciting stuff, I guess. Still kind of sad how we closed and tore down a a school to build a Wal-Mart.

However, reading the article, here's a little something that struck me:


The company said it has three stores in Ottawa that will be open in the coming weeks. One on the corner of Merivale Road and Baseline Road, is due to open its doors any day, while one on Iber Road near Stittsville and another on Innes Road near Orléans will be opening in the coming months.

Anybody find anything wrong with this picture or know anything about this?
1) Isn't a Stittsville location on Iber Road a little too close to the store at Kanata Centrum?
2) There already is a Wal-Mart Supercentre on Innes Road in Orléans, which not to long ago was renovated and converted to a Supercentre and even that location only opened around 2005.

Any thoughts or something the rest of us should know?

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by MichelKazan

1) Isn't a Stittsville location on Iber Road a little too close to the store at Kanata Centrum?

It's definately too close and apparently the Centrum Walmart is moving to the Bridlewood area off of Eagleson. That would make it even closer to Iber Road. That being said, there is no Walmart on Iber Road. I assume they were referring to the opening of Lowes this week.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

It's definately too close and apparently the Centrum Walmart is moving to the Bridlewood area off of Eagleson. That would make it even closer to Iber Road. That being said, there is no Walmart on Iber Road. I assume they were referring to the opening of Lowes this week.

Do you know is it 100% there moving to bridlewood.

[MichelKazan]

Any particular reason why they would move the Kanata Centrum Wal-Mart to Bridlewood? Do you think it's possible that the market has gotten so big in Kanata that it can sustain 2 Wal-Marts, like in Gatineau?

Can't be referring to Lowe's. The Lowe's in Orleans isn't opening soon; it's been open for at least a year now.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by MichelKazan

Any particular reason why they would move the Kanata Centrum Wal-Mart to Bridlewood? Do you think it's possible that the market has gotten so big in Kanata that it can sustain 2 Wal-Marts, like in Gatineau?

Can't be referring to Lowe's. The Lowe's in Orleans isn't opening soon; it's been open for at least a year now.

The reason i could see them looking to move is the current walmrt is a dump beeing in the centrum does not help as the parking is a mess so if they have there on lot things would be alot better.

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by MichelKazan

Can't be referring to Lowe's. The Lowe's in Orleans isn't opening soon; it's been open for at least a year now.

I was referring to the Lowes in Kanata/Stittsville (at the end of Iber) that opened last week.

Do you know is it 100% there moving to bridlewood.

Let's just say I heard from a very reliable source

Any particular reason why they would move the Kanata Centrum Wal-Mart to Bridlewood? Do you think it's possible that the market has gotten so big in Kanata that it can sustain 2 Wal-Marts, like in Gatineau?

They are moving it and turning it into a super Walmart (complete w fresh produce etc.). I heard from someone who is high up at the store in Kanata. That is the plan at the momment, but who knows what might change in the future. They will not keep this one open as far as I've heard.