[Moncton] Retail Thread

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The Shell/Tim Horton's combo in the Caledonia Industrial Park on the NE corner of the TCH/Harrisville Blvd interchange is being expanded into a proper truck stop. The new Wendy's is going in here.

I don't believe it'll be a standalone Wendy's, more a Wendy's kiosk within the truck stop building, like the A&W in the Petro Canada truck stop at Magnetic Hill.

When this was first floating around I will say Like most I thought they might pull a Tims, at Salisbury big stop. But this would make a lot more sense.

[MonctonRad]

There is a lot of chatter suddenly over on Retail Talk & Share about potential big changes at CF Champlain:

The rumour is that H&M will be downsizing, and giving up a portion of their space to allow for construction of a mall based Old Navy store. The rumour is that this will not be a replacement for the current Wheeler Park store, but a second Old Navy store for the metro area.

If this happens, it is possible that EB Games and Regis Hair Salon might relocate to allow for the spaces to become consolidated.

This is an interesting rumour which is plausible (i.e. - similar to what is happening in Regent Mall in Freddy, but in Freddy, H&M completely closed down to be replaced by Old Navy).) At present, there is no corroborating evidence. We will have to keep an eye on this one over the next few months........

[L'homard]

I saw this on a Facebook page posted by Serge Comeau, franchising manager.

Good afternoon Moncton if you or anyone you know is interested in owning a great steakhouse..we have just the one for you! We are currently looking for investors interested in opening a BR in the Dieppe/Moncton region. If you have any interest in this opportunity please reach me at [email protected] Thanks

[MonctonRad]

Good find!!

1) - This shows that Baton Rouge thinks Moncton is big enough to support one of their fine steak houses.
2) - The assumption has been that Corey Craig might be interested in Baton Rouge for the new "nationally branded restaurant" in the Hyatt Place Hotel under construction. If Baton Rouge however is looking for a local franchisee, this therefore must mean that there are no current talks with Corey Craig. Does this therefore mean that the branded restaurant going into the Hyatt Place will be IHOP?? We know for a fact that IHOP is partnering with Corey Craig for their new Moncton location (wherever that is)........

[MonctonRad]

Interesting article about the travails currently ongoing for the Swedish multinational H&M, explaining the recent closure of their Fredericton store, and likely responsible for the current rumours about their Champlain Place location.

H&M to shutter 160 stores amid profit slump
https://www.retaildive.com/news/hm-to-sh...qvRQzsHw3gzS-vYJ7GTtTNNYpo42nUtwuCNP8ZR4

This reduction of store count is worldwide (and not just in Canada), so the situation is not as dire as it sounds. It would appear that the chain is simply "rightsizing" and adjusting their portfolio.

This quotation from the article is interesting:

That will mean some 160 store closures this year, with an "option to renegotiate almost 1,000 store contracts," the company said in its full-year report presentation.

I've always thought the CF Champlain store was awfully large. Could it be that H&M might renegotiate their lease with Cadillac Fairview for a smaller footprint? This might align with the current rumours that Old Navy might take over a portion of their space.

We should know more within the next few months.........

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Good find!!

1) - This shows that Baton Rouge thinks Moncton is big enough to support one of their fine steak houses.
2) - The assumption has been that Corey Craig might be interested in Baton Rouge for the new "nationally branded restaurant" in the Hyatt Place Hotel under construction. If Baton Rouge however is looking for a local franchisee, this therefore must mean that there are no current talks with Corey Craig. Does this therefore mean that the branded restaurant going into the Hyatt Place will be IHOP?? We know for a fact that IHOP is partnering with Corey Craig for their new Moncton location (wherever that is)........

Could IHOP be the restaurant they are building by Home Depot?

Could Jack Astor’s or Milestones be the restaurant planned in the Hyatt Place Hotel. They have links to the city having being originally rumoured to be by the Holiday Inn by the TCH.

[lirette]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

Could IHOP be the restaurant they are building by Home Depot?

Could Jack Astor’s or Milestones be the restaurant planned in the Hyatt Place Hotel. They have links to the city having being originally rumoured to be by the Holiday Inn by the TCH.

I would be so much more satisfied with either of those options in the Hyatt. I'd really hope Hyatt can do better than a place that serves "liquid egg product" and is considered to be a breakfast specialty place. To me IHOP is just low quality food served at a higher price than Denny's. Reading a large sampling of reviews from other Canadian IHOP locations more than confirms that for me.

