Winnipeg | Retail

[DavefromSt.Vital]

Originally Posted by BAKGUY

I wonder if there would be a chance Winner's/ Marshalls/ Home Sense would find it profitable to open downtown?Perceived value, low prices, constant new stock arriving? Anywhere near Portage? They could take one floor of The bay and the rest can be a mixed use.
A former downtown Toronto Eatons store, College Park did that. Winner's anchors a few other stores, grocery store, food court food to go etc with residential above.

Actually, there is a criminal courthouse that takes up the entire second floor at College Park. Given that the light wells with windows do not go down to that level, a common nickname for the courthouse is College Dark. There are also basement level holding cells. Court Services vans actually bring detainees in and out through the attached (underground) parking garage.

I note that the main criminal court complex for Winnipeg is quite close to the Bay. Just saying...

[esquire]

Originally Posted by DavefromSt.Vital

Actually, there is a criminal courthouse that takes up the entire second floor at College Park. Given that the light wells with windows do not go down to that level, a common nickname for the courthouse is College Dark. There are also basement level holding cells. Court Services vans actually bring detainees in and out through the attached (underground) parking garage.

I note that the main criminal court complex for Winnipeg is quite close to the Bay. Just saying...

The existing courts and remand centre are pretty old and cramped... the extra space could come in handy and improve things for everyone involved in the justice system, although the symbolism of replacing The Bay with a giant court and remand centre super-complex right on Portage Avenue might be more than I can bear.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Andy6

I don't really know. It was always felt that Winnipeg was lacking malls, with just the one major one, so there was probably a feeling that whoever got in with a second or third one would hit a jackpot no matter where it was. Also, they were more of a destination than today - like many families, we would pack off to Polo Park on Saturday for a few hours of random wandering around. I remember we went to Unicity a couple of times to experience its novelty, even though we lived all the way across the city.

I had similar experiences as an 80s child. I used to find it mildly entertaining provided I didn't have to spend too much time in the ladies' wear stores my mom would visit. By contrast, my kids can't stand malls... I'm not sure that they know what the local malls look like on the inside. I can't remember going with them, other than the annual trip to Portage Place for the ritual photo with Santa Claus.

[Andy6]

Originally Posted by esquire

I had similar experiences as an 80s child. I used to find it mildly entertaining provided I didn't have to spend too much time in the ladies' wear stores my mom would visit. By contrast, my kids can't stand malls... I'm not sure that they know what the local malls look like on the inside. I can't remember going with them, other than the annual trip to Portage Place for the ritual photo with Santa Claus.

Well in those ancient days we kids just scampered off wherever we felt like as long as we met by the fountain at whatever time had been appointed for that purpose.

[harls]

Here's an anecdote - in 1990 our school band performed at the Optimist Festival at the Convention Centre. We stayed at some hotel on Portage next to the Investors group tower (Portage and Memorial I think?) Anyway, during our weekend odyssey, some kid stole a cassette tape of the Fine Young Cannibals from the Hudson's Bay store. He was apprehended and sent home to some very disappointed parents.

Apparently they had some good security 30 years ago.

[DavefromSt.Vital]

Originally Posted by harls

Here's an anecdote - in 1990 our school band performed at the Optimist Festival at the Convention Centre. We stayed at some hotel on Portage next to the Investors group tower (Portage and Memorial I think?) Anyway, during our weekend odyssey, some kid stole a cassette tape of the Fine Young Cannibals from the Hudson's Bay store. He was apprehended and sent home to some very disappointed parents.

Apparently they had some good security 30 years ago.

You likely stayed at what was then the Travelodge, currently the Holiday Inn and Suites Winnipeg Downtown.

Security there was definitely strict. I knew the writing was on the wall in the early 2000s. After one last meal at the Paddlewheel restaurant I took some pictures of the paddlewheel, the distinctive escalators, etc. An employee sternly warned me that pictures were not allowed. I wandered about and throwing caution to the wind I took a picture of the "6" box indicating the sixth floor. As I arrived on five via the escalator a security guard was racing up the escalators to prevent such criminality.

