The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[SpongeG]

its open in coquitlam too

steve nash/fitness world is chugging along at the old office depot spot in brentwood area

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

so this store is on par with Robson II then I take it. cool stuff. Starbucks Reserve also?

I think that every Clover store is also a Reserve store. They don't seem to offer their regular coffees as the Clover options. Not entirely sure though.

[SpongeG]

I passed this place last night and wondered why the windows were all papered up... seems its going to be filled soon...

I read an article about it in BIV tghis morning that said the Corner Suite Bistro ended up having to close because they took a short term lease and when that lease came up for renewal the lease rate jumped high and they couldn't afford it any longer and closed up instead

Dale Mackay’s New “Ensemble” To Open In The Old Corner Suite

by Andrew Morrison | We’ve respectfully kept this on the extra-double-down-low while talented chef de cuisine Dale Mackay’s tenure at Lumiere was coming to a close, but since it did just that last night it’s time to break the good news: the Top Chef Canada competitor has indeed figured out his next step, and it will be to open a new restaurant of his own.
We can confirm that Mackay has taken over the recently vacated Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe location at 850 Thurlow Street (just south of Robson) with plans to open his first restaurant – dubbed Ensemble – hopefully before the end of this May. We are also especially glad to hear that some Lumiere employees are going along with him for the ride, among them sommelier Kevin van Hullebush and sous chef Brad Hendrickson.
Expect a 30+ seat oyster and cocktail bar and an 85 seat dining room. Further details soon, but in the meantime see below for images of the location…

http://scoutmagazine.ca/2011/03/14/diner...he-corner-suite-location/comment-page-1/

Lumiere chef to open new restaurant in early May


By Juanita ng, Vancouver Sun March 16, 2011


Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/Lumiere+chef+open+restaurant+early/4447706/story.html#ixzz1HXjlPbJY

[SpongeG]

Marshalls is opening on marine drive - in that complex where Canadian Tire, Best Buy etc is going, they have just put up the sign with all the tenants recently - i didn't see it last week when i drove past

[officedweller]

That'll be a drawing card.
I wonder if that'll affect whether Wal-Mart decides to proceed with the project next door?
i.e. to create a discount hub

[SpongeG]

i wonder

the superstore renovation is getting close to being done - been going about once a week and its a little better each time but still a little jumbled trying to find food stuff, but their new layouts are so much better having the aisles being half the size is great cause you can skip so many of them

[organisedchaos]

not sure if this has been posted but the Topshop and Topman are coming to Canada through The Bay as stores within stores and stand alone stores. starting in Toronto and then Vancouver by 2013.

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I passed this place last night and wondered why the windows were all papered up... seems its going to be filled soon...

I read an article about it in BIV tghis morning that said the Corner Suite Bistro ended up having to close because they took a short term lease and when that lease came up for renewal the lease rate jumped high and they couldn't afford it any longer and closed up instead

Dale Mackay’s New “Ensemble” To Open In The Old Corner Suite

by Andrew Morrison | We’ve respectfully kept this on the extra-double-down-low while talented chef de cuisine Dale Mackay’s tenure at Lumiere was coming to a close, but since it did just that last night it’s time to break the good news: the Top Chef Canada competitor has indeed figured out his next step, and it will be to open a new restaurant of his own.
We can confirm that Mackay has taken over the recently vacated Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe location at 850 Thurlow Street (just south of Robson) with plans to open his first restaurant – dubbed Ensemble – hopefully before the end of this May. We are also especially glad to hear that some Lumiere employees are going along with him for the ride, among them sommelier Kevin van Hullebush and sous chef Brad Hendrickson.
Expect a 30+ seat oyster and cocktail bar and an 85 seat dining room. Further details soon, but in the meantime see below for images of the location…

http://scoutmagazine.ca/2011/03/14/diner...he-corner-suite-location/comment-page-1/

Lumiere chef to open new restaurant in early May


By Juanita ng, Vancouver Sun March 16, 2011


Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/Lumiere+chef+open+restaurant+early/4447706/story.html#ixzz1HXjlPbJY

updated story/more pics >> http://scoutmagazine.ca/2011/03/26/opening-soon-first-look-inside-dale-mackays-new-ensemble/

