[Moncton] Retail Thread

[MonctonRad]

Is anyone going to send an email to the Bass Pro Shop marketing group to let them know that if they don't bring along a Bilingual sign of Magasin Pro Bar, they are going to get a few days of angry complaints? But not to worry because the week long free publicity will NOT affect business what so ever?

They're setting up in Moncton and not Dieppe, so there shouldn't be any tongue troopers patrolling the aisles (the downtown Starbucks aside) - just kidding.

[MonctonRad]

Somebody on the forums a few weeks back mentioned that Target didn't want the bus shelters in front of their new store.

It seems that they were correct. Codiac transit has not been able to come to an agreement with the Northwest Centre and with Target and thus will be relocating their northwest Moncton transit hub to Plaza Blvd near the Walmart Supercentre.

I don't know how well this will work. They will be sacrificing one of the westbound lanes on Plaza Blvd to make a bus park, and this will cause more congestion on the street, pretty much in front of that odd entrance into Future Shop. I could be wrong, but I think there might be traffic chaos, particularly in the pre-Christmas season and on weekends.......

[ballain]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Somebody on the forums a few weeks back mentioned that Target didn't want the bus shelters in front of their new store.

It seems that they were correct. Codiac transit has not been able to come to an agreement with the Northwest Centre and with Target and thus will be relocating their northwest Moncton transit hub to Plaza Blvd near the Walmart Supercentre.

I don't know how well this will work. They will be sacrificing one of the westbound lanes on Plaza Blvd to make a bus park, and this will cause more congestion on the street, pretty much in front of that odd entrance into Future Shop. I could be wrong, but I think there might be traffic chaos, particularly in the pre-Christmas season and on weekends.......

Personally I wouldnt want a bus shelter in front of my store either if I would have one, I don't find it a pretty site and you end up of having liability issues if ever somebody would get hit or got hurt on your property.

Now I have seen what they did on plaza, can't say I'm really a big fan, with most driveways being in curves, especially coming out of winners, michaels etc, its going to be VERY blind and no dougt accidents will happen.

[OUIR@random]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Somebody on the forums a few weeks back mentioned that Target didn't want the bus shelters in front of their new store.

I mentioned this fact about Target and the permanent displacement of the bus route in front of the entrance, so I can't always be wrong!

[gehrhardt]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I don't know how well this will work. They will be sacrificing one of the westbound lanes on Plaza Blvd to make a bus park, and this will cause more congestion on the street, pretty much in front of that odd entrance into Future Shop.

They have already painted all the lines for the new bus lane on Plaza Blvd. It's a pretty large area. I agree it will cause problems during high traffic times. There's a vacant lot next to Future Shop. They should look into buying it and creating a proper bus stop / large shelter in there, so that the buses aren't blocking the street.

[OUIR@random]

Originally Posted by gehrhardt

They have already painted all the lines for the new bus lane on Plaza Blvd. It's a pretty large area. I agree it will cause problems during high traffic times. There's a vacant lot next to Future Shop. They should look into buying it and creating a proper bus stop / large shelter in there, so that the buses aren't blocking the street.

I didn't want the bus route to continue stopping in front of Target, but this is just another example of the poor transit planning in Moncton.

[Hogie75]

Originally Posted by OUIR@random

I didn't want the bus route to continue stopping in front of Target, but this is just another example of the poor transit planning in Moncton.

I think the ideal place for a mini bus depot would be right across from Walmart between futureshop and the plaza beside A&W, there is nothing currently there and really isn't big enough for anything major. I think the area could accommodate several busses at once with maybe a small convenience store and/or cafe. Here's to dreaming I guess.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by gehrhardt

They have already painted all the lines for the new bus lane on Plaza Blvd. It's a pretty large area. I agree it will cause problems during high traffic times. There's a vacant lot next to Future Shop. They should look into buying it and creating a proper bus stop / large shelter in there, so that the buses aren't blocking the street.