[DavefromSt.Vital]

Originally Posted by esquire

The existing courts and remand centre are pretty old and cramped... the extra space could come in handy and improve things for everyone involved in the justice system, although the symbolism of replacing The Bay with a giant court and remand centre super-complex right on Portage Avenue might be more than I can bear.

I am only semi-serious about this, but why not do like College Park and use the top-most low-window floor for some bonus cheap courtrooms. Figure out what works below and then take out a floor with courtrooms.

Cuts down on the number of floors you have to tear apart above for residential.

[harls]

Originally Posted by DavefromSt.Vital

You likely stayed at what was then the Travelodge, currently the Holiday Inn and Suites Winnipeg Downtown.

That's it. Travelodge. It was next to the bus station.

The bus station was something to take in for us rural folk. I think the band teacher even tried to make us stay away from it.

[DavefromSt.Vital]

Originally Posted by harls

That's it. Travelodge. It was next to the bus station.

The bus station was something to take in for us rural folk. I think the band teacher even tried to make us stay away from it.

The bus depot at U of W eventually closed due to local crime. The relocated Greyhound terminal at the airport also closed due to lack of use.

[cllew]

Originally Posted by plrh

There is a 6' diameter trunk sewer that runs north on Lag and turns left on Chief Peguis then goes to the north end treatment plant. It was built in the mid seventies and is, like, 30' deep (which makes it more accessible to larger developments). The watermain is 10-14" diameter along Grassie. Your story seems believable. Are you referring to Grassie west of Lag?

North East corner. The Canford spongie center use to be located there and had to move to behind the Cavalier Hotel on Regent when the land was being assembled for the center.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by DavefromSt.Vital

You likely stayed at what was then the Travelodge, currently the Holiday Inn and Suites Winnipeg Downtown.

Security there was definitely strict. I knew the writing was on the wall in the early 2000s. After one last meal at the Paddlewheel restaurant I took some pictures of the paddlewheel, the distinctive escalators, etc. An employee sternly warned me that pictures were not allowed. I wandered about and throwing caution to the wind I took a picture of the "6" box indicating the sixth floor. As I arrived on five via the escalator a security guard was racing up the escalators to prevent such criminality.

It's weird to imagine now, but your post reminds me of that short period between 9/11 and the onset of smartphones where unauthorized photography was a Very Big Deal. If it was 2004 and you pulled out a camera to take pictures of some company's property, even just an architecturally interesting building, there was a good chance that someone would come along to challenge you, if not outright try to stop you... it was a strange time.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by esquire

The existing courts and remand centre are pretty old and cramped... the extra space could come in handy and improve things for everyone involved in the justice system, although the symbolism of replacing The Bay with a giant court and remand centre super-complex right on Portage Avenue might be more than I can bear.

They're currently doing big renos at the Law Courts so wouldn't hold my breath on that one lol.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by ue

Downtown Winnipeg really needs a supermarket. A pet store would be good too (though there is a Pet Valu just across the river in St B).

Did you miss the news this week? The "downtown" supermarket/pet store/etc was announced. Amazon is building in just off the airport campus. The store front is exactly where you are reading this right now.

Originally Posted by cllew

Didn't the Bay look at anchoring a mall off of Grassie Blvd on the north side where there was a semi abandoned community club?

Definitely makes sense as the land reserve for CPT has literally been there forever and Lag at Grassie (just south of CPT) would be a high profile location even before CPT is built.

Originally Posted by harls

some kid stole a cassette tape of the Fine Young Cannibals from the Hudson's Bay store. He was apprehended and sent home to some very disappointed parents.

Wow bad format choice and horrible taste in music, even in the 80s. No wonder the parents were very disappointed.

[ue]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Did you miss the news this week? The "downtown" supermarket/pet store/etc was announced. Amazon is building in just off the airport campus. The store front is exactly where you are reading this right now.



Definitely makes sense as the land reserve for CPT has literally been there forever and Lag at Grassie (just south of CPT) would be a high profile location even before CPT is built.



