Winnipeg Retail - Page 21

Boreal · #**401** Posted **Apr 15, 2011, 5:56 PM**

Nothing immediately. Portage Place is a sack of excrement that is just too big for the population it serves, and hence the empty storefronts. Certainly having more storefronts with doors open on to Portage would not hurt, but it still won't change the fact that trendy shoppers will be in the Exchange and Corydon-Osborne and Academy, with everybody else in the city shopping at Polo Park and St. James area, St. Vital, Regent and Kildonan Place, or the Kenaston area.

On a related note, what a terrible place for the IMAX theatre. 3rd floor of a mall, noted mostly for being a drug den. Many possible patrons (see: suburban dwellers = the majority of Winnipeggers) will not even consider the option, as they would have to park relatively far away (and pay for it), and then climb up to the third floor with the omnipresent feeling of lack of safety. It's very real when you're female, 5'3, 135 pounds and with a 5 year old.

Effectively, Portage Place is a failure. It's greatest purpose is serving as a skywalk connection. All that said, it has some good bones, with the fountain and clock tower, etc.

rypinion · #**402** Posted **Apr 15, 2011, 6:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boreal

On a related note, what a terrible place for the IMAX theatre. 3rd floor of a mall, noted mostly for being a drug den. Many possible patrons (see: suburban dwellers = the majority of Winnipeggers) will not even consider the option, as they would have to park relatively far away (and pay for it), and then climb up to the third floor with the omnipresent feeling of lack of safety.

The Portage Place parkade is free to people attending an IMAX movie. (Also to people spending >$20 in Portage Place stores during their visit). IMAX has a parking validation machine just inside the doors (sometimes it is in the box office).

Boreal · #**403** Posted **Apr 15, 2011, 6:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rypinion

The Portage Place parkade is free to people attending an IMAX movie. (Also to people spending >$20 in Portage Place stores during their visit). IMAX has a parking validation machine just inside the doors (sometimes it is in the box office).

That helps.

I'm guessing however that if I didn't know, soccer moms likely didn't either. Of course, there is a strong possibility the linkage of a younger male with estrogen and Dora the Explorer is a little presumptuous.

It's a nice theatre and everything (concessions are insane), but the location is just plain bad. The parking incentive helps, but I suppose if it has been in place for a while and attendance is still poor, that is not a good sign at all. Maybe IMAX has a cult like following, but nobody I know goes, unless it is a school group.

cheswick · #**404** Posted **Apr 15, 2011, 6:13 PM**

Speaking of IMAX does anyone know why they never play top tier movies on release days? They started playing avatar months after its theatrical release and everyone had already seen it. The IMAX in downtown montreal plays new releases when they're released and many people go watch it at an increased price for that IMAX experience.

flatlander · #**405** Posted **Apr 15, 2011, 9:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheswick

Speaking of IMAX does anyone know why they never play top tier movies on release days? They started playing avatar months after its theatrical release and everyone had already seen it. The IMAX in downtown montreal plays new releases when they're released and many people go watch it at an increased price for that IMAX experience.

IMAX has always had trouble obtaining first runs from the distributor. Not sure why. I had been told that it was simply the cost of producing the film - I can't imagine it but apparently it's super expensive to physically reproduce the cost of the film. It's not like it's burned on a DVD or anything. Apparently it makes economic sense for larger markets, but not ours.

I guess, in a perfect world, the best place for attractions like Famous Players, Imax and PTE is on the third floor because they generate less foot traffic than retail, restaurant etc. Maybe that makes sense in Japan or Manhattan but not downtown Winnipeg.

Rudiger · #**406** Posted **Apr 15, 2011, 9:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheswick

Speaking of IMAX does anyone know why they never play top tier movies on release days? They started playing avatar months after its theatrical release and everyone had already seen it. The IMAX in downtown montreal plays new releases when they're released and many people go watch it at an increased price for that IMAX experience.

It's because of ownership; our Imax is owned and run by Forks North Portage, not Cineplex. Cineplex refuses to let FNP compete with them, hence why the movies start playing months after.

1ajs · #**407** Posted **Apr 15, 2011, 10:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudiger

It's because of ownership; our Imax is owned and run by Forks North Portage, not Cineplex. Cineplex refuses to let FNP compete with them, hence why the movies start playing months after.

is that not illegal?

Kinguni · #**408** Posted **Apr 16, 2011, 5:46 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheswick

So what can be done?

Get rid of the gangsters. Clean up the mall image. I walked through it today late lunch hour. Wasn't bad once you got past the food court/centre court area. No one is buying, except for fast food. Whole area was packed, but nothing that would lead to mall success. Just a great place for loiterers to hang out. The Staples probably doesn't help at all since it completely cuts off part of the main floor.

roccerfeller · #**409** Posted **Apr 16, 2011, 6:06 AM**

Someone with vision will come along and do something great for Portage Place.

