The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[officedweller]

I always wondered why C&K World wasn't sued for trademark infringement - so maybe they were.

[SpongeG]

massimo dutti better open on robson - there seems to be enough room

[theKB]

Originally Posted by Retail-Insider

Re: Royal Centre's proposed retail expansion... We contacted their retail leasing manager and he responded: "At this time the retail expansion has been put on hold due to re-evaluation of the project".

The Royal Centre has been a dead zone for retail since the mid-ninties when the asian economic crisis hit. There used to be droves of tourists from Japan primarily that would hit that mall before heading out on planned excursions. Since then it has never really been the same although the food court and other more service oriented business' seemingly have thrived in there due to the office clientele.

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Another luggage store on robson? Is that business really that lucrative that they can cover the rents on robson? I just find it baffling. Too bad another step down for that street although I don't think I have truly shopped on robson in 5+ years so I don't expect much from it. Pretty sad considering this is our "premium shopping street"

[connect2source]

Robson is quickly being replaced by Alberni as our 'premium shopping street' with the addition of the Carlyle re-do which will likely feature Tory Burch and Chanel among others and Bentall 6 which will likely feature premium shopping at street level, Robson is becoming redundant.

Robson lacks redevelopment, the CRU sizes are more akin to 80's need, the sidewalks are narrow and in need of replacing and projects such as improved lighting and street furniture never came to fruition. Bring on Alberni, lots of great stuff on the way!

I believe the 1000 block of Robson will continue to be relevant and serve as wrap-around route to Alberni's new Thurlow and Alberni hub, but the 1100 block of Robson is toast, Esprit has been vacant for 1.5 years, Shiffeon as well, RW wants out, Nike is being replaced by a luggage store and the whole block badly needs some vision and new development.

[McPaul]

Originally Posted by theKB

The Royal Centre has been a dead zone for retail since the mid-ninties when the asian economic crisis hit. There used to be droves of tourists from Japan primarily that would hit that mall before heading out on planned excursions. Since then it has never really been the same although the food court and other more service oriented business' seemingly have thrived in there due to the office clientele.

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There is an awesome sandwhich shop side by side with a salad bar place that make up most of our lunch trips out yummy!

[spm2013]

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[theKB]

Originally Posted by spm2013

Park Royal's Sony Store has finally bit the dust. RIP.

does anyone actually shop at sony stores?

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by theKB

does anyone actually shop at sony stores?

I like visiting them, but I have never bought anything from them.

Do check out the 84" 4K-televisio that they have on display in Pacific Center. It is something to behold or a price of just $24999.

[spm2013]

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[officedweller]

The site of "showrooming" - even before the internet.
Probably a lot of goodwill generated at the stores just by their presence in the marketplace.

[theKB]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The site of "showrooming" - even before the internet.
Probably a lot of goodwill generated at the stores just by their presence in the marketplace.

There was a part of me that always kind of felt they were some sort of license or franchise operation. In other countries it is but it seems as though they are corporate in this part of the world.

[SpongeG]

sony shut down all its stores or planned to close them all and open bigger rebranded/rethought retail stores - ie less stores in the market but better ones

i am still surprised there are still quite a few HMV stores around, the one in coquitlam centre moved to a new spotopening up a pretty decent space for something bigger and better next to the bay

[SpongeG]

Coquitlam host to Canada's largest soccer super store

Brad Leitch, president and CEO of Soccer Express, knows his soccer and his acumen is making Tri-Cities a hub for the sport.

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 2 the Port Moody secondary grad is opening up a 10,000 square-foot soccer superstore in a light industrial area in Coquitlam near IKEA the freeway.

"We wanted to expand our experience to everyone in the Lower Mainland," said Leitch, a long time Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club player.

Since 1998, Leitch has operated a retail soccer store and wholesale business in Coquitlam, partnering with soccer clubs in the Tri-Cities and throughout the Lower Mainland and Canada. The opening of the new store required closing down the Barnet Highway store which has been outfitting athletes for 25 years, but the move enabled Soccer Express to provide more services for soccer teams, fans and enthusiasts.

...

http://www.tricitynews.com/business/194346371.html

[wrenegade]

Originally Posted by Retail-Insider

Foot Locker is moving into the old Nike.

Isn't there already a Foot Locker at Hornby & Robson, or is that one being closed? I have a special hatred for that particular store as it replaced my favourite store on Robson, Peak Performance, which is now only in Whistler.

[dreambrother808]

There's a Foot Locker further west on Robson as well.

Aren't there still 2 Spring shoe stores within a block or two of one another? I guess the business is there to support such things?

[theKB]

Originally Posted by wrenegade

Isn't there already a Foot Locker at Hornby & Robson, or is that one being closed? I have a special hatred for that particular store as it replaced my favourite store on Robson, Peak Performance, which is now only in Whistler.

Peak performance pulled out of essentially both the whistler and vancouver market and the whistler store is a licensee now. That is why they moved out of the hilton hotel space. Have to say for a "world class ski resort" Whistler has some of the worst shopping when comparing to other ski resorts that have a decent draw.

They produce amazing stuff that is fantastic quality but it's hard for a brand like that to compete with the garbage being peddled within the Vancouver market. Those stores were definitely geared towards wealthy tourists.

[SpongeG]

i went to whistler for the first time in 2011 and i was surprised how bad the shopping was in whistler - i was thinking it might be like aspen but gap and roots do not = chanel or louis vuitton

[Retail-Insider]

Originally Posted by wrenegade

Isn't there already a Foot Locker at Hornby & Robson, or is that one being closed?

Correct, there is also a Foot Locker at Hornby and Robson. As far as I know it will stay, and the new Robson Foot Locker will replace their current 1147 Robson Street location.

[spm2013]

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[jlousa]

The Cordova side of the parkade is under a longterm lease with VFS, the Water St side is empty though and not included in the lease as far as I'm aware.