Rideau Centre Expansion | Completed

[mac_junkie1]

This is exactly as I described it the other day... It's a "theater shell" meaning its empty, but it still has that configuration... That's why it'll be interesting to see what they'll continue doing with the space. It opens up to the addition, so someone, somewhere knows exactly what is going into that space, but its just not announced yet. Its gutted, but clean, so I would assume that the theater dividers would've been demolished by now as that space was gutted 2 years ago at least. Not everything is public information all at once. They people like the element of surprise.

There is also at least another 20 or so tenants that haven't been announced yet. I'd love to see Disney return, but they weren't too keen about going back into a mall, but because CF owns Toronto's Eaton's Centre, maybe they'll push to add one. Lego would be nice also. Trying to think of other store that aren't in the nations capital...

The new door was installed last week. btw

Originally Posted by loga0082

By the way, I walked to the Rideau Centre today. I went up the fourth floor and I realized that they changed the door to the entrance where the former cinemas were. I took a peek at the tiny spaces and I did see that the cinema space was completely demolished. I saw the drywall with gray bricks. I also noticed, when I went out to the roof terrace that the expansion which probably be Simons is connecting the wall where the big sign 'CINEMAS' use to be. The former cinema space looks completely clear.

[wingman]

Originally Posted by mac_junkie1

There is also at least another 20 or so tenants that haven't been announced yet. I'd love to see Disney return, but they weren't too keen about going back into a mall, but because CF owns Toronto's Eaton's Centre, maybe they'll push to add one. Lego would be nice also. Trying to think of other store that aren't in the nations capital...

The biggest mainstream clothing store that comes to my mind is Hollister. For the life of me I don't understand their absence in the NCR marketplace.

[loga0082]

Which door are you referring to? I am not with you. Are you referring to the door which is between the former cinemas and where the new Simons in the expansion is going to be. I expect that Ms. Vanbuskirk does know what is going in the former cinema space, but she is not going to mention it to a customer who shops there like me. Even the construction workers probably know, but they just do not want to tell the customers what it is exactly going to be. It will be a surprise.

loga0082

[teej1984]

Originally Posted by loga0082

By the way, I walked to the Rideau Centre today. I went up the fourth floor and I realized that they changed the door to the entrance where the former cinemas were. I took a peek at the tiny spaces and I did see that the cinema space was completely demolished. I saw the drywall with gray bricks. I also noticed, when I went out to the roof terrace that the expansion which probably be Simons is connecting the wall where the big sign 'CINEMAS' use to be. The former cinema space looks completely clear.

You're turning into quite the little investigator! Be sure not to go in any restricted zones!

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by teej1984

You're turning into quite the little investigator! Be sure not to go in any restricted zones!

Do not worry! I am very careful not to walk in restricted zones. I keep away from construction zone areas, because I know that it can be dangerous. I do not want things falling on top of my head. I take a look from the outside, when the construction workers open the door.

Loga0082

[mykl]

This morning I noticed that Old Navy is finalizing their window. That poor store has had to redo their back room and part of their store's back wall at least 3 times now in order to accommodate the mall's renovations. It looks like they will have an area for product displays, and you can't really tell in the picture, but there are pegs between the windows where they can hang a big exterior sign.

I used to work there years ago, and this is a bit of a detriment. The old window were frosted but there was a little strip along the bottom so you could see out the window which really helps on a soul-sucking Saturday of Christmas retail. Also, the police used our window fairly frequently because they could go unnoticed and watch drug deals and other events happening on Rideau St, and communicate with a plain clothes officer on the ground. So losing that ability sucks a bit in terms of trying to clean up Rideau St.

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by mykl

This morning I noticed that Old Navy is finalizing their window. That poor store has had to redo their back room and part of their store's back wall at least 3 times now in order to accommodate the mall's renovations. It looks like they will have an area for product displays, and you can't really tell in the picture, but there are pegs between the windows where they can hang a big exterior sign.

I used to work there years ago, and this is a bit of a detriment. The old window were frosted but there was a little strip along the bottom so you could see out the window which really helps on a soul-sucking Saturday of Christmas retail. Also, the police used our window fairly frequently because they could go unnoticed and watch drug deals and other events happening on Rideau St, and communicate with a plain clothes officer on the ground. So losing that ability sucks a bit in terms of trying to clean up Rideau St.

