Canadian Retail Thread - Page 232

Acajack · #**4621** Posted **Sep 17, 2016, 12:09 AM**

Even Rideau St. in Ottawa is starting to look like goddam City Walk at Universal Orlando!

isaidso · #**4622** Posted **Sep 17, 2016, 12:32 AM**

No city looks like that all over. It's always in small concentrated parts of a downtown. I like that Canadian cities allow diversity in use, architecture, design, height, density, commercialism, etc. It makes them far more appealing, interesting, and vibrant imo. If I wanted homogeneity, I'll visit Europe.

The area around Dundas Square has long been filled with neon signs, bright lights, billboards, and commercialism. It's about time it got an overhaul and it's added tremendously to the energy of downtown. The Nordstrom opening is nice but I'm more interested in how that big video screen looks when turned on. People seem to agree. Dundas Square is one of the most photographed spots in the city and its not to take photos of the mall.

Acajack · #**4623** Posted **Sep 17, 2016, 12:54 AM**

I am willing to consider that I might be out of touch!

isaidso · #**4624** Posted **Sep 17, 2016, 2:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

I am willing to consider that I might be out of touch!

I'm in that category a lot myself: refuse to use social media, I've never downloaded an app, no DVD player/Netflix, haven't played a video game since the 1980s, have my data plan on my phone turned off, etc. I'm so out of touch I thought Ariana Grande was a drink at Starbucks.

caltrane74 · #**4625** Posted **Sep 17, 2016, 9:08 PM**

I was in the Nordstorm store yesterday. It was crowded and the aisles are too narrow. I was only going through to meet someone so I didn't have time to explore, I'll try later this weekend or next week.

Shopping Suite?

Canadian Fashion Magazine
Fashionmagazine.com

Mr-mag.com

hipster duck · #**4626** Posted **Sep 17, 2016, 9:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by isaidso

The area around Dundas Square has long been filled with neon signs, bright lights, billboards, and commercialism. It's about time it got an overhaul and it's added tremendously to the energy of downtown.

The problem is that the Eaton Centre is always getting an overhaul. Every 10-12 years they spend 2 years inconveniencing everyone so they can put up the latest flash-in-the-pan trend in mall retailing or commercial architecture.

12 years ago they knocked down the original Zeidler atrium, expanded the H&M and put up a media tower.

24 years ago they knocked down the original functionalist 1970s exterior, and made some cartoon brick main street facade along Yonge St.

I bet that in the year 2028, they'll tear down this new LED tower and the Nordstrom exterior and put up something else.

vanatox · #**4627** Posted **Sep 22, 2016, 7:18 PM**

Hudson’s Bay Company Announces First Saks Fifth Avenue Store in Quebec; Renovation of Iconic Montreal Hudson’s Bay Store

Flagship Montreal Saks Fifth Avenue will be largest to open in Canada

Hudson’s Bay will introduce modernized shopping experience

The new Saks flagship store will offer customers designer product including: women’s designer ready-to-wear, handbags, accessories, beauty and men’s. The store will feature some of Saks’ exclusive offerings, including: 10022-SHOE, Saks Fifth Avenue’s signature women’s designer shoe salon, and a full service Fifth Avenue Club, complete with private suites and personal shopping consultants. Unique to the Montreal store will be a Quebec-themed Saks Fifth Avenue food hall.

[...]

Hudson’s Bay will undergo an extensive renovation that will reconfigure the store layout, redefine departments and enhance the overall shopping environment. The multi-million dollar investment in Canada’s iconic store will touch all levels of the building, and further positions Hudson’s Bay as the most exciting department store in Canada. The new concept for Hudson’s Bay will introduce the most modern department store shopping experience while maintaining the company’s heritage. The plans build on the success of the company’s Queen Street flagship, where Hudson’s Bay and Saks Fifth Avenue are co-located and offer an unparalleled shopping experience.

[...]

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...-Bay-Company-Announces-Saks-Avenue-Store

https://www.thestar.com/business/2016/09/22/saks-fifth-avenue-to-open-in-montreal-in-2018.html

http://montrealgazette.com/business/saks...owntown-montreal-in-2018?__lsa=8a54-e3a5

vanatox · #**4628** Posted **Sep 22, 2016, 7:20 PM**

Interestingly, a Saks off 5th will open just two block away to replace Les Ailes de la mode in a newly renovated and expanded Centre Eaton.

Simons is also supposed to renovate its Ste-Catherine store in the next few years. Add to this the complete overhaul of Ste-Catherine with new heated sidewalks and the main commercial strip of Montreal will be completely changed soon.

Edit: Forgot the new Ogilvy/Holt Renfrew to open in 2017 as well...