I drove by there this evening and they have blocked off a long area for the bus stop. I believe the T&T said it was long enough for five busses to park at a time. The bus stop blocks off the rear entrance to the Walmart (which could be a problem for delivery trucks). It also will reduce westbound traffic on Plaza Blvd to one lane (and this is almost in front of the driveway into the Future Shop). Future Shop is a bitch to get out of at any time the way it is located on that curve in the road. If you increase traffic congestion in the area on top of this blind curve, I can foresee huge problems.

This bus stop is being touted as being "temporary". It had better be. They need to address this issue urgently next year. We need a real transit hub in this area, included a proper waiting area for bus passengers (ie in a small heated building) and a proper layabout for the busses with diagonal parking. This should be a major priority for Codiac Transpo......

[MonctonRad]

This is the City of Moncton's press release on this issue:

Codiac Transpo’s Northwest Centre Transfer Hub is Moving
October 25, 2013

Transfers will happen on Plaza Blvd.

MONCTON - Codiac Transpo will be moving its current Northwest transfer hub location as of Saturday, November 2. The new hub will be located nearby on Plaza Blvd.

Following months of negotiations with the owner of the property, Plaza Group, and its newest tenant, Target, it was decided that transit buses could no longer use the property as a major transfer hub.

“The decision to move was not made overnight, we could not come to a timely agreement despite working on options with the owners. We have been using the Northwest Centre for over 32 years and were very pleased with the location, as were our customers”, stated Angela Allain, General Manager of Codiac Transpo. We needed to find another location to service our customers who have been inconvenienced long enough.”

Since the summer, Codiac Transpo riders have not had access to shelters at the Northwest Centre because of construction.

The new transfer hub will be located on city-owned land on Plaza Blvd. Codiac Transpo is currently working with the Engineering Department to take over a portion of the outside lane, near the curb, on the north side to enable buses to line up near the Walmart on Plaza Blvd. The existing layby will be filled with asphalt, and 2 shelters will be installed to accommodate the high number of customers.

City of Moncton transportation coordinator, Stéphane Thibodeau has indicated that traffic on Plaza Blvd. will be affected by the new hub. “Plaza Blvd. has been designed to accommodate very high volumes of traffic, and there will be a slight impact on regular traffic given we are dedicating part of the outside lane for the hub. We appreciate the motoring public’s understanding on this change.”

This will result in minor changes to current route maps and descriptions. All other existing transit stops along Mountain Road will remain intact, and new stops will be added as needed.

“This solution is viewed as temporary to get us through the winter. Our focus and concern at the moment is to provide a designated transfer area for our customers. They have been inconvenienced for several months and it’s time for us to provide them with a dedicated area and proper shelters,” stated Allain.

With the new transportation master plan set to be released in 2014, Codiac Transpo officials are hopeful that a permanent and affordable solution for this area will be developed.

In preparation for the November 2 effective date, City of Moncton crews are already busy marking new lanes and adding signage. Codiac Transpo will be advertising this change and updating mapping on their website and on Trax.



Bus routes that will now connect at the new Plaza Blvd. transfer hub include:
- 50 Red Line,
- 51 Green Line,
- 62 Hildegard,
- 65 Killam,
- 70 Frampton,
- 71 Coliseum

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Hogie75

I think the ideal place for a mini bus depot would be right across from Walmart between futureshop and the plaza beside A&W, there is nothing currently there and really isn't big enough for anything major. I think the area could accommodate several busses at once with maybe a small convenience store and/or cafe. Here's to dreaming I guess.

I think you're quite right Hogie!



Looking at this image, you can see that right across the street where you mention, there is plenty of room for a recessed bus layabout and for a heated bus shelter. I really like your idea of including some concessions here (like a coffee counter, small convenience store or lotto booth). This could be a revenue generator for Codiac Transpo. You should submit them your idea!

[BlackYear]

It's so much of a great idea that there's no way Codiac Transit will ever go for it because it's a possible revenue generator.

