Winnipeg Retail

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by h0twired

How about a Ye Olde Hobby Shop, Sooters and a Kiddie Kobbler location?

The anchors could be Beaver Lumber and Dominion.

I did give a shout out to Ye Olde Hobby Shop in my post although I couldn't remember their name.

As for Urban Recluse, guess you're doing your Christmas shopping this weekend at Garden City as they already have a Kmart. That chain bought controlling interest in Sears about 13 years ago.

[cllew]

All this time I thought that Sears had bought out K-mart. I never knew that a chain just of bankruptcy (K-Mart) would have the ability to buy a player like Sears.

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by jimj_wpg

OK, OK, maybe my choice of words wasn't what I really was trying to express.

What I was trying to say is that since my last visit there, which must have been counted in numbers of years...the mall hasn't changed much, if at all...unlike St. Vital and Polo.

And because of that, I have no real desire to go there on a regular basis.

Pernaps if I lived in East St. Paul or Bird's Hill.

You'er right, it hasn't changed much. They have done some renos which are mostly cosmetic. A re-branding with new owners. Maybe since they've invested a ton of money, there would be some type of expansion on the horizon. However, with the two anchor tenant locations either empty or soon to be empty, and the hard time Kildonan Mile is having attracting tenants, I wouldn't hold by breath on an expansion.

IMO it serves a good purpose for a local mall. If I need something from a store which is only at Polo or St Vital, than I go there. Otherwise KP, and the retail super node surrounding it, is good enough for most everything I need.

[bomberjet]

I heard from the lady at Tim's in City Place that the MTS Centre Tim's location will be closing soon due to lack of sales. Which I think we all expected. I wonder if they'd still remain for events?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

I heard from the lady at Tim's in City Place that the MTS Centre Tim's location will be closing soon due to lack of sales. Which I think we all expected. I wonder if they'd still remain for events?

It's kind of redundant now... I'm sure that TNSE could put that space to better use. Probably no reason why they couldn't keep it around for events, though... although I could see them shrinking it down since they wouldn't really need a full menu (soup, sandwiches, etc.) for events.

[bomberjet]

Yeah that's true. Most people I see at Jets games are having a coffee or tea anyways. Not necessarily chowing down on a steak and cheese pannini.

[Urban recluse]

Originally Posted by CoryB

I did give a shout out to Ye Olde Hobby Shop in my post although I couldn't remember their name.

As for Urban Recluse, guess you're doing your Christmas shopping this weekend at Garden City as they already have a Kmart. That chain bought controlling interest in Sears about 13 years ago.

Lol, it is not the same.

[LilZebra]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

I heard from the lady at Tim's in City Place that the MTS Centre Tim's location will be closing soon due to lack of sales. Which I think we all expected. I wonder if they'd still remain for events?

Recently went there for the first time since it opened in 2004.

Not impressed by the 'vibe'. It's surroundings are too 'industrial' (not cafe like), given that it's in an arena, confusing entrance, TFW employees.

I told myself that I would not be coming back to that Timmies.

The one in Grant Park Shopping Centre is a good one, and has hired on local Canadians. The elder Italians use the common area mini "food court" as a hangout.

Most successful chain cafe downtown Winnipeg for ambiance would be the Second Cup on Graham @ Edmonton. Comfortable seating, a view of MB Hydro Place, easy access to buses across the street.

[Da Vinci]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

I heard from the lady at Tim's in City Place that the MTS Centre Tim's location will be closing soon due to lack of sales. Which I think we all expected. I wonder if they'd still remain for events?

what I heard is, they are moving out because MTS Centre is doing another round of renovations on the main & upper concourse and they will have a new bar on the old Tim's location. I guess they will make more money selling beer than selling coffee.

[bomberjet]

It's definitely not your typical Tim Horton's or even resembles a coffee shop. Just jammed in the corner between concrete columns. Serves its purpose though. I'm not sure that many people are aware there was a Tim Horton's there either, it's kind of hidden. I would also suspect most people don't even think of it since it's inside the concourse, which one would assume is always closed.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

It's definitely not your typical Tim Horton's or even resembles a coffee shop. Just jammed in the corner between concrete columns. Serves its purpose though. I'm not sure that many people are aware there was a Tim Horton's there either, it's kind of hidden. I would also suspect most people don't even think of it since it's inside the concourse, which one would assume is always closed.

