The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by ryanmaccdn

Muji blows.... the one in Melbourne isn't busy at all and everything is beyond expensive versus the same stuff you can get elsewhere.

If it goes into the AE spot its gonna tank hard.

Must be why they opened a new 12,000 sq feet last November that is double the size of their old store.

[connect2source]

Muji is just the thing the 1100 block Robson needs, it'll do amazingly well there especially with all the Japanese and Korean students who congregate around there. My guess is either the American Eagle space or the old Below the Belt space with perhaps some major renos to that horrible complex.

[mezzanine]

Great news re: Muji! It will do gangbusters here.

I can see that area of robson being a urban households retail destination with CB2 and Muji as anchors. If vancouver ever gets a flying tiger store that area would be a natural fit.

[DesignerBunny]

Muji moving into the 1100 block is great news to pulling traffic further West down Robson. The only 2 spaces I can imagine (without tearing down some old ratty CRUs and starting from scratch) is the Below the Belt space (not very large from what I remember), or possibly the 2nd floor All Star wings / old moxie restaurant space above where American Eagle was. I don't know why they'd want upstairs and not downstairs though. I can see Muji unifying the disjointed facade of that corner and creating a 2 storey flagship. That would be amazing if they did.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

So my guess is it's the old American eagle store. If this is true this place has been empty for like approx 3 years? Why did they wait this long then? Of course it could be another location so who kniws

I doubt that's it since the RI article said the space is currently tenanted.

[Retail-Insider]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

I doubt that's it since the RI article said the space is currently tenanted.

Yes, people can stop speculating about existing empty spaces. MUJI's future Robson Street space currently houses a retailer. The retailer knows that they'll be leaving, but some staff in the store may not be aware. We were asked not to provide the exact address until everything is taken care of at their end.

There's also going to be at least two redevelopment announcements on the street in the near future, with details to follow.

[gillty]

Originally Posted by ryanmaccdn

Muji blows.... the one in Melbourne isn't busy at all and everything is beyond expensive versus the same stuff you can get elsewhere.

If it goes into the AE spot its gonna tank hard.

Daiso does well enough at International Village and Aberdeen selling dollar store quality products at essentially double their prices versus Japan for $2, I don't see how Muji wouldn't do well.

Muji is the middle class dollarstore. It's everything a Daiso or western dollar store chain is not. I've never seen a 'busy' Muji in Japan. I'm not sure that's a bad thing, it caters exactly to their brand.

Muji is like if Daiso, Uniqlo, and Ikea merged together. It's an upscale brand that caters to people because its products are simple, unbranded, and relatively quality; with a range of pricing from affordable to unaffordable.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by Retail-Insider

Yes, people can stop speculating about existing empty spaces. MUJI's future Robson Street space currently houses a retailer. The retailer knows that they'll be leaving, but some staff in the store may not be aware. We were asked not to provide the exact address until everything is taken care of at their end.

There's also going to be at least two redevelopment announcements on the street in the near future, with details to follow.

Damn, was hoping for a totally gut / re-build of former American Eagle - All Star Wings shanty-town.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by mezzanine

Great news re: Muji! It will do gangbusters here.

I can see that area of robson being a urban households retail destination with CB2 and Muji as anchors. If vancouver ever gets a flying tiger store that area would be a natural fit.

Not much at Flying Tiger but still very interesting to browse through their odds and ends. The chains in London sell little cupped ice cream for 1 pound each: pretty good I have to say.

[dreambrother808]

I was wondering earlier if it was the Plenty location for Muji.

[mezzanine]

I am thinking if it's the 1100 block robson - the HMV store. The next door Eddie Bauer, although relatively new to the area, may also have weakness going forward.

[SpongeG]

re: people sleeping in doorways, i was just taking a quick walk down granville and there were a lot of police cars parked, they were clearing out the street kids camped out in the doorways where the old theatre is

[Built Form]

Gap/Gap Kids

[SpongeG]

is that 10,000 sq ft? i really can't visualize what 10,000 sq ft is

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

is that 10,000 sq ft? i really can't visualize what 10,000 sq ft is

Imagine roughly 4 old Vancouver Specials side by side.

[SpongeG]

oh ok, so something like the gap size on robson.

I was down at queensborough Landing and a number of stores have shut down, quite a few empty spaces, having the other outlets must have had an affect on it.

[cairnstone]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

oh ok, so something like the gap size on robson.

I was down at queensborough Landing and a number of stores have shut down, quite a few empty spaces, having the other outlets must have had an affect on it.

its been dying for the last few years. after best buy

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by cairnstone

its been dying for the last few years. after best buy

It's such a dead end I remember the first time I drove down there I couldn't believe someone would build there or that anyone would shop there.

[Caliplanner1]

Originally Posted by Conrad Yablonski

It's such a dead end I remember the first time I drove down there I couldn't believe someone would build there or that anyone would shop there.

One problem/complaint I hear is that that the Queensborough Landing shopping center lacks convenient public (bus) transportation links. Maybe if mass transit were to be provided such could serve to bring more patrons into that shopping complex.

[SpongeG]

yeah, i saw a blog video of some brazilian students trying to get there a couple years ago on transit was a long trek for them from east van.

I wonder if a pedestrian and bike only bridge link to the skytrain could be helpful, its not that far really if you can cross right down to the landing.

Nothing worth going there now as its all at the airport with more choices. DC shoe is gone, Armani Exchange is gone and a few other stores.

I guess with the walmart in royal centre now that makes the walmart less of a draw to the area. It was quite dead itself around 9 pm, i've never seen it so quiet even at that time. I've usually ventured down that way later in the day to avoid traffic, as i like to hit up Lowes once in a while.