The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[officedweller]

deleted - wrong thread

[SpongeG]

I've been seeing a lot of bus shelters and billboards with Specsavers ads on them this week, they are an optical chain from the UK. With stores in Australia and NZ as well as some of Europe.

Their Canadian locations are all in BC so far.
Nanaimo, Coquitlam, Chilliwack and Kelowna
They have another one opening in Dwlta soon.

[SpongeG]

Hudson’s Bay Flagship Store in Downtown Vancouver to Be Redeveloped

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...in-downtown-vancouver-to-be-redeveloped/

[Vin]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Hudson’s Bay Flagship Store in Downtown Vancouver to Be Redeveloped

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...in-downtown-vancouver-to-be-redeveloped/

Just to highlight what's in there:

Exhibition:
Feb 23-27 inclusive, 11am - 6pm

In-Person Public Information Meetings:
Feb 23, 12pm - 6pm
Feb 26, 12pm - 3pm

Venue:
Main Floor, Hudson's Bay downtown Vancouver store
674 Granville Street
This event is hosted by HBC and Steelworks Development, not a CoV event. Mask up when attending!

[SpongeG]

Habitat by AEON is opening where the Tangerine Bank space was on Pender & Howe. It's becoming quite the cluster of high-end furnishings and showrooms in that area. They have a current space on West 4th just off of Main Street.

[supercanuck]

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/tt-supermarket-1085-woolridge-street-coquitlam?auto=true

New T&T in the old Home Outfitters location beside Ikea Coquitlam. Opening late 2022.
I've been waiting for a long time for this.

Location is a bit small for a T&T (if I remember the old Home Outfitters correctly), and also parking will be a pain if this one is as popular as all the other T&T's.

[trofirhen]

Please excuse me for entering this once again, as it is very much "old news." However, I think it still merits attention by the fact that years have gone by, yet nothing has been done.
I'm talking about high-end retail Alberni Street, in the block along with DeBeers, Prada, et al. The sidewalks are still cracked, and mended here and there with asphalt. The Prada telephone pole is still there.
There was talk years back of 'parklets,' better lighting, and nicer paving for the sidewalks. Is this really a project so expensive so as not to be worthy of consideration, or has it merely become lost in the shuffle?
For all its claims to be a 'world-class city.' and to refer to Alberni as stuff like "Vancouver's answer to Rodeo Drive," it might be an idea if the street looked the part. Has the issue been shelved indefinitely?

[Vin]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Please excuse me for entering this once again, as it is very much "old news." However, I think it still merits attention by the fact that years have gone by, yet nothing has been done.
I'm talking about high-end retail Alberni Street, in the block along with DeBeers, Prada, et al. The sidewalks are still cracked, and mended here and there with asphalt. The Prada telephone pole is still there.
There was talk years back of 'parklets,' better lighting, and nicer paving for the sidewalks. Is this really a project so expensive so as not to be worthy of consideration, or has it merely become lost in the shuffle?
For all its claims to be a 'world-class city.' and to refer to Alberni as stuff like "Vancouver's answer to Rodeo Drive," it might be an idea if the street looked the part. Has the issue been shelved indefinitely?

My friend, without private , Provincial or Federal involvement, I don't think the City has any money to upgrade anything, or even to maintain existing public facilities. One look at the really damaged and patched up "cobblestone" pavement of Water Street in Gastown will give you an idea just how terrible this City is in maintaining its previously illustrious parts of the city. This City Council really needs to be booted out.

January 2022:
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2834706,...vlhk3b0qNikrHOtJBX8cA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2833486,...vrpuSeT_Kyyfh0jsUGLoQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

May 2019
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2832274,...M_7EnOxSdT2yrql6ZzyNw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

And this is supposed to be a prime Tourist location......It's as Third World as it can get when it comes to maintenance.

Nope, Vancouver is not world class at all: not even in the tiniest bit.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Vin

My friend, without private , Provincial or Federal involvement, I don't think the City has any money to upgrade anything, or even to maintain existing public facilities. One look at the really damaged and patched up "cobblestone" pavement of Water Street in Gastown will give you an idea just how terrible this City is in maintaining its previously illustrious parts of the city. This City Council really needs to be booted out.

January 2022:
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2834706,...vlhk3b0qNikrHOtJBX8cA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2833486,...vrpuSeT_Kyyfh0jsUGLoQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

May 2019
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2832274,...M_7EnOxSdT2yrql6ZzyNw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

And this is supposed to be a prime Tourist location......It's as Third World as it can get when it comes to maintenance.

