The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[officedweller]

Retail Insider reports that an "O Sushi" restaurant will locate at 742 Granville - a HUGE space previously occupied by Zennkai and Bedo.

[connect2source]

Such a prime space going to yet another sushi joint.

Was just thinking that we need perhaps another sushi place in the area..

[itinerant]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Was just thinking that we need perhaps another sushi place in the area..

Don't you mean another 'good' sushi joint? But generally I share your sentiment, and I hope this one will be offering a high quality product that will appeal to Nordstrom and Saks customers.

[spm2013]

....

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by spm2013

742 Granville Street is the BG Urban location which would make more sense (kitchen etc) The BG was up for sale at $258,000.



Korean-owned sushi place. Expect mediocre sushi served by ESL students to the lunch crowd.

Ahh - oops.
That makes more sense.
Thanks.

[theKB]

i really don't get how a lot of those sushi and coffee joints actually turn a profit.

[dreambrother808]

Peered inside the new Victoria's Secret Burrard entrance and saw a rather trippy, large video wall at the back. Pretty cool looking.

Also noted a Starbucks about to open within the Urban Fare at the Shangri-La.

[theKB]

Don't know if anyone has mentioned but Arctery'x will be opening a flagship at 2033 West 4th. Building is a new construction mixed use IIRC.

They seem to be doing a big retail push as most brands are starting to do in the Outdoor lifestyle world. Also saw they are opening a store at 4th and Pike in Seattle

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by spm2013

742 Granville Street is the BG Urban location which would make more sense (kitchen etc) The BG was up for sale at $258,000.



Korean-owned sushi place. Expect mediocre sushi served by ESL students to the lunch crowd.

Korean owned sushi places usually aren't that bad, they are often better than Chinese owned sushi places. Even many of my Japanese friends enjoy the Korean joints.

[dreambrother808]

Korean places have the best spicy sushi cause they use gochujang.

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

Korean places have the best spicy sushi cause they use gochujang.

Oh really? I thought they were using sriracha. Their spicy stuff is tasty yumm.

[SpongeG]

when i walked past five guys on robson on friday around 12 noon, there was a line up out the door and all the tables looked full, they seem to be doing really well...

still weird seeing a few empty stores on robson, with so many us retailers wanting in i wonder why they haven't bene snapped up yet

and the carls jr on dunsmuir was doing some good business around 3 and chipotle was packed

l'occitaine is opening a new store in oakridge centre - where fossil briefly was, fossil is opening at richmond centre and anthropoligie is hiring for their new park royal location

[theKB]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

still weird seeing a few empty stores on robson, with so many us retailers wanting in i wonder why they haven't bene snapped up yet

To me the landlords are asking FAR too much for that area also I do believe once we see the planned changes starting at burrard and robson with VS and potentially Lululemon putting a flagship across the street you will start to see more interest from robson/burrard to robson/richards and I wouldn't be surprised if granville actually became MORE of a shopping hub outside of just the malls. Rents are more reasonable and being clustered around Nordstrom, Old Navy and other retail will bring more to the area.

I believe Robson especially north/west??? of thurlow is at the risk of falling further down the hole they are already in. The buildings all need a massive overhaul and the rents could be dropped a good 25-50%. Although if it did get that bad and tenancy dropped even more it may in the long run help in bringing more interesting shops to the area.

I personally don't think anything along robson is worth more than $100/sq-ft where Vancouver is at.

//this is just my opinion of the situation

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by theKB

//this is just my opinion of the situation

Good points. If they didn't lower rents after Starbucks left, they aren't getting the point too clearly.

[hollywoodnorth]

Vancouver's Victoria Secret to open with help from "Angel" Lindsay Ellingson

Vancouver’s first Victoria’s Secret store (750 Burrard Street) has an opening date. The U.S. lingerie retailer announced today (August 20) that the world's second-largest Victoria's Secret shop will open August 27. The company confirmed that it would be taking over the 35,000 square-foot HMV location at the corner of Burrard and Robson streets in 2012.

To help launch the Victoria’s Secret location, American model and Victoria’s Secret “Angel” Lindsay Ellingson will be on hand to greet fans on August 29 from 5 to 7 p.m., according to the company’s website. The 26-year-old California-born model has worked for Victoria’s Secret since 2008 and has been featured in the brand’s annual televised fashion show.

.....

http://www.straight.com/life/411851/vancouvers-victoria-secret-open-help-angel-lindsay-ellingson

[SpongeG]

for those who need a face or body to the name...


3.bp.blogspot.com


faystyle.com

[dreambrother808]

A much smaller HMV returns to downtown and Robson Street, directly across the street from their old one, in the vacated Miss Sixty space.

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

A much smaller HMV returns to downtown and Robson Street, directly across the street from their old one, in the vacated Miss Sixty space.

A new HMV?? Even being small I thought they were on their way out of business with all the downloading interneting going on I thought hard copies of music n movies were done for. I guess not?

[theKB]

Originally Posted by Denscity

A new HMV?? Even being small I thought they were on their way out of business with all the downloading interneting going on I thought hard copies of music n movies were done for. I guess not?

Apparently their Canadian operations are actually in a relatively strong position since they repositioned slightly. I don't think it will last long as they have started to count on more DVD/Bluray and Videogame sales.

[connect2source]

Retail-Insider seems to think Sears Canada may be ripe for a takeover by Macys.

http://www.retail-insider.com/2013/08/goodbye-sears-canada-hello-macys.html

Don't know where these rumours are coming from but could be a huge positive for Canada's mid-range department store scene.