Tsawwassen First Nation Updates

[Sheba]

Wow some people here need a reality check. This mall is geared towards SoF shoppers - anyone NoF is likely going to need a specific reason to go there as opposed to their own local stores. That it's quieter than Metrotown - last I checked most malls are quieter than Metrotown. It's nowhere near Skytrain so really, what did you expect?

[Marshal]

Originally Posted by Sheba

Wow some people here need a reality check. This mall is geared towards SoF shoppers - anyone NoF is likely going to need a specific reason to go there as opposed to their own local stores. That it's quieter than Metrotown - last I checked most malls are quieter than Metrotown. It's nowhere near Skytrain so really, what did you expect?

Didn't expect much, and they delivered less. It could have at least acknowledged the advances in mall design that have occurred since 1970 - especially the improved arrangements of public realms and of parking to public realms. "geared towards SoF" you say. More like, geared to no-one real . . . misunderstanding the whole Lower Mainland when it comes to retail format developments and the new tastes of the consumer (SoF as well as NoF).

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Marshal

Didn't expect much, and they delivered less. It could have at least acknowledged the advances in mall design that have occurred since 1970 - especially the improved arrangements of public realms and of parking to public realms. "geared towards SoF" you say. More like, geared to no-one real . . . misunderstanding the whole Lower Mainland when it comes to retail format developments and the new tastes of the consumer (SoF as well as NoF).

I haven't been in the mall so I can't speak to that. For anyone who still thinks it's out in the middle of nowhere:

Tsawwassen's Splashdown Park will reopen as Big Splash Waterpark this summer

Last May, there was an outpouring of nostalgia and sadness when it was announced that Tsawwassen's iconic Splashdown Waterpark would be closing its doors after 33 years.

But fans of the park need not fret: the park is now set to open in June 2017, renovated and rebranded as Big Splash Waterpark.

Vancouver-based company Executive Hotels & Resorts announced it has established a 99-year lease with the seven-acre property's owner and has plans to build a boutique hotel adjacent to the site.

...

The renovations, which have already begun, will update the layout and landscaping of the area and introduce new slides and a kids zone.

The plans also include an adult-only hot tub, a "Vegas-stye" cabana program, an espresso and gelato bar and a VIP private viewing deck equipped with a DJ stand.

...

Big Splash Waterpark is set to open in June 2017. The hotel is expected to open in 2019.

Add to that the new residential that's planned for after the retail sections are complete. It could end up being it's own village.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Sheba

Wow some people here need a reality check. This mall is geared towards SoF shoppers - anyone NoF is likely going to need a specific reason to go there as opposed to their own local stores. That it's quieter than Metrotown - last I checked most malls are quieter than Metrotown. It's nowhere near Skytrain so really, what did you expect?

It would help is Saks Off 5th honoured their e-mail promotions - but inexplicably those promotions don't apply to Canadian stores.
The Marshalls and Winners locations are too small to be significant draws for those who live near larger locations.

Originally Posted by Marshal

Didn't expect much, and they delivered less. It could have at least acknowledged the advances in mall design that have occurred since 1970 - especially the improved arrangements of public realms and of parking to public realms. "geared towards SoF" you say. More like, geared to no-one real . . . misunderstanding the whole Lower Mainland when it comes to retail format developments and the new tastes of the consumer (SoF as well as NoF).

I don't think the format / layout is that out of date.
You can't really expect densification (multi-storey development) as a first stage in virgin territory.

It's the same as any other Mills mall, yes - but that's also largely the same as Richmond Centre.

Even Richmond Centre and other suburban malls have taken many, many years to get to the point where they can be densified
- and even after redevelopment, the mall itself at Richmond Centre (other than food court and anchors) and Oakridge will still be largely only one storey.

This area is in its infancy in development terms.

[flipper316]

Originally Posted by Sheba

I haven't been in the mall so I can't speak to that. For anyone who still thinks it's out in the middle of nowhere:

Tsawwassen's Splashdown Park will reopen as Big Splash Waterpark this summer


Add to that the new residential that's planned for after the retail sections are complete. It could end up being it's own village.

yea right "village". where everyone will drive to get anywhere instead of walking.

[hankthetank]

Originally Posted by flipper316

yea right "village". where everyone will drive to get anywhere instead of walking.

