The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread - Page 785

SpongeG · #**15681** Posted **Sep 16, 2021, 5:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

Why shouldn't they have faith? Gastown is a popular tourist destination and a trendy neighborhood. Despite some of the illegal activities that occur deep into the night, Gastown is a very lively neighborhood in the evening with lots of foot traffic and excellent restaurants.

I posted this in the DTES thread too. Walked down water street today, around 4:00 pm it was quite busy with tourists. We were on the street across from where the new Maison Kitsune will be and sitting looking nearly dead were two people sitting amongst their belongings shooting up or had just shot up, possibly dead, who knows, but the girl had the needle sitting in her upturned hand and her head hanging low not moving, so high and out of it. The guy next to her was slumped over. We just hurried past. No idea what to do. Does one call the police? or 911 or is that just business as usual now? When we were on the other side of the street a little bit before just slightly further east on that side were two ambulances and a fire truck, like a small pickup one. Also most of the empty stores, one used to be a subway had people just sitting in the doorways with their drug paraphernalia.

Definatley not thinking we want to walk around gastown much. A lot of the stores when they see someone at the door will come and open the door for you and invite you to come inside. They don't seem as open and accessible as they used to be. We did so at the aesop.

jollyburger · #**15682** Posted **Sep 16, 2021, 2:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

Why shouldn't they have faith? Gastown is a popular tourist destination and a trendy neighborhood. Despite some of the illegal activities that occur deep into the night, Gastown is a very lively neighborhood in the evening with lots of foot traffic and excellent restaurants.

There's probably 10-15 empty stores along Water Street and the rents aren't any cheaper.

WarrenC12 · #**15683** Posted **Sep 16, 2021, 3:33 PM**

I've never understood the high rents in Gastown. It has some appeal, but relatively speaking the cost to do business always seem out of this world.

It has been "up and coming" for 20+ years. Proximity to the DTES will never change.

Vin · #**15684** Posted **Sep 16, 2021, 7:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I've never understood the high rents in Gastown. It has some appeal, but relatively speaking the cost to do business always seem out of this world.

It has been "up and coming" for 20+ years. Proximity to the DTES will never change.

We have so few good retail districts in the City (especially downtown) that even a rundown one becomes a hot item. Gastown boasts high foot traffic, especially during non-pandemic times with lots of Cruise ship tourists plying the area. It is the only area in the entire city with a cluster of historical buildings that tourists like to see, even though the City is allowing the surroundings to be in a state of decay over the years. To be honest, it is the only historical centre in many cities I've visited that has the worst public furniture and roadworks maintenance. The so-called "cobblestone" or brick-paved roads are in an embarrassing state of disrepair that one would believe that the City is really bankrupt.

Unless we clean up DTES, Gawstown and its sister district Chinatown will change for the worse.

djh · #**15685** Posted **Sep 16, 2021, 9:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I've never understood the high rents in Gastown. It has some appeal, but relatively speaking the cost to do business always seem out of this world.

It has been "up and coming" for 20+ years. Proximity to the DTES will never change.

Pre-COVID, Gastown was always seasonally busy, with wealthy foreign tourists. That used to be a licence to print money, if you were in the business of producing tourist tat (T-shirts, kitsch Canadiana, even "Canadian high-end" restaurants). So landlords consequently charged Robson-level rents for the street, and touristy shops flourished. The nearer the cruise ship terminal, the better the foot traffic.

Apparently the cruise ship rules are changing, so Alaska-bound ships won't need to make a Canadian stop any more to avoid various regulations. Hence the growth in the ports in the Seattle region. I can only guess there will be a levelling-off, or fall, in the growth of Vancouver cruise ship traffic post-COVID. We shall see how that affects rents in the neighbourhood, and if landlords see the writing on the wall and start to redevelop their properties if they think the cash cow will be drying-up.

