The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread - Page 671

SpongeG · #**13401** Posted **Jan 30, 2019, 11:14 PM**

yea, the suburbs have superstore and really can't compete with them. I go to the new safeway in Burquitlam regularly for prescriptions and sometimes the sale prices are ok but overall the prices are just way too much compared to RCSS and I am preferential to a number of things only carried in Loblaw stores.

Tetsuo · #**13402** Posted **Jan 31, 2019, 2:15 AM**

I'm still surprised we don't see more NoFrills in the region, especially in the burbs.

Last I heard was both NoFrills and Sobey's was looking into King's Crossing (a year ago)
NoFrills though Loblaw's would require someone wanting to franchise, and Sobey's Freshco to offset their store losses in Burnaby/New West, but I figured they would have announced something by now...

Conrad Yablonski · #**13403** Posted **Jan 31, 2019, 5:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tetsuo

I'm still surprised we don't see more NoFrills in the region, especially in the burbs...

From what I see No Frills isn't having an easy time of it-the 4th Ave store often has No Stock on advertised specials and despite the store being busy even at odd times there's a lassitude to the place-staffing issues are legion.

The East Indian cashiers & management of yore seem to have moved on to be replaced by Chinese who specialise in shouting in Mandarin to fellow employees who are right beside them and generally ignoring customers as much as possible to the point of just walking away from someone asking questions (maybe they trained at Safeway?)

officedweller · #**13404** Posted **Feb 1, 2019, 12:23 AM**

The No Frills are franchises, so each owner will tailor the stock to their preferences.
I like the 4th Ave store (Alfie's) better than the Broadway store (Joti's), but go to both, since the Broadway store is open til 11:00pm, while the 4th Ave. store closes at 9:00pm. The Broadway store is much bigger - it has a pharmacy, a lot of ethnic foods, and even had a big Kosher section over the holidays - and just finished an expensive reno so all the freezers are uprights with doors. The 4th Ave store doesn't have a lot of ethnic foods, is smaller and also did a reno which added an organics section, but not as extensive at Broadway's reno.

The Broadway store sells out much much faster than the 4th Ave store on "budget conscious" items (think items appealing to eastsiders) - selling out in the Saturday - and impose limits on purchases (i.e. one pork loin per family).

Kitsilano residents are not as price conscious as eastside residents, are picky wrt organics, etc. and there may be fewer families making bulk purchases, so stock of sale items (such a pork loins) will last the whole weekend (sales start on Friday). The customer base may also impact what sale items they bring in. I don't recall them bringing in the 10lb bags of beets that the Broadway store had, just the onions and potatoes (unless the beets sold out really fast). The 4th Ave. does not impose limits.

You will however, see fast sell-outs at the 4th Ave store of higher-end items like rib steaks, while those items go unsold at the Broadway store. If 4th Ave is sold out of Chapman's ice cream, it may be in stock at the Broadway store.

You'll often see either store clearing out promotional or discontinued stock. Last year the 4th Ave. store had the small portions of Tilapia on clearance for $0.25 each (they were a promo at $1.00 each (Kits residents may think it's a garbage fish)). Broadway cleared out smoked salmon really cheap and I picked up 4lb bags of frozen "cowboy steaks" (papain marinaded chuck steaks) (reg. $30) for $7.00 at the Broadway store.

whatnext · #**13405** Posted **Feb 4, 2019, 9:49 PM**

I see the decommissioned Esso site at Burrard and W.4th has Dilawri Auto Group hoarding around it now. Anyone know what dealership they're planning?

officedweller · #**13406** Posted **Feb 4, 2019, 11:46 PM**

See discussion in CF Pacific Centre thread about possible new Apple flagship on the rotunda site.

connect2source · #**13407** Posted **Feb 5, 2019, 1:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

See discussion in CF Pacific Centre thread about possible new Apple flagship on the rotunda site.

Here's a bit of information from Urban YVR. Really prefer this concept, retains some of the plaza and is far more attractive.

https://urbanyvr.com/possible-apple-downtown-vancouver-flagship-store

officedweller · #**13408** Posted **Feb 5, 2019, 9:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by connect2source

Here's a bit of information from Urban YVR. Really prefer this concept, retains some of the plaza and is far more attractive.

https://urbanyvr.com/possible-apple-downtown-vancouver-flagship-store

Interesting bit from that story:

Quote:

The Four Seasons brand is expected to move to another downtown Vancouver hotel building, with an announcement expected ahead of the January 2020 closure.

connect2source · #**13409** Posted **Feb 5, 2019, 10:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Interesting bit from that story:

Super-interesting, obviously an existing hotel, any guesses? The only hotels of the Four Seasons calibre would be Shangri-La, Trump or Fairmont Pacific Rim IMO.

rofina · #**13410** Posted **Feb 5, 2019, 10:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by connect2source

Super-interesting, obviously an existing hotel, any guesses? The only hotels of the Four Seasons calibre would be Shangri-La, Trump or Fairmont Pacific Rim IMO.

The way that's written insinuates that they would be taking naming rights on another property - somewhat surprising given the demand for hotel properties in Downtown.

Curious to hear more about this news.

SpongeG · #**13411** Posted **Feb 5, 2019, 11:12 PM**

what hotel brand will take over the four seasons after?

officedweller · #**13412** Posted **Feb 5, 2019, 11:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by connect2source

Super-interesting, obviously an existing hotel, any guesses? The only hotels of the Four Seasons calibre would be Shangri-La, Trump or Fairmont Pacific Rim IMO.

Agreed on those.
Possibly Sutton Place, too.
JW Marriott is too far from the CBD and too new.

jollyburger · #**13413** Posted **Feb 5, 2019, 11:20 PM**

Rosewood to a Four Seasons

officedweller · #**13414** Posted **Feb 5, 2019, 11:32 PM**

That would be interesting, as there aren't any hotel units in the tower - all in the heritage building.
I usually think modern aesthetic with them, but that's just because of the new Toronto tower.

osirisboy · #**13415** Posted **Feb 5, 2019, 11:40 PM**

My guess is trump

SpongeG · #**13416** Posted **Feb 5, 2019, 11:43 PM**

doesn't Fairmont have two hotels at the waterfront? Maybe they would convert one

connect2source · #**13417** Posted **Feb 5, 2019, 11:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

doesn't Fairmont have two hotels at the waterfront? Maybe they would convert one

Yeah but I feel the Rim is up to Four Seasons spec, the Waterfront would need a major overhaul.

Prometheus · #**13418** Posted **Feb 6, 2019, 12:16 AM**

Wasn't there a recent report that the Fairmont Pacific Rim could be sold soon? I definitely read that somewhere a few months ago. I forget where but it was a generally reputable source, like Business in Vancouver or somewhere like that.

whatnext · #**13419** Posted **Feb 6, 2019, 12:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by osirisboy

My guess is trump

That would be awesome!

Changing City · #**13420** Posted **Feb 6, 2019, 1:36 AM**

There's been speculation that the Four Seasons will move to the Fairmont Pacific Rim, including here, but I don't think anybody here has posted anything other than conjecture. Quite a few hotels have sold in the city recently, including the Rosewood Hotel Georgia and the Coast Coal Harbour, but I don't recall any suggestion that Westbank have sold the Pacific Rim (or are thinking of doing so). Anbang bought the Fairmont Vancouver Airport hotel through InnVest in 2016.