If there's some way the place can handle having an IHOP & one of those 2 then have at it.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

Could IHOP be the restaurant they are building by Home Depot?

Could Jack Astor’s or Milestones be the restaurant planned in the Hyatt Place Hotel. They have links to the city having being originally rumoured to be by the Holiday Inn by the TCH.

Well, lets look at new restaurants soon to open or rumoured to be coming to the greater Moncton area:

1) - Gahan House Restaurant & Brewery - (confirmed), will be located in FiveFive Queen and will feature a 160-seat dining room, seasonal 60-seat patio and six-barrel DME brewing system.
2) - Applewood Smoked BBQ Restaurant - (confirmed), will be located in the former Keating's Tobacco on Main Street. Specialties will be smoked BBQ (not surprisingly) and Hawaiian poke.
3) - International House of Pancakes (IHOP) - (confirmed), location uncertain but the Moncton location is being planned with the help of Corey Craig, who are also building the Hyatt Place Hotel downtown, and it is known that there will be a "nationally branded restaurant" within the hotel. It is therefore a reasonable presumption that IHOP will be located at the Hyatt Place.
4) - Milestone's - (rumoured), Recipe Unlimited Corporation (formerly Cara Foods) was actively looking for a local franchisee several years ago. Subsequent to this a new development was planned at the TCH/Mapleton intersection containing a Holiday Inn Express and a side by side restaurant complex, the renders of which showing one component looking suspiciously like a Milestones. The hotel was built, but not the restaurant complex. At present, a new pad is currently under construction in the Home Depot parking lot, not far from Montana's and St. Hubert. Several sources have confirmed this pad will be another restaurant, with two sources in the construction industry specifically mentioning Milestones. This rumour seems very likely.
5) - Jack Astor's - (rumoured), the weakest rumour of all, but this was the presumed second restaurant in that two restaurant complex that was to have been built next to the Holiday Inn Express. Recently staff of one of the Jack Astor's in Halifax were quoted as saying that the chain had "purchased land" in greater Moncton. This evidence is pretty weak.
6) - Denny's - (rumoured), this rumour falls in the category of "wishful thinking" more than anything else. There is no evidence that Denny's is interested in Moncton other than the fact that there is now a Denny's in St. John's and there will soon be a Denny's in Halifax, both associated with Sandman Hotels. The Granite Centre has been floated as a potential location.
7) - Baton Rouge - (rumoured), is pretty much at the same state now as the Milestone's rumour was several years ago, i.e. the chain is interested in locating in Moncton, and is actively looking for a local franchisee, but is likely at least several years away from actually opening one of their restaurants. This is too bad. I personally think Baton Rouge would be a natural fit for the Hyatt Place hotel. In any event, there will be further development in the Avenir Centre neighbourhood, and I could see Baton Rouge being courted to be included as a signature street front component of one of these rumoured developments.

In any event, all the activity on the restaurant scene in Moncton at the present time is truly remarkable, and combined with the recently opened Kelsey's at Wheeler Park must be providing some anticipated challenges to current operators.

[expansiontime]

Any news on how well the concessions are doing at the Avenir Center? I know we had heard that prices were too inflated. What about a place like Gojii's that serve cold products in a rink? Any ideas on if this is working?

[habs33]

Not sure about the rest but every time i've gone for a game, the line is long for Goji's

Originally Posted by expansiontime

Any news on how well the concessions are doing at the Avenir Center? I know we had heard that prices were too inflated. What about a place like Gojii's that serve cold products in a rink? Any ideas on if this is working?

[MonctonRad]

I think Goji's (and Timmies) are doing just fine.

As for the other concessions they seem reasonably busy (except for perhaps the wine bar).

I did notice that the "Grab & Go" closed about two weeks ago. I'm not sure what's up with that.......

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by lirette

I would be so much more satisfied with either of those options in the Hyatt. I'd really hope Hyatt can do better than a place that serves "liquid egg product" and is considered to be a breakfast specialty place. To me IHOP is just low quality food served at a higher price than Denny's. Reading a large sampling of reviews from other Canadian IHOP locations more than confirms that for me.
.

Anyone else ever notice that a lot of these "legendary" (sorta) American chains often aren't nearly as good at their Canadian locations than they seem to be down in the U.S.?

If people agree, is there a possible explanation for this?

