The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Conrad Yablonski

Did you know he was selling Hash under the counter?

I guess there's not much money in Shisha these days.

Lol! I did not know that! Wow that's a new revelation.

Originally Posted by connect2source

Details on the Holt Renfrew expansion :

-take over of Sport Check - Atmosphere
-80 seat cafe overlooking Howe St.
-Howe St. frontage becomes 200 feet long

I'm excited about the way the Howe Street facade will look, will be a welcome update and add cohesiveness to the entire block.

From : BIV

http://www.biv.com/article/2015/4/holt-renfrew-expand-vancouver-flagship-open-restau/

Great news! I guess the Vancouver Holt Renfrew store has been pulling in enough revenue to warrant this expansion and join Toronto's/Yorkdale's HR to have more services like the Holt's cafe. I'm sure the overworked lady shoppers would love to take a little break with some macaroons and English breakfast tea/gourmet coffee to recharge.

Exciting times for the retail scene in Canada, which is trying to catch up with the rest of the world of modern retail. There is the talk that Holt Renfrew may also bring in a high end Italian grocer called Eataly to the stores in Canada. I wonder if they would include that in the new expansion here, including a food hall, if they had more space.
http://www.biv.com/article/2014/12/high-end-grocers-expand-and-brace-more-competition/

We do need a new downtown mall.

[204]

Originally Posted by Vin

Exciting times for the retail scene in Canada, which is trying to catch up with the rest of the world of modern retail.

Maybe one day soon Canada will even have horseless carriages and a telegrams! Please. Are you talking about the first world? The developed world?

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by Vin

There is the talk that Holt Renfrew may also bring in a high end Italian grocer called Eataly to the stores in Canada. I wonder if they would include that in the new expansion here, including a food hall, if they had more space.

From the BiV article:

One thing that will definitely not happen is the rumoured launch of a high-end grocer.

High-end Italian grocer Eataly tiptoed into North America by launching stores in New York in 2010 and Chicago in 2013.

[bjan]

[bjan]

Originally Posted by 204

Maybe one day soon Canada will even have horseless carriages and a telegrams! Please. Are you talking about the first world? The developed world?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by 204

Maybe one day soon Canada will even have horseless carriages and a telegrams! Please. Are you talking about the first world? The developed world?

He loves malls. That should provide context.

[bjan]

Originally Posted by Vin

Lol! I did not know that! Wow that's a new revelation.




Great news! I guess the Vancouver Holt Renfrew store has been pulling in enough revenue to warrant this expansion and join Toronto's/Yorkdale's HR to have more services like the Holt's cafe. I'm sure the overworked lady shoppers would love to take a little break with some macaroons and English breakfast tea/gourmet coffee to recharge.

Exciting times for the retail scene in Canada, which is trying to catch up with the rest of the world of modern retail. There is the talk that Holt Renfrew may also bring in a high end Italian grocer called Eataly to the stores in Canada. I wonder if they would include that in the new expansion here, including a food hall, if they had more space.
http://www.biv.com/article/2014/12/high-end-grocers-expand-and-brace-more-competition/

We do need a new downtown mall.

First, it's macarons not macaroons. There's a major difference.
Secondly, I think you should go back months, no years, in this thread and count how many times you're said "we need a new downtown mall" - SO many times. Seriously - it's not going to happen anytime soon, it's not even being contemplated. Vin, maybe it's time to accept that and finally start discussing a different topic!

[supercanuck]

Long time lurker, first time poster. Love this forum and all the knowledgeable people who post here.

Does anyone know what's happening to the Sears Outlet that just closed down by Lougheed Mall? On a Chinese site someone was saying that it will be turned into a T&T but it seems rather small with limited parking for something like that.

[connect2source]

Holts is timing this expansion very well. The cafe is long overdue, the men's shoe department is tiny and hidden behind the escalator, the men's dept as a whole has fallen behind Harry's in terms of selection and depth within each brand, the women's shoe dept is chaotic, cramped and far too small.

Holts' sales have doubled since 2010 so they're smart to stay pro-active and maintain their edge when Nordstrom opens and in light of the rumoured Saks.

More details from Retail-Insider :

http://www.retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2015/4/holtrenfrew-pacificcentre

[Tetsuo]

Originally Posted by supercanuck

Long time lurker, first time poster. Love this forum and all the knowledgeable people who post here.

Does anyone know what's happening to the Sears Outlet that just closed down by Lougheed Mall? On a Chinese site someone was saying that it will be turned into a T&T but it seems rather small with limited parking for something like that.

The land is part of Shape's Lougheed redevelopment plans, not sure if they'll progress with demolition this early though.

