Winnipeg | Retail

[Jammon]

According to my sister, who is a manager at Polo Park, they have announced that Victoria Secret is moving in. I guess this ends the speculation although this is probably old news anyway. LOL

[Jammon]

She also reports that Abercrombie and Fitch is moving in and two other stores (not yet in Manitoba) to be named. Lots of movement going on in that mall.

[cheswick]

Lots of activity in Portage Place as of late. Suzy Sheer recently relocated from the first level to the second. Accessory store Accents has now relocated from the main floor to the second next to Suzy Sheer. And Sterling shoes which is on the main level next to Accents is having a closign down sale.

Main floor is always more traffic then the second level so the relocations are curious. Unless they've increased the rent for the main level forcing the closure and relcoations.

[Mininari]

I've noticed that malls are trending towards large store spaces for the new names coming to town. I wonder if we might see expansion on the horizon at either Polo Park or St. Vital. I figure St. Vital was designed to have a second level added? I infer that from the department stores being two levels... Seasons of Tuxedo's mall component will likely cater to these larger store sizes.

On another note, what ever happened to Bed Bath and Beyond coming to town?

[h0twired]

Originally Posted by Mininari

I've noticed that malls are trending towards large store spaces for the new names coming to town. I wonder if we might see expansion on the horizon at either Polo Park or St. Vital. I figure St. Vital was designed to have a second level added? I infer that from the department stores being two levels... Seasons of Tuxedo's mall component will likely cater to these larger store sizes.

On another note, what ever happened to Bed Bath and Beyond coming to town?

I predict that Polo Park gets a major expansion on the west side of the mall before St Vital adds a second level.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by h0twired

I predict that Polo Park gets a major expansion on the west side of the mall before St Vital adds a second level.

St Vital is tapped out for parking. They can not add any more retail space unless they build more parking (which they are also tapped out for space). So in other words any expansion plans for St Vital would have to include a parkade structure increasing it's costs.

I think with all of the recent shuffling happening at Polo Park and thrust new of American retailers another expansion might in the cards.

[CoryB]

Assuming the St Vital was built with structural supports for a second floor and the floor space would roughly double it would be approximately the fifth largest mall in Canada according to this list.

It would seem that Winnipeg is due for a mega mall of roughly that size. It was mentioned though parking would be an issue. They are also doing a major update of the existing mall space, something that would seem to make more sense as part of an entire expansion project if it was going to be happening soon.

I think an addition to Polo Park to add more space is more likely.

[pollswpg]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Assuming the St Vital was built with structural supports for a second floor and the floor space would roughly double it would be approximately the fifth largest mall in Canada according to this list.

It would seem that Winnipeg is due for a mega mall of roughly that size. It was mentioned though parking would be an issue. They are also doing a major update of the existing mall space, something that would seem to make more sense as part of an entire expansion project if it was going to be happening soon.

I think an addition to Polo Park to add more space is more likely.

I recall hearing somewhere that St. Vital wasn't built with the structural supports to build upwards and that's why they've continually built outwards.

Not being an engineer or well versed on the subject, I don't know how much truth there is to that. Especially since Sears and The Bay have second levels.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by pollswpg

I recall hearing somewhere that St. Vital wasn't built with the structural supports to build upwards and that's why they've continually built outwards.

Not being an engineer or well versed on the subject, I don't know how much truth there is to that. Especially since Sears and The Bay have second levels.

If i remember right, i don't believe Polo Park was originally structurally built for a second level. It was quite a complex job to build the foundations for the second level supports at PP.

I can't imagine that St Vital has any aspirations of expanding up, anytime soon. The interior reno's are fairly extensive and they are adding significantly more skylights. Not something you would undertake if you have a pending desire to tear the roof off and add a second floor.

[cllew]

If I recall reading the city website properly a few months ago they renewed a lease for St. Vital to rent land on the north side for parking. I think the land was banked by the city for a future interchange that we will never see.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by cllew

If I recall reading the city website properly a few months ago they renewed a lease for St. Vital to rent land on the north side for parking. I think the land was banked by the city for a future interchange that we will never see.

The scary part is you are probably right. That sounds about right....the city mortgaging it's future for short term profits due to short sightedness and poor to no planning. In ten years the traffic will be totally congested in that area. The city will say that it is too expensive to do anything properly to fix it because they spent the $100,000 they received for the property needed on carolers to sing at the Remand Centre.

[Jack1983]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Assuming the St Vital was built with structural supports for a second floor and the floor space would roughly double it would be approximately the fifth largest mall in Canada according to this list.

It would seem that Winnipeg is due for a mega mall of roughly that size. It was mentioned though parking would be an issue. They are also doing a major update of the existing mall space, something that would seem to make more sense as part of an entire expansion project if it was going to be happening soon.

I think an addition to Polo Park to add more space is more likely.

Keep in mind that the entire mall would not double in size... ie the major retailers walmart/the bay and sears.

[cllew]

talking about expansions, for some reason the one for Kildonan Place never went ahead.

It was suppose to be a large standalone unit where the grass is behind Sears and across from the Tax center. Something like what St. Vital did for the Old Navy store.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by cllew

talking about expansions, for some reason the one for Kildonan Place never went ahead.

It was suppose to be a large standalone unit where the grass is behind Sears and across from the Tax center. Something like what St. Vital did for the Old Navy store.

They have been talking about different types of additions for over 20 years. I remember hearing, a long time ago, that they were considering building a new leg that would have come off around the movie theater entrance in the mall and then tie back in just before Zellers.

The stand alone development is announced but building was not planned. They are trying to lineup some anchors first. Based on the strange layout of the existing Zellers with two outside doors and a mall entrance I would not be surprised to see Target build a new location in the planned stand-alone area. Lowes would also seem to be another potential lead tenant.

[flatlander]

There is a sign on The Bay downtown advising that the Zellers pharmacy is closing. Likely not long before the entire Zellers closes. Hope the grocery store somehow survives.

[h0twired]

Originally Posted by flatlander

There is a sign on The Bay downtown advising that the Zellers pharmacy is closing. Likely not long before the entire Zellers closes. Hope the grocery store somehow survives.

Could also be the fact that there are about a dozen pharmacies in the immediate area.

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by flatlander

There is a sign on The Bay downtown advising that the Zellers pharmacy is closing. Likely not long before the entire Zellers closes. Hope the grocery store somehow survives.

not a shocker to me

the zellers does ok i would think anytime i've popped in its busy

[trebor204]

Originally Posted by Jammon

According to my sister, who is a manager at Polo Park, they have announced that Victoria Secret is moving in. I guess this ends the speculation although this is probably old news anyway. LOL

Here is the current floor plan for Polo Park.

http://www.cfspace.com/pdf/plans/ppkop00_floorplan.pdf

Victoria's Secret is moving in right beside HMV

I also notice Mrs Field/Pretzelmaker has a location near the Bay. (Pretzelmaker did had a location near Centre Court, but Black's took over that spot)

[headhorse]

from twitter.com/hunterandgunn

new barber opening in West Broadway (567 Broadway).

http://www.hunterandgunn.com/index.html

[vid]

1ajs should totally check them out.