The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread - Page 364

officedweller · #**7261** Posted **Mar 28, 2014, 6:23 PM**

I would expect New Westers to take a bus to SkyTrain and then up to Lougheed Mall, rather than to Queensborough - so in that respect, it'll be keeping spending within New Westminster rather than having it bleed to Burnaby.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vin

Without the presence of high-end malls, Hotel Vancouver is essentially a makeshift mini luxury mall. There is a demand for such a mall downtown (mostly wealthy immigrants who can afford) but then again we also have a city that is anti-mall (the locals and Council).

Sinclair Centre was originally a high end mall - but that area of town - centred on the cruise ship traffic - seems to have lost out to the Alberni Street / Hotel Vancouver corridor, especially since Shangri-La opened up to anchor the west end of the strip.

officedweller · #**7262** Posted **Mar 28, 2014, 10:45 PM**

The "Footo Croissant" bakery has opened at the Roasedale on Robson site (on Hamilton were Citimart grocery was for many years).

The Belgian bakery has also opened at the 819 (on Robson in the former wrap location).

spm2013 · #**7263** Posted **Mar 28, 2014, 11:25 PM**

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Vin · #**7264** Posted **Mar 29, 2014, 5:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

I would expect New Westers to take a bus to SkyTrain and then up to Lougheed Mall, rather than to Queensborough - so in that respect, it'll be keeping spending within New Westminster rather than having it bleed to Burnaby.

Sinclair Centre was originally a high end mall - but that area of town - centred on the cruise ship traffic - seems to have lost out to the Alberni Street / Hotel Vancouver corridor, especially since Shangri-La opened up to anchor the west end of the strip.

For downtown commercial or retail to be successful, there needs to be a continuation of high-density retail stores or malls linked together along streets. A break of commercial retail on any sections, especially from retail central with the most amount of foot traffic, is usually not ideal. You are also right that huge anchors need to be around to enhance retail neighbourhoods. Shangrila hotel has done a really good job for that. Too bad Sinclair centre is not equipped to be a huge modern mall to enhance retail in the neighbourhood. Isn't it surprising for a city growing in population to have mall space reduced over time? We have virtually turned the entire downtown peninsula to condohoods and spread out ground floor retail shops that don't do very well.

Conrad Yablonski · #**7265** Posted **Mar 30, 2014, 4:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

The "Footo Croissant" bakery has opened at the Rosedale on Robson site (on Hamilton were Citimart grocery was for many years).

OK-Thanks for that the grocery was a convenience store (IIRC) and the croissant place hasn't update their website.

They could do well with all the people in that hotel plus the residences next door -many of which are short term rentals.

connect2source · #**7266** Posted **Mar 31, 2014, 2:02 PM**

Max Mara will double the size of it's Pacific Centre store according to Retail-Insider.

http://www.retail-insider.com/retail-ins...ble-the-size-of-its-pacific-centre-store

They'll occupy the neighbouring La Swiss watch store. I'll be glad to see that store go, not only is it unattractive but the service is deplorable. Was shopping for a new Tissot watch last fall and was totally ignored by the entire sales-staff even after making eye contact and smiling, hence I went downstairs and gave my business to the great staff at Ann-Louise.

Pinion · #**7267** Posted **Mar 31, 2014, 4:23 PM**

Yeah I got my wife a very expensive watch at that La Swiss which was incapable of keeping the correct time and they wouldn't do anything about it. Good riddance.

SFUVancouver · #**7268** Posted **Mar 31, 2014, 7:46 PM**

^ Several years ago I bought my then-girlfriend what for me at the time was an expensive watch. The staff at La Swiss barely deigned to make eye contact me when I walked in from the mall and started browsing. When they realised I was there to buy they got interested but were still mildly appalled that I was only prepared to spend $250-$300. In retrospect, I wish I had bought somewhere else, but I liked the watch and their price was comparable or a bit better than the other couple places I looked first. As a result of the interaction, 31 year old me sure hasn't stepped foot in there ever since and I've bought a pair of increasingly expensive watches too. Not sad to see them go and they made the classic error of turning off a potential reoccurring client at the beginning of their earning years.

spm2013 · #**7269** Posted **Mar 31, 2014, 9:25 PM**

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officedweller · #**7270** Posted **Mar 31, 2014, 10:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vin

Too bad Sinclair centre is not equipped to be a huge modern mall to enhance retail in the neighbourhood. Isn't it surprising for a city growing in population to have mall space reduced over time? We have virtually turned the entire downtown peninsula to condohoods and spread out ground floor retail shops that don't do very well.

