Rideau Centre Expansion | Completed

[Radster]

Originally Posted by loga0082

The Bay
Silvia Logan
April 17 2015
I use to shop at the Bay a lot, but since three years ago, I did not want to. The two times when I shopped at the Bay three years ago, these two Chinese ladies were pushing me to get an HBC card. They did not want me to use neither Visa nor cash. I had to wait 2 or 3 hours for them to screw around. I just got sick of it. One of the Chinese ladies was also rude to me because I wanted to pay with Visa. She told me you get a reduction. To me, the HBC card is rubbish because in the end one ends up paying 28 or 29% interest which is twice as more than paying with a Visa card. I bought proactive creams there, but the young white guy never pushed me to have a HBC card. Do you have a HBC card? What do you think of this type of card?

loga0082

If interest rates scare you off, then its probably better to refrain from applying for a new credit card and just pay for what you can afford in cash. In my case, whether its 10% or 40%, makes no difference, since I never pay interest, but I know many people spend more than they can afford, in which case, its best to not give in to such pushy sales people at the Bay. With that said, I did give in a couple years ago to a Sears MC, but this is because its one of the only credit cards in Canada that doesn't tack on an extra few % to the exchange rate when paying in foreign currency, so I use it exclusively as my travel credit card (and for the very rare Sears purchase).

[loga0082]

I just go somewhere else to shop. When my iron and hair dryer broke down, I just went to Home Hardware, Canadian Tire, or the pharmacy . With clothes and shoes, I just go to the other shops at the Rideau Centre. At least, the other shops allow me to use Visa and cash.

Loga0082

[1overcosc]

Speciality store credit cards are only really worth it if they can give you a pretty big boost, as having too many credit cards can hurt credit ratings. The only one I have is my PC Mastercard which gives you free groceries... $20 of free groceries at Loblaws for every $2000 you spend on the card. It's steady and consistent and good enough to be worth it in my eyes.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Speciality store credit cards are only really worth it if they can give you a pretty big boost, as having too many credit cards can hurt credit ratings. The only one I have is my PC Mastercard which gives you free groceries... $20 of free groceries at Loblaws for every $2000 you spend on the card. It's steady and consistent and good enough to be worth it in my eyes.

I think I get the same deal with my PC Points Card, though it's probably a little simpler with the MasterCard (just have to hand over one card, no fumbling for both your regular credit card and the points card).

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I think I get the same deal with my PC Points Card, though it's probably a little simpler with the MasterCard (just have to hand over one card, no fumbling for both your regular credit card and the points card).

One major difference: the PC Mastercard gives you $20 of free groceries for every $2000 you spend anywhere. It doesn't have to be at Loblaws. I get PC points for buying stuff at Tims, for paying my phone bill, for booking a flight, etc... literally everything I buy everywhere,

[eemy]

Most credit cards have rewards that translate to roughly 1% of purchases, they just differ in how you get that back.

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

Most credit cards have rewards that translate t

o roughly 1% of purchases, they just differ in how you get that back.

I always get $50 Banana Republic gift certificate cards. I sometimes buy pants using both my Visa Card and my gift certificates. I would never go to the Bay to buy clothes because they are not good quality to me.

Loga0082

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

One major difference: the PC Mastercard gives you $20 of free groceries for every $2000 you spend anywhere. It doesn't have to be at Loblaws. I get PC points for buying stuff at Tims, for paying my phone bill, for booking a flight, etc... literally everything I buy everywhere,

Wow, big difference. That is worth it.

[eemy]

Originally Posted by loga0082

I always get $50 Banana Republic gift certificate cards. I sometimes buy pants using both my Visa Card and my gift certificates. I would never go to the Bay to buy clothes because they are not good quality to me.

Loga0082

And Banana Republic is? Don't get me wrong, Banana Republic is fine, but I don't see much difference between it and the quality of brands carried at The Bay.

[Temperance]

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

And Banana Republic is? Don't get me wrong, Banana Republic is fine, but I don't see much difference between it and the quality of brands carried at The Bay.

The Bay is much better than Banana Republic. If you go when they have a sale you can get some genuinely nice clothes for cheap. Otherwise they are a bit pricey.

[jslath]

Lets get this thread back on topic... How is the renovation coming along? Can anyone grab any pics?

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by jslath

Lets get this thread back on topic... How is the renovation coming along? Can anyone grab any pics?

I went to he Rideau Centre today and the renovations seem to be going fine, as far as I can see. The expansion has some windows and it looked like some lights were on. The Trade Secrets has been relocated where Mrs. Tiggy Winkles was near the LCBO. It looked like the Good Life Fitness has been sealed off. Saje has opened on the 2nd level beside Sunglasses hut. Aveda has been relocated on the 3rd level near Godiva Chocolates. The Club Monaco is now situated close to Nespresso. Michael Kors has just been opened and it is right beside Nordstrom. They said that Tiffany&Co will be opening in August and Kate Spade in June. They opened a Starbuck's in the new food court right beside Smoke Burger. However, the Starbuck's close to the former Elephant Pub is still opened. The Elephant Pub is completely sealed off. The old food court is also sealed off. I have heard that Shopper's a Drug Mart and the LCBO might go where the old food court was. Maybe the ticket office for the LRT might go where the pub was. The former cinemas are still sealed off. The construction workers use the former cinemas for offices, meetings, and lunch breaks. However, a woman at my church yesterday told me that she heard that they were thinking of putting a spa up there and have massage therapies. That is not what I think. She told me that. I was actually thinking that the Elephant pub or Richtree bakery could go up there, because they have a roof terrace. People could eat out in the summer and have a good view of the Parliament buildings. Sooner or later, they will come up with a permanent lease for the former cinemas. They are renovating the East pedestrian bridge near Mr. Stitch.

