The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[LotusLand]

Originally Posted by whatnext

There's really very little reason for people, young or otherwise, to come into downtown Vancouver for retail. Pretty much everything is available in their own town, from retail to coffee shops, to trendy restaurants. Why pay for the privilege being accosted by beggars while you do your shopping etc.? All we need now is a misguided congestion tax to totally kill whatever appeal is left.

As to Fourth, are you talking about the 2000 block where Sophie's is? There's a lot of empty store fronts there due to that one old block slated for demolition.

I beg to differ. If you talk to kids from the burbs they say they come downtown on the weekends to shop all the time. Even though the same stores exist in suburban malls, the downtown stores carry exclusives and hard to find items. Those items you won't find in Suburban stores. And this trendy dining experience you speak of, really? Outside of maybe Richmond or Burnaby, fine dining is sparse elsewhere. Unless of course you consider Boston Pizza trendy.

[vancity2010]

Originally Posted by Denscity

Target wants to open a store here in Castlegar. We don't even have a walmart. This would be huge for us! Some people drive over three hours to kelowna just for a pair of jeans!

Why open a store in Castlegar though since Zellers is in Trail?

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by whatnext

There's really very little reason for people, young or otherwise, to come into downtown Vancouver for retail. Pretty much everything is available in their own town, from retail to coffee shops, to trendy restaurants. Why pay for the privilege being accosted by beggars while you do your shopping etc.? All we need now is a misguided congestion tax to totally kill whatever appeal is left.

As to Fourth, are you talking about the 2000 block where Sophie's is? There's a lot of empty store fronts there due to that one old block slated for demolition.

Yeah downtown is dying... Who goes there anymore?

[SpongeG]

metrotown was nuts when i went on sunday, the last few weeks i have gone its been packed - its doing very well now that it has most of the "downtown" stores in it and even the bay has some of the labels only found downtown now which is good, the apple store was just packed yesterday, a few stores have shut down since christmas and looks like urban behaviour is closing up as it has having a big sale - i don't think there are any UB stores left but that one now

anyway does anyone know when the new shoppers on south granville will open? it looks like its ready to go but its still not open - are they being held up and not allowed to move in?

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by whatnext

There's really very little reason for people, young or otherwise, to come into downtown Vancouver for retail. Pretty much everything is available in their own town, from retail to coffee shops, to trendy restaurants. Why pay for the privilege being accosted by beggars while you do your shopping etc.?

Sounds to me like you don't get out much-ever been downtown Friday night?

And the groups/wolf packs I was referring to came down to gawk/window shop/hang out/maybe buy something-it used to be the same on Commercial Drive maybe still is Thanks to the Skytrain.

Originally Posted by whatnext

As to Fourth, are you talking about the 2000 block where Sophie's is? There's a lot of empty store fronts there due to that one old block slated for demolition.

There's one stalled development in the 2000 block that accounts for 3 empty store fronts but all kinds of empty stores in the 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200 & 2300 blocks as well.

I've lived around here since the late 70's and have never seen it this bad.

Add to the older places the brand new empty buildings on Burrard @ 1st Ave and also @ 3rd Ave with numerous spaces waiting as well as the cavernous orphan in the 1600 block part of which says Leased but not much is going on.

The only Good News is that a few 4th Ave business have migrated up to Broadway west of McDonald apparently because of lower rents-those priced off Broadway have headed up to 16th & McDonald-well one I know of has anyway.That section of Broadway is holding it's own and has a community feeling that's long been lacking on 4th Ave.

Boarder's Row in the 1700 block 4th Ave seems to be holding it's own but it is the season usually it's a dusty boring nowhere land.

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by vancity2010

Why open a store in Castlegar though since Zellers is in Trail?

Target has confirmed that they are closing down zellers and not turning it into a target. trail is a slowly dying town. Also it's at the southwestern corner of the region whereas Castlegar is at the centre of Trail, Nelson, Grand Forks, Salmo, and the Slocan valley. We have a trade area of over 80,000 people. Everything new and regional is getting built here. Mini Kelowna.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by whatnext

There's really very little reason for people, young or otherwise, to come into downtown Vancouver for retail. Pretty much everything is available in their own town, from retail to coffee shops, to trendy restaurants. Why pay for the privilege being accosted by beggars while you do your shopping etc.? All we need now is a misguided congestion tax to totally kill whatever appeal is left.