It could just be that when we're down there we are generally on holidays so in a different frame of mind?

Or something else?

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Anyone else ever notice that a lot of these "legendary" (sorta) American chains often aren't nearly as good at their Canadian locations than they seem to be down in the U.S.?

If people agree, is there a possible explanation for this?

It could just be that when we're down there we are generally on holidays so in a different frame of mind?

Cost of ingredients is probably a lot higher in Canada, so compromises need to be made.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Anyone else ever notice that a lot of these "legendary" (sorta) American chains often aren't nearly as good at their Canadian locations than they seem to be down in the U.S.?

If people agree, is there a possible explanation for this?

It could just be that when we're down there we are generally on holidays so in a different frame of mind?

Or something else?

Grass is always greener.........

[Taeolas]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Anyone else ever notice that a lot of these "legendary" (sorta) American chains often aren't nearly as good at their Canadian locations than they seem to be down in the U.S.?

If people agree, is there a possible explanation for this?

It could just be that when we're down there we are generally on holidays so in a different frame of mind?

Or something else?

Different ingredients; Health Canada has different regulations on what can be in the food compared to the States, so the recipes and supplies are different. (Think of things like how caffeine can only be in colas in Canada; so the Sprites and similar drinks naturally do NOT have caffeine up here whereas some the US pops can. Or the Sugar cane vs Corn syrup use).

Plus, for whatever reasons, I've noticed the US chains don't usually bring the full menu up to Canada. Or rather the Canadian chain decides NOT to bring up the full US menu. Taco Bell and KFC are especially bad for that; the Canadian menu is a mere shadow of what the US restaurants can offer. It may be costs, or health regulations. But I suspect it can as often be because the Canadian chain owners are just stingy and less eager to shake things up and expand the menus across the country.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Grass is always greener.........

I dunno.

I can assure that I don't generally think that food is always better in the U.S. Au contraire most of the time in fact.

But some of these breakfast chains in particular just for example have the most awesome pancakes when you have them down there, but in Canada it seems like they're just *OK*.

It could be a question of the availability and cost of ingredients, as another poster said.

OTOH I do find Subway is better in Canada than it is in the U.S., mainly because in Canada they actually have *real* cheeses like cheddar, etc. as opposed to the Frankenstein's monster they call "American cheese".

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Acajack

OTOH I do find Subway is better in Canada than it is in the U.S., mainly because in Canada they actually have *real* cheeses like cheddar, etc. as opposed to the Frankenstein's monster they call "American cheese".

I've always thought Canada has one foot in Europe and the other in America. Since we have at least some European sensibilities, we tend to understand cheese a little better than our American cousins.

Speaking of cheese, I've been noticing recently that with our new larger Costco in the city, that they have expanded their selection of cheeses, especially with some outstanding Scottish and Welsh varieties. I am most pleased.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I've always thought Canada has one foot in Europe and the other in America. Since we have at least some European sensibilities, we tend to understand cheese a little better than our American cousins.

Speaking of cheese, I've been noticing recently that with our new larger Costco in the city, that they have expanded their selection of cheeses, especially with some outstanding Scottish and Welsh varieties. I am most pleased.

The UK makes cheese other than cheddar?

[lirette]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I think Goji's (and Timmies) are doing just fine.

As for the other concessions they seem reasonably busy (except for perhaps the wine bar).

I did notice that the "Grab & Go" closed about two weeks ago. I'm not sure what's up with that.......

I think there's something better they could do with that space..not sure what though. Seems like a waste to have that setup just to sell fruit cups and chips when you could do that in the mezzanine area or even at any of the other vendor stations which are not super busy anyways.

A local franchise like Pita Pit or Guacamole would be a nice fit in there, room to handle the lineups and have stations setup with all the different make your own wraps/pitas. Although they do sell a couple wraps (donairs & schwarma) at one of the stations.

Honestly my biggest complaint is still the beer prices. If i need to pay 10 bucks for food because I didn't have time to make some at home so be it, and the popcorn prices are fair...but when you crave a good beer with your event I feel robbed dropping $10. I've maybe bought 6 craft beer all season. If they could get the price down to $7 I'd be happy to buy 2 some nights. Probably not much hope if they haven't changed it by now.

[Scarface]

When The NAFTA talks where on. Quality control was one of the points they brought up for not wanting US products as they tend to be of lower quality compared to there Canadian counterparts. Not sure if it's reality, or just talks.