[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[Hubbub]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Apparently Pizza Girls/Katch Seafood is definitely coming to this location. It will be run corporately until a local franchisee can be found.

I really don’t get the attraction for restaurants downtown and in particular, this location. The have been so many failed pizza joints on Main St, am sure the list would be as long as my arm. Even the nice Syrian fella at Mommas always seems to have an empty shop, even during lunch hour.

I know people in the food biz DT and it’s a small margin area. From what I hear, Main has some of the highest property taxes per sq ft, in NB. If it rains, then streets are empty. If it’s really cold, the streets are empty. And rent is NOT cheap.

It’s great to have all this selection, but I can’t understand how all could survive with all this competition with a revenue pool that’s not getting bigger. Yes, the events centre is coming, and I think it will help, but not near as much as the “think tank” suggests.

Also doesn’t help when the city take one of the busiest days of the year on Main, and then move it to the park on Assomption.

Bottom line, I think Pizza Girls (had their pizza, meh) is going to go the same direction as the previous restaurants, Megawrap, possibly Pita Pit (but that might have been different building) , Alexandria’s, Burrito Jax, and whatever ones I might have missed.

[lirette]

Originally Posted by Hubbub

I really don’t get the attraction for restaurants downtown and in particular, this location. The have been so many failed pizza joints on Main St, am sure the list would be as long as my arm. Even the nice Syrian fella at Mommas always seems to have an empty shop, even during lunch hour.

I know people in the food biz DT and it’s a small margin area. From what I hear, Main has some of the highest property taxes per sq ft, in NB. If it rains, then streets are empty. If it’s really cold, the streets are empty. And rent is NOT cheap.

It’s great to have all this selection, but I can’t understand how all could survive with all this competition with a revenue pool that’s not getting bigger. Yes, the events centre is coming, and I think it will help, but not near as much as the “think tank” suggests.

Also doesn’t help when the city take one of the busiest days of the year on Main, and then move it to the park on Assomption.

Bottom line, I think Pizza Girls (had their pizza, meh) is going to go the same direction as the previous restaurants, Megawrap, possibly Pita Pit (but that might have been different building) , Alexandria’s, Burrito Jax, and whatever ones I might have missed.

While I agree with a lot of your points, I think there is also something to be said that a well run business downtown will do very well, but a mediocre business with mediocre food will not mostly due to the reasons you state above. Places like Third Glass, Tide & Boar, Gustos are destinations that remain busy throughout the week and especially on weekends. The tide and boar patio is packed all summer.

No one from the north end or in Riverview is going to drive down to Main St to eat at Pizza Girls when there is plenty of similar options in their own neighbourhoods. Alexandrias was just awful, the health inspection that failed there had to be the worst I've ever seen in Moncton. Mamas makes most of its money after hours on Fridays and Saturdays, every table is full and there is often lines out the door. I'm not sure how his club is not losing money though.

To me if you are going to pay the big rent downtown you need to bring something unique to the table or have a specific demographic you can count on to keep your business going. Nav's for example is not overly unique, but has always attracted a francophone crowd for whatever reason. I think an Arcade Bar that serves craft beer like they have in SJ would be a much better use for that spot, or inside the old keatings.

[Hubbub]

Originally Posted by lirette

While I agree with a lot of your points, I think there is also something to be said that a well run business downtown will do very well, but a mediocre business with mediocre food will not mostly due to the reasons you state above. Places like Third Glass, Tide & Boar, Gustos are destinations that remain busy throughout the week and especially on weekends. The tide and boar patio is packed all summer.

No one from the north end or in Riverview is going to drive down to Main St to eat at Pizza Girls when there is plenty of similar options in their own neighbourhoods. Alexandrias was just awful, the health inspection that failed there had to be the worst I've ever seen in Moncton. Mamas makes most of its money after hours on Fridays and Saturdays, every table is full and there is often lines out the door. I'm not sure how his club is not losing money though.

