[Moncton] Retail Thread

[Colouratura]

I wonder if the Gap in Champlain Mall is on the chopping block?

http://www.bnn.ca/News/2015/6/15/Gap-to-shut-down-175-stores-in-turnaround-attempt.aspx

[MonctonRad]

Hard to say. It depends on how well the Gap at Champlain is performing with relation to it's counterparts elsewhere, and also whether or not Gap would like to keep a store in NB for geographic reasons.

Gap wants to close 175 stores continent wide. I don't know if this includes Gap Factory Outlet stores or not.

It would make sense that about 10% of these stores will be in Canada (about 18). A quick search indicates 87 Gap locations in the country (more if Gap Outlet stores are included). As such, perhaps as many as 20-25% of Gap stores in Canada are slated for closure (less if Gap Outlets are included).

So, I'm hopeful that the Champlain Place Gap will remain open, but only time will tell..........

[stephan.richard]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Hard to say. It depends on how well the Gap at Champlain is performing with relation to it's counterparts elsewhere, and also whether or not Gap would like to keep a store in NB for geographic reasons.

Gap wants to close 175 stores continent wide. I don't know if this includes Gap Factory Outlet stores or not.

It would make sense that about 10% of these stores will be in Canada (about 18). A quick search indicates 87 Gap locations in the country (more if Gap Outlet stores are included). As such, perhaps as many as 20-25% of Gap stores in Canada are slated for closure (less if Gap Outlets are included).

So, I'm hopeful that the Champlain Place Gap will remain open, but only time will tell..........

But I think the GAP is probably victim of the retail Cycle and if you do not reinvent yourself you will be out of business. I hope that we get to keep pout location and only time will tell.

And in regards to the mall that fish and chip place that was in the old food court wasn't that not a Deluxe?

And a few things that is starting to worry me about Champlain place are some of the empty storefronts that are appearing in the mall and not being replaces by possible tenants. Also I think the mall is starting to get competition with the Mapleton and Trinity drive area.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by stephan.richard

But I think the GAP is probably victim of the retail Cycle and if you do not reinvent yourself you will be out of business. I hope that we get to keep pout location and only time will tell.

And in regards to the mall that fish and chip place that was in the old food court wasn't that not a Deluxe?

And a few things that is starting to worry me about Champlain place are some of the empty storefronts that are appearing in the mall and not being replaces by possible tenants. Also I think the mall is starting to get competition with the Mapleton and Trinity drive area.

They where saying that Gap was competing poorly against there sister Company Old Navy... Din't Old Navy rebuild themselves a few years ago...

[Colouratura]

The Gap outlets aren't closing, it's the regular stores.
The Washington Post has a good article on how Gap kind of became their own worst enemy.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morni...pers-have-made-gaps-basic-look-obsolete/

[MonctonRad]

There are three reasons why I think the Champlain Place GAP might be safe.

1)- It's the only GAP store in NB
2)- Moncton doesn't have a GAP Outlet store. You would be removing the GAP brand entirely from the marketplace.
3)- Moncton has the regional NB/PEI office for GAP brands, and has GAP Kids, Old Navy and Banana Republic Factory Outlet stores in the city. It's hard to imagine they would remove the flagship GAP brand but keep BR. The regional office must count for something.

Does anyone know how busy the GAP store at Champlain is?

[OUIR@random]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

There are three reasons why I think the Champlain Place GAP might be safe.

1)- It's the only GAP store in NB
2)- Moncton doesn't have a GAP Outlet store. You would be removing the GAP brand entirely from the marketplace.
3)- Moncton has the regional NB/PEI office for GAP brands, and has GAP Kids, Old Navy and Banana Republic Factory Outlet stores in the city. It's hard to imagine they would remove the flagship GAP brand but keep BR. The regional office must count for something.

Does anyone know how busy the GAP store at Champlain is?

From my observations, GAP at Champlain is not really busy, there is somewhat alot of foot traffic inside the mall, but many stores are often fairly empty. Bath and Bodyworks is possibly one of the busiest store in the mall, I always see customers in there, I don't think many stores in Champlain are in this situation. Coach is not the only store that will close. Swarovski is always empty as is Fossil, the Pandora phase is done and I could go on, there's many stores in that mall that most people couldn't care less for. In the past few years, me and my wife go less and less at Champlain and most of our shopping is done in the Mapleton-Trinity area of the city, I doubt I'm the only one.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by OUIR@random

From my observations, GAP at Champlain is not really busy, there is somewhat alot of foot traffic inside the mall, but many stores are often fairly empty. Bath and Bodyworks is possibly one of the busiest store in the mall, I always see customers in there, I don't think many stores in Champlain are in this situation. Coach is not the only store that will close. Swarovski is always empty as is Fossil, the Pandora phase is done and I could go on, there's many stores in that mall that most people couldn't care less for. In the past few years, me and my wife go less and less at Champlain and most of our shopping is done in the Mapleton-Trinity area of the city, I doubt I'm the only one.

it seems the only reason Champlain Mall is ever really busy now and days is because of the Bus terminal point there, and the people going to eat at the food court... Other then that people seem to be from Champlain mall, and towards Mapleton/Trinity area. people seem less likely to do there shopping in the mall since they renovated, and told people your no longer allowed to have shopping carts in the mall.

[pierremoncton]

Don't know if this should be in retail or downtown.

Hardly exciting, but the old Beaver Curling Club at Capitol/St George is being transformed into a flea market/liquidation centre, opening July 11. Better than an empty building.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beaver-Liquidation-and-Flea-Market-Center/1453068041674462?fref=nf

[micks5477]

Originally Posted by bigrivernb

Speaking to a employee, Party City Opens to the public Monday June 15. soft opening with Grand opening plans in the near future.

