The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[jollyburger]

Are the rental fees comparable from an anchor store and someone using the space for recreation uses? I think most US malls are so bad off they would rather have a space filled with anything even if the revenues aren't comparable.

[officedweller]

Tip Top Tailors sells assets - most stores remain open

http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/tip-top-t...ill-see-140-stores-remain-open-1.3481126

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From Retail Insider:

Chopard jewellers will opening in Cathedral Place.

Van Cleef & Arpels progressing on Alberni St.


(1069 Alberni Street in Vancouver -- signage is already up for Van Cleef & Arpels, as of June 27, 2017)

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London Drugs unveils LDExpress, a new smaller format store
http://www.drugstorenews.com/article/london-drugs-unveils-ldexpress-new-smaller-format-store

[SpongeG]

cathedral place is on georgia across from the hotel vancouver right?

[urbancanadian]

^Yep. The one with the similar green roof.

Nice to hear. I've been surprised that no big names have leased space in that building considering it's location and prominence. Maybe there were/are some long leases.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by urbancanadian

^Yep. The one with the similar green roof.

Nice to hear. I've been surprised that no big names have leased space in that building considering it's location and prominence. Maybe there were/are some long leases.

Probably because the location isn't prime and located next door to a similar cluster of high end shops. Same goes for all the shops on West Georgia going the other way.

I guess if there brand is big enough they'll just draw people in.

[SpongeG]

it seems like it could be the start of alberni spreading onto georgia.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Vin

Haha, thanks guys. There goes Sear's cash cow.

The trouble with mainstream American retailers is that they focus too much on the shareholders rather than customer base. The stores and ambience are so crappy yet they expect to make a profit? I only remember worn-out carpet, dirty display cabinets and forlorn-looking staff the last few times I went to a Sears. I think the problem is that they were overly ambitious and opened too many stores at the same time to flood the market, with the result of not having enough funds to update them all. Surprisingly, the stint at the downtown Vancouver store (now Nordstrom) started out great. I remember they had nicely-dressed customer reps (sales people), but over time, this too became mediocre.

So far, Simons in West Vancouver is still very nice: good customer service with nicely attired sales people, and great retail ambience. Proud it's a Canadian company. Would suggest they incorporate a food centre (couple of different eateries, like snack/ice cream/dessert or full menu restaurants, rather than just a cafe) in their future stores to help pull in more traffic. Unfortunately at the moment, the only other western Canadian store they are opening is in Edmonton. Downtown Vancouver just doesn't have a new mall for them to fit in. Hope this will change with the new retail opportunities at the Post Office or the Bay Parking.

Simons opening at West Edmonton Mall, would love to see them opening another location either in Metrotown or the new Brentwood Mall.

http://business.financialpost.com/news/r...wcm/73fc720f-2bb4-4dbb-92b7-e2635eba38f6

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

it seems like it could be the start of alberni spreading onto georgia.

The problem with the Cathedral Place location is that there are no other retail streetfrontages on the north side of Georgia St. for a couple blocks either way except for Cathedral Place.

FortisBC Building - retail west of office lobby / 1075 and Royal Centre - open plazas and no streetfront retail other than banks / Christ Church Cathedral / Cathedral Place - 2 retail units / HSBC Building Atrium / Rosewood Hotel Georgia (restaurant / café) / Pacific Centre plaza entrance

[Vin]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The problem with the Cathedral Place location is that there are no other retail streetfrontages on the north side of Georgia St. for a couple blocks either way except for Cathedral Place.

FortisBC Building - retail west of office lobby / 1075 and Royal Centre - open plazas and no streetfront retail other than banks / Christ Church Cathedral / Cathedral Place - 2 retail units / HSBC Building Atrium / Rosewood Hotel Georgia (restaurant / café) / Pacific Centre plaza entrance

The ground floor retail is kinda dated and "tired-looking" (quoting from realtors).

[connect2source]

Gap on Robson is now closed, didn't snap a pic, wasn't very exciting looking, can't wait to see the improvements MUJI will make!

[SpongeG]

Hermes is rumoured to move to georgia and burrard, some of the south side of georgia ould giveway to more high end.

