Tsawwassen First Nation Updates

[LeftCoaster]

Clearly some people are going to them, as sales in major SRMs are up in Canada and have been for several years in a row.

Believe it or not highly disciplined institutional investors tend to do a lot of homework before investing multiple billions in a shopping centre.

[GlassCity]

I live in Ladner and I'll go there all the time. Now that I don't have to cross the tunnel every time I want to do something other than dinner?! The bowling alley is definitely cheesy but having an amenity in the city I actually live in is unbelievable.

[mukmuk64]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Similar to the shuttle services that office tenants in Richmond office parks have.


https://www.biv.com/article/2016/9/tsawwassen-mills-tackles-major-recruitment-crunch/

I opened up this thread to post this article. This mall is going to be a disaster. I'm not even sure a 10 lane mega bridge can save this. It just doesn't make any economic sense fundamentally.

[officedweller]

Another story with lots of pics of the Bass Pro Shop:

http://www.delta-optimist.com/news/tsaww...makes-splash-at-bass-pro-shops-1.2352260

[mukmuk64]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Another story with lots of pics of the Bass Pro Shop:

http://www.delta-optimist.com/news/tsaww...makes-splash-at-bass-pro-shops-1.2352260

The log cabin designed building also houses Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl and Grill, a 12-lane bowling alley, an expansive bar area, gift shop and all kinds of nature-themed artwork.

MacIntyre said customers, on average, will travel up to 85 kilometres and spend two hours in the store, saying it’s all about the experience. The “outdoor world” is around 180,000 square feet once the bowling alley, meeting rooms and restaurant are added, he said.

lol ok.

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by mukmuk64

I opened up this thread to post this article. This mall is going to be a disaster. I'm not even sure a 10 lane mega bridge can save this. It just doesn't make any economic sense fundamentally.

I think you will see an expansion announced within 2 years.

Remember this is also opening next door
http://tsawwassencommons.ca/availability/

Some great pics of both sites here..
http://tsawwassencommons.ca/blog/2016/08/construction-update-july-2016/


I bet the next thing to come to the area will be a Costco.

Ron.

[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by officedweller

There are still people living out in the suburbs that don't ever drive into town.

*********

WRT shuttles - Same as what GWL provides to office tenants of Crestwood Corporate Centre (Knight & Westminster Hwy):

http://www.gwlrealtyadvisors.com/Portals...20Shuttle%20Service%20-%20Nov%202012.pdf

But I suspect most of those shuttles aren't carrying minimum wage mall workers. Would Crestwood workers have to pay to use the shuttles? The notices suggests not.

I cringe to think what would play out. the higher profile shops will have less problems attracting workers, but what about lower profile workers, like the food court, or cleaners? Even if they can get sizable numbers of TFW, where are they going to live? that shuttle is going to be jammed during shift changes.

[NewfBC]

A lot of people live close to the SFPR .. this is a quick direct drive to the mall, way better than other options a lot of these people have now.

Ron.

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by mukmuk64

lol ok.

People travel that far for Cabelas. I've driven that far multiple times to Cabelas at the Seattle Premium Outlets. For outdoor enthusiasts for sure we'll travel that far. The question is how often. In my case it is once every 2-3 years maybe, which isn't a lot. I go to Home Depot more often.

So not sure how sustainable it is. That said, there are very few stores of this type in Metro Vancouver. You have a Cabelas out at Abbotsford which is far for most people to go, and a Wholesale Sports out at Langley which is tiny compared to this.

It will definitely get quite a bit of people going to it.

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by NewfBC

A lot of people live close to the SFPR .. this is a quick direct drive to the mall, way better than other options a lot of these people have now.

Ron.

Spot on. I live in Surrey Central and it is quicker to drive to this mall than to Willowbrook or Coquitlam Centre. Heck it is quicker than jumping SkyTrain and riding to Metrotown. So only mall that is closer is Guildford and Surrey Central and they are quite different than this place is going to be.

So basically you have the majority of Surrey, Delta, parts of Langley, and Richmond that this mall is not terribly far from. For those keeping count that's a population of just shy of 1 million within reasonable distance. That doesn't take into account ferry traffic and a build up in population in Tsawwassen.

Like I've said since the beginning, I don't think this will do as bad as some think, but I guess time will tell.

[mezzanine]

I suspect a large number of low-skill mall workers/TFW are transit-dependent/ vehicle-insecure.

Costco would have a better chance of attracting workers (with their own transport) - they provide better pay and benefits to FT workers.

[officedweller]

Another article in the pre-opening hoopla:

http://vancouversun.com/business/local-b...ast-new-metro-vancouver-mall-for-a-while

************

In terms of patronage - there's a huge segment of the population that likes to shop.

They will drive to various places for the shopping experience - and this mall will have a few unique stores
- Bass Pro, Saks Off 5th, Harry Rosen Outlet, Hockey Pro.

In the same way that hikers will drive for an hour to hike a trail that they've hiked before.

