Canadian Retail Thread

[MTLskyline]

Apparently as of September 7 all remaining Dunkin Donuts franchises in Canada have been cut off and will no longer be allowed to use the Dunkin name in Canada.

Dunkin Donuts last 3 locations are all in the Montreal area: Wellington Street in Verdun, Place Versailles and Montenach Mall in Beloeil. Dunkin in Verdun has been rebranded as of yesterday to "Deli Donut"

[SpongeG]

Developing in a downturn: How retail spaces are expanding on the northeast Avalon

Building around community is key to success, local business owners say
Ryan Cooke · CBC News · Posted: Sep 04, 2018


Paradise Plaza is the latest shopping centre being constructed on the Avalon Peninsula — a $25-million venture. (Ryan Cooke/CBC)

At a glance from high ground, St. John's doesn't appear to be a city in the midst of a muddled economy.

Tall yellow cranes stretch towards the sky, turning steel beams into places to shop, eat and study. Dump trucks line the streets, carrying crushed rock to new ground for growing business.

From the downtown core to the wealthy east end and the inner-city neighbourhoods, multimillion-dollar deals are being struck to expand retail spaces in the province's capital.

If the economy is in a downturn, Vic Lawlor is chief among the developers who just don't care.

"Once the economy drops a bit, it becomes like a fire sale for everyone," he said. "It's a great development time because costs are usually down 20 or 30 per cent on the construction side."



...

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundl...iness-vic-lawlor-kelly-mansell-1.4806978

[yaletown_fella]

Is Simons still taking over the former Sears space at Scarborough Town Centre?

[Coldrsx]

Our new report on the Future of Retail in Downtown Edmonton.

http://www.edmontondowntown.com/uploads/source/Business_Reports/DBA_REPORT_web.pdf

[MTLskyline]

It appears that Krispy Kreme is opening a downtown Montreal location per its page. First new location in Quebec in probably 15 years, a period in which the Greenfield Park and Quebec City locations have managed to remain open despite financial trouble at Krispy Kreme.

According to the pinpoint on the map, it will be located at:
375 rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest Montreal QC H3B 1A4

This would put it near the Quartier des Spectacles. Should do a good business.

[Loco101]

Originally Posted by MTLskyline

It appears that Krispy Kreme is opening a downtown Montreal location per its page. First new location in Quebec in probably 15 years, a period in which the Greenfield Park and Quebec City locations have managed to remain open despite financial trouble at Krispy Kreme.

According to the pinpoint on the map, it will be located at:
375 rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest Montreal QC H3B 1A4

This would put it near the Quartier des Spectacles. Should do a good business.

What an odd thing to open in a city that has so many amazing bakeries and specialty food stores. I know that it's a big brand name but the menu is very limited and it's not a place where you can order a fast meal like Tim Hortons.

[SpongeG]

they are so goood. They have a good selection of drinks. Tim Hortons food is disgusting, they should have just stuck to donuts an coffee.

[zahav]

^^ I second that, their food is awful. Donuts are cheap and OK, but taste-wise Krispie Kreme is miles ahead. And of course indi bakeries etc.

[kwoldtimer]

I didn't realize that Krispy Kreme was still present in Canada. Have they always been here or are their stores a new attempt after they crashed a burned a number of years back?

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I didn't realize that Krispy Kreme was still present in Canada. Have they always been here or are their stores a new attempt after they crashed a burned a number of years back?

3 small Krispy Kreme stores downtown, and many grocery stores that resell Krispy Kreme products/donuts (not as fresh). Only one Krispy Kreme full service drive-thru in Mississauga though.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

3 small Krispy Kreme stores downtown, and many grocery stores that resell Krispy Kreme products/donuts (not as fresh). Only one Krispy Kreme full service drive-thru in Mississauga though.

Do they follow the same (U.S.) business model of pushing sales of boxes of doughnuts rather than the singles that Canadians often prefer? I beiieve that, along with prices, contributed to their downfall on the first go-round.

[SaskScraper]

From Donuts to Gyms...

Me and my husband have been looking for a gym and I was wondering what's SSPers favourite gyms in the Country. What do you feel is the best deal, taking into consideration, cost per month, membership fees, not having to pay for womens'-only-area gyms, location/locations else where to use when on vacation or traveling between residences etc.

One of the more popular gyms in the part of Saskatoon we live is Planet Fitness, there aren't many of their gyms in Canada, a vast majority of its gyms are in the USA were we travel to often. Planet Fitness gained a lot of popularity with being the gym used on 'The-Biggest-Loser' plus the gym has contributed a lot to anti-bullying campaigns & calling their gyms 'judgement-free-zones', allowing trans women to use women's locker room etc.



https://www.planetfitness.com/

Our most likely choice for gym in the neighbourhood is Snapfitness because they have lots of gyms the UK & one close by to us in London as well.



https://www.snapfitness.com/

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Do they follow the same (U.S.) business model of pushing sales of boxes of doughnuts rather than the singles that Canadians often prefer? I beiieve that, along with prices, contributed to their downfall on the first go-round.

Good question, I've only bought their usual 6 donuts in a box at a grocery chain, haven't been to their drive-thrus in years.

[kwoldtimer]

This past year, I've been using Fit4Less. It has zero amenities and no trainers or classes but, if you're content to do your own thing, the equipment is decent and it's hard to beat the price at $4.99 every two weeks.

Edit - in reply to SaskScraper, above.

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by SaskScraper

From Donuts to Gyms...

Me and my husband have been looking for a gym and I was wondering what's SSPers favourite gyms in the Country. What do you feel is the best deal, taking into consideration, cost per month, membership fees, not having to pay for womens'-only-area gyms, location/locations else where to use when on vacation or traveling between residences etc.

