The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by 204

Good article here about China's Addiction To Construction.

"The shopping malls are being built, but there are no shops or customers in them. Large stadiums are being built, but there are no teams to play sports in them. Highways are being built, but they lead to nowhere and have no traffic on them. Apartment blocks are being built, but they have near zero demand. Hospitals are being built with no doctors and nurses in them. Schools are being built with no students or teachers in them. China is building things just for the sake of it."

This reminds me of an episode of "Yes Minister" from the early 80's in which the Minister discovers that a brand-new hospital has been built and filled with over 500 administrative staff to run the hospital, but it hasn't been opened for patients. The hospital project was started by a previous Minister when times were good but it has taken so long to build that the country is now in a recession. Subsequent Government cutbacks means there isn't a budget to hire any medical staff for the Hospital. A suggestion that the redundant administrative staff should be let go & the hospital closed results in a union threat to have a general strike at every hospital in the country.

Meanwhile the hospital administrative staff are 'performing their jobs admirably' and achieving the highest efficiency ratings of any hospital in the country.


It seems sino-reality has caught up with the best of British comedic-satire fiction.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

there will be glass awnings running the length of the store replacing the metal awnings though...

Do you have a source (ie. inside contact) who has confirmed that?
The TopShop/TopMan render shows individual glass awning for each window - so we'll have to see what gets built.

I'm also wondering about the north wing, as the blank walls above the windows on that side look like they are too tall to be fully opened up. It would be interesting if they do install a different canopy - i.e. for a Bloomingdales

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Signage is up on the old Pacific Centre Mexx location (facing the Canada Line entrance) for... American Eagle Outfitters.

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Cashier at Homsense Park Royal told me that a Marshalls will open later this year on Marine Drive (North Vancouver) near Wal-Mart. She said there would be about 5 stores in the Vancouver area. Anyone know if that could be on the ground floor of one of those condo buildings? Or is there already built big box space near the PriceSmart/Bed Bath Beyond?

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Urban Fare False Creek store will open on Friday June 8 at 4pm (4:30 ribbon cutting) (confirmed by source at Great Pacific)

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[BodomReaper]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

This reminds me of an episode of "Yes Minister" from the early 80's in which the Minister discovers that a brand-new hospital has been built and filled with over 500 administrative staff to run the hospital, but it hasn't been opened for patients. The hospital project was started by a previous Minister when times were good but it has taken so long to build that the country is now in a recession. Subsequent Government cutbacks means there isn't a budget to hire any medical staff for the Hospital.

Meanwhile the hospital administrative staff are 'performing their jobs admirably' and achieving the highest efficiency ratings of any hospital in the country.


It seems sino-reality has caught up with comedic-fiction.

You beat me to it! That Yes Minister episode was the very first thing that came to mind upon reading that article.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by BodomReaper

You beat me to it! That Yes Minister episode was the very first thing that came to mind upon reading that article.

I just read on a Yes Minister FAQ page that the fully-staffed hospital episode was complete fiction when the script was written.

After the show aired, it was discovered there were actually about a half dozen hospitals (or new hospital wings) in that same situation around Britain. New buildings filled with administrative staff but no medical staff, and therefore not open to the public. And the unions blocked any attempts at downsizing that staff or closing the buildings.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Do you have a source (ie. inside contact) who has confirmed that?
The TopShop/TopMan render shows individual glass awning for each window - so we'll have to see what gets built.

I'm also wondering about the north wing, as the blank walls above the windows on that side look like they are too tall to be fully opened up. It would be interesting if they do install a different canopy - i.e. for a Bloomingdales

*********

Signage is up on the old Pacific Centre Mexx location (facing the Canada Line entrance) for... American Eagle Outfitters.

*********

Cashier at Homsense Park Royal told me that a Marshalls will open later this year on Marine Drive (North Vancouver) near Wal-Mart. She said there would be about 5 stores in the Vancouver area. Anyone know if that could be on the ground floor of one of those condo buildings? Or is there already built big box space near the PriceSmart/Bed Bath Beyond?