Clearly you aren't familiar with Tsawwassen First Nation. As a starting point you might find it helpful to look at their neighbourhood plan. They've already began build out of some residential and much more is in the works. Single family, townhouses, apartment buildings and even a hotel are all underway. A nice pedestrian and cycling network will connect the residential to commercial areas. It's going to be a walkable complete community. Sure the mall could be improved but the area is a big improvement on some other suburbs.

[officedweller]

Catering to the big East Indian customer base:
https://www.tsawwassenmills.com/promotions-events/events/2017/04/01/vaisakhi-celebration/

[officedweller]

Tsawwassen Mills shopping centre expects 6M visitors during first year
http://www.cknw.com/2017/04/21/tsawwasse...e-expects-6m-visitors-during-first-year/

[connect2source]

I have a listing in Tsawwassen and frequent the place typically early afternoon weekdays to grab a bite and look around. I've consistently found it exceedingly quiet during the week with no change over the last few months. Food Court is dead, wondering how they're coping with food waste, Bass Pro Shop end it always a bit busier but the southwest end is extremely quiet.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by connect2source

I have a listing in Tsawwassen and frequent the place typically early afternoon weekdays to grab a bite and look around. I've consistently found it exceedingly quiet during the week with no change over the last few months. Food Court is dead, wondering how they're coping with food waste, Bass Pro Shop end it always a bit busier but the southwest end is extremely quiet.

What is it like compared to other malls around the same time of day? A lot of malls are quiet weekday days when people tend to be at work.

[logicbomb]

Horrific experiement. The mall is barely seeing any visitors off-peak and it's rather quiet during peak hours. Reminds me of Bellis Fair when the Cdn Dollar tanked.

[officedweller]

The story says they are meeting projections, so there must be some weekend traffic.
I'm surprised that the mall is open weeknights til 9pm.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The story says they are meeting projections, so there must be some weekend traffic.
I'm surprised that the mall is open weeknights til 9pm.

It says 2.7M visitors through 6 months, and they expect 6M for the first year. I find that hard to believe since the first 6 months has included their grand opening where everybody wants to take a look, and the Christmas season.

It would be interesting to see how 6M visitors stacks up against other malls in the region though.

[SpongeG]

went there on monday in the mid afternoon. Parking was easy. It wasn't that dead, the starbucks had a long lineup. lots of people just sitting around with their shopping bags.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

It says 2.7M visitors through 6 months, and they expect 6M for the first year. I find that hard to believe since the first 6 months has included their grand opening where everybody wants to take a look, and the Christmas season.

this is true, the 2 biggest things for a mall are big holidays, Christmas, and then opening day. look at the YVR outlet mall for example on what happens on opening day.

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

It would be interesting to see how 6M visitors stacks up against other malls in the region though.

here is some of what i found for annual visitors of some local malls.

Metrotown - 27 million

Pacific Centre - 19 million

Guildford Town Centre - 14.5 million

Park Royal - 12 million

Richmond Centre - 12 million

Oakridge - 8.5 million

i tried to find something about the YVR outlet mall but i couldn't find anything about annual visitors. but when it opened in July and by the end of 2015 they had hit 2 million visitors, so similar to the Mills mall. though it is important to note that the YVR Outlet Mall is only 240,000sq feet.

YVR Outlet Mall; first 6 months - 2 million

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

here is some of what i found for annual visitors of some local malls.

I wouldn't really count Metrotown or Pacific Centre as they're pretty much the exception to the rule here (plus they're in major locations right next to a Skytrain station - unlike T Mills... )

I found this:

Willowbrook - 6.9 million

So 6 million a year isn't really out of line for the area. Once it's built out (esp the residential component) I'd be surprised if their numbers didn't rise, possibly reaching Oakridge levels.

[Pinion]

Park Royal is nowhere near skytrain. It's become basically downtown for the north shore, maybe even moreso than Lonsdale. I go there multiple times per week, usually just for food. I suspect T-Mills is similar for locals.

[memememe76]

What kind of food do people go to this mall for?

[SpongeG]

montanas, boston pizza, uncle bucks?

[WarrenC12]

People will be visiting the new Walmart across the street a lot more than the Mills.