The kind of person who drops by downtown a couple of times a year would never have known about it, but it was widely known among those who worked downtown. I worked nearby when it first opened, and it was the only Tim's within easy walking distance of my office... it was always busy then, at least it was once people figured out it was there.

But yeah, JimJ has a point, it's not the most pleasant place to sit and I'm sure it's getting to be more trouble than it's worth to TNSE.

I always thought it was kind of funny that our hockey rink doubled as a Tim Hortons. Somehow I just couldn't imagine the Bell Centre concourse being used the same way.

[Authentic_City]

Ye Olde Hobby Mart... now that's a blast from the past! I guess the internet has largely killed off most bricks-and-mortar hobby supply shops. I guess Gooch's on Portage Ave and Ware House Hobbies on Rouge Road are the only shops still specializing in model trains and such. How do they stay in business?

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by Da Vinci

what I heard is, they are moving out because MTS Centre is doing another round of renovations on the main & upper concourse and they will have a new bar on the old Tim's location. I guess they will make more money selling beer than selling coffee.

Likely is the case. But they're not really moving. It's different staff at the two locations. I'll assume they're all out of a job or will be transferred elsewhere if they want. How much more beer could they want to sell though! It's not a problem getting beer and I find the new bar spaces in the upper deck are awkward. I never use them. But I'm not one to lollygag around the concourse.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

Ye Olde Hobby Mart... now that's a blast from the past! I guess the internet has largely killed off most bricks-and-mortar hobby supply shops. I guess Gooch's on Portage Ave and Ware House Hobbies on Rouge Road are the only shops still specializing in model trains and such. How do they stay in business?

From what I've seen at displays, etc., model trains tend to be popular among an older demographic... although I'm sure that some of those guys are comfortable with online ordering, I'd bet that many if not most of them prefer to buy in bricks and mortar stores. I'm guessing that this might be less pronounced among the RC car enthusiasts The shops also support hobbies like model trains, planes, etc. by being informal gathering points for local hobbyists.

[cllew]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

I heard from the lady at Tim's in City Place that the MTS Centre Tim's location will be closing soon due to lack of sales. Which I think we all expected. I wonder if they'd still remain for events?

sign on the doors said they are closing at 3pm, but I am not sure if that's just for the Xmas break or going to be an ongoing thing. they also had what days they were open over the holidays on the signs.

Most of the customers there never really sat in the seats in the concourse.

I would say the bulk of the customers were from the surrounding buildings ( City Place office tower, Manitoba Hydro or the bus stops) and grabbed a coffee on their way into work. The second biggest customer rush was again a lot of the same people coming down on their coffee break and taking coffee / food back to their desks.

[LilZebra]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

Ye Olde Hobby Mart... now that's a blast from the past! I guess the internet has largely killed off most bricks-and-mortar hobby supply shops. I guess Gooch's on Portage Ave and Ware House Hobbies on Rouge Road are the only shops still specializing in model trains and such. How do they stay in business?

And Toad Hall Toys in the west Exchange.

[Authentic_City]

Originally Posted by jimj_wpg

And Toad Hall Toys in the west Exchange.

Oh yes, of course!

According to this guy, there are a couple of other local retailers too.

http://www.traingeek.ca/wp/trains/wi...-train-stores/

[BigG]

Originally Posted by jimj_wpg

Recently went there for the first time since it opened in 2004.

Not impressed by the 'vibe'. It's surroundings are too 'industrial' (not cafe like), given that it's in an arena, confusing entrance, TFW employees.

I told myself that I would not be coming back to that Timmies.

The one in Grant Park Shopping Centre is a good one, and has hired on local Canadians. The elder Italians use the common area mini "food court" as a hangout.

Most successful chain cafe downtown Winnipeg for ambiance would be the Second Cup on Graham @ Edmonton. Comfortable seating, a view of MB Hydro Place, easy access to buses across the street.

Just curious, how can you tell if a worker at Tim's is a TFW or a local Canadian? Are they identified as such?

[esquire]

I heard that Normandy on Corydon is in trouble. Are they still open?

[Cyro]

^ I'll let you know if I pass by it unless someone already has today..