The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread - Page 232

peterprinciple · #**4621** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 6:01 PM**

How about Neiman Marcus to replace Sears at Pacific Centre? Or replacing HMV with Neiman Marcus.

LotusLand · #**4622** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 6:41 PM**

Ensemble Tap opened yesterday as well:
http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2011/12/ensemble-tap-dale-mackay-opens-today/

Conrad · #**4623** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 7:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterprinciple

How about Neiman Marcus to replace Sears at Pacific Centre? Or replacing HMV with Neiman Marcus.

I don't think the Vancouver market is big enough for another large, high-end retailer. From what I hear, Holt Renfrew already struggles.

Van23H · #**4624** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 7:31 PM**

Holt Renfrew Vancouver competes neck and neck with Bloor as the number one performing store in the chain. It also is home to the two highest selling employees. I definitely think there is room for another high end department store in Vancouver, though I doubt anything more high end than Nordstrom will be expanding here anytime soon, Except for the addition of a smaller satellite Holts store. Louis Vuitton's store in Vancouver rivals the likes of the 5th Avenue and Las vegas flagships as top performers. Vancouver attracts wealthy immigrants and has a large wealthy asian population that produces large demands for these high end goods.

Also on a similar note... In YVR airport the duty free in the international terminal will be expanding and renovating its entire offering. Hermes will renovate its YVR store in January and will become the largest Hermes Airport store in North America. Also lots of high end stores are rumoured to be opening with the renovation.

204 · #**4625** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 7:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterprinciple

My personal fear is that Walmart will try to get their hands on this location.

Care to elaborate on your "fear"? It's a store. Get over it. They are no worse or better than any other retail giant. If you look at most huge companies, you are probably going to find practices you don't agree with for whatever reason.

s211 · #**4626** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 8:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Van23H

Holt Renfrew Vancouver competes neck and neck with Bloor as the number one performing store in the chain. It also is home to the two highest selling employees. I definitely think there is room for another high end department store in Vancouver, though I doubt anything more high end than Nordstrom will be expanding here anytime soon, Except for the addition of a smaller satellite Holts store. Louis Vuitton's store in Vancouver rivals the likes of the 5th Avenue and Las vegas flagships as top performers. Vancouver attracts wealthy immigrants and has a large wealthy asian population that produces large demands for these high end goods.

The Harry Rosen here is also neck and neck with their Bloor store (for exactly the demographic reasons you outline above), even though the store here is measurably smaller. Believe it or not, there are people paying full freight for $2,000 - $2,700 cashere sweaters there. Crazy stuff.

Conrad · #**4627** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 10:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Van23H

Holt Renfrew Vancouver competes neck and neck with Bloor as the number one performing store in the chain. It also is home to the two highest selling employees. I definitely think there is room for another high end department store in Vancouver, though I doubt anything more high end than Nordstrom will be expanding here anytime soon, Except for the addition of a smaller satellite Holts store. Louis Vuitton's store in Vancouver rivals the likes of the 5th Avenue and Las vegas flagships as top performers. Vancouver attracts wealthy immigrants and has a large wealthy asian population that produces large demands for these high end goods.

Also on a similar note... In YVR airport the duty free in the international terminal will be expanding and renovating its entire offering. Hermes will renovate its YVR store in January and will become the largest Hermes Airport store in North America. Also lots of high end stores are rumoured to be opening with the renovation.

Room for even MORE high end? That's too bad. I'd like to see a mid-range department store like Macy's to come to Canada. I wonder what will happen to all these high-end stores when the "wealthy immigrants" decide that Canada is no longer the best place to stash their money?

officedweller · #**4628** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 10:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

they have condensed it down to 4 stories plus the mall level - used to be 5 when it converted back to sears from eatons after the eatons revamp...

now its mall level - mens & Electronics
street level - same
2 - womens
3 - kids + home
4 - home and furniture
5 - closed
6 - clearance outlet
7 - closed

i think thats how it goes now - someone can correct me

Yeah, That's 7 stories ABOVE ground - so really 8 stories in total - my mistake.

And The Bay is 5 stories above ground and 2 stories below ground.

SpongeG · #**4629** Posted **Dec 8, 2011, 1:29 AM**

was at the bay today around 1:30 pm - and it was so busy every floor was bustling with all cashiers busy with people

saks 5th avenue says it plans to open its off saks - their outlet store in canada - but they don't have plans to open a saks here - i wonder if they could fit in downtown somewhere

officedweller · #**4630** Posted **Dec 8, 2011, 2:38 AM**

Probably more likely at Tsawwassen Mills or another lifestyle mall.
Even the one in Portland isn't downtown - it's south of town on the I-5 at Bridgeport Village which is a high end lifestyle centre(Saks 5th Ave. closed its downtown Portland store at Pioneer Place)

incognism · #**4631** Posted **Dec 8, 2011, 5:14 AM**

A Saks Off 5th + Nordstrom Rack at Tsawwassen Mills would absolutely clean up.

In the same vein, has anybody heard if Holts would be interested in opening a Last Call at Tsawwassen Mills?

