[Moncton] Retail Thread - Page 348

drewber · #**6941** Posted **Jun 16, 2021, 7:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonny golden

The Starbucks on Main Street was such a vibrant place in it's heyday. It was usually busy with a lot of downtown workers there throughout the day.

I wonder if Second Cup would consider this location.

The drawback might be the fact that a lot of downtown workers are no longer working downtown. But I would think that some must be returning to their offices. And there's always the possibility of new business moving in, like Thinkmax who are moving into the Higgins Block. I think it would be great if Second Cup were to open downtown.

Part of the purchase agreement was them moving second cups away from downtown cores so I highly doubt it

jonny golden · #**6942** Posted **Jun 16, 2021, 7:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drewber

Part of the purchase agreement was them moving second cups away from downtown cores so I highly doubt it

Doesn't look good then. Seems like a trend, as Starbucks model is prioritizing drive-throughs. And there aren't a lot of them in downtown areas.

Nashe · #**6943** Posted **Jun 17, 2021, 11:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Doesn't look good then. Seems like a trend, as Starbucks model is prioritizing drive-throughs. And there aren't a lot of them in downtown areas.

While I'd love to see a SC downtown, in the interim, if you're looking for a much-better-than-average cup-o-joe, Cafe Duo is great.

jonny golden · #**6944** Posted **Jun 17, 2021, 2:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vorkuta

While I'd love to see a SC downtown, in the interim, if you're looking for a much-better-than-average cup-o-joe, Cafe Duo is great.

Honestly, I've never heard of Cafe Duo. Maybe I should look it up. Any idea why it's called Cafe Duo?

David_99 · #**6945** Posted **Jun 17, 2021, 2:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Honestly, I've never heard of Cafe Duo. Maybe I should look it up. Any idea why it's called Cafe Duo?

It's the little Cafe attached to Tide & Boar. I believe it's the same owner. Not sure of the name origins.

MonctonRad · #**6946** Posted **Jun 18, 2021, 1:05 PM**

The Empyrean Bar and Grill is apparently opening at the Champlain Plaza in Dieppe next week. They will be located in the former Mary Brown's space. The signage has actually been up for some time, but perhaps they were waiting until the pandemic abated before actually opening.

Their specialty will be Indian food.

MonctonRad · #**6947** Posted **Jun 18, 2021, 3:49 PM**

David's Tea has successfully emerged from bankruptcy protection:

https://www.thestar.com/business/2021/06...VNa44qUtp4S0HarFBs3YojVyRJFm9Pf7Q0D8e2vI

This should mean that their CF Champlain store will be safe. This store is one of only 18 survivors in the chain, and is the only store remaining in Atlantic Canada.

MonctonRad · #**6948** Posted **Jun 23, 2021, 1:45 PM**

Structural steel is now up for the new Jiffy Lube in the Granite Centre.

David_99 posted a picture of this in the Moncton [East] thread.

MonctonRad · #**6949** Posted **Jun 23, 2021, 5:08 PM**

Ardene at CF Champlain apparently opens today.

MonctonRad · #**6950** Posted **Jun 24, 2021, 2:18 AM**

Well, here's sweet retail news:

Apparently Lindt Chocolatiers in the Mapleton Centre will soon be serving chocolate dipped (or drizzled) soft serve ice cream cones in their store!

I can't imagine this being anything but amazingly popular!

MonctonRad · #**6951** Posted **Jul 3, 2021, 9:18 PM**

Rumours are hot and heavy that Reitman’s at the Northwest Centre will be closing by mid month.

This is not a great surprise. The parent retailer is in trouble and has been paring the store count for some time. The Reitman’s at CF Champlain will remain open.

There were rumours last year that Reitman’s, H&R Block and Subway at the Northwest Centre were all to close, with the CRUs consolidated for a single new retailer. I wonder if this is what is going to happen.

MonctonRad · #**6952** Posted **Jul 11, 2021, 4:43 PM**

Not Moncton related, but an interesting read nonetheless.

The Rec Room Opens at The Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby [Photos]
By Lee Rivett
July 5, 2021
https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...the-amazing-brentwood-in-burnaby-photos/

Quote:

Cineplex-owned “eats & entertainment destination” The Rec Room has opened its first location in British Columbia at Burnaby’s The Amazing Brentwood. The venue spans 44,000 square feet and it combines amusement gaming, several dining options and feature attractions in one destination. The Rec Room is located directly below the new ‘Cineplex VIP Cinemas Brentwood’ which will be opening soon as well.

Quote:

Cineplex currently operates eight other locations of The Rec Room in West Edmonton Mall, South Edmonton Common, Calgary, Winnipeg, London (ON), Mississauga, Toronto and St. John’s, with another location opening this summer in Barrie (ON). The Rec Room range in size from 30,000-50,000 square feet, with approximately half of the space devoted to dining and live entertainment and the other half devoted to amusement games and feature attractions. Cineplex also operates Playdium, an entertainment complex designed for teens, their friends and family, with locations in Brampton (ON), Whitby (ON) and Dartmouth (NS).

