Winnipeg | Retail

[LilZebra]

Originally Posted by esquire

I think we are still coming to terms with the damage that covid is inflicting on downtown, particularly retail. A new supermarket was a long shot one year ago, and downtown is a much emptier place now than it was then. This will have spillover effects on residential... at least before there was the promise that things would improve, but the appeal of downtown living has to be diminished now that stores and restaurants are closing (and probably will in even greater numbers in the new year).

I hate to say it, but I think that after 20 years of slow but steady improvement, we are entering what will be a pretty dark decade for downtown Winnipeg. The question, to my mind, is how long will it take to bounce back? Best case scenario 4 or 5 years, more realistically a decade. Worst case scenario is never. I think just keeping the existing grocery stores in business (Family Foods, Giant Tiger) will be a win.

Don't know if its the lower lumens of the street lighting and business lighting, but downtown seems darker than say 30 years ago.


I'm awaiting the return in popularity of neon to brighten things up again.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by LilZebra

Don't know if its the lower lumens of the street lighting and business lighting, but downtown seems darker than say 30 years ago.


I'm awaiting the return in popularity of neon to brighten things up again.

It is without question the new LED lighting. Everything seems way darker now. When I'm driving on the street I can barely see people on the sidewalks now. I'm not really keen on it.

I would 100% welcome back neon lights, but even then only a few small areas would benefit from it.

[cllew]

The LED lighting has been engineered to place more light on the street and less spilling over on the sidewalks.

It also does not help that there are blocks downtown that the lights are completely out and driving down them at 5:30am is like driving out in the country. If they are still out next month when I rotate on back the early start I'll have to contact hydro.

[DavefromSt.Vital]

Originally Posted by cllew

It also does not help that there are blocks downtown that the lights are completely out and driving down them at 5:30am is like driving out in the country. If they are still out next month when I rotate on back the early start I'll have to contact hydro.

These things need to be reported:

https://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/permitsApprovals/localImprovements/reportStreetLightProblem.stm

It may be something simple like a timer has been set incorrectly.

[flatlander]

With regard to the Bay groceteria closing - wasn't that because Zellers took over? And then when Target closed that location the basement was empty. I think Zellers (including the fresh foods) and the Paddlewheel were busier than the Bay itself.

[cllew]

Originally Posted by DavefromSt.Vital

These things need to be reported:

https://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/permitsApprovals/localImprovements/reportStreetLightProblem.stm

It may be something simple like a timer has been set incorrectly.

This is the one I use

https://account.hydro.mb.ca/Portal/ServiceRequestFormPrelogin.aspx?reason=streetLightOutage.

Manitoba Hydro lately appears to be having a lot of underground cable issues for its street lights as when I driver around I keep seeing more and more streets that now have overhead lines strung between the light poles.

It short of makes sense as at least in my part of the city the lights are probably 50+ years old and the underground cable insulation is reaching its end of life and shorting out. Back then it was placed in direct bury mode and the sulfates in the soil attack the coverings.

I can't recall the exact link but MB Hydro has a webpage with the expected life of all its outside plant and how much is going to have to be replaced in the coming years.

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by esquire

It is without question the new LED lighting. Everything seems way darker now. When I'm driving on the street I can barely see people on the sidewalks now. I'm not really keen on it.

I would 100% welcome back neon lights, but even then only a few small areas would benefit from it.

New and improved doesn't always mean better, sure LED's are cheaper to run but better-NO!

[BAKGUY]

Originally Posted by flatlander

With regard to the Bay groceteria closing - wasn't that because Zellers took over? And then when Target closed that location the basement was empty. I think Zellers (including the fresh foods) and the Paddlewheel were busier than the Bay itself.

Yes, yes & yes. I worked there and I can attest to what you say is correct.
The Bay had to expand after Eatons closed as their groceteria did $10 million a year. The Bay beagn doing near that after awhile.

[LilZebra]

Originally Posted by flatlander

With regard to the Bay groceteria closing - wasn't that because Zellers took over? And then when Target closed that location the basement was empty. I think Zellers (including the fresh foods) and the Paddlewheel were busier than the Bay itself.

There was never a Target location downtown.

[buzzg]

The Zellers was doing very well, but it was too difficult for HBC to operate a single grocery store in the company once they sold the supply chain to Target.

[OTA in Winnipeg]

^They should have tried harder. It's not like they didn't/don't have resources. That place was a money maker.

[flatlander]

Originally Posted by LilZebra

There was never a Target location downtown.

Never said there was.

[flatlander]

Originally Posted by buzzg

The Zellers was doing very well, but it was too difficult for HBC to operate a single grocery store in the company once they sold the supply chain to Target.

Not sure HBC ever operated it. They had dozens of tenants in their building - independent operators. They may or may not have operated it but they certainly could've found someone who could.

[flatlander]

Originally Posted by BAKGUY

Yes, yes & yes. I worked there and I can attest to what you say is correct.
The Bay had to expand after Eatons closed as their groceteria did $10 million a year. The Bay beagn doing near that after awhile.

Thanks. Curious where the grocery shoppers came from - downtown residents or suburban residents passing through (I was the latter).

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by flatlander

Not sure HBC ever operated it. They had dozens of tenants in their building - independent operators. They may or may not have operated it but they certainly could've found someone who could.

They did. For its entire life.

I'm sure they did, but no other grocers wanted to. HBC was/would be able to operate the grocery on thinner margins then others: they own the building, and the traffic the store brought in had a big impact on the core Bay business. A third party would be paying rent, and the boost in Bay sales does not benefit them.

[LilZebra]

Originally Posted by flatlander

With regard to the Bay groceteria closing - wasn't that because Zellers took over? And then when Target closed that location the basement was empty. I think Zellers (including the fresh foods) and the Paddlewheel were busier than the Bay itself.

Originally Posted by LilZebra

There was never a Target location downtown.

Originally Posted by flatlander

Never said there was.

Yes you did. Maybe in the way you wrote the sentence.

[ywgwalk]

Originally Posted by LilZebra

Yes you did. Maybe in the way you wrote the sentence.

He's referring to this. I assume you're trying to be unnecessarily pedantic.

https://www.thestar.com/business/2012/07..._stores_as_target_moves_into_canada.html

[cslusarc]

Apparently, the Francophone media has reported that Hudson's Bay has defaulted on its rent on some of its locations in Québec. They have had their leases terminated, but are the stores are still open.

[harls]

Originally Posted by cheswick

Found this amusing:



From Twitter @wpglovehate

This would give the Canadinns 'batman spotlight' people an incentive to buy a physical sign.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by cslusarc

Apparently, the Francophone media has reported that Hudson's Bay has defaulted on its rent on some of its locations in Québec. They have had their leases terminated, but are the stores are still open.

Not a good sign for the chain... things must be getting dire.