The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[Vin]

Originally Posted by casper

"Flawed" commercial that lacks foot traffic is not a problem, in many ways we need more of it. That space get absorbed by small business that just does not foot traffic. It gets used us a office space, industrial storage or workshops. With the growth of take-out delivery apps we should start to see "dark kitchens" pop up more and more.

Honestly we just have a lack of low cost commercial space. We need more of it and at lower cost. The per sq foot rental rate of commercial (retail or office) is insane when compared to say residential.

That's what I mean, when you create more commercial and retail zone in a node, it will naturally bring more people to the area. Our traditional way of putting retail is along a long street, and that model is only good for shoppers in cars who can keep driving down the street. It does not work in our cities right now due to lack of and more expensive parking, as well as more people who walk and take the transit to shop. Therefore we need to rezone lanes, and parallel streets to be shopping and retail streets as well, especially in neighbourhoods with high density populations.

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by Vin

That's what I mean, when you create more commercial and retail zone in a node, it will naturally bring more people to the area. Our traditional way of putting retail is along a long street, and that model is only good for shoppers in cars who can keep driving down the street. It does not work in our cities right now due to lack of and more expensive parking, as well as more people who walk and take the transit to shop. Therefore we need to rezone lanes, and parallel streets to be shopping and retail streets as well, especially in neighbourhoods with high density populations.

Vin, you are right on the mark with this.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I would expect South Granville to pick up once the Broadway Subway opens up.
Yaletown picked up after the Canada Line opened up.

Fully agree, same happened to Cambie between the bridge and Broadway following the Canada Line opening.

South Granville needs a bit of a reinvention to better serve the surrounding community, it's always lacked grocery stores ( Meinhardt's — ) and decent mid-range restaurants.

[SpongeG]

I think they tried to make South Granville too high end. I only go there for 4 stores, Pottery Barn, West Elm, Anthropologie, and EQ3. Other than that there is nothing that appealing or its way too expensive, I adore Want Apothecary but yikes.

[Galaxy]

I do wonder if there are any units in south Granville that could fit say Crate and Barrel and or a CB2 which I think would be a good fit for the area. Crate moving there makes sense only to avoid the construction that is going to be happening in the next few years at Oakridge. CB2 with the dead zone that is around the redevelopment of the Empire Landmark site and a few other sites makes a move sound good as well.

[SpongeG]

A Crate & Barrel somewhere along Broadway near Granville would be good, maybe a block east or so. Lots of potential.

[SpongeG]

do you think people will line up for the virgil abloh x ikea collab that comes out next week? at 6 am you can get a wristband to shop before it starts selling to everyone at 12

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

A Crate & Barrel somewhere along Broadway near Granville would be good, maybe a block east or so. Lots of potential.

Hasn't Homesense decimated the market for Crate & Barrel?

**********
From the Kings Crossing thread:

Originally Posted by avenza

Buy Low Foods also owns Nesters Market Grocery Stores (they are in Whistler, Yaletown, Broadway, SFU, et al) http://www.nestersmarket.com/ Been told by a Buy Low employee that Nesters Market will be the store in Kings Crossing.

[SpongeG]

I don't think so, the Oakridge store does well, I always see people buying furniture there. You can't can't get much furniture at Homesense. Maybe some decor stuff, but Crate & Barrel has their own aesthetic.

[officedweller]

I was thinking more housewares, dishes, glasses, pots, and other kitchen stuff.

[Galaxy]

Crate and Barrel are really busy and do quite well in the Vancouver Market. The furniture is sized better for smaller condos especially compared to say Restoration Hardware. Homesense actually sells stuff that is more affordable and or marked down but if a person wants something to fit a certain esthetic then that person would go to Crate. Homesense is also got there product in a mix and match sort of setting while Crate really goes all out to get people to see how an item would be used in a home setting.

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by connect2source

....it's always lacked grocery stores ( Meinhardt's — )....

That location sucked back when I lived nearby and it was an A&P-some things never change.

[connect2source]

As a long time business owner in South Granville ( 90's and 2000's ) and as an 8 year SGBIA board member, I always felt South Granville had some very fundamental problems. First being the width of Granville St which never made for an intimate shopping experience especially before the Canada Line when, from 3-6pm daily, it was a highway, with B-Line buses speeding along mere inches from pedestrians. Second, the sidewalks are much too narrow, once several sandwich-board signs were in place, you had just a few feet to negotiate the crowds. Third, parking, it was a huge issue during commute times. Fourth, as mentioned, a lack of essential services especially grocery stores, most locals I knew back then detested Mienhardts as their only local option.

Today I feel many of those issues still remain, it's not a transit hub like Cambie and Broadway and has suffered from the competition in that area which offers a huge range of what people need on a daily basis.

The larger home decor retailers will likely survive but the area needs a reinvention and that will likely come with the Broadway Subway.

[s211]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Second, the sidewalks are much too narrow, once several sandwich-board signs were in place, you had just a few feet to negotiate the crowds.

Like the vast majority of the CBD's sidewalks?

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by connect2source

As a long time business owner in South Granville ( 90's and 2000's ) and as an 8 year SGBIA board member, I always felt South Granville had some very fundamental problems. First being the width of Granville St which never made for an intimate shopping experience especially before the Canada Line when, from 3-6pm daily, it was a highway, with B-Line buses speeding along mere inches from pedestrians. Second, the sidewalks are much too narrow, once several sandwich-board signs were in place, you had just a few feet to negotiate the crowds. Third, parking, it was a huge issue during commute times. Forth, as mentioned, a lack of essential services especially grocery stores, most locals I knew back then detested Mienhardts as their only local option.

Today I feel many of those issues still remain, it's not a transit hub like Cambie and Broadway and has suffered from the competition in that area which offers a huge range of what people need on a daily basis.

The larger home decor retailers will likely survive but the area needs a reinvention and that will likely come with the Broadway Subway.

A local grocery might be nice, but it's not a draw for outside shoppers. People also forget the Stanley Theatre is a big, unique draw that brings hundreds to the area, it's weird there aren't more restaurants to serve that. Why is Main home to so many dining establisments compared to Granville? Greedy landlords? It's not like the residential is being dveloped right on Granville whereas it is on Main, so why would assessments be so much higher?

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by whatnext

so why would assessments be so much higher?

Westside vs eastside

[Vin]

Expanding the retail/commercial footprint of the area, and allowing bigger retail shops or malls, as well as large residential/commercial buildings to be built there first, then we can talk about south Granville's retail survival. West Broadway planners take note!

[officedweller]

Pic from a friend of mine today - Sungiven Foods at City Square signage going up.



PS - speaking of wood grain finishes, the Canadian Tire at Cambie & 7th changed the cladding on their sign from white aluminum panel to a wood grain finish (probably still aluminum panel).

[Vin]

Heard the owners used to live in Burnaby back in 2004, learnt the trades of grocery retail/supermarket concept here, then brought the idea back to Xiamen, Fujian in China, and then re-importing the chain back to Metro Vancouver. Should be interesting to see what they have to offer in the City Square mall store. They should be able to bring in some life again to this mall.

[SpongeG]

they are opening three stores, the one on hastings seems small at 6300 sq ft.