The current proposal is completely NUTS!!!! What the hell are they thinking?

The only thing that comes to mind is, they are in a rush and desperately need something temporary while they think of a better plan.

Here comes Hogie to solve that problem. I would even suggest a traffic light intersection here as well. There will soon be heavier traffic coming out of WalMart once the Supercentre is completed. The lighted intersection will allow pedestrians to cross safely. They may also want to consider installing a sidewalk on this side of Plaza Blvd from Mt-rd to Mapleton.

I absolutely love the idea of a mini terminal with concession, bathrooms, WiFi, bus route posters, a GPS bus tracking monitor, etc.

There seems to be enough massive apartment complexes near by to support this idea.

[MonctonRad]

Budyser, I like yours and Hogie's ideas enough to have sent Codiac Transpo an e-mail suggesting that they check out this webpage to get some useful feedback on their plan. I provided them with a link.

EDIT

I was just looking back and I noticed that Gehrhardt also suggested moving the transit hub across the street on Plaza Blvd. Sorry Gehrhardt, you deserve some of the credit too!!

[mctnguy]

I would have liked the terminal to have stayed at the northwest center. I was hoping that the small Ryan Street extension could be converted into a bus terminal, since it's basically just a glorified driveway right now. I suppose the problem is a way for the buses to turn around if the mall's owners won't allow the buses into the parking lot.

Oh well.

On a side note, Google has updated the satellite imagery for Northwest Moncton

[OUIR@random]

All 3 New Brunswick Target stores are opening Wednesday, November 13th.

[cbujold]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/sears-canada-to-close-flagship-toronto-store-4-others-1.2286483

[MonctonRad]

Sears still has something like 110 stores in the country. They aren't dead yet - they are however about to wheel the crash cart into the trauma room though.......

They are following a strategy where they are giving up their most valuable leaseholds in the most major malls in the country so that US department stores like Nordstrom and Sacks 5th Avenue can move in. Sears is recovering $400M from the mall landlords by doing this. This is money they can use to reinvest in the company so that the remainder of the stores in the chain can survive.

The next couple of years will be critical. If this reinvestment doesn't work, then the chain will likely collapse. What will happen then will be interesting to see.

The majority of the remainder of the Sears locations are in secondary markets (like here in NB), or in secondary shopping malls in larger cities. These leaseholds wouldn't be nearly as valuable on the market as for example the Eaton Centre store in Toronto apparently is. They could be attractive however if another American chain decides to follow the example of Walmart and Target and enter the Canadian market en masse. Who might this be? Given the nature and location of the remaining leases, it would likely have to be a mid market retailer like JC Penney, Kohl's or in select cases, possibly Macy's.

Time will tell.

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In other Champlain Place news, MAC Cosmetics is now open.

[stephan.richard]

If I would have the choice between Macy's, JC penny or Kohls I would much prefer to see a Macy's take over. Also isn't Sears the primary Owners of their pas at the Mall.

As far a s Kohls IF Sears goes Belly up I could see them set up shop in the Sears Home Furnishing store at the Trinity Drive Power Center.

[MonctonRad]

Job advert on indeed.com - Looking for a manager for a new store at Champlain Place:

Lazy One
http://www.lazyone.ca

Hope you guys are into jammies.......

[cbujold]

Was at the mall this afternoon and noticed they have moved F & P next to Peoples on the way out the door and across from Tommy Hilfiger. They will never survive out there. Wonder how the mall can just decide to move these retailers wherever and whenever it suits them. Anyways they now have that big empty space at the corner and rumors are
still that Victoria Secrets is going in that space.

[OUIR@random]

Lazy One will be a temporary store at Champlain, similar to Hickory Farms during the holiday season.

As for how the mall works, well... when your lease is up they can offer anything that they want or offer you nothing at all...
Take it or leave it scenarios really, you are presented with a current or new location and lease agreement, sometimes tenants take and sometimes they don't.