Winnipeg Retail

[pegger87]

Organza Market is under new ownership as of Sunday. They were closed over the weekend for inventory and the deli has been closed since they reopened. The shelves are also looking pretty bare.

The temporary banner hanging above the door reads: The Fresh Carrrot.ca - organic, gluten free, homeopathic, fair trade, local MB meats, cold press juice bar, homemade ice-cream. This is the second location for The Fresh Carrot, the first being in Gimli.

http://www.thefreshcarrot.ca
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-F...=page_internal

The website for Organza has been taken down, but their social media accounts are still kicking around. One review on the Organza Facebook page cites "a hostile, underhanded takeover". https://www.facebook.com/OrganzaMarket

According to one new employee at The Fresh Carrot, all but two Organza employees are gone. Apparently they were all given the option to stay. That same employee said that previous management knew this was going to be happening for awhile and didn't tell anyone. On the other hand, an employee at Vita Health said they heard the previous Organza owners were locked out and it all happened very suddenly.

[CoryB]

The Gimli location of Fresh Carrot is tiny compared to Organza Market. I wonder how they will do in the new location.

That said, I wonder if there will be confusion with the similarly named Green Carrot which is a cold press juice bar not too far away. Also regardless of the name on the store this is a market that seems ripe for a bigger player such as Whole Foods to move in and completely dominate. Clearly it has been established there is a market for this type of store in Winnipeg now its just a question of when it happens.

[cheswick]

Walked through city place food court today, noticed there are construction walls around both the former pizza oint and the location that has been empty for a decade closest to the mall (think maybe it was an Arby's at one point?). Anyone know if anything new is going in?

[horrorbro123]

Landmark Theater Will Be Open During Renovation at Grand Park Location

[LilZebra]

Was at Grant Park Cinema yesterday to catch the remake of Poltergeist.

Despite there being only 2 others in the theatre room, they wanted me to choose a seat in their system.

I told them that if they cause that kind of trouble with me, I'll start to download movies off the Net.

I don't need that kind of hassle.

[Authentic_City]

Brick's is closing:

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/bus...306026001.html

[kings5504]

Originally Posted by jimj_wpg

Was at Grant Park Cinema yesterday to catch the remake of Poltergeist.

Despite there being only 2 others in the theatre room, they wanted me to choose a seat in their system.

I told them that if they cause that kind of trouble with me, I'll start to download movies off the Net.

I don't need that kind of hassle.

I have to disagree with you on this. This is one of the conveniences from other countries' cinemas that I found took forever to get here. It doesn't take forever to pick a seat, and I find that with this option, I can easily buy tickets online, secure my location without having to worry about lining up hours before the movie starts to secure a good seat, especially for a popular movie on its' first week.

And for instances like you said where there are just two other people watching: Just pick any seat and if you end up not liking it, then just move when the movie starts and no one else is coming in anymore.

[The Unknown Poster]

I almost exclusively see movies where I can choose my own seat in advance. Ends the hours-long line ups.

As for Organza, I think the owner went through a rather unpleasant divorce and this was a long time in coming.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by The Unknown Poster

I almost exclusively see movies where I can choose my own seat in advance. Ends the hours-long line ups.

What movies are you guys going to see that involve hours-long line ups?

I don't think I've ever waited more than 10 minutes for a movie ticket in my life...

[trebor204]

Originally Posted by esquire

What movies are you guys going to see that involve hours-long line ups?

I don't think I've ever waited more than 10 minutes for a movie ticket in my life...

Probably the new Star Wars movie.

[kings5504]

Originally Posted by esquire

What movies are you guys going to see that involve hours-long line ups?

I don't think I've ever waited more than 10 minutes for a movie ticket in my life...

Usually (but not limited to) big "blockbusters" during their first weekend of release. And it's not the ticket lineup that's problem, it's getting good seats is the problem. If I can avoid having to line up way earlier (and avoid having to drive to the theater much earlier than I have to) before the movie starts just so I can avoid having to sit in the front and I can get my preferred aisle seats, then I'm all for it.

[esquire]

^ You guys know that the movie will be just as good in a week as it was on opening night, right?

[kings5504]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ You guys know that the movie will be just as good in a week as it was on opening night, right?

Not for us nerds.

[The Unknown Poster]

Exactly, the old days of lining up for hours to be first in line for seats is over. And it's better for the customer and the theatre. Now, everyone can waltz in as their own speed because they have their seats reserved.

[buzzg]

I went to the Entourage premiere last night and we went early... there was no line and the theatre (polo) was maybe 10% full... it was shocking for such a big movie.

[CoryB]

Moving from rush seating to assigned seating just means the game has changed from who can or is willing to wait in line the longest to who has a fastest trigger finger in their browser. The game is really no different and all the hardcore people will know the exact second tickets are scheduled to go on sale so they can book their ideal seat.

I never had issues with the old rush seating style, even on opening night for the biggest of blockbusters.

[rkspec]

Originally Posted by jimj_wpg

Was at Grant Park Cinema yesterday to catch the remake of Poltergeist.

Despite there being only 2 others in the theatre room, they wanted me to choose a seat in their system.

I told them that if they cause that kind of trouble with me, I'll start to download movies off the Net.

I don't need that kind of hassle.

same here...i'd rather scope out the theater first instead of picking a seat and having some tall dude or a lady with tall hair blocking my view.

if i was over 6ft tall then its a whole different story

[vjose32]

Originally Posted by buzzg

I went to the Entourage premiere last night and we went early... there was no line and the theatre (polo) was maybe 10% full... it was shocking for such a big movie.

I don't find it shocking nor do I consider it a big movie.

[pegcity]

"Well established in B.C. and Alberta, Overwaitea – which operates Cooper’s Foods, Save-On Foods and PriceSmart Foods as well as Overwaitea-branded stores – is expanding this year into Saskatchewan and Winnipeg."

Anyone know anything about this?

http://www.sartech.ca/content/templa....oDfwa3b0.mjjo

[CoryB]

The timing of an entry by Overwaitea into the Winnipeg market seems extremely off. I had time at the top of my list to be picking up stores in the Safeway court ordered sale. That they didn't put money on the table then to acquire some prime locations makes me really question what they will be doing now. There are different a few more prime locations on the market with Kenaston, Lag and Unicity being top of mind. It is possible they would pickup either the closed Lelia or Maples location as well. The extra warehouse on route 90 would likely make sense too.

Also while not an expert on this as I have not researched their store size, I would put Save on Foods as the leading contender for the Polo Park Target store.

In terms of St Vital, perhaps a take over of the Family Foods at Dakota and St Marys?