Rideau Centre Expansion | Completed - Page 100

mykl · #**1981** Posted **Aug 12, 2016, 2:04 AM**

I went to Rideau twice today because I am so fucking happy with the expansion. Absolutely amazing. Especially love the greatly increased selection of shopping for men!

Go stand in the café of Simons and look out the window. Ottawa is a different city now.

loga0082 · #**1982** Posted **Aug 12, 2016, 2:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykl

I went to Rideau twice today because I am so fucking happy with the expansion. Absolutely amazing. Especially love the greatly increased selection of shopping for men!

Go stand in the café of Simons and look out the window. Ottawa is a different city now.

What type of food do they serve at the cafe mykl? Is the food any good? I will love to see the expansion, but I will probably go in 10 or 11 days, when there are less people. I will take a look around the shops.

loga0082 · #**1983** Posted **Aug 12, 2016, 2:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbform

some recent photos:

SKFW_04108_20160808.jpg by SKFW, on Flickr

SKFW_04113_20160808.jpg by SKFW, on Flickr

SKFW_04125_20160811.jpg by SKFW, on Flickr

SKFW_04127_20160811.jpg by SKFW, on Flickr

SKFW_04140_20160811.jpg by SKFW, on Flickr

Rub form, what beautiful photos that you took of the expansion. It looks so nice.

acottawa · #**1984** Posted **Aug 12, 2016, 2:03 PM**

A citizen article on the Rideau Centre's original opening.

Interesting that only a handful of the stores mentioned in the article are still in the mall.

1overcosc · #**1985** Posted **Aug 12, 2016, 4:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykl

I went to Rideau twice today because I am so fucking happy with the expansion. Absolutely amazing. Especially love the greatly increased selection of shopping for men!

Go stand in the café of Simons and look out the window. Ottawa is a different city now.

Was there yesterday, agreed, this is AMAZING. Imagine how great Ottawa could be if this quality level became the norm in private sector construction...

I'm also curious to see how this will age. The new Rideau Centre is very emblematic of the architectural zeitgeist of today's times, hence why we all love it so much. In 30-40 years, assuming the mall isn't updated again, it could stand as the city's prime example of "2010s heritage architecture".

acottawa · #**1986** Posted **Aug 12, 2016, 4:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

I'm also curious to see how this will age. The new Rideau Centre is very emblematic of the architectural zeitgeist of today's times, hence why we all love it so much. In 30-40 years, assuming the mall isn't updated again, it could stand as the city's prime example of "2010s heritage architecture".

I'm sure if malls are still a thing in 30-40 years it will have gone through several major renovations/redevelopments by then.

Arcologist · #**1987** Posted **Aug 12, 2016, 6:47 PM**

With all the positive feedback I've read here, I'm definitely planning a stroll in the area very soon!

eternallyme · #**1988** Posted **Aug 12, 2016, 7:30 PM**

Meanwhile, the suburban malls are going to get destroyed after this...a common trend in North America these days is to have one super-regional mall in cities that size and struggling regional malls...and there is no way any of them can approach what the Rideau Centre has become.

It took a lot of time and effort and market factors changing too - in the 1990s the Rideau Centre was not exactly a thriving mall. Now it is the dominant mall. It seemed their vision came true more than 30 years later.

acottawa · #**1989** Posted **Aug 12, 2016, 8:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eternallyme

Meanwhile, the suburban malls are going to get destroyed after this...a common trend in North America these days is to have one super-regional mall in cities that size and struggling regional malls...and there is no way any of them can approach what the Rideau Centre has become.

I could see it pushing bayshore downmarket (a process that seems to be under way already) but otherwise there isn't much overlap in terms of stores or brands or demographics with the suburban malls.

1overcosc · #**1990** Posted **Aug 13, 2016, 1:17 AM**

Problem is, a downmarket mall has a hard time competing against power centres.

acottawa · #**1991** Posted **Aug 13, 2016, 3:00 PM**

I drove by St. Laurent this morning. Despite the Rideau Centre expansion being brand new the parking lot was still pretty full. The 2nd and 3rd income quintiles sometime like enclosed malls too.

kevinbottawa · #**1992** Posted **Aug 13, 2016, 3:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Was there yesterday, agreed, this is AMAZING. Imagine how great Ottawa could be if this quality level became the norm in private sector construction...

It took a Toronto developer to bring this level of development and design. I wonder if Ottawa companies will continue with this level of quality so it could even become the new normal, especially in that area.

Beedok · #**1993** Posted **Aug 13, 2016, 4:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Was there yesterday, agreed, this is AMAZING. Imagine how great Ottawa could be if this quality level became the norm in private sector construction...

