Regina Construction III

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by Chorduroy

A friend of a friend hit a train and died there in the early 2000's, but since then, I don't recall any other fatalities.

That is truly unfortunate...When did they install the warning indicator lights? If I remember correctly those were in the mid-late 90s?

Also other than that fatality mentioned above 14+ years is a damn good track record considering the frequency of trains and the quantity of traffic.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Also a blow to big box developments Horizons at Westerra and Aurora that were no doubt hoping to have a shot at Target as an anchor.

Yes that will be, but really I expected it since when I went in one they had lots of empty shelf space and not much that was either wanted or needed. I stopped going.

If they would have stocked like American stores I think they would have been better off, but who knows. Or had made it a full Grocer as well.

The BIG winner in all this is Wal-Mart. They must be tickled pink.

[Dan0myte]

Originally Posted by North_Regina_Boy

The BIG winner in all this is Wal-Mart. They must be tickled pink.

Target put up a really poor fight. Wasn't even a close match. They came in with a bad business plan, didn't keep up with demand and the stores turned into ghost towns. No better than the Zellers stores they replaced.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by North_Regina_Boy

Yes that will be, but really I expected it since when I went in one they had lots of empty shelf space and not much that was either wanted or needed. I stopped going.

If they would have stocked like American stores I think they would have been better off, but who knows. Or had made it a full Grocer as well.

The BIG winner in all this is Wal-Mart. They must be tickled pink.

Target was a complete failure on accounts. A few hiccups at startup are to be expected...but a complete lack of inventory across departments for months on end, combined with higher prices than the US (and than Wal-Mart Canada)? It's like they did no market research before entering Canada.

I tweeted these pics at them... they basically replied by saying that they're still trying to figure out what Canadians like. Right... because demand for toilet paper, paper towel & milk vary so much market to market

(also a strategically poor decision to leave a key portion of their business in the hands of a competitor. Sobeys was responsible for most of their grocery inventory)

I heard they were improving, but I don't know first hand - went once in August 2013 & again in November 2013... never went back.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

Target was a complete failure on accounts. A few hiccups at startup are to be expected...but a complete lack of inventory across departments for months on end, combined with higher prices than the US (and than Wal-Mart Canada)? It's like they did no market research before entering Canada.

I tweeted these pics at them... they basically replied by saying that they're still trying to figure out what Canadians like. Right... because demand for toilet paper, paper towel & milk vary so much market to market

I heard they were improving, but I don't know first hand - went once in August 2013 & again in November 2013... never went back.

You would think that overstocking would be the thing to do, then cut back where the demand is less? But I am not a business industry analyst, just using some common sense here. If your first impression 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 you really screw up. Aim big and adjust from there.

[Festivus]

I am not surprised as they really half-assed it, but it does 🞵🞵🞵🞵 for the thousands of employees they have.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by Stormer

It sounds doable, but could be very expensive and disruptive to the Ring Road during construction. What about sharing the existing grade separation at Winnipeg St.? The tracks could be re-routed along Winnipeg St. N. and reconnect with the CN Qu'Appelle and Lanigan Subs.

Also important to note that Saskatoon got nearly $96million in federal funds for this work. Regina got about $27million (went to GTH projects). Both were attached to the federal Asia-Pacific Gateway & Corridor Initiative...

While the Initiative continues through 2018, I'm doubtful that new funding announcements will be made for two reasons:
1) the budget is $1.056billion, and projects worth $1.308billion have already been announced (difference likely comes from reallocating funds unspent due to project timing; projects coming in under budget; projects that never got off the ground); and
2) they'd need to initiate, conduct environmental assessments, design, and build the new projects by March 31, 2018... funds can't carry-over for work not completed by then. A lot of work to fit in a (relatively) small window. Does anyone remember how much time the grade separation work took for the CN tracks at Lewvan/Pasqua?

Point is, Regina doesn't have the same funding source available for grade separation as Stoon did. Doesn't mean it can't happen, but we'd need to look to a different funding model.

[brithgob]

Target really owes all Canadians a huge apology for screwing this up so royally. Now they're leaving behind a suddenly depressed retail space market with empty mall anchors, and they've fouled the waters for any other American retailers that might have been looking at a large-scale expansion into Canada. Instead it'll be the Nordstrom model with a handful of stores in Toronto and Vancouver and slim hopes that they might hit Saskatchewan in a decade or so.

[brithgob]

On a more cheery note, Cornwall Centre tweeted they're making a new store announcement tonight at 7. Related to possible expansion/the Havik building?