One of the more popular gyms in the part of Saskatoon we live is Planet Fitness, there aren't many of their gyms in Canada, a vast majority of its gyms are in the USA were we travel to often. Planet Fitness gained a lot of popularity with being the gym used on 'The-Biggest-Loser' plus the gym has contributed a lot to anti-bullying campaigns & calling their gyms 'judgement-free-zones', allowing trans women to use women's locker room etc.



https://www.planetfitness.com/

Our most likely choice for gym in the neighbourhood is Snapfitness because they have lots of gyms the UK & one close by to us in London as well.



https://www.snapfitness.com/

I'm more of a home gym guy due to a very particular fitness routine, but Goodlife Fitness was a pretty good all-around gym (for those into weights, aerobics, yoga and the like) I've used in the past, only bad thing about them was they weren't 24-hours back then.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I didn't realize that Krispy Kreme was still present in Canada. Have they always been here or are their stores a new attempt after they crashed a burned a number of years back?

There is one in Greater Vancouver, there were plans for more but that never happened. The BC Krispy Kreme was and is a separate operation from the other ones that were in Canada. BC is under the company that has the rights for Washington State and Alaska. They really could be doing more, like selling the donuts in other stores downtown etc. It's really a pain to get to, which is probably a good thing.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by SaskScraper

Me and my husband have been looking for a gym and I was wondering what's SSPers favourite gyms in the Country. What do you feel is the best deal, taking into consideration, cost per month, membership fees, not having to pay for womens'-only-area gyms, location/locations else where to use when on vacation or traveling between residences etc.

I have a nationwide membership with GoodLife. Good for any location in Canada (and any Energie Cardio in Quebec). $56/mo.

I can get to one pretty easily in most places in Eastern Canada. Not sure on their availability out west. Pretty great if you're traveling around.

[someone123]

Businesses have started to open in a new development called the Doyle Block on Spring Garden Road in Halifax. The stores are interesting in that they include a couple of retailers that are new to the city (not Lululemon; that store moved from across the street) or to Canada that chose to open first in an urban storefront rather than a suburban mall.

Some photos:





More: https://twitter.com/westwoodhfx

This is increasingly common in downtown Halifax but it was pretty much unheard of 15 years ago. One of the problems that landlords and developers spoke about was the lack of larger modern retail spaces in desirable areas. Apple considered opening on Spring Garden Road, for example, but there was nothing suitable. In the past the approval times for developments downtown were also so long that it was impractical for a new retailer to come to the city and build a custom building.

There is an upscale mall in Halifax that attracts stores like Coach which I guess are more upmarket than the Lululemons and Urban Outfitters. Halifax doesn't yet have downtown retailers similar to what you find on Bloor Street in Toronto or around Alberni Street in Vancouver, but some of those stores do open in suburban malls. Maybe someday they'll go downtown too. Downtown Halifax is unlikely to get flagship stores selling $15,000 vanity items to global kleptocrats but maybe there will be more $2,000 hangbags on offer.

There was a rumour about Simons opening in downtown Halifax but I think they will probably open a suburban location (in a former Sears). Maybe the Roy building is big enough for Simons? Or the new Green Lantern? We'll see.

[SaskScraper]

Originally Posted by JHikka

I have a nationwide membership with GoodLife. Good for any location in Canada (and any Energie Cardio in Quebec). $56/mo.

I can get to one pretty easily in most places in Eastern Canada. Not sure on their availability out west. Pretty great if you're traveling around.

thanks for the advice all,
i'll look into fitness4less, I also do like 24/7 so leaning toward the local Snapfitness in Saskatoon.

I tried a complimentary 1 week free at one of the Goodlife gyms in Saskatoon and even though it had a lot of choice on equipment & wasn't busy, I found it not very good for travelling to other countries like US and the UK, I believe Goodlife is only in Canada. Also there seem to be a lot of Women-Only Goodlife gyms so I'd find it frustrating finding a GoodLife I want to work out at and end up being turned away because i'm not the right sex.

[EDIT]...also just reading some criticism and controversial media about Goodlife:

Controversy over Misleading Ads
In 2005, a federal Competition Bureau investigation found that GoodLife Fitness clubs had published misleading ads. In a settlement, Goodlife Fitness published a corrective notice in newspapers throughout central Canada and on its website, paying a $75,000 penalty and agreeing not to make false/misleading representations in future marketing.

Great Big Gym Ripoff Survey
In January 2011, GoodLife Fitness came in second place in the CBC Big Gym Ripoff survey ranking gyms with the most problems with over-billing and cancellations.

Controversy over Sales Tactics
In January 2011, GoodLife Fitness was caught in a media-backlash, after one customer who was attempting to cancel his membership was roughed-up by security guards at its Rideau Centre location; And after another, at its Orleans location, was chastised and banned for chatting about the benefits of other fitness clubs. The incidents drew attention to strong armed-sales tactics reported by employees and clients.

Controversy over Telemarketing Practices
In 2011, GoodLife Fitness was fined $300,000 for illegally using automated calling devices, known as robocalls, to contact its members, without their prior consent, to advertise the opening of a new club . As part of a settlement with the CRTC, Goodlife Fitness published notices about the violation in newspapers and on its website.

Class Action over Compensation Practices
In October 2016, a class action lawsuit was launched against Goodlife Fitness alleging that it had failed to pay certain employees of its Ontario gyms some of the wages they were owed under Ontario law. The members of the proposed class would have included all non-managerial employees for a period beginning October 14, 2014. In July 2018, the court approved a $7.5 million settlement of the proposed class action.

after reading, nope, not the gym for me

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GoodLife_Fitness

[kwoldtimer]

To note that Fit4Less is owned by Goodlife.