Winnipeg Retail

[wags_in_the_peg]

Originally Posted by cheswick

I know someone who used to work at NorthWest company. For the picture on the cover of the store brand frozen fried chicken they went out and bought KFC and took a picture of that. There were some other pretty shady things they did on the corporate level which is why she quit.

I know people that work there and they have nothing but fantastic things to say about them as an employer and corporate citizen. They own KFC rights in some of their Northern Stores. They also own a chain of covenience / small grovecery stores in Caribbean.

[wags_in_the_peg]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

No drive through at Portage and Ferry Road either.

new Tim's opening up on Marion in the shopping centre where Sal's use to be. It'll be a popular location despite it not being a drive-thru as it's main route into downtown, near St.B hospitable, and unfortuantely a few MB Housing complexes. I say unfortunately as they loiter arounf the McD's and it gets quite annoying walking through the wall of smoke outside.

[cllew]

I wonder how many more Tim's Winnipeg can support?

they could probably put a non drive through in the old gas station lot at Henderson and Johnston.

[cllew]

I see in today's Free Press there is a zoning hearing to put light manufacturing and Commercial retail units on the empty land from where the old Esso truck stop was on Fermor east to Plessis Rd.

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by cllew

I wonder how many more Tim's Winnipeg can support?

they could probably put a non drive through in the old gas station lot at Henderson and Johnston.

Don't know, but it could go on forever...

Jhonson Ave? I agree that lot has been empty forever. I grew up seeing that space empty.
Be it a Tims or something/anything else, any history on this space? Owner?

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by cllew

I wonder how many more Tim's Winnipeg can support?

Some of the Tim's locations seem to be relatively light on the operation side (ie no on-site kitchen) which must really help keep the costs down. With the kiosk style model at the airport and post-secondary schools it would seem there is more room to expand still, for example IGF is shockingly missing a dedicated Tims store. They are also aggressively working on smaller models still to expand their dominance. The rumored vending machine model seems to be targeting the office keurig market.

I think the ultimate goal is to have two Tim's outlets per ever citizen in the country.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Some of the Tim's locations seem to be relatively light on the operation side (ie no on-site kitchen) which must really help keep the costs down.

What you often see are franchisees who only operate one kitchen for every two or three (or however many) locations. Big savings there for sure.

It is amazing that no viable coffee-donuts-and-sandwich shop competitor has stepped up to challenge Tim's. SBUX and McDonald's go after a different market segment and Robin's is still scrambling to catch up after almost disappearing in the early 2000s.

[wags_in_the_peg]

Robin's has 4 locations for sale and have been for 1-2 years, some are decent locations. unreal, that you can get one for $100k, but a Tim's is typically $400k at a minimum.

[Riverman]

Originally Posted by cllew

they could probably put a non drive through in the old gas station lot at Henderson and Johnston.

I think they try to build on the inbound routes whenever they are on a busy street.

[Danny D Oh]

Originally Posted by esquire

What you often see are franchisees who only operate one kitchen for every two or three (or however many) locations. Big savings there for sure.

It is amazing that no viable coffee-donuts-and-sandwich shop competitor has stepped up to challenge Tim's. SBUX and McDonald's go after a different market segment and Robin's is still scrambling to catch up after almost disappearing in the early 2000s.

McDonald's is making a dent on the coffee side. That's why Tim Hortons is constantly changing their food options to try to keep their customers as McDonald's improves their coffee and breakfast options, donuts are basically the only thing McDonald's doesn't have that Tim's does.

Robin's is dead. Just a couple of fingers still twitching, but the heart and lungs stopped working a long time ago.

[Danny D Oh]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

Robin's has 4 locations for sale and have been for 1-2 years, some are decent locations. unreal, that you can get one for $100k, but a Tim's is typically $400k at a minimum.

Based on how they've treated their franchisees (friend of the family used to be one), I wouldn't put $1000 down for one.

[Danny D Oh]

Originally Posted by northern_hoser

We are getting a Browns Socialhouse at the south end of the CRUs. Think Moxie's, Earl's, State and Main. It's on the developers website and they have confirmed it on social media as well.

What's "CRUs"?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Danny D Oh

Based on how they've treated their franchisees (friend of the family used to be one), I wouldn't put $1000 down for one.

There is a Robin's in my neighbourhood. Shortly after moving in, I dropped in and enjoyed a "coffee" that tasted like hot water. The next time (I believe in second chances), someone who appeared to be a manager of some sort barked at me after I pointed out that my order was screwed up. That was almost 5 years ago and I haven't been back to any Robin's since.

Robin's standards and product quality are crap. I know a lot of people don't care for Tim Hortons coffee, but even a critic has to admit they are good at what they do... they rigorously enforce corporate standards and it pays off handsomely for franchisees. The same cannot be said for Robin's.

[cheswick]

FWIW There are quite a few robins locations in PEI.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by Danny D Oh

What's "CRUs"?

Commercial Retail Unit


Basically any multi-retail space (strip mall etc) are considered CRU's in the retail and construction industries.

[cllew]

Originally Posted by Cyro

Don't know, but it could go on forever...

Jhonson Ave? I agree that lot has been empty forever. I grew up seeing that space empty.
Be it a Tims or something/anything else, any history on this space? Owner?

It was an old gas station, last brand was Petro Canada I think.

Years ago they had leaking u/g tank problems that effected the strip retail location to the north of the land. Not sure if would need a better environmental remediation if it was going to be redeveloped now.

[cllew]

Originally Posted by Riverman

I think they try to build on the inbound routes whenever they are on a busy street.

Do you remember the plans for the one that they wanted to build where the Enterprise Rental ended up? I think they wanted to exit on the back lane to Couburg.

[Danny D Oh]

Originally Posted by Biff

Commercial Retail Unit


Basically any multi-retail space (strip mall etc) are considered CRU's in the retail and construction industries.

Ahh...thought he was referring to the name of a specific development in the area.

Looked Browns Socialhouse up, saw reviews from their locations in BC and Saskatchewan and they were pretty poor at each of the 3 locations I read.

[dennis]

Originally Posted by esquire

There is a Robin's in my neighbourhood. Shortly after moving in, I dropped in and enjoyed a "coffee" that tasted like hot water. The next time (I believe in second chances), someone who appeared to be a manager of some sort barked at me after I pointed out that my order was screwed up. That was almost 5 years ago and I haven't been back to any Robin's since.

Robin's standards and product quality are crap. I know a lot of people don't care for Tim Hortons coffee, but even a critic has to admit they are good at what they do... they rigorously enforce corporate standards and it pays off handsomely for franchisees. The same cannot be said for Robin's.

Oddly, I found somewhat the opposite. For me, Tim's coffee usually has no flavour. I take mine with milk though. Robins doughnuts have a very good taste compared to Tims doughnuts. The only issue I have with Robin's is that their product seems to be less fresh. At Robin's I have had stale and dry doughnuts quite often, whereas at tim's they are always moist.

[Riverman]

Originally Posted by cllew

Do you remember the plans for the one that they wanted to build where the Enterprise Rental ended up? I think they wanted to exit on the back lane to Couburg.

That's interesting, I hadn't heard of that.