The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[SpongeG]

so i was at simons in edmonton the other day, it was pretty quiet, one could almost hear crickets, but the fall selection there is friggin amazing, they got a new designer shoe section, mens, nothing under $550.00, they've added some impressive brands, its very edgy. if they carry that stuff at park royal it will be awesome.

some of the mens brands they have marc by marc jacobs, versace, marc jacobs, comme des garcons, play by comme de garcons, canada goose, marni, dries van noten, maison martin margiela (creative director is john galliano), Dsquared and a lot more i don't see on the nordstrom list

i think they will do amazing in vancouver

anyway they are opening a second simons store in a mall that feels like Lougheed Mall, kinda weird location, they say the mall is trying to go upscale but the simons neighbour store is dollarama, the source cheapo stores... a rather weird mix

[Tetsuo]

How is WEM holding up with the economic outlook of Alberta?

[SpongeG]

seemed alright, they have store brands vancouver doesn't have. the mall was really busy, the city itself has so much construction going on, so many new houss and shopping plazas on the west side west of henday drive

[connect2source]

Signage is up at Simons!

photos by : connect2source

[SFUVancouver]

I've lost the plot entirely on Simons. Are they in the midst of a Western Canadian expansion? Whom are their competitors? (The Bay? Holts? Nordstrom?) What drew them to Park Royal as their beachhead in Metro Vancouver?

[SpongeG]

they are pretty unique, they don't really compete with the bay or holt renfrew as simons is not really a department store.

They don't sell cosmetics or fragrances, they don't really have a shoe department or an accessories department. They do carry shoes and accessories though but a very small amount and its not really specific, if you know what i mean, like i went one time and they had some designer bags like marc by marc jacobs and Dsquared and diesel, and than the next time they might have scotch & soda, comme de garcons and WANT.

I've described them this way before, its like H&M with some outside brands thrown in, i would say its 75% simons house brands with a mix of high end and middle designer. And the designer stuff they carry seems to change with each season. There are no dedicated designer sections really, versace is mixed in with any other brands.

the quality of their house brands is really nice good though and covers everything from underwear and socks to trendy or professional clothes at an affordable price compared to their designer counterpoints.

they have a housewares section which is pretty cool and very affordable, a nice selection of bedding, pillows, towels, aprons, table clothes a small selection of candles but no real decor items. i'd say its 90% simons house brand, with a few name brands thrown in, but is always different as it doesn't seem to restock, like the first time i was there they had a lot of Diesel things like pillows, towels, bedding, the last few times they had no diesel but had some Desiqual stuff and the occasional DKNY things.

I think they will do well in vancouver. The sales are really amazing, i saw $199.99 designer t-shirts marked down to $29.99 I've never seen good deals like that at holt renfrew.

they are opening a second store in edmonton and one in calgary, both i think are set for 2017.

[wrenegade]

Noticed that hoarding is up around the corner CRU at the Carlyle (Alberni & Thurlow). This is Chanel, correct? And Diesel will also be going in the project closer to Robson?

[bluefox]

Originally Posted by wrenegade

Noticed that hoarding is up around the corner CRU at the Carlyle (Alberni & Thurlow). This is Chanel, correct? And Diesel will also be going in the project closer to Robson?

I thought it was Prada and Moncler, respectively?

[red-paladin]

Speaking of Simons, have we heard if they are coming to Metrotown?

[wrenegade]

Originally Posted by bluefox

I thought it was Prada and Moncler, respectively?

Just double checked on retail-insider's website and you are correct. I was looking at old information. Should have looked back there first.

[daverraver]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

Speaking of Simons, have we heard if they are coming to Metrotown?

Not officially, although the rumor (if true) is that they'll take over the old Sears store at Richmond Centre.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I've described them this way before, its like H&M with some outside brands thrown in.

And all this time I was thinking that they are a grocery store.

[wrenegade]

Simons at Park Royal opens Thursday October 15th.

[Klazu]

I was in Steveston today and found it interesting that every single retail unit in the vast new Imperial Landing complex are still sitting totally empty. How have they failed to attract even a single tenant?

It has been like this since summer and all the apartments above are already tenanted. Sad really, as it is a great extension to the waterfront.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Klazu

I was in Steveston today and found it interesting that every single retail unit in the vast new Imperial Landing complex are still sitting totally empty. How have they failed to attract even a single tenant?

It has been like this since summer and all the apartments above are already tenanted. Sad really, as it is a great extension to the waterfront.

It's an ongoing dispute.
It's zoned "maritime-oriented" (or similar) - but the developer has failed to get suitable tenants and wants it rezoned for general retail.
City says "no way" - the original plan was always for maritime themed retail and they agreed to it.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-co...t-of-space-in-steveston-vacant-1.2644302

[Bdawe]

Originally Posted by officedweller

It's an ongoing dispute.
It's zoned "maritime-oriented" (or similar) - but the developer has failed to get suitable tenants and wants it rezoned for general retail.
City says "no way" - the original plan was always for maritime themed retail and they agreed to it.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-co...t-of-space-in-steveston-vacant-1.2644302

Nonsense like this is why I hate zoning. This sort of economic micromanagement makes society as a whole poorer

[Klazu]

That's both sad and funny at the same time! Seems that both parties playing chicken to see who will blink first... since 2013. Incredible...

[connect2source]

Meinhardt opened @ Pacific Centre, took a look inside, slick, small grocery selection including fresh meat, seems a little odd but should get a good lunch crowd.

photos by : connect2source

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by Bdawe

Nonsense like this is why I hate zoning. This sort of economic micromanagement makes society as a whole poorer

— libertarian wingnuttery noted.

Originally Posted by Klazu

That's both sad and funny at the same time! Seems that both parties playing chicken to see who will blink first... since 2013. Incredible...

A Deal is a Deal until one party runs out of money.

Anyway I was in Steveston today and the place was pretty much a deserted and will be until May why would any serious retailer bother with the place.

I posted a long while back about having a long talk with the first person to open up a seafood retail operation in Steveston it's a dead zone 250 days/year and in his opinion always will be condos be damned.

[Pinion]

Originally Posted by Bdawe

Nonsense like this is why I hate zoning. This sort of economic micromanagement makes society as a whole poorer

Hahah what. Since Jebby has mellowed out I guess we needed a new guy