What a nice shot of the new glass windows of the Old Navy shop! It looks much better than before. Is the Old Navy going to stay where it is or is it going to located somewhere else in the Rideau Centre?

Loga0082

[kevinbottawa]

I was walking through the Rideau Centre today and saw that Tumi is opening next month a few stores down from Stuart Weitzman. Never thought I'd see this kind of luxury offering at Rideau. I also saw that Shoppers Drug Mart is smaller. A part of it has been drywalled up.

[loga0082]

The Stuart Weitzman is supposed to be in the location where Town Shoes was once located. I thought that the Occitane is supposed to be next to Stuart Weitzman. Is the Tumi store going in the location where the former Source store use to be? Is that new Shoppers Drug Mart almost ready to open?

[McC]

Originally Posted by mykl

Also, the police used our window fairly frequently because they could go unnoticed and watch drug deals and other events happening on Rideau St, and communicate with a plain clothes officer on the ground. So losing that ability sucks a bit in terms of trying to clean up Rideau St.

one could do that pretty effectively with cameras.

[mykl]

Originally Posted by McC

one could do that pretty effectively with cameras.

Except that a surveillance camera looks like a surveillance camera, while a cop looking out the tiny crack in the window of a store looks like some random guy in a store.

[Shalaby]

Originally Posted by wingman

The biggest mainstream clothing store that comes to my mind is Hollister. For the life of me I don't understand their absence in the NCR marketplace.

People are no longer into heavily branded mid-tier apparel. Stores like Abercrombie and Hollister are just not cool any more. If we were having the growth in retail we're having right now in the late 90's early 00's I bet we'd have a few of these places.

[TheGoods]

Originally Posted by Shalaby

People are no longer into heavily branded mid-tier apparel. Stores like Abercrombie and Hollister are just not cool any more. If we were having the growth in retail we're having right now in the late 90's early 00's I bet we'd have a few of these places.

Agreed, for example, teens have drastically changed their shopping habit, their prefer spending their disposable income on bit ticket items such as smartphones and have replaced mid-tier retailer like AB, Holister and even Gap with Fast Fashion retailers such as H&M, Zara, Forever 21, Topshop, Joe Fresh, Uniqlo, etc… These Fast Fashion retailers are cheaper in price point and are more fashion forward, they capture the current trends much quicker that the traditionalist such as Gap. The other groups are also changing their buying habits, they are going to the fast fashion retailers for day to day and the money they save, they are spending on higher end brands.

If you look at Abercrombie, Hollister and Gap, etc…, they are closing stores instead of expanding and sales are really down, just look at their stock price, as example, Abercrombie stock price 5 years ago was hovering around $80 and as of this summer, it hit a low of $16 and now hovering in the low $20

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by TheGoods

Agreed, for example, teens have drastically changed their shopping habit, their prefer spending their disposable income on bit ticket items such as smartphones and have replaced mid-tier retailer like AB, Holister and even Gap with Fast Fashion retailers such as H&M, Zara, Forever 21, Topshop, Joe Fresh, Uniqlo, etc… These Fast Fashion retailers are cheaper in price point and are more fashion forward, they capture the current trends much quicker that the traditionalist such as Gap. The other groups are also changing their buying habits, they are going to the fast fashion retailers for day to day and the money they save, they are spending on higher end brands.

If you look at Abercrombie, Hollister and Gap, etc…, they are closing stores instead of expanding and sales are really down, just look at their stock price, as example, Abercrombie stock price 5 years ago was hovering around $80 and as of this summer, it hit a low of $16 and now hovering in the low $20

I have been to Abercrombie last year at a Mall in Atlanta , Georgia and I bought vests. I do not remember it being that cheap. There use to be a Benetton at the Rideau Centre which sold clothes for young people. Benetton use to be a good store, when they sold clothes 'Made in Italy' and they were much better quality. The last few years that Benetton was opened, most of the clothes were made in China and they were not as good. They made small size shirts too tight for small and skinny people. They had a Jacob's on the ground floor of the Rideau Centre. This shop closed down. Nordstrom is very expensive. It cost a lot of money just buying underwear.