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by brithgob

On a more cheery note, Cornwall Centre tweeted they're making a new store announcement tonight at 7. Related to possible expansion/the Havik building?

Clerk in very tight yoga pants at LuLu said at noon today that Smitty's is closing and they think H&M is moving in.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Clerk in very tight yoga pants at LuLu said at noon today that Smitty's is closing and they think H&M is moving in.

Tough loss for the Smitty's employees, but I have to say a Smitty's at the main entrance of a mall aspiring to be mid-to-upscale? Doesn't work for me.

Goes back to the H&M discussion from a year ago. Is Havik/Smitty's big enough for H&M (Average H&M store is 20-25,000sqft), or would it need the 2nd floor as well. If so, upgrades might be costly if it's not up to code for accessibility (is there an elevator?)

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

Tough loss for the Smitty's employees, but I have to say a Smitty's at the main entrance of a mall aspiring to be mid-to-upscale? Doesn't work for me.

Goes back to the H&M discussion from a year ago. Is Havik/Smitty's big enough for H&M (Average H&M store is 20-25,000sqft), or would it need the 2nd floor as well. If so, upgrades might be costly if it's not up to code for accessibility (is there an elevator?)

If it is H&M they will definitely be taking the second floor of the Havik Blg at least, it may also mean Chatters and/or Tim Hortons moving.

Not sure if need an elevator if open to the mall.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by brithgob

On a more cheery note, Cornwall Centre tweeted they're making a new store announcement tonight at 7. Related to possible expansion/the Havik building?

Personally I am hoping its The Scotch Tape Store. Regina needs one bad.

[Treesplease]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

Tough loss for the Smitty's employees, but I have to say a Smitty's at the main entrance of a mall aspiring to be mid-to-upscale? Doesn't work for me.

Goes back to the H&M discussion from a year ago. Is Havik/Smitty's big enough for H&M (Average H&M store is 20-25,000sqft), or would it need the 2nd floor as well. If so, upgrades might be costly if it's not up to code for accessibility (is there an elevator?)

I've had lunch at that Smittys many times and it has NEVER been busy - maybe half the tables occupied. Never been there after 5 but I imagine it is even quieter then. Not a good place for a restaurant - you walk into the mall and look straight ahead and never notice the place. And if you do its like walking into a cave. Can't help but think Smitty's would do far better in a different place downtown. I can't imagine the rent in the Cornwall is cheap either.

[brithgob]

Tonight's announcement is Zumiez, whatever that is.

[Draftsman]

Originally Posted by brithgob

Tonight's announcement is Zumiez, whatever that is.

From the Cornwall Centre's website (and Twitter, I guess)...

Spring '15 @zumiez is coming: cutting edge clothing, footwear, accessories, DVDs + hard goods for skate and snow.

*yawn*

[Draftsman]

I saw a comment by SpongeG in the Winnipeg Retail thread that "IKEA plans to open up to 10 smaller stores across Canada within the year". This from an article written by Glen Korstrom and published in Business in Vancouver on December 15, 2014.

The link to the article is below.

I wonder if Regina or Saskatoon (or both) might get one of these. I have always thought this was exactly what IKEA needs to do in smaller cities like ours where we have no hope in hell of getting a full-size IKEA store for many decades to come.

http://www.biv.com/article/2014/12/ikea-open-string-smaller-stores-across-canada/

[SkydivePilot]

Originally Posted by Draftsman

I saw a comment by SpongeG in the Winnipeg Retail thread that "IKEA plans to open up to 10 smaller stores across Canada within the year". This from an article written by Glen Korstrom and published in Business in Vancouver on December 15, 2014.

The link to the article is below.

I wonder if Regina or Saskatoon (or both) might get one of these. I have always thought this was exactly what IKEA needs to do in smaller cities like ours where we have no hope in hell of getting a full-size IKEA store for many decades to come.

http://www.biv.com/article/2014/12/ikea-open-string-smaller-stores-across-canada/

That'd still be sweet though.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

That'd still be sweet though.

Might be the future of retail. Small Show rooms and delivery depots for online sales. Sears was 60 years ahead of its time.

[BrutallyDishonest]

Originally Posted by Draftsman

From the Cornwall Centre's website (and Twitter, I guess)...

Spring '15 @zumiez is coming: cutting edge clothing, footwear, accessories, DVDs + hard goods for skate and snow.

*yawn*

Indeed. The average square footage is 2,900 so they definitely don't need to do anything radical to find that space.