There are many other images (and a video) on the linked webpage above.

I remain vainly optimistic that we might yet see this concept in Moncton. This optimism however is severely tempered by the damage caused by the recent pandemic. The pandemic brutalized the Cineplex business model, and it will likely take years to recover. Probably the only reason why the Brentwood Rec Room is opening now is because it was greenlit before the pandemic.

Still, there is a Rec Room in St. John's, and a Playdium in Halifax, and the next most logical market for this concept in Atlantic Canada would be greater Moncton. I hope Moncton remains under consideration.

I think a combined Cineplex multiplex including an IMAX and a Rec Room at Wheeler Park would be the ideal replacement for the vacant Costco store there. Wheeler Park desperately needs a shot in the arm to keep it relevant, especially with the impending departure of Kent. This could be it.

If I were the owners of Wheeler Park, I would consider purchasing the Costo property, and making it available to Cineplex for redevelopment. I think drastic action such as this might be necessary to keep the entire power centre from drifting into irrelevance.

MonctonRad · #**6953** Posted **Jul 14, 2021, 1:16 PM**

Marvis, a hair styling studio for men is apparently opening at CF Champlain, in the old Mastercuts location. They have a current location in the Truro Mall

jonny golden · #**6954** Posted **Jul 14, 2021, 1:58 PM**

There was a really interesting story in Retail Insider yesterday concerning shopping malls. The part I found most interesting was the idea of incorporating residential units into mall properties. It makes me wonder if Cadillac Fairview behind the scenes has discussed/considered this option for Champlain Place?

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...pandemic-and-shifting-retail-industry-ex

Quotes from the article:
More and more property owners across Canada are taking excess space in parking lots and building condos and apartments. Russo said he believes this will become the number one use of alternative space at shopping centers.

“The nice thing about malls is they have a lot of excess land. They typically have a lot of parking and it does a couple of things for a mall. If you take away 40 per cent of the retail space of a mall and you turn it into residential, you’ve done something with the space and turned it into something of value but you’ve also brought a customer to the mall.

jonny golden · #**6955** Posted **Jul 14, 2021, 2:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonny golden

There was a really interesting story in Retail Insider yesterday concerning shopping malls. The part I found most interesting was the idea of incorporating residential units into mall properties. It makes me wonder if Cadillac Fairview behind the scenes has discussed/considered this option for Champlain Place?

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...pandemic-and-shifting-retail-industry-ex

Quotes from the article:
More and more property owners across Canada are taking excess space in parking lots and building condos and apartments. Russo said he believes this will become the number one use of alternative space at shopping centers.

“The nice thing about malls is they have a lot of excess land. They typically have a lot of parking and it does a couple of things for a mall. If you take away 40 per cent of the retail space of a mall and you turn it into residential, you’ve done something with the space and turned it into something of value but you’ve also brought a customer to the mall.

Here's an example of what CF has done on the residential side of their business. Not that I'd ever expect so see something of this scale, but Cadillac Fairview is more than capable of creating something exceptional at their Champlain Place property if they ever decided to.

josh_cat_eyes · #**6956** Posted **Jul 14, 2021, 3:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Here's an example of what CF has done on the residential side of their business. Not that I'd ever expect so see something of this scale, but Cadillac Fairview is more than capable of creating something exceptional at their Champlain Place property if they ever decided to.

This is the kind of modern building that downtown Moncton needs!

NBNYer · #**6957** Posted **Jul 14, 2021, 3:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Here's an example of what CF has done on the residential side of their business. Not that I'd ever expect so see something of this scale, but Cadillac Fairview is more than capable of creating something exceptional at their Champlain Place property if they ever decided to.

We've just had a near 1000-unit proposal for Franklin Yard. The proposal you linked is definitely smaller than that... just way better quality. Some developers are just lazy. The city should demand better.

jonny golden · #**6958** Posted **Jul 14, 2021, 3:52 PM**

The pandemic pushing more people to on-line shopping might actually prompt the Champlain Place owners to consider a residential component to their property. The Retail Insider story states that even before Covid, shopping malls were losing market share to on-line shopping. This concept of adding residential to the mall property has been on the radar for some time. Champlain Place certainly has the space to do so as their parking lot is huge.

jonny golden · #**6959** Posted **Jul 14, 2021, 3:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by NBNYer

We've just had a near 1000-unit proposal for Franklin Yard. The proposal you linked is definitely smaller than that... just way better quality. Some developers are just lazy. The city should demand better.

The Franklin Yard proposal isn't very inspiring, and that's an understatement. I agree that the city should demand better. Hopefully they will, and not be blinded by dollar signs. The tax revenue generated by this project will be substantial.

MonctonRad · #**6960** Posted **Jul 14, 2021, 6:16 PM**

Residential at CF Champlain will be difficult to accomplish because of the unstable ground in the area. The mall is quite literally built on a swamp, and the soil substrate is incapable of load bearing a tall structure like an apartment tower. Underground parking also would not be possible (flood plain).