The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[whatnext]

FYI an interesting article on Simons from the Globe & Mail. I didn't realize it was still a privately held company. Nice not to have to deal with misguided shareholders trying to "unlock value" like HBC.

https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/rep...ticle36097079/

[Vin]

Mackage replacing Rudsack in Pacific Centre Mall.

https://www.retail-insider.com/retai...uver-1st-store

[officedweller]

The Budget Rent-a-Car on Georgia closes September 1, 2017.
(Site of the Westbank "lantern" tower)
The sign on the door refers customers to the YVR location - so no more downtown location.

The adjacent parking lot on Richards has already been repurposed as a Car-to-Go parking lot.

***********

Probably mentioned before by someone, but the RONA on Kingsway at King Edward is closed (probably or a while now).

[Tetsuo]

Community-oriented Denman Fitness to say farewell to West End due to redevelopment

https://www.straight.com/life/956641...-redevelopment

Another longstanding West End community-oriented business is calling it quits.

Denman Fitness, located at 1731 Comox Street (just off Denman Street), has served West Enders since 1994, although the location's existence as a gym goes back even further.

The 18,000-square-foot gym is located beside the Coast Plaza Hotel and Suites building, which is going to be converted into a rental tower with 316 units.

DA Architects and Planners submitted a development permit to rezone the two levels above Denman Place Mall, which affects Denman Fitness as well as Brasserie Restaurant (which opened in 1979) and Comox Street Long Bar and Grill (which is over 20 years old). In December 2016, the rezoning application was approved by city council.

[...]

Denman place is quite interesting, sad to see it's quirky nature slowly fading, still remember going down the escalators at the movie theatre and interrupting two teen coworkers doing the nasty by the popcorn LOL

Ron.

[osirisboy]

Between that and landmark the city is loosing a chunk of hotel rooms. That's too bad. It's already close to zero vacancy during the summer

[Tetsuo]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Between that and landmark the city is loosing a chunk of hotel rooms. That's too bad. It's already close to zero vacancy during the summer

All the old hotel rooms disappearing following all the rooms that came online during the Olympics, sad too because these are the more family friendly affordable ones.

Guess Airbnb also plays a role.

Ron.

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The Budget Rent-a-Car on Georgia closes September 1, 2017.The sign on the door refers customers to the YVR location - so no more downtown location....

I'm sure their absolutely horrid reputation locally has something to do with that.

[Graham_Yvr]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Between that and landmark the city is loosing a chunk of hotel rooms. That's too bad. It's already close to zero vacancy during the summer

The aforementioned spaces above Denman Place Mall are being converted into a new boutique hotel. This includes Denman Fitness, the restaurant, meeting/conf spaces etc. So, there will be a replacement hotel, if not as many rooms.

[Vin]

I wish they allow larger scale commercial developments like they used to back in the 50s-70s, such as the Coast hotel in Denman, and the Empire Landmark Hotel. I think synergy of similar businesses is what is key to ensure good competition and survival of the dwindling number of hotels and good commercial businesses in the "off beaten path" areas of downtown.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by Vin

I wish they allow larger scale commercial developments like they used to back in the 50s-70s, such as the Coast hotel in Denman, and the Empire Landmark Hotel. I think synergy of similar businesses is what is key to ensure good competition and survival of the dwindling number of hotels and good commercial businesses in the "off beaten path" areas of downtown.

The one project that sticks out is the Safeway at denman and robson. It's really bizarre that nothing was built on top when it was redeveloped

[Vin]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

The one project that sticks out is the Safeway at denman and robson. It's really bizarre that nothing was built on top when it was redeveloped

Yes, but don't forget that that Safeway was planned/built at a time when the West End revised OCP had not taken place, meaning after the 80s nothing tall was allowed. However, read the following as it claims that the Safeway is gazetted for demo for a bigger building, despite it being very new still. It goes to show that once OCP is relaxed, developers actually do want to build, but only high-density towers.

http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1661-...st-end-safeway

[idunno]

Vin is right - Safeway is closing today I believe. Like its neighbour to the west, it and the BC Liquor Store should be coming down over the next few weeks/month.

It'll be interesting to see such a large full city block under construction in the West End. We haven't seen such a scale of redevelopment in one place since maybe the Safeway at Robson/Denman.

[LeftCoaster]

Two different safeways Vin.

The new safeway is at Denman and Robson. The one getting redeveloped is at Davie and Cardero.

It's right there in the title of the link you posted.

[Tetsuo]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Two different safeways Vin.

The new safeway is at Denman and Robson. The one getting redeveloped is at Davie and Cardero.

It's right there in the title of the link you posted.

I think Vin is referencing the end of that article

For the time being, the Safeway at the corner of Robson Street and Denman Street will be the grocery store chain’s only location in downtown Vancouver.

Although the Robson Street location was rebuilt just less than a decade ago, the city-block sized two-storey grocery store building is also set to be demolished due to the redevelopment potential provided by the West End Community Plan. Buildings on this block can now also reach a height of 210 ft.

Also the Davie Safeway is still new(ish) being built in the 90's, has the same Safeway "life" desing style many in the region was built to (Macdonald/Broadway being almost copy paste. If Sobeys manage to get a liquor license don't expect BC Liq to come back to the site. Gone are the days where BC Liq and Safeway would pop open at the same time.

Ron.

[Tetsuo]

Originally Posted by whatnext

FYI an interesting article on Simons from the Globe & Mail. I didn't realize it was still a privately held company. Nice not to have to deal with misguided shareholders trying to "unlock value" like HBC.

https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/rep...ticle36097079/

I really hope NRDC partners with OTPF to take HBC private again. what Richard Baker is doing is using RE as leverage to consolidate a global department store, something not really seen in global retail, in the meantime I'll continue playing the stock whenever it jumps/drops based on these rumours.

Ron.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Two different safeways Vin.

The new safeway is at Denman and Robson. The one getting redeveloped is at Davie and Cardero.

It's right there in the title of the link you posted.

I know. I was answering Osirisboy regarding the Robson/Denman Safeway, which may also be redeveloped. Read till the end of that article please.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Tetsuo

I think Vin is referencing the end of that article



Also the Davie Safeway is still new(ish) being built in the 90's, has the same Safeway "life" desing style many in the region was built to (Macdonald/Broadway being almost copy paste. If Sobeys manage to get a liquor license don't expect BC Liq to come back to the site. Gone are the days where BC Liq and Safeway would pop open at the same time.

Ron.

That's why OCP shouldn't just concentrate on allowing larger developments on only single streets like Davie and Denman. If they allow commercial developments to take place one or two blocks beyond, many of the relatively new buildings will not be touched. Our zoning policies are resulting in quite a bit of wastage. Same reason why good buildings like Empire Landmark Hotel will also be torn down.

[LeftCoaster]

My bad, didn't know you we're referring to that portion of the article.

That is just speculation on Kennith's part though.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by Vin

Wow, that's a lot bigger and more than doubled! Thanks.

its taking over the entire gap space and the old below the belt space next door, which has sat empty for quite a while now

[SpongeG]

maybe i am old but it seems like the dave street safeway was redone only a few summers ago, can't believe its 20 years or so.