GreaterMontréal · #**4629** Posted **Sep 22, 2016, 11:48 PM**

200,000 sf .

caltrane74 · #**4630** Posted **Sep 24, 2016, 5:54 PM**

Uniqlo opening this Friday...they have a cute chick standing at the corner of Yonge and Dundas handing out mini catalogs

Yonge and Dundas on its way to becoming a real shopping mecca..

caltrane74 · #**4631** Posted **Sep 25, 2016, 12:22 AM**

They finally turned on the LED board at the Eaton Center

I have to assume Uniqlo will be lit up next Friday

isaidso · #**4632** Posted **Sep 25, 2016, 3:16 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hipster duck

The problem is that the Eaton Centre is always getting an overhaul. Every 10-12 years they spend 2 years inconveniencing everyone so they can put up the latest flash-in-the-pan trend in mall retailing or commercial architecture.

12 years ago they knocked down the original Zeidler atrium, expanded the H&M and put up a media tower.

24 years ago they knocked down the original functionalist 1970s exterior, and made some cartoon brick main street facade along Yonge St.

I bet that in the year 2028, they'll tear down this new LED tower and the Nordstrom exterior and put up something else.

Perhaps but what we have now is better than what was there before. If they can't get it right the first time, 4-5 attempts is something I can live with. Besides, buildings something that's 'ok' then realizing a few years later that it's not good enough, then building something a little better, but still just 'ok' is what Toronto does. Rarely do we build it right the first time because that costs money .....and the culture here considers that a friviolous waste of money. We end up spending far more in the long run but that's just how things work here.

Metropolis or what ever that big cinema fronting Dundas Square is called is just another example in the same vein. It will eventually get ripped up and done over. We'll probably have to do it 3-4 times before we get it right.

SpongeG · #**4633** Posted **Sep 25, 2016, 8:04 AM**

holt renfrew 40,000 sq ft expansion opened in vancouver

New Howe Street entrance for 'Holt Renfrew Men'. Photo: Ritchie Po

Looking past Louis Vuitton to Tiffany & Co. Photo: Ritchie Po

more pics and source
http://www.retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2016/9/holt-renfrew-vancouver

WhipperSnapper · #**4634** Posted **Sep 25, 2016, 3:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by isaidso

Perhaps but what we have now is better than what was there before. If they can't get it right the first time, 4-5 attempts is something I can live with. Besides, buildings something that's 'ok' then realizing a few years later that it's not good enough, then building something a little better, but still just 'ok' is what Toronto does. Rarely do we build it right the first time because that costs money .....and the culture here considers that a friviolous waste of money. We end up spending far more in the long run but that's just how things work here.

Metropolis or what ever that big cinema fronting Dundas Square is called is just another example in the same vein. It will eventually get ripped up and done over. We'll probably have to do it 3-4 times before we get it right.

The original Eaton Centre was vastly superior to what it is now. The architecture wasn't the hodgepodge it is now and the galleria was as close to a winter garden as a mall could be. It was an attraction. Obviously, changes needed to be made to improve flow with ever increasing capacities but, I don't see a reversal back to the quality and harmony of the original design with the concessions being demanded by tenants (facades of their choosing, clear line of sight) and third parties media companies (media tower) It is no more than a retail mall now.

It is hardly just a Toronto thing. Retail is constantly reinventing itself.

caltrane74 · #**4635** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 12:52 AM**

True, the old Eaton Center was a work of art.

But I like the flash of the new mall.

Acajack · #**4636** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 1:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

The original Eaton Centre was vastly superior to what it is now. The architecture wasn't the hodgepodge it is now and the galleria was as close to a winter garden as a mall could be. It was an attraction. Obviously, changes needed to be made to improve flow with ever increasing capacities but, I don't see a reversal back to the quality and harmony of the original design with the concessions being demanded by tenants (facades of their choosing, clear line of sight) and third parties media companies (media tower) It is no more than a retail mall now.

It is hardly just a Toronto thing. Retail is constantly reinventing itself.

I still remember Mr. Green Jeans fondly. Though I would probably think it was crap if I was to eat in a restaurant like that today.

isaidso · #**4637** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 2:12 AM**

The new video screen by the Toronto Eaton Centre entrance looks good. Now we'll have to wait for the facade on the northeast side of the intersection to be re-done. Hopefully, attempt #2 will be more successful. If only Toronto would build stuff right the first time around. Scarborough RT line between Kennedy and McCowan is just the latest example of something not being done right in the first place. Unfortunately that lack of foresight will cost us billions.

WhipperSnapper · #**4638** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 2:36 PM**

Why do you persist that development patterns are at all unique to Toronto?

Compared to the US and the Asian markets copying them, sure, we are far more conservative than the free spenders down to the south but, that's hardly something to emulate. They have spent hundreds of billions on what is now worthless property from spec building. It makes much more sense for our media companies to build the market up to the very best technology than to start out with it and hope clients will pay top dollar right from the start. Canada is very much sheltered from outside competition. There's not a huge incentive to have a custom built multi-million dollar sign up in Dundas Square either.

caltrane74 · #**4639** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 2:51 PM**

I'm kinda curious, which worthless spec buildings/properties are you talking about ?

WhipperSnapper · #**4640** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 4:35 PM**

Are you serious? Just look at their level of abandonment compared to ours. They have hundreds of office complexes sitting completely shutted that can be purchased for a song and are still building more.