The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[Van23H]

Originally Posted by Jougho

Interesting! Have you any idea who is taking over the Pandora space.

cheers,
J

Apparently the Pandora space was leased by Cartier. It does not seem like an ideal luxury space for them but the street is pretty much fully leased.

[Retail-Insider]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Yup Bebe had the whole building, it's now 3 CRU's.

Swarovski and Ecco will occupy the new spaces next to L'Occitane.

[Retail-Insider]

Originally Posted by Van23H

Apparently the Pandora space was leased by Cartier. It does not seem like an ideal luxury space for them but the street is pretty much fully leased . The owner of the Mephisto store is charging a fortune to be bought out of their lease , hence why they are still there. Only a matter of time. before that store closes.

I've checked with a source, and it turns out that Cartier ended up not securing that space, unfortunately. Instead, an international jeweller will open in the space, and this will be its first Canadian location. Exiting news, nonetheless.

[jozero]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Ugh book snob much? i know tons of people who read on e readers! Oh I guess that doesn't count towards "literary culture" for you?

By the way, how is buying a book on sale or a used book, say for 10 bucks from a local bookstore or Canadian company "snobbish", over buying a book on a $100 device (at least, never mind smartphones) for a ebook with a fixed price is very likely locked down with DRM and tied to the device or book app, and sold by a mega-company like Amazon who couldn't care less about local retail ? Sounds like the opposite is true. "Literary culture" could be a kid going to Kid's books and being introduced to reading, or a local author releasing his book locally, on a book on local matters. It doesn't mean high brow.

I do enjoy reading on my phone as much as I do paper. I just wish that either books came with the digital version, or somehow bookstores could sell digital versions. Right now its all just tied to large companies who couldn't care less about books.

[Retail-Insider]

Uniqlo's American CEO indicates Vancouver as part of its Canadian expansion. Uniqlo is finally confirmed as coming to Canada: http://www.retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2015/1/uniqlo

[osirisboy]

You missed the point of what I meant by snobbish. It has nothing to do with monetary value lol. I was referring to when people look down on digital books as not as authentic and real as paper books. That was all

Originally Posted by jozero

By the way, how is buying a book on sale or a used book, say for 10 bucks from a local bookstore or Canadian company "snobbish", over buying a book on a $100 device (at least, never mind smartphones) for a ebook with a fixed price is very likely locked down with DRM and tied to the device or book app, and sold by a mega-company like Amazon who couldn't care less about local retail ? Sounds like the opposite is true. "Literary culture" could be a kid going to Kid's books and being introduced to reading, or a local author releasing his book locally, on a book on local matters. It doesn't mean high brow.

I do enjoy reading on my phone as much as I do paper. I just wish that either books came with the digital version, or somehow bookstores could sell digital versions. Right now its all just tied to large companies who couldn't care less about books.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

You missed the point of what I meant by snobbish. It has nothing to do with monetary value lol. I was referring to when people look down on digital books as not as authentic and real as paper books. That was all

I.e. being a "purist"

[VivaPhysicality]

Choices Markets has bought Drive Organics on Commercial Drive and will rebrand it as a Choices store.

http://www.biv.com/article/2015/1/choices-markets-expand-commercial-drive/

[jozero]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

You missed the point of what I meant by snobbish. It has nothing to do with monetary value lol. I was referring to when people look down on digital books as not as authentic and real as paper books. That was all

Ah. No issue then ! As I mentioned I enjoy reading on paper as much as I do on a device. Always having a device on you, so you can read whenever wherever you are is fantastic. I'm just sad the digital buying process is so far removed from an actual positive buying experience, like you can get (not always) at a bookstore.

[officedweller]

This is a bit of a surprise...

Nordstrom Inc.’s (Nasdaq:JWN) slated 230,000-square-foot department store is set to open at that corner in September, a few months after about a dozen retailers open in an extended Pacific Centre mall that will stretch underneath the future Nordstrom.

“We’ll announce in the coming weeks who we’ve signed,” said Tom Knoepfel, landlord Cadillac Fairview’s portfolio manager for Western Canada. “We have the majority of those retailers under lease.”

