The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[officedweller]

...on a "lower end" note...

I saw a Salton brand electronic pressure cooker / slow cooker in the Hudson's Bay Bay Days flyer, so I went to the downtown store to buy one.

Nope. Salton isn't a "high end" brand, so the downtown store doesn't carry it - the sales clerk just said that it's only available at the "suburban" stores. She didn't offer any further assistance. The downtown store had a massive Breville section. Remember that they downsized the housewares department significantly when they renovated, with the failed intention of subleasing the sub-basement level.

So being downtown I figured Park Royal was the closest "suburban" store, so I went there. None in stock - i.e. it's a "high end" store too.
The clerk was nice enough to search for me and they were only in stock at the Richmond and Metrotown stores - which had 15-20 in stock at each store.

Luckily, a friend had also told me that Sears had the same brand on sale for the same price for Sears Days.
So I went to the Capilano Sears and found it in stock (they had 5 of them). That store looks straight out of the 1980s.
(I had hedged my bets by going to Park Royal, knowing that I could also check at Capilano, rather than going all the way to Metrotown.)

Interesting notes:
Reg. price @ Hudson's Bay - $109.99 (sale $79.99)
Reg. price @ Sears - $99.99 (sale $79.99)

Didn't get points by buying it at Sears though.

It also gives some insight as to what Hudson's Bay thinks of the Metrotown and Richmond retail markets, versus downtown, Park Royal and Oakridge.

********

In other news, Sears' CFO is leaving:

http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/sea...f-chief-financial-officer-575829801.html

********

Le Chateau to close 40 stores over next 3 years:

http://www.thestar.com/business/2016/04/...se-40-more-stores-over-next-3-years.html

[Pinion]

Looks like Kingsgate mall's days are numbered, rather than just assumed to be numbered:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-co...on-on-future-of-kingsgate-mall-1.3540992

For over 40 years the Kingsgate Mall has escaped Vancouver's never-ending facelift, serving its Mount Pleasant patrons with an eclectic mix of stores and services in a glam-free environment reminiscent of the 1970s.

Surprisingly, the modest little mall has also been generating big money for the Vancouver School Board — upwards of $750,000 per year, The VSB has owned the lot at East Broadway and Kingsway on which the mall sits since 1892 when the long-gone False Creek School first opened on the site.

But 124 years later and facing a $24 million budget shortfall, the VSB is now contemplating it's future with Kingsgate and asking for public input.

• Video Link

[Sheba]

In-N-Out doppelganger, CaliBurger, opening in Vancouver

CaliBurger, a California-inspired burger chain that has its roots in China, is opening a franchise at 830 Thurlow Street (between Robson and Haro) next month.

When the chain opened its first restaurant in Shanghai in 2012 it was seen as a clone of the popular California-based In-N-Out Burger.

...

CaliBurger has since closed all its mainland China locations but has expanded into Hong Kong, Malaysia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Taiwan, and, most recently, North America with franchises in Seattle, Washington, DC, Beverly Hills and Pasadena, Calif.

The first Canadian CaliBurger opened in Waterloo, Ont. last month.

[officedweller]

B.C. government starts auctions for wine-in-grocery store licences
Auction dates are April 19, 21, 26 and 28 as well as May 3 and 5
https://www.biv.com/article/2016/4/bc-government-starts-auctions-wine-grocery-store-l/

[officedweller]

Amsterdam fashion label Scotch & Soda opens first B.C. shop at Richmond Centre
http://www.straight.com/life/683386/amst...soda-opens-first-bc-shop-richmond-centre

[officedweller]

They should move it to Yaletown Park (the one with the bumpy pavement):

Lawsuit of the week: Mainland Street no place for a farmers market, court petition says
April 19, 2016, midnight

More than a dozen businesses are taking the Yaletown Business Improvement Association (YBIA) to court to compel the YBIA to move the location of a farmers market slated for Mainland Street beginning in May.
The group, which includes Earls Restaurant and Yaletown Brewing, filed a petition in BC Supreme Court on April 6 seeking an order that the market be moved to another location, suggesting David Lam Park or Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre.

The business owners claim that the YBIA’s board didn’t properly render a decision to hold the weekly market on Mainland Street because it wasn’t made by a members’ resolution, but rather a vote by the association’s board of directors without consultation.

“Other farmers markets located in or around Vancouver do not block off access to merchant businesses or disrupt the normal course of business,” the petition states. “The businesses that have a storefront on Mainland are the most affected and would like to see the YFM [Yaletown Farmers Market] move to Roundhouse Community Centre or an urban park.”

They claim that their businesses are negatively affected by the road closures and lack of parking, and ground-floor tenants are particularly hard hit, according to the petition.

“No businesses have stated their business has been positively affected by the operation of the YFM,” the petition states.

The group includes Triple F Investment Corp., Bistro Sakana Japanese Restaurant Ltd., Mavi Jeans Inc., Vancen Optical Inc., Yaletown L’Antipasto Inc., Global Atomic Designs Inc., Avantgarde Hair Inc., Yaletown Brewing Company & Restaurant Corp., Yaletown Brewing Company and Restaurant LP, Westbridge Mortgage Services Ltd., Strozzi’s Eyewear & Gallery Ltd., 0944193 B.C. Ltd., Nick Linden Construction West Ltd., Earl’s Restaurant (Yaletown) 2012 Ltd., Hello Goodbye Enterprises Ltd., Bar None Enterprises Ltd., Barber & Co. Enterprises Ltd. and The New Oxford Enterprises Ltd.

...