Here are a few pictures of inside Party City. Seems like they have everything you could possibly need and more. I wonder how much this will hurt Lloyds. Although Lloyds will still have the costume rental and party rental items.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by pierremoncton

Don't know if this should be in retail or downtown.

Hardly exciting, but the old Beaver Curling Club at Capitol/St George is being transformed into a flea market/liquidation centre, opening July 11. Better than an empty building.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beaver-Liquidation-and-Flea-Market-Center/1453068041674462?fref=nf

Either way. Your right it's better that building be used, then not... It's still for sale tho so I wonder how long the flea market will stay.

[UptownJeff]

Originally Posted by Scarface

it seems the only reason Champlain Mall is ever really busy now and days is because of the Bus terminal point there, and the people going to eat at the food court... Other then that people seem to be from Champlain mall, and towards Mapleton/Trinity area. people seem less likely to do there shopping in the mall since they renovated, and told people your no longer allowed to have shopping carts in the mall.

Seeing the same thing here in Saint John. Now that target is gone and sobeys is building a stand alone store up the hill at eastpoint, the mall in my opinion is dying. If Sears ever goes.......

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by UptownJeff

Seeing the same thing here in Saint John. Now that target is gone and sobeys is building a stand alone store up the hill at eastpoint, the mall in my opinion is dying. If Sears ever goes.......

Here in Moncton we where supposed to get a Sam's Club, and it Defunct. Then they talked about a Stand alone Walmart store, and Sobeys had talked about doing the same That would have turned Champlain Mall into a ghost town practically, and if Sears where to leave that would be a Trifecta, and just kill the Mall all together. Most people in my area go to do there Shopping in the North West Center or the Mapleton-Trinity area now No point going to Dieppe.

[stephan.richard]

Originally Posted by Scarface

Here in Moncton we where supposed to get a Sam's Club, and it Defunct. Then they talked about a Stand alone Walmart store, and Sobeys had talked about doing the same That would have turned Champlain Mall into a ghost town practically, and if Sears where to leave that would be a Trifecta, and just kill the Mall all together. Most people in my area go to do there Shopping in the North West Center or the Mapleton-Trinity area now No point going to Dieppe.

I think the main issue now when it comes to the retail sector in Metro Moncton has become regional. What do I mean by that its that folks that live within a stones throw of the Trinity drive area has all the services that they need at their fingertips and much more and they will not to the drive in Dieppe.. But that might change with the opening of Bass Pro-Shops scheduled sometimes this fall.

As i keep on saying I think Champlain Place in some aspects has lost its alure as far as a mall standpoint. Some folks now can only afford shopping at spots like Wal-Mart rather than doing their shopping in the mall. I do not think that the whole shopping cart thing has hurt the mall. Whenever i do to the Bangor Mall I do not see folks wheeling carts around. IN order to attract more folks in the mall is to bring in key retailers like a Forever 21, Hollister, Abercombie and Fitch, Journeys', And maybe a Simmons (If Sears goes bust), and others.

But I think the traditional indoor mall shopping experience has evolved into the BIg-Box Style developments.

In town we are at a semi-advantage over Halifax with Bass Pro, Cabela's, DSW but we need more regional retailers to set up shop in town. Even a Tagner or event a Premium Outlet style center would not hurt.

[MonctonRad]

Champlain Place is doing OK. It's just changed it's focus in a challenging retail environment. The decision has been made by Cadillac Fairview to remake it into a regional "fashion mall", like HSC or MicMac Mall. By doing so, they have abandoned the low quality high quantity consumers to the big boxes and have instead focussed on the quality consumers with higher disposable incomes. This (and a definite focus on the female demographic) has somewhat depressed foot traffic at the mall, but I imagine sales per square foot remain good.

The mall will survive and will prosper. Sears may fold, but I predict it'll be replaced by Hudson's Bay. The Sobeys may relocate to Dieppe Blvd, but I predict a renovation of that space to accomodate new retailers, perhaps a Forever 21 amongst others.

Finally, the addition of Bass Pro Shop to the mall line up is a huge win. It will help to ensure the malls position as a major regional shopping destination with stores that are unique and high quality. BPS will also help to broaden the appeal of the mall (broaden the target demographic to include more men).

Champlain Place is the fashion mall for NB/PEI/ It's not going anywhere.

[josh_cat_eyes]

I find HMV, Spencer's, Boathouse, Urban Planet, H&M, Jump+, SportChek, Bath & Body Works & Walmart seem to be the busiest stores. So their certainly is no need to panic. I would be nice if Old Navy was in the mall tho. I would go their more often if it was in a better location.

[Hubbub]

Is there something going on at the Quiznos in Lounsbury plaza? The store was closed all day yesterday and there were large trucks parked in front of it.

I heard that the place was for sale but there were no takers. Maybe they pulled the plug.

The place was always empty........

[David_99]

Originally Posted by Hubbub

Is there something going on at the Quiznos in Lounsbury plaza? The store was closed all day yesterday and there were large trucks parked in front of it.

I heard that the place was for sale but there were no takers. Maybe they pulled the plug.

The place was always empty........

I've never seen one person inside a Quiznos in this city. I know people eat there, but I've honestly never seen it with my own eyes. No wonder they keep closing. How many are left?

[Hubbub]

Originally Posted by David_99

I've never seen one person inside a Quiznos in this city. I know people eat there, but I've honestly never seen it with my own eyes. No wonder they keep closing. How many are left?

Just the one in Dieppe. There are very few left in Atlantic. Dropping like flies. They can't compete with Subways business model.

[OUIR@random]

I don't eat at either Subway or Quiznos much, but Quiznos subs are certainly a better sub than anything at Subway. Subway is not bad, but a Quiznos sub is more substantial in all ways.