Other changes at Vancouver’s largest downtown shopping mall include Meinhardt Fine Foods, opening this spring in Pacific Centre at the base of the Canaccord Tower at the corner of Granville and Dunsmuir streets.

It will be the second location for the Jim Pattison Group-owned grocer and will replace what used to be the International Culinary School, Knoepfel said.

http://www.biv.com/article/2015/1/new-retail-chains-pulling-robson-street-chic-east/

[LeftCoaster]

Sorry, thought that was already known. Would have said something otherwise.

Ya Meinhardt will take the corner unit, with a new patio. They will be using the unit primarily as a deli/cafe.

The blenz will be replaced by a take5 cafe.

Some great tenants coming to the 725 expansion, excited for the announcement.

[officedweller]

So that's a 2nd Take 5 Café for the mall (there's one in the Howe St. rotunda) - would that signal the impending redevelopment of that rotunda area?

******

It's interesting that Pattison is setting up a beachhead for Meinhardt's given that Saks Fifth Avenue will [presumably] have a Food Hall across the street in the Hudson's Bay building.

[LeftCoaster]

No, the two are to be operated concurrently indefinitely.

[theKB]

Originally Posted by officedweller

So that's a 2nd Take 5 Café for the mall (there's one in the Howe St. rotunda) - would that signal the impending redevelopment of that rotunda area?

******

It's interesting that Pattison is setting up a beachhead for Meinhardt's given that Saks Fifth Avenue will [presumably] have a Food Hall across the street in the Hudson's Bay building.

I did not realize that Pattison actually owned Meinhardts. They definitely do premium better at least in their prepared section than any of the Urban Fares.

[officedweller]

Meinhardt's when bankrupt a few years back and Pattison's Buy-Low arm bought them out.
The Pattison structure is a bit odd, as there are parallel arms with similar mixes of stores.

On the Great Pacific Industries (dba Overwaitea) side there's Overwaitea, PriceSmart, Save-on-Foods and Urban Fare.
On the Buy-Low side, there's Buy-Low, Nesters and Meinhardt's

There are also some other brands as well.

http://www.jimpattison.com/food/overwaitea-food-group.aspx
http://www.jimpattison.com/food/buy-low-foods.aspx

[Vin]

Originally Posted by officedweller

This is a bit of a surprise...


http://www.biv.com/article/2015/1/new-retail-chains-pulling-robson-street-chic-east/

Woohoo! Exciting piece of news. Jim Pattison is filling in what should have been available at world-class malls/department stores, which is lacking here. Meinhardt would definitely make that corner of Granville more vibrant and provide working people a better alternative for lunch and grocery shopping.

[SpongeG]

so simons is opening a second store in edmonton, which seemsto point to them having more than one store in a given market

i have a feeling wal-mart will take the target space in metrotown, but if they don't that would be a logical space for a second simons store, or brentwood's redevelopment would be a good option, third oakridge. antone know anything or thoughts?

[theKB]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Meinhardt's when bankrupt a few years back and Pattison's Buy-Low arm bought them out.
The Pattison structure is a bit odd, as there are parallel arms with similar mixes of stores.

On the Great Pacific Industries (dba Overwaitea) side there's Overwaitea, PriceSmart, Save-on-Foods and Urban Fare.
On the Buy-Low side, there's Buy-Low, Nesters and Meinhardt's

There are also some other brands as well.

http://www.jimpattison.com/food/overwaitea-food-group.aspx
http://www.jimpattison.com/food/buy-low-foods.aspx

will be interesting to see if they decide to expand the meinhardts brand beyond the two locations.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by theKB

Bingo...

Although 4th Ave is seeing a new renaissance with the big outdoor brands opening flagships etc. Patagonia sure showed up the local boys with their complete gut and redo of the moulet space. Arcteryx's store is kinda blah by comparison. The Hills is also opening a new store on 4th as well....

Do you mean Hills of Kerrisdale? they already operate the Ray Rickburn store on 4th.

[NewfBC]

Microsoft have announced they're opening a retail store in Pacific Centre. 3rd store in BC, 9th in Canada.


Ron.