[Moncton] Retail Thread

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

More info on Zumiez

It's actually an American chain out of Seattle and they have over 400 stores in the US. As Lrdevlop pointed out, they currently only have Canadian locations in BC, Alberta and Ontario. There isn't much info on their Canadian website. The American website is more informative:

http://www.zumiez.com

zumiez was in a battle to buy out west 49 but billabong from australia won out, zumiez wanted an easy route into canada but ended up having to just open its own stores

i don't know if the store has caught on with the kids out here as the stores never seem that busy

[icetea93]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

zumiez was in a battle to buy out west 49 but billabong from australia won out, zumiez wanted an easy route into canada but ended up having to just open its own stores

i don't know if the store has caught on with the kids out here as the stores never seem that busy

If they sell brands that are already widely available, then it makes sense that they wouldn't be busy

[MonctonRad]

Interesting. I didn't know that West 49 had been bought out by Billabong. I wonder if they will be considering rebranding the stores at some point in the future. Billabong certainly sounds more exotic.....

There will be both a West 49 and a Zumiez at Champlain Place. It will be interesting to see how the competition between the two chains pans out here.

[OUIR@random]

I wouldn't be surprised that West 49 is on the way out...
There might be something behind the arrival of this new tenant. I never thought that West 49 was "fitting" in a food court setting anyway. Was it (West 49) ever busy since the arrival of Boathouse?
Boathouse and Zumiez will suffice at Champlain.

[mmmatt]

Originally Posted by OUIR@random

I wouldn't be surprised that West 49 is on the way out...
There might be something behind the arrival of this new tenant. I never thought that West 49 was "fitting" in a food court setting anyway. Was it (West 49) ever busy since the arrival of Boathouse?
Boathouse and Zumiez will suffice at Champlain.

IMHO W49 is more skater/biker focused than boathouse and they are similar but different that there is plenty room enough for both...when I shop for shoes I usually check both and their selection is signifigantly different. I'm not sure if all 3 will survive when Zuniez arrives, depends how "unique" they are I guess.

[SpongeG]

the zumiez in coquitlam was heavy into the skateboarding crowd last time i went in, seemed geared to skateboarders

[OUIR@random]

Champlain: Telus will be moving into the old Black's location, it should be noted that this new location will be larger. I guess Telus is doing well...

[SpongeG]

telus bought out blacks a few years ago, a lot of blacks locations out in bc anyway have been converting to telus stores recently

[stephan.richard]

When I was in Bangor last month there was a Zumiez store and I think it will fit well and will give more competition to West 49. And I think the spot that it migh hurt in the long run Pseudio cause they will have most of the same type of clothing and brands. But I still cant figure out why they decided to re-open here in town. But what the Champlain PLace really needs ais a Hollister or Abercrombie store and looking at the storefronts I do not know where they could go.

[MonctonRad]

If Zumiez is more into a skateboarding type of culture like SpongeG says, then I agree that their main competition will be West 49 rather than Boathouse.

It remains interesting that they have made Champlain Place their first location in Canada east of Ontario. I was reading a report the other day however, which stated that the migration of American chains north of the border is limited primarily by the shortage of available storefronts in premium Canadian malls. Champlain is one of these "premium" malls, and has near 100% occupancy all the time. Zumiez probably felt that they had to leap at any opportunity to enter our market and when this storefront became available, they moved quickly.

As for chains like Hollister, Abercrombie and Victoria's Secret, they seem to have made a corporate decision to limit their Canadian expansion only to the most glamorous shopping centres in the very largest of Canadian cities. This despite the fact that they can be found in third rate American cities like Bangor. It is actually amazing that Hollister and Victoria's Secret are in Halifax (no offence - it's just that there are larger regional cities in the country where these chains don't yet exist).

I imagine Hollister, Victoria's Secret and Apple chose Halifax because of Halifax's attractive demographics (young, urbain, university educated), available storefrontage in the HSC and aggressive campaigning by the HSC management in order to position themselves as the principle enclosed shopping centre in the region.

Champlain doesn't have the available storefrontage at present for chains like this and I don't expect to see them in Moncton any time soon. Still, Champlain has done an excellent job in the last couple of years attracting chains like H&M, Bath & Bodyworks, Coach, Swarovski, Sephora and Pandora. Aveda is under construction and both Fossil and l'Occitane should open later this year. Moncton is actually the smallest market in the country for several of these chains. I think this says something.

I have a strong suspicion that Fossil will occupy the old People's location.

[icetea93]

I have to admit, Moncton punches well above it's weight in terms of retail offerings.

What Halifax Shopping Centre did to open up large spaces for the likes of Hollister and Victoria's Secret was to boot out lower end chains (Bluenotes, Etc) and combine several small spaces to make large attractive spaces for big American brands that wanted into the market but wanted prime locations in the mall. Champlain Place could probably do the same, though I also doubt you'll see VS, Hollister or the like in Moncton anytime soon. These stores appear to have a 400 000 population requirement (just speculation, as Hollister is only in Canadian cities with metro populations of 400 000 or more; a major exception is Newmarket, ON , though it is very close to Toronto).

[Delicious]

An authentic Italian Gelato shop is opening in Champlain mall...It called Frosherg Gelato...www.froshberg.com

[MonctonRad]

Interesting. Do you have a reliable source? where will they be setting up - in the food court?

If they are indeed coming, this is yet another example of a first-to-region franchise setting up in Champlain Place.....

[Delicious]

I think they are setting up in the old Access shop in front of Sobeys. I don't think we have this kind of products in Moncton yet !!!

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Delicious

I think they are setting up in the old Access shop in front of Sobeys.

That would make sense. That space in front of Sobeys is turning into a secondary food court area. The seating is already there and other outlets facing the seating area include Booster Juice and Pretzelmaker/Mrs. Field's. Froshberg Gelatto would fit right in.....

The old Access space is already under renovation, so something is definitely moving in there.....

EDIT:

Here's the proof, courtesy of a help wanted ad on Kijiji:



Apparently it will be a combo store - Crepe Delicious & Froshberg Gelato

[Delicious]

That is wonderful...I visited their websites an it looks YAMMY !!! Www.Froshberg.com and www.crepedelcious.com

[bigrivernb]

so now that blacks has moved to there new location any thoughts to what may occupy the old location? its under construction now.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by bigrivernb

so now that blacks has moved to there new location any thoughts to what may occupy the old location? its under construction now.

OUIR@Random reported that Telus is relocating to the former Black's location. This of course frees up the old Telus location.....

[OUIR@random]

I think Fossil might go there (old Telus), the old Peoples location is too prominent for "just" Fossil, IMHO, but that's just a hunch!

[NBNYer]

Originally Posted by OUIR@random

I think Fossil might go there (old Telus), the old Peoples location is too prominent for "just" Fossil, IMHO, but that's just a hunch!

If that were to be the case, any reasonable guesses as to what kind of retailer would be best suited for the more prominent old Peoples location??