[hollywoodnorth]

also KI looks close to opening >> http://scoutmagazine.ca/2011/03/26/seen-...at-the-upcoming-ki-restaurants-interior/

so that would make the Shangri-La fully leased then

[SpongeG]

so HMV Canada might get sold off from its british parent company - that would leave a huge space available on robson and burrard... and many malls and places in the area - apparently the chain doesn't even break even so apparently its not an attractive purchase

I vote for a Daiso to take over most of it!

also True Value Vintage is having a shut down sale - they are in the basement of the building that is getting demolished and redeveloped at granville and robson - they are moving to Main Street though somewhere i forget the cross street i think its higher up like in the 20's

[Spork]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

so HMV Canada might get sold off from its british parent company - that would leave a huge space available on robson and burrard... and many malls and places in the area - apparently the chain doesn't even break even so apparently its not an attractive purchase

I vote for a Daiso to take over most of it!

also True Value Vintage is having a shut down sale - they are in the basement of the building that is getting demolished and redeveloped at granville and robson - they are moving to Main Street though somewhere i forget the cross street i think its higher up like in the 20's

Apple store? H&M? J. Crew? Anything is better than a dollar store.

[SpongeG]

its a huge space - i imagine they could make it into 3 or 4 large stores

I just hate driving all the way to richmond cause its the only Daiso store - we need more of them

[Van23H]

I hope Nordstrom leases the space its a 40,000 sqft space and if they maybe leased some additional space it would be a decently sized store in a prominent area.

[SpongeG]

that would be good - they could also take over the off the wall location since its going too

[Yume-sama]

HMV recently closed their most "successful" location in the World, in Shibuya. It was a real staple of that area. No doubt our HMV is on the way out really soon.

The Japanese are amongst the only people in the World who will actually go and line up for a new CD.

[204]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

i thought waves was started by a korean/canadian lawyer and canadian investors aimed at a way for immigrants to come to canada and open franchises mainly targeting korean immigrants

not that it matters but it does to my korean friend to support fellow koreans

"The president and owner of Waves Coffee is a well-known and successful owner and operator of coffee and donut shops in Western Canada. He started in the coffee shop and donut business in Winnipeg where he purchased and converted a poorly run chain of coffee/donut shops into successful and profitable operations by applying sound business practices, great customer relations and hard work. Moving to Vancouver, he purchased several underperforming coffee shops and applied his expertise in marketing and operations to make these coffee shops top volume and profit producers.'

http://www.wavesfranchising.com/faq.php

[officedweller]

Waves is now open at TVTowers - the corner of Robson & Cambie.

[SpikePhanta]

Originally Posted by 204

"The president and owner of Waves Coffee is a well-known and successful owner and operator of coffee and donut shops in Western Canada. He started in the coffee shop and donut business in Winnipeg where he purchased and converted a poorly run chain of coffee/donut shops into successful and profitable operations by applying sound business practices, great customer relations and hard work. Moving to Vancouver, he purchased several underperforming coffee shops and applied his expertise in marketing and operations to make these coffee shops top volume and profit producers.'

http://www.wavesfranchising.com/faq.php

Thats the guy I was refering to.

Billabong is going in the old off the wall space in metrotown.
Cold stone cremery and Tim hortans open across from Mcdonalds in metrotown as well.

[jlousa]

Seems like there might be some truth for Nordstroms coming to town, in this weeks BIV it implies that an announcement is expected shortly. With the timing of HMV it might all come together. This retail stuff isn't my forte so hopefully someone in that area might have more insight.

[SpongeG]

design house which used to be in yaletown has moved to Homer street about half a block from Robson

Beauty Mark has moved or is moving from its Hamilton spot in Yaletown to Pacific Boulevard

the corner unit on robson in atelier has no for lease signage and is papered off - looks like its getting ready for a new tenant... and most of the large space has been made into smaller spaces

a new noodle place is opening up in atelier... pics by me