The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[logan5]

It's East is East, and I don't know myself why facade renovations on newr buildings almost never happen. Maybe strata rules don't allow it. But there are instances where a multi billion dollar company like Starbucks could easily afford to renovate the facade on retail buildings but don't. 14th and Main is a good example with a plain jane Starbucks on 1 side and a way nicer looking JJ Bean on the other.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2584036,-...86n7nk4rBOMq9gw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

[Vin]

Originally Posted by jlousa

I agree, lets build a mega mall there instead.... If you can't tell if I'm being serious or not you should put away your smartphone for a bit and enjoy the outdoors.

Different strokes for different folks. Diversity should be welcomed not homogenized.

Yup, and now for months there are no takers for those new Denman CRUs, possibly because the owners have to charge a heck of a lot of rent to build on such an expensive piece of land downtown. Higher density could help offset that. How can you welcome such bad business practice? And let's not start this drama about the mega mall....we are talking about about higher density residential/retail.

[NewfBC]

Yum!

Ladurée is considered the “it” macaron, and the luxury baker has been in business in its native Paris since the 19th century.

Now it seems rumours of a Canadian expansion are proving true: It sure looks like that’s Ladurée moving into a storefront on Vancouver’s Robson Street, between Thurlow and Bute.

Signage bearing Ladurée’s name and iconic pale green background was unveiled today at the location between a Telus store and Steve Madden, and passers-by are buzzing already.

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/10/laduree-vancouver/

Ron.

[officedweller]

Black & Lee Formalwear is moving into the BLU Hotel retail - on the Cambie St.ide next to Black Rice Izakaya.
(Probably because their current location (Richards ST. next to the riot-ravaged Blenz) will be redeveloped when they expand the retail to the edge of the building foorprint.

[Vin]

From Vancitybuzz:

"According to industry analysts, there is high interest from international retailers with establishing a presence in the downtown Vancouver market, but suitable retail space is hard to come by."

Think we need a new downtown mall. "No demand" is a myth.

[osirisboy]

I'd like to see some large retailers go into the eventual redevelopment of the bay parkade site. I think there is demand. You always hear of retailers looking for space but they just can't find anything suitable. More often than not it's these dinky little useless retail spaces that get built at the bottom of condos but this is what they want. Then these units remain empty and people think "oh there must not be any demand"

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Vin

From Vancitybuzz:

"According to industry analysts, there is high interest from international retailers with establishing a presence in the downtown Vancouver market, but suitable retail space is hard to come by."

Think we need a new downtown mall. "No demand" is a myth.

If you're serious about this, Yorkville Toronto is a good place to, look at this. Cumberland Court, Hazelton Lands are long-standing examples of hos clustering "mini-malls" together in a 'hood works. There are other, newer ones, of course.
Place Ville Marie, a Canadian classic, used to have (been a long time...) elegant black striping along the tops of the stores, and all the names same typeface. It was super cool.
Since then, a lot of other stuff has been built in Montreal, too. En bref, I just think that if you're looking for examples or models to follow, Montreal and Toronto are the right cities.

[wrenegade]

We don't need another Downtown Mall, we need to demo most of Robson street and built new buildings with a much higher calibre of retail space. I can walk up and down Robson between Burrard and Bute and name the amount of decent buildings on one hand. 818 Robson (Banana Republic through Zara), Sephora, 1025 Robson (Forever 21, Aldo, others) annnnd I'm done. 3 buildings. Bulldoze the rest. Artizia's building is so-so at best, especially considering it's corner location, same goes for the old bebe space that has been cut up into two CRUs. Pretty much everything is total crap. This is one of the biggest reasons Alberni has been doing much better over the last couple years, much better buildings and/or totally overhauled and renovated space. Although it's a terrible shame that Michaels is on that block.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Vin

Yup, and now for months there are no takers for those new Denman CRUs, possibly because the owners have to charge a heck of a lot of rent to build on such an expensive piece of land downtown. Higher density could help offset that. How can you welcome such bad business practice? And let's not start this drama about the mega mall....we are talking about about higher density residential/retail.

I don't know details of those properties but it wouldn't surprise me if the owners have had them for quite a while and the high rent is probably their misguided choice.

[SpongeG]

i finally got to see simons, it was very busy, mainly the womens floor, the home dept had the most activity, really nice, was missing a few brands they carry at the edmonton store.

went to nordstroms, it was really quite busy, the lack of prices on the mens grooming products was a little odd, the main level was really busy, the makeup and fragrance section was very nice and respected every brand well and was easy to browse, contrast that too holt renfrew where they just lineup all the different brands together so you never really get a good sense of any of them, it was probably the deadest i've ever seen the store with freaked out sales people desperate for sales

checked out abercrombie and fitch, nice to see it has windows, big windows, the prices are a better deal here, there was a jacket 98 us, 112 cdn, with the exchange rate you save about $15 in canada

[Vin]

Originally Posted by wrenegade

We don't need another Downtown Mall, we need to demo most of Robson street and built new buildings with a much higher calibre of retail space. I can walk up and down Robson between Burrard and Bute and name the amount of decent buildings on one hand. 818 Robson (Banana Republic through Zara), Sephora, 1025 Robson (Forever 21, Aldo, others) annnnd I'm done. 3 buildings. Bulldoze the rest. Artizia's building is so-so at best, especially considering it's corner location, same goes for the old bebe space that has been cut up into two CRUs. Pretty much everything is total crap. This is one of the biggest reasons Alberni has been doing much better over the last couple years, much better buildings and/or totally overhauled and renovated space. Although it's a terrible shame that Michaels is on that block.