To me if you are going to pay the big rent downtown you need to bring something unique to the table or have a specific demographic you can count on to keep your business going. Nav's for example is not overly unique, but has always attracted a francophone crowd for whatever reason. I think an Arcade Bar that serves craft beer like they have in SJ would be a much better use for that spot, or inside the old keatings.

Totally agree with your comments, but I should have clarified. I think the DT area isn’t the best for a QSR biz where you’re NOT selling alcohol. Including MANY pizza biz who have went boobs up over the years.

We have nice Asian selection DT, which I love, but Asian is notoriously low in food cost which certainly helps overshadow the high cost of rent and property taxes. And let’s not forget about water and electricity.

But I still do agree with you , DT need more pubs, nightclubs, microbrews, etc. We need a draw DT. Places that attract people with disposable inc.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by Hubbub

But I still do agree with you , DT need more pubs, nightclubs, microbrews, etc. We need a draw DT. Places that attract people with disposable inc.

Pubs, nightclubs, and microbrews ensure that low-cost drunk food options like pizza remain viable. Pizza joints in urban areas do better at 2AM than 2PM, if you get what i'm saying.

Nobody goes to a DT to have a slice of pizza - people go to a DT to have a good time at a bar/club and get a slice of pizza after.

[Hubbub]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Pubs, nightclubs, and microbrews ensure that low-cost drunk food options like pizza remain viable. Pizza joints in urban areas do better at 2AM than 2PM, if you get what i'm saying.

Nobody goes to a DT to have a slice of pizza - people go to a DT to have a good time at a bar/club and get a slice of pizza after.

Agree with everything you said. But hard to run a pizza biz with a small window like that when we have very few pubs, with most that sell decent food. Catch 22 situation.

You want to capitalize on weekday lunch crowd which pizza just hasn’t done. Tough call but point being is that it’ll be a tough sell to find a franchisee for Pizza Girls with the bad pizza record DT and in that building. Re: Alexandrias and mouse poop on the counters

[Nashe]

I happened to drive down Botsford this morning (not my normal route to work) and saw a "coming soon" sign right about here:

Streetview

It was for a row of modern-looking townhomes.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by Vorkuta

I happened to drive down Botsford this morning (not my normal route to work) and saw a "coming soon" sign right about here:

Streetview

It was for a row of modern-looking townhomes.

There has been a sign there a few times over either with a grouping of townhomes "Comming soon, or For sale with aproved plans. But with all the development going on around the downtown it might be comming true finally.

[MonctonRad]

The vacant space between the Sobeys and the NBLC at Vaughan Harvey & Main is apparently under development.

Originally, this was supposed to be used as expansion space for the Sobeys to expand to a Sobeys Extra format. This format however has fallen on hard times, and the current rumour is that the space will instead be used for a new Dollarama.

How many Dollaramas would this be for Greater Moncton? How many does it take for market saturation FFS????

[drewber]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The vacant space between the Sobeys and the NBLC at Vaughan Harvey & Main is apparently under development.

Originally, this was supposed to be used as expansion space for the Sobeys to expand to a Sobeys Extra format. This format however has fallen on hard times, and the current rumour is that the space will instead be used for a new Dollarama.

How many Dollaramas would this be for Greater Moncton? How many does it take for market saturation FFS????

Honestly i've been to every dollarama in the city and they are all pretty packed. Dollarama has a good model with higher price points to come. I can see a location here doing well.

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Apparently Pizza Girls/Katch Seafood is definitely coming to this location. It will be run corporately until a local franchisee can be found.

http://archive.is/3xGO7 Link for anyone wanting to read the article

[PEI highway guy]

[QUOTE=drewber;8192117]Honestly i've been to every dollarama in the city and they are all pretty packed. Dollarama has a good model with higher price points to come. I can see a location here doing well.