[WarrenC12]

I'm not sure what to think about that lawsuit. The businesses like Earls and Yaletown Brewing have elevated sidewalks up and away from the street level where the farmer's market is. The ground level stores across on Mainland are more impacted, but the market attracts a TON of people. You'd think they'd be happy with the increased exposure.

The loss of parking is minimal at best. I'm really surprised their business suffers during those hours.

[s211]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I'm not sure what to think about that lawsuit. The businesses like Earls and Yaletown Brewing have elevated sidewalks up and away from the street level where the farmer's market is. The ground level stores across on Mainland are more impacted, but the market attracts a TON of people. You'd think they'd be happy with the increased exposure.

The loss of parking is minimal at best. I'm really surprised their business suffers during those hours.

Could be prime delivery hours?

[officedweller]

Could be due to the nature of the one way streets in Yaletown and preventing traffic from circulating.

Could also be that patrons of the farmers market don't pay expensive prices for restaurants to cook their food for them.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I'm not sure what to think about that lawsuit. The businesses like Earls and Yaletown Brewing have elevated sidewalks up and away from the street level where the farmer's market is. The ground level stores across on Mainland are more impacted, but the market attracts a TON of people. You'd think they'd be happy with the increased exposure.

The loss of parking is minimal at best. I'm really surprised their business suffers during those hours.

Yeah, I'm sure they're in dire need of farmers market exposure to boost their business.

[urbancanadian]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Amsterdam fashion label Scotch & Soda opens first B.C. shop at Richmond Centre
http://www.straight.com/life/683386/amst...soda-opens-first-bc-shop-richmond-centre

I LOVE Scotch & Soda - thanks for posting the article. They aren't very well known here but they opened stores in Toronto and Calgary a while ago so I was wondering when we would get one. Hopefully they do well.

[casper]

Originally Posted by Pinion

Looks like Kingsgate mall's days are numbered, rather than just assumed to be numbered:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-co...on-on-future-of-kingsgate-mall-1.3540992

I was in there about two months a go for the first time in 10-15 years.

I was disappointed, it was a regular for my parents when I was growing up. The Royal Bank in the mall was the main branch the family used. As a small kid growing up much of my clothing came from the Fields in that mall. The Camera place in the mall was where the Polaroid film came from or dropped off film to be send away and development 5-6 days later. The Old Dutch restaurant upstairs was a common place to go, it even had one of those cigarette vending machines. All of that is gone, and replaced with Dollarama wan-to-be stores.

The only thing that looks to have survived is the liquor store.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by urbancanadian

I LOVE Scotch & Soda - thanks for posting the article. They aren't very well known here but they opened stores in Toronto and Calgary a while ago so I was wondering when we would get one. Hopefully they do well.

Hudson's Bay carries some of their stuff on the 6th floor downtown.

[officedweller]

Icebreaker to open a Richmond Outlet - MacArthur Glen (?)

http://jobs.jobvite.com/careers/icebreaker/job/oaAU2fwq

Rockport opening at MacArthur Glen:

https://jobs.adidas-group.com/rockport/j...d&utm_campaign=Adidas&jobPipeline=Indeed

also Thread & Copper:

http://ca.indeed.com/cmp/Bench/jobs/Assistant-Store-Manager-84202106a92c22f8?q=Store+Manager+Outlet

and Ted Baker London:

http://ca.indeed.com/cmp/TED-BAKER-LONDO...-5aa3febb36d0ac0e?q=Store+Manager+Outlet

[officedweller]

From the Tsawwassen Mills thread:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Periodically search "Tsawwassen Mills" or "5000 canoe Pass Way, Tsawwassen" that's the address of Tsawwassen Mills.

H&M has postings for jobs at Tsawwassen Mills:

Department Manager:
http://career.hm.com/content/hmcareer/en_ca/findjob/jobs/imported/2016/4/15/00183470.html

Visual Merchandiser:
http://career.hm.com/content/hmcareer/en_ca/findjob/jobs/imported/2016/4/15/00183469.html

and Skechers:

https://www.smartrecruiters.com/Skechers1/90360787-retail-store-manager

and Running Room:

http://www.runningroom.com/hm/inside.php?lang=1&id=5332

and Nike Factory Store:

http://www.usgbc.org/projects/nike-factory-store-tsawwassen-mills?view=team

[PeterAKer]

The Vancouver Canucks Team Store at 1151 Robson Street seems to be closing or could be renovating. Merchandise was put in boxes and it already has put up brown paper on the windows and doors.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by PeterAKer

The Vancouver Canucks Team Store at 1151 Robson Street seems to be closing or could be renovating. Merchandise was put in boxes and it already has put up brown paper on the windows and doors.

I think they are just trying to match the brown paper bag headwear wardrobe of their fans.

[connect2source]

Some additional info and images of the Holt's expansion :

http://vancouversun.com/life/fashion-beauty/sneak-peek-at-the-new-holt-renfrew-vancouver

[officedweller]

Article on the Tiffany's expansion, including interior and exterior renderings.

Nice that they are bringing back the traditional Atlas guy holding the clock.
Complete re-do / disregard for the architecture of the podium with the rounded corner and the taller façade -
Strange that there's a window bay farther west that doesn't protrude as much as the rest of the façade.

I wonder if the rest of the podium (other than Tiffany's) will be renovated?

http://vancouversun.com/life/fashion-bea...vancouver-stop-as-store-expansion-begins


http://vancouversun.com/life/fashion-bea...vancouver-stop-as-store-expansion-begins

[connect2source]

LOVE IT!!! Way more impact and way more in keeping with their flagship look! Will have a ton of presence now, sort of a 'gateway' to the luxury-zone. Don't mind the disregard for the architecture as it's the 1989 version which kept nothing but the overall shape of the 1950's podium.