Winnipeg Construction X

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Think Gunn's is the only long time business (viable) left on Selkirk, spent lot of time in my youth going there!

Well the Robins Donuts on the corner of Salter and Selkirk is still in operation. I'm surprised that this business has lasted as long as it has.

[BAKGUY]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

Well the Robins Donuts on the corner of Salter and Selkirk is still in operation. I'm surprised that this business has lasted as long as it has.

With no disrespect to Robins Donuts but not much else in comparison exists or wants to take a gamble in the area. Is the one @ City Place still operating? I wonder if the general commissary still provide them with the goods they sell as before?

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by BAKGUY

With no disrespect to Robins Donuts but not much else in comparison exists or wants to take a gamble in the area. Is the one @ City Place still operating? I wonder if the general commissary still provide them with the goods they sell as before?

I did a google map search, and appearantly, there are 3 or 4 remaining locations, including the one at City Place. I miss the location at McPhillips and Templeton the most. As a child of the 80s, my family had a cabin near Winnipeg Beach, and it was tradition to stop and pick up doughnuts and Robins eggs before taking the 45 minute drive to the beach.

It's sad when I think back to the 90s, when there was a Robins in every community of the city, only to have 90% of them be driven out of business by Tim Hortons by the late 2000s.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

It's sad when I think back to the 90s, when there was a Robins in every community of the city, only to have 90% of them be driven out of business by Tim Hortons by the late 2000s.

To most people it's probably six of one, half dozen of the other.

Personally, I'd say that Tim's has a better menu and the stores are less dark and depressing than Robin's... every Robin's smelled like an odd blend of cigarette smoke, donuts and despair.

[Spocket]

Originally Posted by esquire

To most people it's probably six of one, half dozen of the other.

Personally, I'd say that Tim's has a better menu and the stores are less dark and depressing than Robin's... every Robin's smelled like an odd blend of cigarette smoke, donuts and despair.

Yeah but Robin's had better donuts. Well, I always thought they were better, anyway.

[1ajs]

isn't robins hq also in downtown wpg?

[WinCitySparky]

The Fulton Grove development by Gem Equities was approved by council today. Over a half billion in construction coming up!

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/mobile/p...ncil-1.5206389

[drew]

It's Gem Equities.

Don't hold your breath.

[WinCitySparky]

Originally Posted by drew

It's Gem Equities.

Don't hold your breath.

Still somethin!

[buzzg]

Even to this day Robins baking and food is much better than Tims. It's actually made in the store. Robins coffee is far worse though, which is incredible considering Tims is essentially sewer water.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

It's sad when I think back to the 90s, when there was a Robins in every community of the city, only to have 90% of them be driven out of business by Tim Hortons by the late 2000s.

My father and I were exploring the idea of purchasing a Tim Hortons Franchise in the early 90's. We had everything in order, the blessing of another nearby local franchisee, all paperwork complete...but Robins was so well established and there were so few Tim's that we felt the gamble wouldn't pay off.

I guess we were totally wrong.

[buzzg]

Tims was the first nail for Robins, and I think third wave coffee shops were the final straw. Lots of people put higher value on quality coffee these days, and there's lots of neighbourhood coffee shops popping up all over.

One thing I always liked about Robins over Tims was that Robins had way more neighbourhood(-friendly) locations, where Tims generally only locates in bigger commercial nodes and parking lots where they can have a drive-thru (aka generally not too walkable, or at least not a nice walk).

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Biff

My father and I were exploring the idea of purchasing a Tim Hortons Franchise in the early 90's. We had everything in order, the blessing of another nearby local franchisee, all paperwork complete...but Robins was so well established and there were so few Tim's that we felt the gamble wouldn't pay off.

I guess we were totally wrong.

Not an unreasonable take, though... it could have gone either way. I have friends and family who went into donut shop franchises. The one who went into Coffee Time didn't do so great. The ones who went into Tim Hortons made out like bandits. It was a gamble.

[Glenn99]

Originally Posted by drew

It's Gem Equities.

Don't hold your breath.

If their track record at Fort Rouge Yards is any indicator not much will happen here anytime soon.

[drew]

Originally Posted by Glenn99

If their track record at Fort Rouge Yards is any indicator not much will happen here anytime soon.

Their track record period.

I am surprised that they are able to find anyone willing to work with them anymore - unless they pay in advance, and in full.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

It's sad when I think back to the 90s, when there was a Robins in every community of the city, only to have 90% of them be driven out of business by Tim Hortons by the late 2000s.

My general understanding is that Tim's developed a better franchise support model and was first to really secure the Toronto market. That left Robin's chasing from behind without as strong supports and trying to run a slightly more franchise favorable fee structure. That in turn lead to them falling behind is product development, marketing and other support areas. Which in turn lead to a complete bankruptcy of the parent company. When the bankruptcy happened the independent operators could either sign on with the restructured company or become independent which many did. The main company never really recovered and has been in steady decline since.

As for Coffee Time and Country Style, my understanding is they were bigger in eastern Canada but never really able to establish themselves outside of those markets. There was also a brief attempt in the 90s of a US based chain to enter Canada. I cannot recall their name but they had a location Graham and Edmonton for a time.

[pegcity]

Originally Posted by CoryB

There was also a brief attempt in the 90s of a US based chain to enter Canada. I cannot recall their name but they had a location Graham and Edmonton for a time.

Dunkin Donuts...does anyone remember the other Dunkin Donut locations in Winnipeg other than the Graham and Edmonton location

[esquire]

^ I only remember the one location on Graham...it must have lasted until about maybe 2000 or so?

Google also remembers locations at 1075 Notre Dame and 215 St. Anne's, neither of which I remember at all.

[bomberjet]

I seriously doubt GEM will pull that off. But who knows.

Dont get me wrong itd be great. But looks ambitious. Especially with their track record.

[WinCitySparky]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

I seriously doubt GEM will pull that off. But who knows.

Dont get me wrong itd be great. But looks ambitious. Especially with their track record.

This is very true