ON PEI, every time a Dollarama opened it has been successful. Every one that has expanded their square footage has resulted in a noticeable increase in business.

[Ire Narissis]

Sometimes you just want cheap stuff!

And for those who have a strong sweet tooth, Dollarama honestly has one of the better candy selections among any store I've been to (barring specialty places like Freak Lunchbox, ofc).

[Monctoncore]

The only benefit to this is that it adds another store, within walking distance to homes and businesses. Having a grocery store, gym, dollarama, shoppers and possibly more within a short distance is attractive to people who are considering moving downtown..

[BlackYear]

I heard the old Moncton Curling Club entrance from Mt Road is going to be used for George Dumont Hospital parking. Not sure how much of it, or if they're going to demolish the existing condemned building and expand parking even more.

The expansion of both the north and south sides of George Dumont, which is getting close to completion, could be looking for more staff and visitor parking.

[MonctonRad]

Interesting article on the Castle Manor condo project (CBC)

A sneak peek inside Moncton's Castle Manor condos
Million-dollar condos to hit Moncton market soon as renovation project nears completion
Tori Weldon · CBC News · Posted: Jun 01, 2018 5:00 AM AT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/castle-manor-moncton-jay-tse-condo-million-1.4686020

[OUIR@random]

What a beautiful project, would love to live in place with so much character, love it. On the other hand, and hopefully I'm wrong but I think it will be difficult to find a buyer for $1.3 million for the Chapel unit! I don't know if Sotherby's can list around here, but they would be the kind of company for this type of unit I believe. This is not Toronto and with $1.3 million in our corner of the world you can build something quite extravagant on a large piece of land... And that's what people like around here.

[MonctonRad]

The price point is a concern, no question, but you will be situated in an iconic building in a unique living space which is the antithesis of a typical "cookie cutter condo". The building is also convenient to the GDH and close to the MHS redevelopment, Resurgo Place, The Centre Culturel Aberdeen and the Theatre l'Escouette. I think the neighbourhood will become increasingly trendy and Bohemian over the next couple of decades.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The price point is a concern, no question, but you will be situated in an iconic building in a unique living space which is the antithesis of a typical "cookie cutter condo". The building is also convenient to the GDH and close to the MHS redevelopment, Resurgo Place, The Centre Culturel Aberdeen and the Theatre l'Escouette. I think the neighbourhood will become increasingly trendy and Bohemian over the next couple of decades.

Can't forget most Condo's are not attached to a large green park.

The green space in front of Castle Manor was purchased by the city to avoid development, and is now a true park, and not just people claiming it is. Like after they cut the dead tree to save the few others.

[Scarface]

Mexi's is planning on staying open in Moncton, and in that honor they got a new sign. This one has orange lettering.

I still don't see a lot of people going in there to eat thought Specially since they are still conected (By people) to bad service, and food. Maybe they can figure out a way to fully revamp there old persona.

[Monctoncore]

Originally Posted by Scarface

Mexi's is planning on staying open in Moncton, and in that honor they got a new sign. This one has orange lettering.

I still don't see a lot of people going in there to eat thought Specially since they are still conected (By people) to bad service, and food. Maybe they can figure out a way to fully revamp there old persona.

Mexis in Moncton is very popular with the young crowd, they have specific drinks nights, margarita Monday’s, tequila tuesdays etc., they are doing much better than you can see.

[BlackYear]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The price point is a concern, no question, but you will be situated in an iconic building in a unique living space which is the antithesis of a typical "cookie cutter condo". The building is also convenient to the GDH and close to the MHS redevelopment, Resurgo Place, The Centre Culturel Aberdeen and the Theatre l'Escouette. I think the neighbourhood will become increasingly trendy and Bohemian over the next couple of decades.

Let's not forget, penthouse at FiveFive Queen is listed at $780,000.

Maybe some young high paying surgeon at George Dumont could see value in the Castle Manor penthouse...after their student loans are paid!