The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[PeterAKer]

Disney used to have a Disney Store on Robson Street (1148 Robson Street) at where Lululemon (After Disney Store) and HMV (After Lululemon) used to be.

[officedweller]

At Guildford Town Centre:

Forever 21 Begins Quietly Opening First Canadian “2.0” Stores
https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...pening-first-canadian-2-0-stores-photos/

[cairnstone]

Originally Posted by PeterAKer

Disney used to have a Disney Store on Robson Street (1148 Robson Street) at where Lululemon (After Disney Store) and HMV (After Lululemon) used to be.

The first generation of Disney stores Robson and Metrotown were not true Disney but a 3 Rd party franchise. Disney cancelled the licensing agreement. When they opened up across from Sephora they were corporate stores.

[officedweller]

TopShop to Exit Hudson’s Bay and Shut All Stores After 10 Year Run in Canada
https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...-all-stores-after-10-year-run-in-canada/

[SpongeG]

that's too bad. I wonder what they will do with the one in Richmond Centre, its quite connected, easy enough to close off the inside entrance though.

[officedweller]

Maybe LL Bean will take some of the spaces, as they are expanding and used to/still do (?) have a partnership with Hudson's Bay.

From this year:

L.L.Bean Announces 4 More Canadian Stores Amid Accelerated Expansion Strategy
https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...res-amid-accelerated-expansion-strategy/

From 2019:

L.L. Bean Enters Canada with Plans for Stores Across the Country: Interview
...
Kastner said Jaytex has worked out a deal with Hudson’s Bay where the best of L.L.Bean products in all categories will be sold in self-contained branded shops ranging from 300 square feet up to 2,000 square feet.

“These shops will house our key product categories which include men’s, women’s and kids’ apparel, footwear, bags and accessories. They will be mini L.L.Bean stores within Hudson’s Bay. Kastner said that 57 locations will be rolled out at the end of August in Bay stores and next spring it will likely be rolled out to all the remaining Bay stores in Canada.

“The Hudson’s Bay locations that we’re rolling out this fall will cover the top 57 stores from coast to coast right from the flagships in Toronto, Calgary, Montreal and Vancouver down to mid-size and smaller stores,” he said. The Bay has 88 stores in the country. The brand will also be available on thebay.com.
...

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...ith-plans-for-stores-across-the-country/

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Maybe LL Bean will take some of the spaces, as they are expanding and used to/still do (?) have a partnership with Hudson's Bay.....

Plus today I got an email about a freestanding LLBean opening in Victoria-in Mayfair-IMNSH opinion Hillside would have worked better.

[PeterAKer]

Topman and Topshop aren't doing well considering their former owner (Arcadia Group and Sir Philip Green) is embroiled with issues. Topman and Topshop Brand was purchased by ASOS in February.

[jollyburger]

There's a coming soon sign in that old Blenz on West Georgia. I was driving and didn't see the rest of the signage.

[Waders]

[deleted, wrong thread]

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Waders

Trees will be opening up a new location at 5050 Joyce St, the new condo developed by Westbank. Trees has several locations throughout Vancouver. Has anyone tried their cheescake, coffee, tea or lunch? Just wonder how it compares with other coffee chains.

Food stuff usually goes into the Restaurant thread. They are also opening up in SFU Surrey.

[officedweller]

Boys’Co Shutting Down Operations After 37 Years
https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...shutting-down-operations-after-37-years/

B.C. furniture retailers reeling from new tariff of almost 300 per cent on sofas from China and Vietnam
https://vancouversun.com/business/furnit...per-cent-on-sofas-from-china-and-vietnam

Foreboding the fate of the Vancouver store?
Hudson’s Bay Downsizing Iconic Downtown Calgary Flagship Store to 3 Retail Floors
https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...lgary-flagship-store-to-3-retail-floors/

[jollyburger]

Maybe Uniqlo will open in the Top Shop space?

[officedweller]

Good call.

[s211]

Originally Posted by officedweller

B.C. furniture retailers reeling from new tariff of almost 300 per cent on sofas from China and Vietnam
https://vancouversun.com/business/furnit...per-cent-on-sofas-from-china-and-vietnam

Having seen the cheap product sold by places like Structube, I'm not surprised. Cheap price and shockingly cheap construction.

[Vin]

I suppose China and Vietnam can also impose a 300% on softwood lumber from Canada so they can buy from Russia or other countries. Protectionism is good for our trees.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Maybe Uniqlo will open in the Top Shop space?

Downtown is indeed a joke when Uniqlo and Simon's can't find retail spaces for years.

I doubt Uniqlo will take up the Top Shop space: too hidden. I could be wrong though.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

There's a coming soon sign in that old Blenz on West Georgia. I was driving and didn't see the rest of the signage.

Seems like generic coming soon signage. I wonder if their renovations got approved.. the DP sign is still up.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by Vin

Downtown is indeed a joke when Uniqlo and Simon's can't find retail spaces for years.

I doubt Uniqlo will take up the Top Shop space: too hidden. I could be wrong though.

uniqlo should look at the old Leone space, maybe they could somehow take over the escada old space in the there as well.

these signs would be amazing on there lol

• Video Link

[Vin]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

uniqlo should look at the old Leone space, maybe they could somehow take over the escada old space in the there as well.

these signs would be amazing on there lol

• Video Link

That's good space, except that it is quite a distance away from any retail that would create the kind of synergy that Uniqlo usually get in their prime locations around the world.

Escada would make more sense but it is woefully small compared to Uniqlo's suburb counterparts. Businesses usually like to have their flagship stores in the City centres.

Looking at the video, it becomes all the more apparent how outdated ours are here in Vancouver... hah.