Loga0082

[movebyleap]

As a teacher AND mom of teenagers I can attest to the fact that most teens would not be caught dead in Hollister, Gap, or AB. These brands are considered by them to be very "90s" and not relevant anymore. Yes - Zara, F21, and H&M are popular. A home grown brand - Aritzia - is huge in my daughter's high school, as well as Urban Outfitters (mind you, UO in Ottawa is small and rather poorly stocked).
Many kids also travel abroad (US, Europe, and Asia) and are familiar with brands that are not available here. They're pretty fashion savvy and do a LOT of online shopping, buying obscure, indie brands.
Looking forward to Topshop opening here but sadly I thnk we'll be getting one of the smallest locations in Canada so I'll just continue with shopping on their website which has the complete selection.
And Sylvia - Benetton continues to be my favourite brand - I still remember when there were THREE stores in Ottawa alone (Rideau, Bayshore, and Place d'Orleans). They've all but shut down operations in North America (only 2 stores left - one in LA and one in NYC). Each time I go to Europe I stock up on Benetton clothes - my guilty pleasure.

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by movebyleap

As a teacher AND mom of teenagers I can attest to the fact that most teens would not be caught dead in Hollister, Gap, or AB. These brands are considered by them to be very "90s" and not relevant anymore. Yes - Zara, F21, and H&M are popular. A home grown brand - Aritzia - is huge in my daughter's high school, as well as Urban Outfitters (mind you, UO in Ottawa is small and rather poorly stocked).
Many kids also travel abroad (US, Europe, and Asia) and are familiar with brands that are not available here. They're pretty fashion savvy and do a LOT of online shopping, buying obscure, indie brands.
Looking forward to Topshop opening here but sadly I thnk we'll be getting one of the smallest locations in Canada so I'll just continue with shopping on their website which has the complete selection.
And Sylvia - Benetton continues to be my favourite brand - I still remember when there were THREE stores in Ottawa alone (Rideau, Bayshore, and Place d'Orleans). They've all but shut down operations in North America (only 2 stores left - one in LA and one in NYC). Each time I go to Europe I stock up on Benetton clothes - my guilty pleasure.

They are going to put a H&M store in the Rideau centre. I have heard that they sell many clothes for youth. Zara is going in the expansion. I assumed that Zara had clothes for people of all ages, not just for the youth. When I walked in the Rideau Centre on Monday, they are opening a clothes shop on the 3rd floor for teenagers on cotton clothes next month in the end of October. It is going in the located where the former Source store was located. I never been to Bayshore Shopping Centre nor Place de Orleans, because I live in Overbrook which is near the Vanier Parkway. I, sometimes; go to St. Laurent Shopping Centre and I have not seen a Benetton there either. I was in London, England last January and there is still a Benetton. I do not want to spend too much money on clothes, when I am abroad, because it is a nuisance having to fit it in my suitcase. Then my suitcase becomes very heavy. When I went to Belgium in December 2012, I did see a Benetton there. I have not been to New York City for two years, so I do not know whether they have a Benetton or not there. They had one then in 2013. Old Navy must have clothes suited for teenagers, but I do not know.

loga0082

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by loga0082

When I walked in the Rideau Centre on Monday, they are opening a clothes shop on the 3rd floor for teenagers on cotton clothes next month in the end of October.

There is a Softmoc opening in one of the spaces across from Victoria's Secret, on the hallway leading to the bridge. Opening should be the end of October.

[loga0082]

Catenary, I was referring to the SoftMac across from Victoria Secret near the bridge which they are renovating. I just do not remember the name, because I only walked there last Monday. It is going in the location where the former Source store was. Many of those stores in the Rideau Centre seem to sell the same clothes, shoes, jewellery, cosmetics, and electronic devices.

Loga0082

[kevinbottawa]

They're putting in a new set of elevators on the ground floor between GoodLife and the expansion. So glad they'll be two. There's always a long line up at the elevator. I imagine this means the current ground floor elevator will be removed. They haven't finished any of the glass railings around it on the higher floors. That would give better access to the old Richtree space. Kinda sucks though. I'm sure I'm not the only one who enjoyed people watching out the windows while riding that elevator.



Also, the Rideau Centre posted their new logo on social media today. Kinda weird since they just came out with a new logo a few months ago.

[kevinbottawa]

Facebook post from the Rideau Centre:

Our new 3-level underground Green parking garage opens tomorrow morning at 6 AM! Access will be via Besserer Street at the Nicholas Street intersection