Built Form · #**4632** Posted **Dec 8, 2011, 10:51 AM**

Some various tidbits:
-The old Esprit store on Robson is a temporary lease selling yoga/fleece wear. The leasing agent is talking to 1 American and 2 Canadian retailers. They are looking at combining the space the perfume store Shifeon which is closing next spring.
-A new Fresh Slice pizza joint is opening up in the old Mobilicity space (Tobacco Patch before that) at 768 Robson near Chapters.
-Yet another pizza joint, Hell Pizza is opening on Davie near Thurlow; formerly a florist.
-Creme de la Crumb has closed their CBC location on Hamilton.
-According to this weeks Business in Vancouver the new Robson Apple store is taking all the space west of Forever 21 opening next spring. Eliminating the space devoted to Little Burgundy and Locale shown on the mesh wrap. The store could still be 2 floors.
-They've started work on the CB2 location last week. They've taken 10K sq ft leaving 6K to lease which is getting lots of attention. The developer has slated the Jervis/Robson corner unit for a coffee chain.
-At Denman Place Mall the new owners have begun their transformation of the retail mix. They've bumped West End Optometry (across from Topdrawer) and are looking for a national chain instead.
-At the corner of Robson and Homer, Curlique (the Blanche Macdonald make-up counter) opened on Dec. 3rd. Looks bright and airy with double high ceilings but a waste of such an important retail space.

hollywoodnorth · #**4633** Posted **Dec 8, 2011, 11:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Built Form

Some various tidbits:
-The old Esprit store on Robson is a temporary lease selling yoga/fleece wear. The leasing agent is talking to 1 American and 2 Canadian retailers. They are looking at combining the space the perfume store Shifeon which is closing next spring.
-A new Fresh Slice pizza joint is opening up in the old Mobilicity space (Tobacco Patch before that) at 768 Robson near Chapters.
-Yet another pizza joint, Hell Pizza is opening on Davie near Thurlow; formerly a florist.
-Creme de la Crumb has closed their CBC location on Hamilton.
-According to this weeks Business in Vancouver the new Robson Apple store is taking all the space west of Forever 21 opening next spring. Eliminating the space devoted to Little Burgundy and Locale shown on the mesh wrap. The store could still be 2 floors.
-They've started work on the CB2 location last week. They've taken 10K sq ft leaving 6K to lease which is getting lots of attention. The developer has slated the Jervis/Robson corner unit for a coffee chain.
-At Denman Place Mall the new owners have begun their transformation of the retail mix. They've bumped West End Optometry (across from Topdrawer) and are looking for a national chain instead.
-At the corner of Robson and Homer, Curlique (the Blanche Macdonald make-up counter) opened on Dec. 3rd. Looks bright and airy with double high ceilings but a waste of such an important retail space.

thanks for the extensive updates

SpongeG · #**4634** Posted **Dec 9, 2011, 11:25 PM**

high street in abbotsford has a list of tenants opening

tenants opening in 2013

walmart
marshalls (first in BC)
old navy
cineplex
fatburger
+ banks and more food places

http://www.shapeproperties.com/sites/default/files/highstreet_retailers_0.pdf

whatnext · #**4635** Posted **Dec 10, 2011, 2:45 AM**

Liquidation World has already closed in the old RONA space on Bridgeport, didn't last long. That location is becoming a black hole for retail.

SpongeG · #**4636** Posted **Dec 10, 2011, 6:09 AM**

the LW closed in coquitlam too

they were bought out by an american chain BIG LOTS - i don't know if its part of their strategy to shut down the LW and reopen as big lots maybe?

ACT7 · #**4637** Posted **Dec 11, 2011, 5:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Van23H

Holt Renfrew Vancouver competes neck and neck with Bloor as the number one performing store in the chain. It also is home to the two highest selling employees. I definitely think there is room for another high end department store in Vancouver, though I doubt anything more high end than Nordstrom will be expanding here anytime soon, Except for the addition of a smaller satellite Holts store. Louis Vuitton's store in Vancouver rivals the likes of the 5th Avenue and Las vegas flagships as top performers. Vancouver attracts wealthy immigrants and has a large wealthy asian population that produces large demands for these high end goods.

Also on a similar note... In YVR airport the duty free in the international terminal will be expanding and renovating its entire offering. Hermes will renovate its YVR store in January and will become the largest Hermes Airport store in North America. Also lots of high end stores are rumoured to be opening with the renovation.

For an airport with pretty flat growth for the past few years, a major international renovation seems too agressive. I will say this though, YVR punches above it's weight for retail offerings compared to airports of similar size and even substantialy bigger airports.

SpongeG · #**4638** Posted **Dec 11, 2011, 6:15 PM**

the retail is run by a spanish company that runs retail in many major airports who probablysets up deals with retailers to do multiple airports

....

jovene and sterling shoe stores on robson are closing down

jsbertram · #**4639** Posted **Dec 11, 2011, 8:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterprinciple

How about Neiman Marcus to replace Sears at Pacific Centre? Or replacing HMV with Neiman Marcus.

With the ultra-cheap rent that Sears has there (thanks to assuming the Eatons lease), they have little incentive to move out of that location - short of the building being condemned.

Locked In · #**4640** Posted **Dec 11, 2011, 11:45 PM**

CB2 renovations on Robson - my photo, today: