The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[svlt]

Originally Posted by logan5

If Vin likes what's happening on Robson, you know it has gone completely to shit.

With the type of retail that now dominates Robson, it functions as an outdoor annex of Pacific Centre. I look to streets like East Pender in Chinatown to pick up the slack in the coming years. Great spaces for a more diverse and interesting retail street.

Pender in Chinatown has some cool shops and eateries now already that stand out on its own merit but sadly the Robson street of what I grew up with 20 years ago - a solid mix of of both chain commercial with independent storefronts and dense local and tourist foot traffic - just can't be replaced at that location

[osirisboy]

Huh? I was first on robson early 2001 and I don't remember any more independent stores than what's there now. Also I was there today and it was full of people not to mention a fair amount of construction and a number of renovations taking place. You make it sound like robson is dead

[Vin]

Originally Posted by logan5

If Vin likes what's happening on Robson, you know it has gone completely to shit.

With the type of retail that now dominates Robson, it functions as an outdoor annex of Pacific Centre. I look to streets like East Pender in Chinatown to pick up the slack in the coming years. Great spaces for a more diverse and interesting retail street.

I guess you rather have empty stores. Robson has already gone completely to shit for quite a while now, and will continue to be so if the current status quo remains.

At least East Pender has solid historic buildings to house retail, although the area is always a mess due to the proximity to E. Hastings. On the flip side, there will always be cheaper rent, albeit with dwindling foot traffic.

[SpongeG]

I thought this was interesting. You know those Yogibo shops that pop up in malls in recently empty stores. I saw one of them in a shopping place in Tokyo. Exactly the same. Not just a Canadian thing.

[RDW989]

Originally Posted by connect2source

The CRU across the street in Robson Centre Place has had that 'leased' sign up for over a year, I doubt if it's actually leased as nothing's happened with it. Had long thought the two spaces ( former A/X and BCBG ) combined, would work well for Uniqlo.

There is a lot of work going on at both units
My pix, July 3 at 1070 Robson (formerly AX Armani Exchange), where the leased sign has been up for months.
[IMG]1070Robson0719 by RDW989, on Flickr[/IMG]

At 1080, the adjacent unit with the For Lease still still on the widow, another crew is busy at work

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The Sqwabb blog says this will be the new RBC to replace the one on the corner of Granville & Broadway.

https://sqwabb.wordpress.com/2019/06/27/...ch-you-can-probably-to-bank-on/#comments

Originally Posted by bluefox

The renovations make it too open concept for a bank IMO, and I see the blogger touches on that. There's also no guarantee the old HSBC vault (which would contain said safety deposit boxes, while the sources in the post keep implying these two things are separate) was even in good enough shape to keep. Not to mention would it be up to RBC's standards - especially when pouring all this money into improvements just to keep an old vault of questionable condition. Sometimes the security in an older vault is also not up to snuff and it can cost a pretty penny for vaults to be re-locked with different keys, codes and whatnot. Might have been cheaper to rip out and replace.

Relocating somewhere in South Granville makes sense given the competition is still strong - all big 5 banks within 3 blocks plus HSBC and a credit union.

We shall see.

This location is temporary for RBC. They will move back to Broadway/Granville.

Ron.

[sqwabb]

Originally Posted by NewfBC

This location is temporary for RBC. They will move back to Broadway/Granville.

Ron.

Blueprints for the redevelopment of 1489 West Broadway show space for the RBC Bank on the Granville-facing main floor:

https://sqwabb.wordpress.com/2019/06/29/...bway-station-in-new-west-broadway-tower/

[Retail-Insider]

UrbanYVR just published a terrific article on the transformation of Royal Centre at Burrard and W. Georgia St., which is proposed to be rebranded 'Royal Bank Place':

https://urbanyvr.com/facelift-on-the-way-for-aging-royal-centre-at-west-georgia-burrard

What's interesting is according to the plans, Royal Bank itself will occupy the street level corner space. With Dior at one corner of the intersection and Hermes set to open on another, some were speculating that the redeveloped Royal Centre would include space for more luxury stores. It appears less than likely now, at least according to renderings in the report in the above link.

Is this a missed opportunity for a downtown luxury shopping centre? Sources are telling us Chanel and Brunello Cucinelli want larger downtown stores in Vancouver (Chanel's sales numbers at Holts are so high it's almost unbelievable), and brands such as Balenciaga, Balmain and Celine also want standalone units in the area.

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by Retail-Insider

UrbanYVR just published a terrific article on the transformation of Bentall Centre at Burrard and W. Georgia St., which is proposed to be rebranded 'Royal Bank Place':

https://urbanyvr.com/facelift-on-the-way-for-aging-royal-centre-at-west-georgia-burrard

What's interesting is according to the plans, Royal Bank itself will occupy the corner space. With Dior at one corner of the intersection and Hermes set to open on another, some were speculating that the redeveloped Bentall Centre would include space more luxury stores. It appears less than likely now, at least according to the report in the above link.

Is this a missed opportunity for a downtown luxury shopping centre? Sources are telling us Chanel and Brunello Cucinelli want larger downtown stores in Vancouver, and brands such as Balenciaga, Balmain and Celine also want standalone units in the area.

Another piece on this development..
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1025-105...cY5mz5CQBULmaN5MC1ArqzhJ5wex246pWRC9XyRw

Ron.

[Prometheus]

That is so lame and cheap. Incomprehensible, really, for such a high profile location (or any location within downtown, for that matter). Big letdown for Vancouver, if this comes to fruition as depicted in the above proposal.

[jollyburger]

Interesting that they have blue "T" transit signs outside the new plaza building.

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Interesting that they have blue "T" transit signs outside the new plaza building.

That's the entrance for the new subway to the North Shore!

.. not... they mention a new entrance for Burrard Station on W. Georgia.

Ron.

[SpongeG]

it already basically exists, there is a set of stair you can use that take you to George Street from Royal Centre. I used to always use the entrance between McDonalds and Tim Hortons on Burrard to get to the station. Probably took longer but felt more big city like that way.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by Retail-Insider

(apologies for the incorrect title in this post, I confused the centre names for a moment and you can't edit titles on this platform for some reason)

After clicking on "edit" then click on "go advanced" and you should be able to edit the title.

[rofina]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

That is so lame and cheap. Incomprehensible, really, for such a high profile location (or any location within downtown, for that matter). Big letdown for Vancouver, if this comes to fruition as depicted in the above proposal.

This is reminiscent of the proposal for the round atrium rebuild at PC. Before the Apple store proposal.

Huge improvmenet from whats currently there, but a missed opportunity for such a prominent corner.

You have Hermes across the way, luxury retail and accommodations at Hotel Vancouver, and now a suburban looking podium lifted straight from Coquiltam Centre or something.

Kind of an odd choice.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

That is so lame and cheap. Incomprehensible, really, for such a high profile location (or any location within downtown, for that matter). Big letdown for Vancouver, if this comes to fruition as depicted in the above proposal.

I think that with many major new projects, the first renders are somewhat arbitrary.
I also do not like the glassy suburban-looking box placed on what is now the Royal Centre banking hall, and I think we're blowing a great opportunity.
The architects (Musson, Cattell, Mackey, unless I'm wrong) could be contacted somehow, and asked to redo it in a more classical, formal manner germaine to the CBD
Also, as it is not yet anything but a proposal, time can change things, (maybe even the beloved UDP will agree) and request it changed into something more attractive and retail-friendly.
This might be considered whistling in the dark and nothing more ... or ... if outside pressure is applied from city groups, major and necessary improvements could be implemented.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by rofina

This is reminiscent of the proposal for the round atrium rebuild at PC. Before the Apple store proposal.

Huge improvmenet from whats currently there, but a missed opportunity for such a prominent corner.

You have Hermes across the way, luxury retail and accommodations at Hotel Vancouver, and now a suburban looking podium lifted straight from Coquiltam Centre or something.

Kind of an odd choice.

WRT the PC comment - that's what I thought too (posted in the Downtown thread).

Also agreed that the look of the office block is suburban.

[SpongeG]

who would vote for this?


tokyoing.net

this is the staircase/escalator entrance

kikukawa.com

or this?


livingnomads.com

[officedweller]

Top one is too residential / neighbourhood-ish.
Second one has vertical folds that would clash with Royal Centre's horizontal banding, but the massing and colour of glazing are nice..

[SpongeG]

I personally like the proposal as is.

Anyway some job postings of new stores for the outlet mall at the airport.

Michael Hill
Jimmy Choo
Sterling Jewelers
The North Face
Old Navy
Adidas
Signet Jewelers
All Saints