***************

August 3rd update (July 19th pics) of the adjacent Tsawwassen Commons:

http://tsawwassencommons.ca/blog/2016/08/construction-update-july-2016/


http://tsawwassencommons.ca/blog/2016/08/construction-update-july-2016/

[officedweller]

Lots of pics here:

The corridors look narrow - typical of newer malls and outlet malls.

http://www.delta-optimist.com/news/photos-tsawwassen-mills-sneak-peek-1.2354552


http://www.delta-optimist.com/news/photos-tsawwassen-mills-sneak-peek-1.2354552


http://www.delta-optimist.com/news/photos-tsawwassen-mills-sneak-peek-1.2354552


http://www.delta-optimist.com/news/photos-tsawwassen-mills-sneak-peek-1.2354552


http://www.delta-optimist.com/news/photos-tsawwassen-mills-sneak-peek-1.2354552


http://www.delta-optimist.com/news/photos-tsawwassen-mills-sneak-peek-1.2354552


http://www.delta-optimist.com/news/photos-tsawwassen-mills-sneak-peek-1.2354552


http://www.delta-optimist.com/news/photos-tsawwassen-mills-sneak-peek-1.2354552


http://www.delta-optimist.com/news/photos-tsawwassen-mills-sneak-peek-1.2354552


http://www.delta-optimist.com/news/photos-tsawwassen-mills-sneak-peek-1.2354552


http://www.delta-optimist.com/news/photos-tsawwassen-mills-sneak-peek-1.2354552


http://www.delta-optimist.com/news/photos-tsawwassen-mills-sneak-peek-1.2354552

[mukmuk64]

Originally Posted by NewfBC

A lot of people live close to the SFPR .. this is a quick direct drive to the mall, way better than other options a lot of these people have now.

Ron.

It is a bit questionable whether the SFPR will matter. Your statement is certainly true for North Delta residents near the Nordel Way exit, however with the other Surrey residents north, it's a 20-30+ minute drive to the Tsawwassen mall on the SFPR vs a 10 minute drive (or potentially transit access) to Guildford.

A reminder for all who haven't been to Guildford for quite some time: They've recently done a significant expansion that has been good enough to attract Langley residents away from the Willowbrook mall. Accordingly the Willowbrook mall is now also doing an expansion.

It seems like the whole business model of this mall hinges on their ability to attract residents from other areas of the region that already have their own, much more conveniently located, malls. It all comes down to foot traffic and there simply isn't enough foot traffic coming out of Ladner/Tsawwassen/South Surrey to justify a mall this size. The notion of having a handful of exclusive and unique stores to draw people in is a good one, but some of these exclusive stores are awfully niche and I'm not sure this is sustainable in the long term. Will this mall be so much better than Guildford that people are willing to drive an extra 15-20+ minutes? I so far haven't seen anything that compelling.

We're seeing that the other malls are well aware of this threat and are renovating and expanding accordingly to retain their foot traffic. I think this will make things quite difficult for this Tsawwassen mega mall.

[SpongeG]

it looks a lot like the seattle outlet, the old one that used to be called the super mall

[officedweller]

Until some of the first to market stores open other locations, there will be some draws - i.e. Saks Off 5th

It'll be interesting to see how the Winners and Marshalls are stocked for selection. Saks Off 5th usually has a lot of suits.

i.e. the Big Bend Winners/Homesense has a practically no business wear. The Park Royal Winners has lots of designer clothes.

Originally Posted by SpongeG

it looks a lot like the seattle outlet, the old one that used to be called the super mall

Auburn Supermall - now called The Outlet Collection

[cairnstone]

Originally Posted by mukmuk64

It is a bit questionable whether the SFPR will matter. Your statement is certainly true for North Delta residents near the Nordel Way exit, however with the other Surrey residents north, it's a 20-30+ minute drive to the Tsawwassen mall on the SFPR vs a 10 minute drive (or potentially transit access) to Guildford.

A reminder for all who haven't been to Guildford for quite some time: They've recently done a significant expansion that has been good enough to attract Langley residents away from the Willowbrook mall. Accordingly the Willowbrook mall is now also doing an expansion.

It seems like the whole business model of this mall hinges on their ability to attract residents from other areas of the region that already have their own, much more conveniently located, malls. It all comes down to foot traffic and there simply isn't enough foot traffic coming out of Ladner/Tsawwassen/South Surrey to justify a mall this size. The notion of having a handful of exclusive and unique stores to draw people in is a good one, but some of these exclusive stores are awfully niche and I'm not sure this is sustainable in the long term. Will this mall be so much better than Guildford that people are willing to drive an extra 15-20+ minutes? I so far haven't seen anything that compelling.

We're seeing that the other malls are well aware of this threat and are renovating and expanding accordingly to retain their foot traffic. I think this will make things quite difficult for this Tsawwassen mega mall.

you forget most traffic will be from the usa as with the dollar being at 75 cents everything is on sale

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by cairnstone

you forget most traffic will be from the usa as with the dollar being at 75 cents everything is on sale

So Canadians go down to the outlet stores in Bellingham because things are cheaper there than in Canada and Americans come up to the outlet stores in Tsawassen because things are cheaper here than in the US?

[officedweller]

Canadians also go to the states for different selection and the sake of going on a road trip.

[Klazu]

So who's going to be there for the grand opening? Who will brave the traffic jam of the decade just to be part of that nonsense?

I will be down in Seattle and will check it out maybe few weeks after it opens. If McArthurGlenn's opening on Sea Island tells us anything, people will go crazy and it will be a total gong show!