Wow bad format choice and horrible taste in music, even in the 80s. No wonder the parents were very disappointed.

what? An Amazon grocery delivery warehouse in an airport industrial park is not a downtown supermarket. Unless I'm misreading you and there's some news I didn't hear about.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by ue

what? An Amazon grocery delivery warehouse in an airport industrial park is not a downtown supermarket. Unless I'm misreading you and there's some news I didn't hear about.

It is all about online v bricks and mortar.

While Amazon's backend is going to be the the airport, their store front is any internet connected device anywhere in the whole city including downtown.

When Amazon grocery launches here there is likely to be an aggressive price war in the click-and-delivery and click-and-collect spaces which will drag Superstore, Save-On-Foods and likely Walmart into the fight. Driving the razor thin margins even lower. None of these players are ever going to open a supermarket downtown and compete with themselves.

So who exactly is going to be behind this downtown supermarket?

[ue]

Originally Posted by CoryB

It is all about online v bricks and mortar.

While Amazon's backend is going to be the the airport, their store front is any internet connected device anywhere in the whole city including downtown.

When Amazon grocery launches here there is likely to be an aggressive price war in the click-and-delivery and click-and-collect spaces which will drag Superstore, Save-On-Foods and likely Walmart into the fight. Driving the razor thin margins even lower. None of these players are ever going to open a supermarket downtown and compete with themselves.

So who exactly is going to be behind this downtown supermarket?

Many people who live downtown may not have the same internet access or even if they do, may choose to not use Amazon. It’s a pretty awful company, to be honest. It’s also worth noting that they’ve even invested in brick-and-mortar retail, with their cashier-less marketplace and purchase of Whole Foods. Even in places where online grocery shopping has taken off already, such as the UK, there is still a place for physical grocers.

All of this is to say that there should be a grocery store downtown as the place is currently a food desert. As for who, well, Save On has pushed into the Winnipeg market, and have done urban format stores elsewhere. Safeway, Sobeys, and Loblaws (particularly their ‘CityMarket’ or No Frills brand) would also work.

[buzzg]

TNS, 300 Main, and likely more to come are well set up for the future of groceries downtown. TNS has refrigerated delivery lockers for your Superstore/Sobeys/Walmart/Amazon/etc orders, and there's Mottola Grocery in a pinch – the produce is actually reasonably priced.

Plus Family Foods is literally a full service grocery store but people seem to forget that since it doesn't say Superstore, Sobeys, or Save On on the sign. That space is a bit dingy, they could be served well to relocate nearby.

[ue]

Originally Posted by buzzg

TNS, 300 Main, and likely more to come are well set up for the future of groceries downtown. TNS has refrigerated delivery lockers for your Superstore/Sobeys/Walmart/Amazon/etc orders, and there's Mottola Grocery in a pinch – the produce is actually reasonably priced.

Plus Family Foods is literally a full service grocery store but people seem to forget that since it doesn't say Superstore, Sobeys, or Save On on the sign. That space is a bit dingy, they could be served well to relocate nearby.

You’re right — I forgot about the Family Foods. I haven’t been inside it, admittedly, but it seems kind of small when I’ve walked past it. Does it have more selection than your average Shoppers?

[buzzg]

Yes, it is a full grocery store. It has a huge selection, just narrower aisles than giant big box stores. There's also a pretty decent grocery store in Fort Garry Place, on par to a Food Fare but I don't think there's a deli counter.

[GarryEllice]

Originally Posted by buzzg

Yes, it is a full grocery store. It has a huge selection, just narrower aisles than giant big box stores.

Prices are awfully high though, higher than Safeway overall. I find it useful in emergencies (and they have some awesome baked goods) but I'd rather make the trip to Osborne Safeway or Notre Dame No Frills for my regular shopping.

I wish the No Frills at Notre Dame & Langside could just be teleported into the Bay or Portage Place! It's a fantastic store, well-run, great selection, great prices, and would completely solve the downtown food desert situation for good.