SpongeG · #**15686** Posted **Sep 16, 2021, 11:37 PM**

is it confirmed? the Alaska Governor is trying to get it changed but it hadn't been for sure last news report I saw a couple days ago. It will be devastating to tourism here if it happens.

jollyburger · #**15687** Posted **Sep 17, 2021, 12:16 AM**

We can start a cottage industry of pirating cruise ships that go up the coast.

whatnext · #**15688** Posted **Sep 17, 2021, 4:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

is it confirmed? the Alaska Governor is trying to get it changed but it hadn't been for sure last news report I saw a couple days ago. It will be devastating to tourism here if it happens.

It was ridiculous then that Canada was relying on an antiquated piece of US legislation to drive its tourism industry. Doesn't anybody question why the USA was forcing cruise ships to call at a foreign port between two US ones? It is largely a legacy of ocean liner days when they didn't want European steamship companies poaching American customers on coastal routes on the Eastern Seaboard. It was meant to insure an American merchant marine, something which has pretty much disappeared.

SpongeG · #**15689** Posted **Sep 17, 2021, 11:07 PM**

Well have you watched a cruise ship load up? the amount of food and alcohol they have to use all comes from local suppliers. That's gotta suck to lose that much business.

jollyburger · #**15690** Posted **Sep 18, 2021, 12:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

It was ridiculous then that Canada was relying on an antiquated piece of US legislation to drive its tourism industry. Doesn't anybody question why the USA was forcing cruise ships to call at a foreign port between two US ones? It is largely a legacy of ocean liner days when they didn't want European steamship companies poaching American customers on coastal routes on the Eastern Seaboard. It was meant to insure an American merchant marine, something which has pretty much disappeared.

It's no different than softwood lumber or any other trade dispute.

Denscity · #**15691** Posted **Sep 18, 2021, 2:42 AM**

It's probably still viable if they pullout to charter a ship and do the same route.
Stop in Prince Rupert as well.
Or BC Ferries could do it.

WarrenC12 · #**15692** Posted **Sep 18, 2021, 3:18 PM**

Vancouver and Victoria will still be desirable stops, just not required.

Waders · #**15693** Posted **Sep 19, 2021, 2:47 AM**

Metropolis at Metrotown mall now under new management. Not sure what this means to the tenants and customers.
Also the mall hour is now changed back to the pre-pandemic level from 10am to 9pm for weekdays. This hopefully means more work hours for store employees.

SpongeG · #**15694** Posted **Sep 19, 2021, 4:28 AM**

Guildford also changed back to their normal hours mon - sat open till 9. Hudson's Bay is now open till 7 pm 7 days a week, it had been closing at 5 pm.

officedweller · #**15695** Posted **Sep 21, 2021, 9:22 PM**

The corner unit at Georgia & Seymour (formerly Sasso clothing) has a sign up for a Circle K convenience store opening soon.

jollyburger · #**15696** Posted **Sep 21, 2021, 9:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

The corner unit at Georgia & Seymour (formerly Sasso clothing) has a sign up for a Circle K convenience store opening soon.

I guess no HBC parkade redevelopment for a few more years

officedweller · #**15697** Posted **Sep 21, 2021, 9:53 PM**

Maybe there's a demolition clause?

Vin · #**15698** Posted **Sep 23, 2021, 9:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I guess no HBC parkade redevelopment for a few more years

It's a large block and can be done in phases. I would love to see the parkade go first.

WarrenC12 · #**15699** Posted **Sep 27, 2021, 3:28 PM**

Starbucks at Cambie and West 7th is gone. I'm a bit surprised as this survived the great purge of a few months back when 2 other locations in the area were closed. Now there's nothing on that section of Broadway anymore.

NewfBC · #**15700** Posted **Sep 27, 2021, 5:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Starbucks at Cambie and West 7th is gone. I'm a bit surprised as this survived the great purge of a few months back when 2 other locations in the area were closed. Now there's nothing on that section of Broadway anymore.

I wonder if they're reopening in the old location - Broadway/Cambie? There's some work being done in that space. Or has it been confirmed that's the space Jollibee is taking?

Ron.