The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[ryanmaccdn]

Originally Posted by Pinion

I mentioned Uniqlo to my wife in Bellevue Square because people on SSP wouldn't shut up about it here and she checked it out and was thoroughly unimpressed.

I am an old school fashion-blind man and get 100% of my clothes from Washington outlet malls maybe twice per year so I have no opinion either way.

It's mediocre at best. Just tables upon tables of polos and kahkis... It's just Old Navy with slightly better quality and fits skinny asian boys.

[SpongeG]

i found out yesterday that the only diptyque store in Canada is in Calgary, it would fit in at oakridge or perhaps the new brentwood however that turns out.

[SpongeG]

uniqlo is unboarded

upper level
2017-10-02_10-00-48 by snub_you, on Flickr

both
2017-10-02_10-00-32 by snub_you, on Flickr

uncle tetsu's
2017-10-02_09-59-38 by snub_you, on Flickr

2017-10-02_09-59-14 by snub_you, on Flickr

[SpongeG]

I don't recall seeing these a few weeks ago, there are some new giant screens installed in the atriums at metropolis, i counted 3 of them, they make a good impact up where they are, so far all they show is metropolis thing about the ap or something

2017-10-02_09-58-45 by snub_you, on Flickr

there are two in the skylight area in the zara wing

[Sheba]

Sears Canada Announces 11 Store Closures

Sears Canada has announced that it will close 11 of its stores across the country, as the company continues to fight for survival after filing for bankruptcy this summer. Several of the announced locations are in significant shopping centres, providing opportunities for redevelopment. Of the 11 announced locations, 10 are full-line Sears stores, and one is a Sears Home Store. Leases will be returned to their respective landlords.

...

Landlords will need to identify opportunities to fill these locations, at a time when some are still struggling to tenant spaces vacated by Target in 2015 -- Target shuttered all 133 of its Canadian stores when it exited Canada after suffering considerable financial losses. Several of the malls announced above are actually very strong centres, according to Retail Council of Canada’s Shopping Centre Study (the 2017 report will be released in November). The following is a discussion of the malls where Sears is closing, including challenges and opportunities.

Nanaimo North Town Centre, Nanaimo: The 600,000 square foot mall will lose its only major fashion anchor with this closure. Other anchors include Lowe’s, London Drugs, and a freestanding Canadian Tire store.

Brentwood Town Centre, Burnaby: Now being overhauled and rebranded as The Amazing Brentwood, it was unclear if Sears would have remained as a tenant here regardless — the centre is being positioned as being more upscale, in partnership with L Catterton group, the private equity firm associated with French luxury conglomerate LVHM. While luxury brands will be added to the expanded centre, landlord SHAPE says that there will be retailers at a variety of price-points.

Orchard Park Mall, Kelowna: Kelowna’s leading mall will lose one of two fashion anchors — Hudson’s Bay will continue to operate in the centre. Sears operates a fashion store and a separate Sears Home store in the mall, which is also anchored by Sport Chek and Best Buy.

...

Court approval is required prior to store liquidations, and the closures will result in 1,200 job losses. That’s in addition to 2,900 previously announced job losses, when Sears closes 59 smaller stores this weekend. About 12,000 people continue to remain employed with Sears Canada.

I don't envy Kelowna losing both Sears and Sears Home in the same mall.

[Conrad Yablonski]

H Mart is opening up deep in the bowels of Dunbar near 41st, 5505 Dunbar St to be exact.

[SpongeG]

I went to Muji again, they have made some changes, empty shelves still

2017-10-03_10-37-47 by snub_you, on Flickr

But they have spread around what they have to make the empty shelves look full except for the candy section.The selection of products is pretty lacklustre compared to other stores I have been to.

Another change they have made is they have put cheap looking price stickers on many items since the items do not match up with the shelf pricing things. It helps at least but makes it look like a liquidation store.

Really disappointed with it, the stores I went to in the uk and new york seemed so much more exciting, this one we got just seems sad.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I went to Muji again, they have made some changes, empty shelves still

Supply chain issues and empty shelves doomed Target Canada.

