The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[officedweller]

Grafton Fraser (Tip Top) gets Court Protection
http://www.news1130.com/2017/01/26/tip-t...urt-protection-to-deal-with-cash-crunch/

[officedweller]

Park Royal North layout from Retail Insider:


http://www.retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2017/1/park-royal

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by 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.

It's about a 15-20 min walk across the bridge from 22nd st. station, I have done it a few times. Lets hope there's a residential redevelopment in it's near future, for a fairly new development it has poor pedestrian realm just walking between the stores, let alone walking outside of the development.

[SpongeG]

that little corridor they left seems kinda dumb, they should just expand the bay.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

It's about a 15-20 min walk across the bridge from 22nd st. station, I have done it a few times. Lets hope there's a residential redevelopment in it's near future, for a fairly new development it has poor pedestrian realm just walking between the stores, let alone walking outside of the development.

don't you have to walk all the way around though? with all that busy traffic. It has really been isolated.

Theres a lot of development east of the landing. It has lost its drawing power as a regional destination though. People would go there for the handful of outlets it had, now the good ones are all gone or duplicated at the airport.

[Genauso]

Kengo Kuma curated "Japan Unlayered" exhibit

pics of MUJI pop-up portion via Philip Stevens, DesignBoom

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

don't you have to walk all the way around though? with all that busy traffic. It has really been isolated.

Theres a lot of development east of the landing. It has lost its drawing power as a regional destination though. People would go there for the handful of outlets it had, now the good ones are all gone or duplicated at the airport.

Oh yeah definitely, not worth your time really. It was when i lived in New West 6 years ago. I believe the ICBC land between the bridge and the Landing was sold in the past few years and there was some plan to redevelop it. I could be thinking of something else though. New West recently approved a new community plan for the area around 22nd St. station with high rises, townhouses etc. I wonder how long until the first proposals are released, it may not be until after the market deflates and rebounds.

[memememe76]

Regarding Queensborough, another possible reason for its decreasing business is the new Walmarts on Scott Road and Surrey Central--and the Walmart and outlets in Morgan Crossing.. The North Delta and North Surrey residents have yet another reason not to cross the Patullo Bridge and Alex Fraser Bridge,

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

that little corridor they left seems kinda dumb, they should just expand the bay.

The only reason I would leave it is if they expect a future redevelopment on the Bay space and then include those spaces at that time. I doubt The Bay is in need of more space.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

The only reason I would leave it is if they expect a future redevelopment on the Bay space and then include those spaces at that time. I doubt The Bay is in need of more space.

I have a strange feeling Hudson's Bay is mulling over a relocation of their PR store. It totally doesn't fit-in with the big-box vision for Park Royal North, it's totally orphaned from the mainstream and mid-upscale retail of PR South. Simon's has taken over as the perceived fashion anchor for Park Royal, plus the store itself is decrepit and needs a total gut, especially given Hudson's Bay's new upscale image.

[domusile]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Park Royal North layout from Retail Insider:


http://www.retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2017/1/park-royal

Is Chipotle going into the old Bread Garden space?

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by domusile

Is Chipotle going into the old Bread Garden space?

Yeah, I know it's hard to read but it does say Chipotle.

RE: HBC. But then I wonder why they would stick Saks there if they didn't have some long term plan on that space. I guess whatever lease deal they have might mean they just leave it as is.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

that little corridor they left seems kinda dumb, they should just expand the bay.

Or just fill it with another larger retailer.

I suspect The Bay has a very old, very cheap, lease that was assigned to them by Woodward's, and any additional areas would be at current market rates (but then again, HBC leased the Saks Off 5th space).

Also, isn't Park Royal South on Reserve land, so there's no municipal property tax?

Originally Posted by memememe76

Regarding Queensborough, another possible reason for its decreasing business is the new Walmarts on Scott Road and Surrey Central--and the Walmart and outlets in Morgan Crossing.. The North Delta and North Surrey residents have yet another reason not to cross the Patullo Bridge and Alex Fraser Bridge,

Plus the "urban" Wal-Mart in Royal City Centre.

[connect2source]

Was just at IKEA Coquitlam picking up some part for a PAX wardrobe and noticed while grabbing a bite in the cafeteria, that they've switched to paper plates, plastic low quality cutlery and paper cups. I've never been crazy about their food but this takes it to new lows, the plates are super-flimsy and very small and the cutlery is very cheap and cuts the plates while trying to cut the food.

The whole experience 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 and I'm surprised at this move which I'm sure many customers will not approve of, also seems rather unsustainable for a company as green as IKEA.

[s211]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Was just at IKEA Coquitlam picking up some part for a PAX wardrobe and noticed while grabbing a bite in the cafeteria, that they've switched to paper plates, plastic low quality cutlery and paper cups. I've never been crazy about their food but this takes it to new lows, the plates are super-flimsy and very small and the cutlery is very cheap and cuts the plates while trying to cut the food.

The whole experience 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 and I'm surprised at this move which I'm sure many customers will not approve of, also seems rather unsustainable for a company as green as IKEA.

I'll wager all of that stuff is compostable.

[officedweller]

Either that or the dishwasher was broken on that day.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Was just at IKEA Coquitlam picking up some part for a PAX wardrobe and noticed while grabbing a bite in the cafeteria, that they've switched to paper plates, plastic low quality cutlery and paper cups. I've never been crazy about their food but this takes it to new lows, the plates are super-flimsy and very small and the cutlery is very cheap and cuts the plates while trying to cut the food.

The whole experience 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 and I'm surprised at this move which I'm sure many customers will not approve of, also seems rather unsustainable for a company as green as IKEA.

Recent photos have both paper and ceramic plates on Instagram. Might have been a one off.

[SpongeG]

i haven't ventured down to this part of metrotown in a long time, but last time i was this was a climbing wall now its a giant video screen <3

2017-01-27_05-18-49 by snub_you, on Flickr

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

i haven't ventured down to this part of metrotown in a long time, but last time i was this was a climbing wall now its a giant video screen <3

I can't remember how long the climbing wall has been gone, but it's been awhile.

[Waders]

Originally Posted by Sheba

I can't remember how long the climbing wall has been gone, but it's been awhile.

The climbing wall was replaced with the big video screen when SportCheck did the last major renovation, probably 1 to 2 years ago.