Winnipeg Retail

[horrorbro123]

Also Bonlook is Coming To Polo Park

[buzzg]

Does anyone else find it funny that all the luxury car dealerships are moving to be near the outlet mall?

[buzzg]

Also just have to mention, the new Lululemon at Polo reopened and it’s a serious downgrade IMO. Looks like it wasn’t modelled after Off 5th lol.

[AccordTR]

Originally Posted by buzzg

Does anyone else find it funny that all the luxury car dealerships are moving to be near the outlet mall?

New Genesis dealership is going there too.

[buzzg]

^Yeah.

Side note, Mac's on Osborne has gone through the conversion to Circle K. I like the sign – looks super retro. Clearly they want to try and go after 7-Eleven better with this rebrand.

[Gm0ney]

Originally Posted by buzzg

Does anyone else find it funny that all the luxury car dealerships are moving to be near the outlet mall?

Audi's already there. Mercedes-Benz is not far south of there. Genesis is coming. All the lux brands are congregating on Kenaston.

[Pinus]

Originally Posted by buzzg

^Yeah.

Side note, Mac's on Osborne has gone through the conversion to Circle K. I like the sign – looks super retro. Clearly they want to try and go after 7-Eleven better with this rebrand.

It really is a shame that yet another uniquely Canadian brand is transformed into an American one.

The Americanization of Canada continues.

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by Pinus

It really is a shame that yet another uniquely Canadian brand is transformed into an American one.

The Americanization of Canada continues.

Americanization of Canada by Circle-K’s Canadian ownership?

[Pinus]

Originally Posted by cheswick

Americanization of Canada by Circle-K’s Canadian ownership?

It's a well known American brand worldwide, based in the United States. Regardless of being a subsidiary of a Canadian company here in Canada, it doesn't detract from us losing another unique Canadian brand.

[AccordTR]

Originally Posted by Pinus

It's a well known American brand worldwide, based in the United States. Regardless of being a subsidiary of a Canadian company here in Canada, it doesn't detract from us losing another unique Canadian brand.

Definitely wouldn’t agree with that. This a success story of a Canadian company buying and saving an American company. Circle K is now a Canadian company world wide.

[Pinus]

Originally Posted by AccordTR

Definitely wouldn’t agree with that. This a success story of a Canadian company buying and saving an American company. Circle K is now a Canadian company world wide.

Circle-K stll has it's headquarters listed as being in El Paso, Texas, United States.

[Riverman]

Hating the USA is a strong communist value. Go Lenin and Marx!

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by AccordTR

Definitely wouldn’t agree with that. This a success story of a Canadian company buying and saving an American company. Circle K is now a Canadian company world wide.

I agree – and we did have CK here years ago.

The big reason I think it’s a good move is Mac’s had zero value in their brand here. Was always seen as a second rate 7-11. Sure you go there likely if it’s the closer one, but in terms of brand value, doesn’t hold a candle to Sev. It was an English renaming of a French company essentially.

Changing to CK will allow them to level up a little closer to 7-11, which is dominant here. It’s a smart move.

[bomberjet]

I've always thought the name sucks. Circle K?

Mac's is nostalgic for most people. I frequented Mac's as a kid, so yes it's sad to see the name go.

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by buzzg

I agree – and we did have CK here years ago.

The big reason I think it’s a good move is Mac’s had zero value in their brand here. Was always seen as a second rate 7-11. Sure you go there likely if it’s the closer one, but in terms of brand value, doesn’t hold a candle to Sev. It was an English renaming of a French company essentially.

Changing to CK will allow them to level up a little closer to 7-11, which is dominant here. It’s a smart move.

No it wasn't. The name Mac's predates any Quebec ownership and was from the original founders in the 60's. The only Quebec branding influence was the logo and colours. Prior to Couche-Tard buying them out, it was a yellow and red scheme with a cat logo, in the late 90's when they were bought out, they switched to the couch-tard owl and blue and red colours. Couche-tard literally means goes to bed late, the English equivalent would be night owl.

Couche-Tarde is a complete success story. It's one of Canada's largest companies and operates Circle-K's around the world.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

I've always thought the name sucks. Circle K?

Mac's is nostalgic for most people. I frequented Mac's as a kid, so yes it's sad to see the name go.

That picture kind of encapsulates how I felt about Mac's, it was where you went for junk food, comic books and whatever else when there was no 7-Eleven around.

Incidentally, there was an interesting look back at Mac's in Winnipeg on everyone's favourite local history blog, West End Dumplings: http://westenddumplings.blogspot.com...macs-milk.html

[ywgwalk]

Originally Posted by esquire

That picture kind of encapsulates how I felt about Mac's, it was where you went for junk food, comic books and whatever else when there was no 7-Eleven around.

Depending on what you grew up with, for many it's the other way around. Also, Frosters are better than Slurpees.

With that said, I'm good with the Circle K brand despite it being from the US. I would have rather had Couche-Tard as the brand worldwide, but I can understand wanting to go with the (already) largest available brand.

[esquire]

^ Circle K is an American brand but it reminds me more of Asia than anything else... in certain Asian locales, they're everywhere.

[The Unknown Poster]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

I've always thought the name sucks. Circle K?

Mac's is nostalgic for most people. I frequented Mac's as a kid, so yes it's sad to see the name go.

Im not overly emotional about it. But I feel somewhat the same. We had a 7/11 near us in South Winnipeg (since closed) and it was THE hang out for local kids (the only other option was Adam's Variety on Markham).

Then Mac's Chancellor opened and it was a game changer. I recall the older kids like my brother telling us younger kids that Mac's sucked and Sev was the place. But we frequented Mac's more often, especially as they seemed to always have better arcade games.

The local Mac's suffered under local ownership and was pretty dirty and grungy. Didnt go there very often. Reverted to Sev for the Slurpees. But in recent years, reverted back to Mac's as their slurpees always seem better (not sure why).

Plus, oddly, they closed the nearby Sev, although there are three between McGill and Fort Richmond. But when in need of a slurpee, Ill go out of my way to visit Mac's. Sev intrigued me with their newer food options in recent years though. Mac's, no such thing. But the renos have brightened them up.

St Norbert switched to Circle K. Chancellor Mac's did minor renos to brighten up but hasnt switched yet.

[morty]

Originally Posted by The Unknown Poster

Im not overly emotional about it. But I feel somewhat the same. We had a 7/11 near us in South Winnipeg (since closed) and it was THE hang out for local kids (the only other option was Adam's Variety on Markham).

Then Mac's Chancellor opened and it was a game changer. I recall the older kids like my brother telling us younger kids that Mac's sucked and Sev was the place. But we frequented Mac's more often, especially as they seemed to always have better arcade games.

The local Mac's suffered under local ownership and was pretty dirty and grungy. Didnt go there very often. Reverted to Sev for the Slurpees. But in recent years, reverted back to Mac's as their slurpees always seem better (not sure why).

Plus, oddly, they closed the nearby Sev, although there are three between McGill and Fort Richmond. But when in need of a slurpee, Ill go out of my way to visit Mac's. Sev intrigued me with their newer food options in recent years though. Mac's, no such thing. But the renos have brightened them up.

St Norbert switched to Circle K. Chancellor Mac's did minor renos to brighten up but hasnt switched yet.

Where was the now-closed Sev? I vaguely remember one near the university, but can't remember where it was.