***********

Originally Posted by Sheba

Sears Canada Announces 11 Store Closures

I don't envy Kelowna losing both Sears and Sears Home in the same mall.

Interesting thing is that a Globe & Mail article today (behind the pay wall) said that the 11 stores were among the most profitable - and were the most valuable leases to sell back to the landlords. The ex-executive who's bidding for the assets as a going concern says the leases are being sold without notice to him (wrt his bid) or consideration for his bid (i.e. the financials are even more screwed without those stores). Sears is also selling other assets like the Viking trademarks (to Canadian Tire).

Really seems like a fire sale that will undermine any chance for it to continue as a going concern.

******************

In other department store news:

Talks to take Nordstrom private are faltering
http://nypost.com/2017/10/01/talks-to-take-nordstrom-private-are-faltering-sources/

*****************

Also, the Royal Canadian Mint store at752 Granville will be permanently closing December 2, 2017.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Also, the Royal Canadian Mint store at752 Granville will be permanently closing December 2, 2017.

Is there anything special to the RC Mint store that you can't get at other coin stores? I know I went in there one time - since then I've been to the coin store in Metrotown (best recent present for my Dad was a binder and some coin pages, and now some coin sleeves).

[officedweller]

It's just easier to get new issue coins than through the mail - especially if you are buying just on whether or not you like the look of the coin
(i.e. there's also no shipping charge)

They also had frequent "coin exchanges" where you could exchange ordinary circulation coins for commemorative circulation coins 1-for-1 (i.e. Canada 150 coins, etc.) and they handed out the free cardboard folders for the coins.

[osirisboy]

I wonder how much Sears would get by selling their leases back to the landlords. its clear Sears is folding, landlords could just say "no we'll just wait till you go bankrupt and then take the lease"?

[Tetsuo]

Seems like the ex-exec's plan is DoA.

Eddie is content smoking his Sears Canada butt to the very last drag.

Ron,

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Supply chain issues and empty shelves doomed Target Canada.

So if Muji is successful then can we credit the empty candy shelves?

[Waders]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

So if Muji is successful then can we credit the empty candy shelves?

Is there something special about the candy foods? They seem to be quite popular.

[SpongeG]

some info posted for the uniqlo opening. line up starts at 6 am

UNIQLO Opening Specials
Join us October 6 for the Grand Opening of UNIQLO Metropolis at Metrotown! We'll have Limited Offers on some of our bestselling items, plus giveaways and a chance to win a trip for two to Tokyo!

The line up for UNIQLO’s Grand Opening on Friday, October 6th will start outside the entrance closest to NYX & Customer Service Ground Level on Central Boulevard. Doors at that entrance will open at 6:00AM.
For the weekend, the UNIQLO line up will start down at the Lower Level in Grand Court. Regular mall hours apply.

source

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Tetsuo

Seems like the ex-exec's plan is DoA.

Eddie is content smoking his Sears Canada butt to the very last drag.

Ron,

Toronto Star reports that the bid now excludes the newly announced store closures whose leases are being sold back to landlords.

https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/10/04/sears-canada-bid-buys-it-another-few-weeks.html

[Waders]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

some info posted for the uniqlo opening. line up starts at 6 am

6 am? I am not sure I can wake up that early.
Anyway Uniqlo has held a pre-opening party tonight at the store and VIP quests have done some shopping already.

Pic I took today.

Looks like the store is ready to open tomorrow

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by Waders

6 am? I am not sure I can wake up that early.
Anyway Uniqlo has held a pre-opening party tonight at the store and VIP quests have done some shopping already.

VIPs don't shop at Uniqlo.. lol!

Ron.

[bc2mb]

I was at the opening ceremony last night, thought it was really great. The store is quite large, was well stocked and prices were good. Lots of tills as well.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Conrad Yablonski

H Mart is opening up deep in the bowels of Dunbar near 41st, 5505 Dunbar St to be exact.

They have that empty spot near UBC campus as well that is empty:

https://www.reddit.com/r/UBC/comments/6xb0ei/hmart_in_the_village/