[mac_junkie1]

Check my Ogilvy's Facebook page for shots of the progress on the only part of the RC expansion that really matters

It's all great though. It's cool to see the progress on the outside in just over 2 years. I've been going a few times a week for 3 years now covering everything that's going on. From 3000 photos of Ogilvy's alone to at least 1500+ of the Rideau Centre going back up, its been quite an adventure so far. Keeps me out of trouble and it documents something interesting in our city's growth We look at our past and say "why don't we have that shot" so we look at today for what the future will say. It's much easier to capture the present now for the future then it was back then. Just trying to do my part.

Once we find out who the almost 30 new tenants will be as time goes on, it'll be even cooler. Nothing has really been announced for the addition yet except for Simons, Bridgehead and H&M to name a few. The interior doesn't interest me as much as the exterior. Its different, but not my style. Seeing the outside continuously changing is neat. Shame the weather sucks these past 2 days. Hopefully it'll be nicer tomorrow.

As for The Bay being pushy... I've had a few people "push", but it all depends what department you go to. Some won't push the HBC card after you say no thanks. For those who push, I just use a slightly more annoyed tone and they usually back off. There's a way to sell product, and shoving it down a customers throat isn't the way to do it. Either they do their job right and take NO for an answer, or I let someone higher up know what's going on and they can be dealt with properly. You can't harass customers. Either be respectful or find a job elsewhere. It won't stop be from shopping there. Its retro and cool haha

Originally Posted by jslath

Lets get this thread back on topic... How is the renovation coming along? Can anyone grab any pics?

[jslath]

Originally Posted by loga0082

I went to he Rideau Centre today and the renovations seem to be going fine, as far as I can see. The expansion has some windows and it looked like some lights were on. The Trade Secrets has been relocated where Mrs. Tiggy Winkles was near the LCBO. It looked like the Good Life Fitness has been sealed off. Saje has opened on the 2nd level beside Sunglasses hut. Aveda has been relocated on the 3rd level near Godiva Chocolates. The Club Monaco is now situated close to Nespresso. Michael Kors has just been opened and it is right beside Nordstrom. They said that Tiffany&Co will be opening in August and Kate Spade in June. They opened a Starbuck's in the new food court right beside Smoke Burger. However, the Starbuck's close to the former Elephant Pub is still opened. The Elephant Pub is completely sealed off. The old food court is also sealed off. I have heard that Shopper's a Drug Mart and the LCBO might go where the old food court was. Maybe the ticket office for the LRT might go where the pub was. The former cinemas are still sealed off. The construction workers use the former cinemas for offices, meetings, and lunch breaks. However, a woman at my church yesterday told me that she heard that they were thinking of putting a spa up there and have massage therapies. That is not what I think. She told me that. I was actually thinking that the Elephant pub or Richtree bakery could go up there, because they have a roof terrace. People could eat out in the summer and have a good view of the Parliament buildings. Sooner or later, they will come up with a permanent lease for the former cinemas. They are renovating the East pedestrian bridge near Mr. Stitch.

Just to clarify, has Goodlife Fitness closed? Or being relocated?

[teej1984]

Goodlife is open and being renovated

[loga0082]

Goodlife Fitness
Silvia Logan
April 21 2015

Is the Goodlife Fitness at the Rideau Centre on the ground level still opened? As I walked throughout the Rideau Centre yesterday, it seemed to be sealed off. However, I am not sure. I really did not look carefully. Is the GoodLife Fitness going to stay on the same located or be moved somewhere else?

Loga0082

[kevinbottawa]

Originally Posted by teej1984

Goodlife is open and being renovated

I imagine they're pushing back the entrance so it's even with the soon-to-be entrance of Epochs and the south wall of Trade Secrets. They'll probably do the same thing to the entrance of the current LCBO site so it's even with Shoppers (or whatever replaces it) and the Trade Secrets entrance.

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

I imagine they're pushing back the entrance so it's even with the soon-to-be entrance of Epochs and the south wall of Trade Secrets. They'll probably do the same thing to the entrance of the current LCBO site so it's even with Shoppers (or whatever replaces it) and the Trade Secrets entrance.

I checked under the redevelopment button in the Rideau Centre expansion, the Epoch's is supposed to be relocated on the ground floor close to GoodLife Fitness. So I suppose that teej1984 is right, the GoodLife Fitness is just being renovated not relocated. I think that Epoch is suppose to open in May.

Loga0082

[mac_junkie1]

**SPOILER** LCBO is being relocated (I'm assuming) in the new year for a much more "entertaining" store (if someone cares to figure it out)

Once the Shoppers is relocated and the LCBO vacate, they'll push the wall back I'm sure to match the corner store near the escalators.

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

I imagine they're pushing back the entrance so it's even with the soon-to-be entrance of Epochs and the south wall of Trade Secrets. They'll probably do the same thing to the entrance of the current LCBO site so it's even with Shoppers (or whatever replaces it) and the Trade Secrets entrance.

[Rob64]

Originally Posted by mac_junkie1

**SPOILER** LCBO is being relocated (I'm assuming) in the new year for a much more "entertaining" store (if someone cares to figure it out)

Once the Shoppers is relocated and the LCBO vacate, they'll push the wall back I'm sure to match the corner store near the escalators.

Disney Store?