I'm also curious to see how this will age. The new Rideau Centre is very emblematic of the architectural zeitgeist of today's times, hence why we all love it so much. In 30-40 years, assuming the mall isn't updated again, it could stand as the city's prime example of "2010s heritage architecture".

Nah, in 30-40 years it will be seen as ugly and outdated. It'll be in 60-70 years that it's seen as heritage architecture.

lrt's friend · #**1994** Posted **Aug 13, 2016, 6:38 PM**

Typically when buildings become ugly and outdated, we tear them down. Then 10 or 20 years later, we wonder why we tore down all the heritage buildings. Sound familiar?

loga0082 · #**1995** Posted **Aug 14, 2016, 2:55 AM**

I do not know whether the expansion will last 30 or 40 years. I am sure that if the materials become worn down, people will have to renovate it. Who knows how long the expansion will last?

Harley613 · #**1996** Posted **Aug 14, 2016, 3:34 AM**

Rideau Centre was built in 1983, completely renovated in the late 90's, and again now in the mid 10's. I'm sure in 30-40 years it will have been redone a couple of times.

Arcologist · #**1997** Posted **Aug 15, 2016, 12:27 PM**

I can't see the suburban malls in Ottawa (Bayshore, St-Laurent) becoming obsolete or 2nd class... Their parking lots are always full, and being from the westend, I'd rather shop at Bayshore than wander downtown.

I will definitely take a stroll to see the new Rideau Centre and adjoining square, but after that, the only time I'll ever visit is if I'm downtown for something else...

wingman · #**1998** Posted **Aug 15, 2016, 1:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcologist

I can't see the suburban malls in Ottawa (Bayshore, St-Laurent) becoming obsolete or 2nd class... Their parking lots are always full, and being from the westend, I'd rather shop at Bayshore than wander downtown.

I will definitely take a stroll to see the new Rideau Centre and adjoining square, but after that, the only time I'll ever visit is if I'm downtown for something else...

I think that applies to most. Honestly, I look for all other options before committing to go to Rideau. We do end up there 4-5 times a year for sure, but if we are going out to pick up something specific, unless it is only available at Rideau we don't go there. The other 4-5 times are when we are looking for a day out and about in a touristy way. Prob on a Sunday with free street parking and then we either take in the market/Rideau or Elgin.

We did go in yesterday and I have to say the new extension is fantastic, not many stores I'd shop at there (since there are other non-downtown options for the same store) but the design and layout is very un-Ottawa, in a good way. That area of the mall was crazy busy, and having a mall access direct from the Market is a great addition. Can't wait to see how it all fits together once the light rail is in place!

loga0082 · #**1999** Posted **Aug 15, 2016, 10:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingman

I think that applies to most. Honestly, I look for all other options before committing to go to Rideau. We do end up there 4-5 times a year for sure, but if we are going out to pick up something specific, unless it is only available at Rideau we don't go there. The other 4-5 times are when we are looking for a day out and about in a touristy way. Prob on a Sunday with free street parking and then we either take in the market/Rideau or Elgin.

We did go in yesterday and I have to say the new extension is fantastic, not many stores I'd shop at there (since there are other non-downtown options for the same store) but the design and layout is very un-Ottawa, in a good way. That area of the mall was crazy busy, and having a mall access direct from the Market is a great addition. Can't wait to see how it all fits together once the light rail is in place!

I have not seen the new expansion yet, so I cannot comment on it, but I will see it next week. I am sure that Simons, Zara, Massimo Dutti, Anthropologie, and H&M might sell a good selection of clothes that many shoppers might like. The problem with shopping at the Rideau Centre is the nuisance of having to find parking space in the garage and paying a lot of money for parking. Some people said that they had to pay $12 or $13 just to get something for 10 minutes. At least the malls in the suburbs like St. Laurent, Place d'Orleans, the Tangler mall in Kanata, and Bayshore shopping centre, one does not have to pay for parking and there is more parking space. Therefore, it is hard to tell how well the shops are going to do in he expansion.

acottawa · #**2000** Posted **Aug 16, 2016, 12:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by loga0082

I have not seen the new expansion yet, so I cannot comment on it, but I will see it next week. I am sure that Simons, Zara, Massimo Dutti, Anthropologie, and H&M might sell a good selection of clothes that many shoppers might like. The problem with shopping at the Rideau Centre is the nuisance of having to find parking space in the garage and paying a lot of money for parking. Some people said that they had to pay $12 or $13 just to get something for 10 minutes. At least the malls in the suburbs like St. Laurent, Place d'Orleans, the Tangler mall in Kanata, and Bayshore shopping centre, one does not have to pay for parking and there is more parking space. Therefore, it is hard to tell how well the shops are going to do in he expansion.

Last time I checked it was $1.50 for 30 minutes. The Rideau centre seems to be doing well, so presumably people are either paying or finding other ways to get there (bus, etc.)