I think Sinclair suffers from being only a block away from the "bad" side of Hastings.

As to condo retail spaces, its probably a combination of many locations not warranting big retail spaces and for those in the right locations, the extra design effort and cost required to build a condo tower above a large open plan retail space.

officedweller · #**7271** Posted **Apr 1, 2014, 3:07 AM**

Petcetera having problems again:

http://www.biv.com/article/20140331/BIV0...res-layoffs-hit-richmond-based-petcetera

204 · #**7272** Posted **Apr 2, 2014, 4:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Lol that's good but we are talking about the Costco downtown and it's effects on the surrounding urban area. Which since day one was always open to the general pop

That's great! Kind of hard to figure out if you were referring to Costco in general or that particular store. LOL indeed.

officedweller · #**7273** Posted **Apr 2, 2014, 8:20 PM**

Posted at Retail Insider - President's Choice at Shoppers Drug Mart:

https://twitter.com/scroll/status/451139718483169283/photo/1

hollywoodnorth · #**7274** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 2:48 AM**

Vancouver's shopping district getting major makeover
Luxury brands are flooding the downtown core, scooping up pricey properties

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-co...istrict-getting-major-makeover-1.2595787

Vin · #**7275** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 5:12 AM**

All the more downtown Vancouver needs a new shopping mall so as to reduce the squeeze of retail spaces.

connect2source · #**7276** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 1:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

Vancouver's shopping district getting major makeover
Luxury brands are flooding the downtown core, scooping up pricey properties

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-co...istrict-getting-major-makeover-1.2595787

Interesting that they mentioned ambiance. Vancouver is so far behind on this project, Robson has never seen any improvements to sidewalks, lighting or street furniture which is unacceptable and desperately needed ...and long overdue. The condition of the sidewalks on the 1100 block, north-side is appalling and the overall street lacks any sort of ambiance, charm or appeal, hope this will change soon.

subdude · #**7277** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 4:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by connect2source

Interesting that they mentioned ambiance. Vancouver is so far behind on this project, Robson has never seen any improvements to sidewalks, lighting or street furniture which is unacceptable and desperately needed ...and long overdue. The condition of the sidewalks on the 1100 block, north-side is appalling and the overall street lacks any sort of ambiance, charm or appeal, hope this will change soon.

I guess no bike lane in the plan - then no money from the city ... seems that way anyway...

Genauso · #**7278** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 5:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by connect2source

Interesting that they mentioned ambiance. Vancouver is so far behind on this project, Robson has never seen any improvements to sidewalks, lighting or street furniture which is unacceptable and desperately needed ...and long overdue. The condition of the sidewalks on the 1100 block, north-side is appalling and the overall street lacks any sort of ambiance, charm or appeal, hope this will change soon.

'Parklets' would be great, but a wide-enough and unobstructed sidewalk is a must if you want people to enjoy shopping along Robson.

The city should try to bring in a minimum lane width for sidewalks that doesn't include space occupied by obstructions from sandwich boards, parking meters, utility poles, patios, bus stops, garbage cans, newspaper boxes.

Despite having more space, the Granville St renovation has been ruined due to having no smooth flow for pedestrians.

officedweller · #**7279** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 5:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Built Form

Concord Pacific has given notice to Dollar Tree to vacate their location in the basement of the Carlyle (728 Thurlow) in late spring. The store is actively looking for a replacement store downtown. It's grand opening was June 23, 2012 but Concord needs some (or all) of the space for a luxury retailer connected to the corner space above. This could also enhance the remaining CRUs along Alberni.

Retail Insider reports that Dollar Tree's last day is April 12th.

http://www.retail-insider.com/retail-ins...y-carlyle-retail-in-vancouver-will-close

Prometheus · #**7280** Posted **Apr 3, 2014, 9:26 PM**

Just another story on the transformation of Alberni Street. At least three more luxury retailers will be moving to Alberni, one of which will occupy retail space at 745 Thurlow when complete:

Quote:

Downtown shopping street transforms into “luxury row"

Video: http://globalnews.ca/video/1247542/downtown-shopping-street-transforms-into-luxury-row