Muji metrotown is opening in july right? hopefully soon

[Waders]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Muji metrotown is opening in july right? hopefully soon

I haven't seen a lot of construction activity at the store location.
It will be opened in summer, so probably August/September.

Meanwhile UNIQLO has posted 'Hiring' notice on the store boarding.

[SpongeG]

so long No signage for Uniqlo yet that I saw last week, but they are set for a fall opening?

London Drugs has started a new smaller store format Called LD Express, I imagine they will sprout up around the LM

London Drugs unveils LDExpress, a new smaller format store
JUNE 28, 2017 | BY MICHAEL JOHNSEN

CALGARY, Alberta — London Drugs on Monday opened a the first LDEXPRESS here, a "grab-and-go" retail store with 4,000 square feet of selling space that includes a full-service pharmacy, two customer service specialist desks and full-service ship-to-store pick up for everything available through the company's ecommerce site.

"LDEXPRESS is here to cater to customers who are time-starved but who also desire high-quality products and personalized customer care which they know they can count on from London Drugs," stated Clint Mahlman, EVP and COO, London Drugs. "This store is built entirely around the customer," he said. "LDEXPRESS features products and sevice offerings dedicated to making our customers' lives easier. This store is all about convenience."

...

http://www.drugstorenews.com/article/london-drugs-unveils-ldexpress-new-smaller-format-store

also:

East Hastings London Drugs redevelopment will include rental units
Naoibh O'Connor / Vancouver Courier

JUNE 21, 2017 03:15 PM

A proposal for the London Drugs redevelopment on East Hastings by Penticton Street is expected to be filed with the city later this year.

Hastings Sunrise Development Ltd., a subsidiary of London Drugs, is working on design plans for the revamped project, which has been anticipated for years.

Few details have been released although the building will be four storeys and will be anchored with a London Drugs store on the ground floor and residential rental units above. The previous plan was for market condo units.


The move from condo to rental units “takes into consideration many different market and business factors,” according to London Drugs spokesperson Wendy Hartley.

London Drugs owns the land from Penticton Street west to the end of the lot that’s now home to the Hastings North Temporary Community Garden.

...

http://www.vancourier.com/news/east-hast...ent-will-include-rental-units-1.20705582

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by Waders

I haven't seen a lot of construction activity at the store location.
It will be opened in summer, so probably August/September.

Meanwhile UNIQLO has posted 'Hiring' notice on the store boarding.

Rickys used to have a spot in where they are going years ago and they had their own mall entrance, I wonder if muji will be able to incorporate some kind of exterior window display

[Waders]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Rickys used to have a spot in where they are going years ago and they had their own mall entrance, I wonder if muji will be able to incorporate some kind of exterior window display

It is possible Muji might maintain the external entrance. I think I saw some boarding at that location.

Actually the map at Metropolis website does show the Muji location consisting of the external spot.

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by Vin

Simons opening at West Edmonton Mall, would love to see them opening another location either in Metrotown or the new Brentwood Mall.

http://business.financialpost.com/news/r...wcm/73fc720f-2bb4-4dbb-92b7-e2635eba38f6

The West Edmonton Mall location has been open for years.. the 2nd location in Edmonton is elsewhere.

Ron.

[SpongeG]

its opening in august in Londonderry in NE Edmonton.

As seen there are renders for a Simons store in South Surrey, if it ever happens.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Waders

I haven't seen a lot of construction activity at the store location.
It will be opened in summer, so probably August/September.

Meanwhile UNIQLO has posted 'Hiring' notice on the store boarding.

Originally Posted by Waders

It is possible Muji might maintain the external entrance. I think I saw some boarding at that location.

PS - the word is "hoarding", not "boarding".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoarding_(disambiguation)
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hoarding

[Jougho]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Hermes is rumoured to move to georgia and burrard, some of the south side of georgia ould giveway to more high end.

Muji metrotown is opening in july right? hopefully soon

I heard the Hermes rumour some time ago, I have also heard Fendi. One thing for sure is that Suki's salon lease is up and they are moving the salon into their school space next door. The newly soon to be created two story retail space is going to have several offers.

[dreambrother808]

Starbucks and Brinkhaus are potentially switching spots as well (Starbucks downsizing and Brinkhaus upsizing).