In that case, you are not really adding additional retail space downtown. A mall can hopefully take away some strain on Robson retail rental and help encourage a better mix of tenants who would be able to afford to stay for longer terms. Agree that a large part of Robson is total crap now but without the stores going higher density, it would still be hard pressed to find willing developers to rebuild. The failure on those new Denman one-storey CRUs is just one example.

[LowerLonsdaleMike]

Anyone know why Kamei Royale is leaving their prominent location above Tiffany's? Their Facebook page says they are vacating next month and reopening at 1066 West Hastings in the Spring.

I'd love this to be that they are vacating the Burrard Building to demolish and build Vancouver's tallest tower, but I think I'm 10 years ahead of myself.

[SpongeG]

one pic from inside simons and two from just outside

20151027_152231 by snub_you, on Flickr

20151027_152400 by snub_you, on Flickr

20151027_152413 by snub_you, on Flickr

[SpongeG]

the nearly done new food court at park royal

20151027_170757 by snub_you, on Flickr

20151027_170759 by snub_you, on Flickr

20151027_170801_019 by snub_you, on Flickr

[wrenegade]

Originally Posted by Vin

In that case, you are not really adding additional retail space downtown. A mall can hopefully take away some strain on Robson retail rental and help encourage a better mix of tenants who would be able to afford to stay for longer terms. Agree that a large part of Robson is total crap now but without the stores going higher density, it would still be hard pressed to find willing developers to rebuild. The failure on those new Denman one-storey CRUs is just one example.

I don't think Downtown suffers from a lack of retail space at all, it suffers from a lack of good retail space. There are a number of crappy buildings with crappy tenants that would not be missed if parts of Robson and Granville were redeveloped. If the tenants that they are replacing are indeed worthwhile, I'm sure they can find space outside of the major retail nodes. There are countless new condo buildings with streetfront retail CRUs sitting vacant all over the place.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by wrenegade

I don't think Downtown suffers from a lack of retail space at all, it suffers from a lack of good retail space. There are a number of crappy buildings with crappy tenants that would not be missed if parts of Robson and Granville were redeveloped. If the tenants that they are replacing are indeed worthwhile, I'm sure they can find space outside of the major retail nodes. There are countless new condo buildings with streetfront retail CRUs sitting vacant all over the place.

The CRUs with the condos are not doing too well, especially for those retail spaces that are spread too far apart from shopping districts or anchors. Shoppers love retail centres where they can shop at different stores, dine and have their entertainment desires fulfilled.

[Sheba]

Overall Metrotown seems to be doing fairly well with keeping their CRU's filled. I wandered around in there today and didn't seem much hoarding up. The few that I saw were either existing stores renovating or 'new store X opening soon'. The one exception of course being the old Target location.

If something isn't announced soon, I wonder if they'll consider doing what Sears had planned and redevelop it as a retail podium with a tower or two on top. Beresford is a much quieter street than Kingsway, and Station Square has been a fast seller.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by wrenegade

I don't think Downtown suffers from a lack of retail space at all, it suffers from a lack of good retail space. There are a number of crappy buildings with crappy tenants that would not be missed if parts of Robson and Granville were redeveloped. If the tenants that they are replacing are indeed worthwhile, I'm sure they can find space outside of the major retail nodes. There are countless new condo buildings with streetfront retail CRUs sitting vacant all over the place.

I sort of agree with you here. Everywhere has retail, you point to it on the map, and it's there somewhere.
I think in Vancouver's case, you may be stating that it has to go a step or two beyond being just retail space for the sake of being retail space.
// Quality and attractiveness are two essentials in this context. Street permeability. mini-parks or fountains here and there. Treated sidewalks (à la 980 Howe) ??
Good lighting. Ground-level flush lighting. Elegant overhead lighting. A percentage of places to sit out and have a café or lunch. Life. Color. Elegance. Vibrancy. // would you agree or disagree?

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Sheba

If something isn't announced soon, I wonder if they'll consider doing what Sears had planned and redevelop it as a retail podium with a tower or two on top. Beresford is a much quieter street than Kingsway, and Station Square has been a fast seller.

Interesting idea.

If MetroTower III vacancy wasn't rumoured to be low (is it still low?) it could also be an extension of the office complex along Central Blvd.

A tower could also be for rental residential or hotel space.

Not sure (i.e. I doubt) if Ivanhoe Cambridge would build a condo tower without building out a master plan (like at Oakridge).
I recall reading a statement (wrt Guildford, also Ivanhoe Camnbridge) that condo residential would be the last phase of any development because of having to deal with residents while they continue to develop and expand the commercial areas of a property).

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Interesting idea.

If MetroTower III vacancy wasn't rumoured to be low (is it still low?) it could also be an extension of the office complex along Central Blvd.

A tower could also be for rental residential or hotel space.

Not sure (i.e. I doubt) if Ivanhoe Cambridge would build a condo tower without building out a master plan (like at Oakridge).
I recall reading a statement (wrt Guildford, also Ivanhoe Camnbridge) that condo residential would be the last phase of any development because of having to deal with residents while they continue to develop and expand the commercial areas of a property).

I doubt they'll add any more office towers to Metrotown in the near future. Metrotown III is still pretty empty and Station Square is supposed to be building some office space on top of the retail in the podiums.

A hotel could be interesting as the one in Station Square is fairly small. Does anyone know how the one at Sovereign is doing? A rental residential tower there definitely would not be affordable housing so I suspect they'd do a condo tower instead.

Yeah they'd have to put forward a master plan - but I really can't see them redeveloping except at maybe the Target and Sears (which they now own) locations. Externally everything else will stay pretty much the same with the mall.