*********

Urban Fare False Creek store will open on Friday June 8 at 4pm (4:30 ribbon cutting) (confirmed by source at Great Pacific)

*********

I read about the glass awning in this thread its in here somewhere - thats my source

[SpongeG]

Value Village is opening a store in Coquitlam on united blvd in the old liquidation world spot

[Built Form]

We all knew Starbucks was closing at Thurlow and Robson but White Spot closed as well for the same reasons. Letter on the door said they couldn't secure a long term lease.






Also a new 7-11 is opening at 982 Granville near Nelson.


all pix by Built Form

[sacrifice333]

Originally Posted by Built Form

We all knew Starbucks was closing at Thurlow and Robson but White Spot closed as well for the same reasons. Letter on the door said they couldn't secure a long term lease.

Oh wow, all the while I thought it was the older building across the street that wanted the demo clause.

This building isn't that old... and they couldn't get that much more square footage out of the space with the Robson St height restrictions, could they?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by sacrifice333

Oh wow, all the while I thought it was the older building across the street that wanted the demo clause.

This building isn't that old... and they couldn't get that much more square footage out of the space with the Robson St height restrictions, could they?

Does anybody know who the landlord/owner is? Seems weird to demand lease conditions that obviously healthy companies can't meet. They either know something we don't, or they are greedy morons.

[dreambrother808]

In the larger space beside the new 7-11 there is a sign requesting a transfer of the liquor license from Hosteling International, down the street.

[Denscity]

That new 7eleven on granville is going to be 2 storeys. Ive never seen a multi floor 7eleven before.

[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Does anybody know who the landlord/owner is? Seems weird to demand lease conditions that obviously healthy companies can't meet. They either know something we don't, or they are greedy morons.

IIRC, in addition to a higher rent, the landlord also asked for a demolition clause. I would like to see a 3-4 story development there.

Another sticking point was the notice provision. The owners wanted to be able to evict Starbucks with one-month's notice if it decided to demolish the building and redevelop the site

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-co...30/bc-kitty-corner-starbucks-closes.html

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by sacrifice333

Oh wow, all the while I thought it was the older building across the street that wanted the demo clause.

This building isn't that old... and they couldn't get that much more square footage out of the space with the Robson St height restrictions, could they?

the other building with the apartments is a heritage building it won't be going anywhere ever

[Metro-One]

Honestly, the land lord must be very greedy.

Talk about artificially creating another huge void on Robson street...

And i personally like that building, and feel it fits the area just fine and does not need to be replaced anytime soon.

[wrenegade]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Does anybody know who the landlord/owner is? Seems weird to demand lease conditions that obviously healthy companies can't meet. They either know something we don't, or they are greedy morons.

Yes, I know the landlord. It is common for him to ask for demos clauses in his leases, whether he intends to knock the building down or not. Sort of a "just in case" type of thing. As for the rent, he clearly thinks the building is worth more than what Starbucks or Whitespot Triple Os wanted to pay (both likely wanted a reduction in rent from previous leases). I know Starbucks has a more disciplined corporate culture when it comes to signing leases nowadays and won't pay above certain thresholds (area-dependent) and won't sign leases with demos clauses anymore. They were clearly bitten in the ass by over expansion in the lead up to the correction in 2007/2008 and have learned from it. Either way this location no longer meets their qualifications.

[204]

Originally Posted by Built Form

Also a new 7-11 is opening at 982 Granville near Nelson.


all pix by Built Form

Great! Now I pass by three 7-11s on my (not particularly long) walk to work.

[vanman]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

In the larger space beside the new 7-11 there is a sign requesting a transfer of the liquor license from Hosteling International, down the street.

Hopefully it goes through. That prime unit has been vacant for way too long.
Also good news about that 7-11, although it is gonna be quite the gong show most nights.

[SpongeG]

will serve the bar crowd well

[Built Form]

I am disappointed with the new 7-11 signage. Although there will be neon in it they missed an opportunity to create something larger and flashier to suit Granville. Even the sign at Granville and Drake is far better.
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The new Rogers store has finally opened at Davie and Jervis. They've taken a page from Apple in it's execution.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/983229/r...ive-new-retail-store-design-in-vancouver

[sacrifice333]

Source.