As to Fourth, are you talking about the 2000 block where Sophie's is? There's a lot of empty store fronts there due to that one old block slated for demolition.

Originally Posted by LotusLand

I beg to differ. If you talk to kids from the burbs they say they come downtown on the weekends to shop all the time. Even though the same stores exist in suburban malls, the downtown stores carry exclusives and hard to find items. Those items you won't find in Suburban stores. And this trendy dining experience you speak of, really? Outside of maybe Richmond or Burnaby, fine dining is sparse elsewhere. Unless of course you consider Boston Pizza trendy.

Vancouver is simply not yet BIG enough to have an exclusive retail down district, such as Yorkville, or the shopping districts in London and Paris. Hence being able to find MOST (not all) of what you want in the suburban malls.

When Vancouver does become a truly big, world-class city, I'm sure there will be exclusive and unique shopping experiences to be had in the city centre that you won't find elsewhere in Metro Vancouver.

Vancouver is a young city on steroids. It's gonna take a while, but I'm sure it will happen.

[mezzanine]

unsure if this has been posted, but it looks like a j.crew will soon open up on robson by the old tommy hilfiger store.

[Conrad Yablonski]

Further to the 4th Ave scene-In fairness I should point out that the 2600, 2700, 2800, and 2900 blocks seem to be doing well-this is the area 'down the hill' toward McDonald St-lots of smaller stores/restaurants serving mainly neighbourhood residents.

Ditto the 3300 block north side.

[Built Form]

Menchies yogurt at 2315 Cambie is now complete and by the looks of it should be open any day now.

Also Dollar Tree is now at work on the Carlyle location at Thurlow & Alberni.






And I know it's been mentioned before but here's a pic of the J. Crew location on Robson.


All pix by Built Form

[Hed Kandi]

Originally Posted by Built Form

And I know it's been mentioned before but here's a pic of the J. Crew location on Robson.


All pix by Built Form

Great to see American retailers expanding into Canada. There's 35 million potential consumers up here.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by Built Form

Also Dollar Tree is now at work on the Carlyle location at Thurlow & Alberni.

That has to be one of the most mismanaged retail buildings in the city. Given it's location, foot traffic and proximity to other major high end retailers the tenant mix is abysmal.

Someone who knows what they are doing needs to step in and make a change there.

[s211]

Dollar Tree at Thurlow and Alberni? Aren't they a payday loan place?

[LotusLand]

Can we really call it a high end street if a freaking Dollar Tree moves in. Vancouver's mini Rodeo drive is no more. The Micheal's moving in was weird enough this is 10 times worse. I understand the demand isn't fully there, especially with the Hotel Vancouver adding a few luxury retailers.

[incognism]

Originally Posted by s211

Dollar Tree at Thurlow and Alberni? Aren't they a payday loan place?

You're thinking of Money Tree.

Dollar Tree is an American dollar store company. They bought out Dollar Giant in late 2010, I believe.

[s211]

Originally Posted by incognism

You're thinking of Money Tree.

Dollar Tree is an American dollar store company. They bought out Dollar Giant in late 2010, I believe.

So not a payday loan company, but a dollar store instead?

[SpongeG]

i love dollar tree or dollar giant as we know them here - one of the best dollar stores out there but i agree on the location - kitty corner to burberry - lol thats pretty sad

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by LotusLand

Can we really call it a high end street if a freaking Dollar Tree moves in. Vancouver's mini Rodeo drive is no more. The Micheal's moving in was weird enough this is 10 times worse. I understand the demand isn't fully there, especially with the Hotel Vancouver adding a few luxury retailers.

I'm confused.

so by the photo Dollar Tree is taking the BASEMENT? and then apparently Michaels is taking 2nd floor+ground space that used to be taken by VCC?


this building has a long and troubled history. I think the problem is mismanagment for sure BUT also originally it was a Galleria Type space that failed badly just like all the other "Robson Galleria's" of the 80's and 90's. there is but 1 left and that will not last much longer IMO.

that last remaining Galleria is >> http://g.co/maps/c22sk

[SpongeG]

no michaels is going above brooks brothers etc where there used to be a duty free shop - the entrance will be where agent provocateur used to be

[Conrad Yablonski]

No Frills is going into the 1600 block W 4th Ave south side-very convenient for yours truly.