Short term tenant could grab it but i doubt T&T could fit there (like you said, lack of parking)

[Vin]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

From the BiV article:

I'm aware of that article. I don't think Holts would have space to include a food centre. If it has more space, it would be able to include Eataly.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by 204

Maybe one day soon Canada will even have horseless carriages and a telegrams! Please. Are you talking about the first world? The developed world?

nevermind. Kudos to you for thinking so highly of local retail though.

Originally Posted by bjan

First, it's macarons not macaroons. There's a major difference.
Secondly, I think you should go back months, no years, in this thread and count how many times you're said "we need a new downtown mall" - SO many times. Seriously - it's not going to happen anytime soon, it's not even being contemplated. Vin, maybe it's time to accept that and finally start discussing a different topic!

This is a retail thread, isn't it? I like to believe in the impossible.

[daveraver]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

From the BiV article:

There is rumors of Eataly entering Canada but they would have space within Saks and not Holt Renfrew. Time will tell if that happens or not.

[officedweller]

Saks has already contracted with Toronto's Pusateri's for the Queen St. and Sherway Gardens stores
- doubt they would switch suppliers, for other stores, but you never know.
http://www.thestar.com/business/2014/10/...er_with_saks_fifth_avenue_in_canada.html

***

The big question to me is - will HOLT's strip all of the pink granite from the Howe St. façade?

Some of you may recall that the tudor-ish architectural element seen on the Howe St. side was previously on the Granville side,
but was relocated to Howe St. when HOLT's renovated the Granville and Dunsmuir facades.
Their insertion of a small area of white carrera marble on the Howe St. side suggests that they value the look highly for their brand.



Pic by me today:

[connect2source]

I'm 1000% certain they will change the entire facade to match the rest of the store.

Holts is all about image and is meticulous about their branding, merchandising, design and overall look. The current hodgepodge screams 90's and there's no way Holts will keep it. Plus they have some big plans for the Howe Street side including an special entry for the Men's shop and a cafe on the second level where the current signage is for SportChek.

It will no doubt be white with lots of marble and will look great!!

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by connect2source

I'm 1000% certain they will change the entire facade to match the rest of the store....It will no doubt be white with lots of marble and will look great!!

In this weather it will soon look like shit all the rain we get here is hard on a relatively soft rock like Marble-of course that situation can be ameliorated with the constant application of cash.

[djh]

Since Holts is going to open a cafe in the expanded space, any word on what they will do with their rooftop deck (which was originally supposed to be the site of the cafe)?

[Retail-Insider]

Originally Posted by Vin

There is the talk that Holt Renfrew may also bring in a high end Italian grocer called Eataly to the stores in Canada. I wonder if they would include that in the new expansion here, including a food hall, if they had more space.
http://www.biv.com/article/2014/12/high-end-grocers-expand-and-brace-more-competition/

Although Eataly will enter Canada through Holt's parent company, its locations will likely be independent. Eataly will likely announce its Toronto location the 1st week of June - CEO Luca Baffigo Filangieri is speaking at a major Canadian retail conference and we think it will be revealed during or before that time.

Rumour has it Toronto's Eataly will be the world's largest at 75,000 sq ft, in an overhauled retail plaza facing Bloor Street. Vancouver and Montreal are on the list but probably won't see Eataly for a number of years.

Originally Posted by djh

Since Holts is going to open a cafe in the expanded space, any word on what they will do with their rooftop deck (which was originally supposed to be the site of the cafe)?

The 7,000 square foot space will become 5 personal shopping suites and Holt's luxury 'Apartment' shopping concept. The deck will be landscaped and will become a private space for shoppers using Holt's shopping services.

Chanel may get a large space with a Dunsmuir Street entrance, in the area where the salon and spa used to operate. This would be in lieu of Chanel opening a free-standing location in downtown Vancouver. It's not confirmed but Holt's is also doing something similar with Chanel and Prada at its Bloor Street flagship, I'm told. Giving concessions prominent retail space will keep them from going over to Saks (or possibly Nordstrom).

For fun, I wrote this article discussing how Vancouver's Holt's will become one of North America's largest luxury stores: http://www.retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2015/4/holtrenfrew-vancouver-size

[Whalleyboy]

Been busy this week to post about this. So was at lansdowne centre on Monday and notices a huge group of dressed up people looking around the future shop. Even saw them open the doors and go in. So it looks like someone might be interested in the spot.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Whalleyboy

Been busy this week to post about this. So was at lansdowne centre on Monday and notices a huge group of dressed up people looking around the future shop. Even saw them open the doors and go in. So it looks like someone might be interested in the spot.

I was hoping it would become an expansion of the Winners (which shares the same upper level of the former Woodwards (or was it Eaton's?)).

PS - as of last week, the downtown Future Shop still has all the Future Shop signage up - not even covered over with "Best Buy" banners or anything.