One day.

Probably 20 years from now. But I do believe it will happen.

Kinguni · #**410** Posted **Apr 16, 2011, 6:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by roccerfeller

Someone with vision will come along and do something great for Portage Place.

Urban reserve? Probably a good idea actually. Actually, I really like that idea. See if I still like it in the morning.

hexrae · #**411** Posted **Apr 16, 2011, 6:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by roccerfeller

Someone with vision will come along and do something great for Portage Place.

One day.

Probably 20 years from now. But I do believe it will happen.

We all have visions, the problem resides in obtaining the means to realize them.

hexrae · #**412** Posted **Apr 16, 2011, 6:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kinguni

Urban reserve? Probably a good idea actually. Actually, I really like that idea. See if I still like it in the morning.

Enlighten me on why you think this would be a good idea? Seriously, I'm all ears.

Kinguni · #**413** Posted **Apr 16, 2011, 6:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hexrae

Enlighten me on why you think this would be a good idea? Seriously, I'm all ears.

Possibly due to my state of intoxication, but if the first nations were to take it over, clean it up and show the City the good they can do, it would be good for their people and for the City. It could even be a good tourist draw. Filled with First Nations run businesses and institutions. And maybe some programs to get the kids out of the gangs - run they out of town if you will. Meh, I'm dreaming. Nice to dream sometimes though.

Riverman · #**414** Posted **Apr 16, 2011, 3:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kinguni

Possibly due to my state of intoxication,

LOL!

1ajs · #**415** Posted **Apr 16, 2011, 6:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kinguni

Possibly due to my state of intoxication, but if the first nations were to take it over, clean it up and show the City the good they can do, it would be good for their people and for the City. It could even be a good tourist draw. Filled with First Nations run businesses and institutions. And maybe some programs to get the kids out of the gangs - run they out of town if you will. Meh, I'm dreaming. Nice to dream sometimes though.

your onto something

Biff · #**416** Posted **Apr 16, 2011, 7:31 PM**

Cut a hole through it at Edmonton St repairing the alignment so that it could run through past Central Park. Leave the glass roof on and create some 2nd and 3rd level pedestrian overpasses (something creative). Give more space to the Prairie Theatre Exchange. Put office space in the back half of the mall and use the store front entrances as the only entrance to the stores. Open up the mall part as open air at Kennedy and down the length of the mall.

I don't know exactly, i am just trying to be creative.

rypinion · #**417** Posted **Apr 17, 2011, 6:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boreal

It's a nice theatre and everything (concessions are insane), but the location is just plain bad. The parking incentive helps, but I suppose if it has been in place for a while and attendance is still poor, that is not a good sign at all. Maybe IMAX has a cult like following, but nobody I know goes, unless it is a school group.

I'll go at lunch occasionally and take in an hour long educational film (they have $42 annual passes that get you into those an unlimited number of times for free) and ya, those are full of students.

But, when I've gone in the evenings for Avatar, Inception, etc. it's been busy.

SpongeG · #**418** Posted **Apr 17, 2011, 6:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheswick

I agree with you on that. London Drugs has a weird vibe to it. Not quite sure what kind of store it's trying to be.

Speaking of Polo Park they now have signs up for the future location of Forever 21. Looking through the gaps in the doors doesn't look like they're very far along with renovating the space however.

London Drugs started out in Vancouver and the owner way back in the day wanted to expand his pharmacy business so he started electronics on the side... I always wondered why and what it was too - i read the history seems he found a niche

SpongeG · #**419** Posted **Apr 17, 2011, 6:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheswick

Walking through portage place today and another store was cleaning out. Cotton Ginny on the second floor. Since I've started working downtown a year and a half ago the following places in Portage place have shut down not to be replaced by anything:
Cotton Ginny
Burger King
Carlton Cards
A purse store (Replaced by another purse store which is now also closed)
Housewears store (I think it was called Quarks?)
Suzy Shear
Baskin Robbins

This ofcourse this is in addition to the handful of vacancies that were present before I started working down here. (Old Body Shop location was recently leased but it was by Horizon Optical which just relocated from further down the skywalk)

I lived in Regina for about half a year. The mall downtown Regina is THE mall in the city. So what can be done?

Cotton Ginny is shutting down chain wide - its is no longer

Boreal · #**420** Posted **Apr 17, 2011, 6:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rypinion

I'll go at lunch occasionally and take in an hour long educational film (they have $42 annual passes that get you into those an unlimited number of times for free) and ya, those are full of students.

But, when I've gone in the evenings for Avatar, Inception, etc. it's been busy.

It's good to hear that it is busy. I wish it will. I think the city is much better off having it. It is neat. I used to go with my dad back in the day nary every second weekend. I really enjoyed it.