Nope, Vancouver is not world-class at all: not even in the tiniest bit.

Yow! I had no idea Gastown was as bad as that. That and Alberni Street still give the city a "rough around the edges" feel. Oh well, one day ...

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Vin

My friend, without private , Provincial or Federal involvement, I don't think the City has any money to upgrade anything, or even to maintain existing public facilities. One look at the really damaged and patched up "cobblestone" pavement of Water Street in Gastown will give you an idea just how terrible this City is in maintaining its previously illustrious parts of the city. This City Council really needs to be booted out.

Weren't they in planning stages to totally revitalize the street which is why they aren't dumping money into repairing the road?

EDIT: Started in 2017-2018

https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/gastown-complete-streets.aspx

[theKB]

Originally Posted by Vin

My friend, without private , Provincial or Federal involvement, I don't think the City has any money to upgrade anything, or even to maintain existing public facilities. One look at the really damaged and patched up "cobblestone" pavement of Water Street in Gastown will give you an idea just how terrible this City is in maintaining its previously illustrious parts of the city. This City Council really needs to be booted out.

January 2022:
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2834706,...vlhk3b0qNikrHOtJBX8cA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2833486,...vrpuSeT_Kyyfh0jsUGLoQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

May 2019
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2832274,...M_7EnOxSdT2yrql6ZzyNw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

And this is supposed to be a prime Tourist location......It's as Third World as it can get when it comes to maintenance.

Nope, Vancouver is not world class at all: not even in the tiniest bit.

The city managed to find the budget to relocate the posts, put in some ugly cement barriers and change the direction of Alexander and associated requirements for that. Now I'm sure that budget is nowhere near required revitalizing the brick roads, but it's all priorities.

Let's also not forget they had the budget to build full fledge bike infrastructure on smithe as well. Again priorities.

Gastown will continue to die as a retail/tourism destination until the city/province/feds work together to lift up that area from its issues. I am sure the landlords are still expecting to ask top tier rents, the property taxes match the land values so the constant empty store fronts will continue to feed the issue. There will be a rebound when the cruise ship passengers and other tourists come back, lets just hope its not a bunch of new stores selling trinkets and trash. Kitsune is definitely a nice addition to the area.

The tax revenue associated with those retail properties on Alberni and the power of the downtown Vancouver BIA should be enough to push a beautification of Alberni especially as the luxury frontage is now expanding beyond Thurlow. The tax revenue generated for the city off that block is immense and making the street match the tenants can only enhance that value attracting even more global brands.

Is there any rumors on what is taking over the old Hermes/Restuarant space at Alberni and Burrard? Also will Monte Cristo actually open in the old IK Space? I know a vault can take some time to construct but this has been quite some time including in the making especially with the strength of the luxury goods market.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by theKB

The city managed to find the budget to relocate the posts, put in some ugly cement barriers and change the direction of Alexander and associated requirements for that. Now I'm sure that budget is nowhere near required revitalizing the brick roads, but it's all priorities.

Let's also not forget they had the budget to build full fledge bike infrastructure on smithe as well. Again priorities.

Gastown will continue to die as a retail/tourism destination until the city/province/feds work together to lift up that area from its issues. I am sure the landlords are still expecting to ask top tier rents, the property taxes match the land values so the constant empty store fronts will continue to feed the issue. There will be a rebound when the cruise ship passengers and other tourists come back, lets just hope its not a bunch of new stores selling trinkets and trash. Kitsune is definitely a nice addition to the area.

The tax revenue associated with those retail properties on Alberni and the power of the downtown Vancouver BIA should be enough to push a beautification of Alberni especially as the luxury frontage is now expanding beyond Thurlow. The tax revenue generated for the city off that block is immense and making the street match the tenants can only enhance that value attracting even more global brands.

Think European Cities: there are so many alleyways and narrow roads all over with cobblestone paving, and yet they are well-maintained and look great. Here we have a SINGLE street and it is in disrepair. Priorities or not, that is extremely shameful to say the least.

BIA is great, but they can't physically go down to lay a beautiful new road for Alberni. Everything still has to go through the lame City.

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Weren't they in planning stages to totally revitalize the street which is why they aren't dumping money into repairing the road?

EDIT: Started in 2017-2018

https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/gastown-complete-streets.aspx

That would just be a lame excuse for the City failing to make even the most basic street repair. The long-term process for Gastown started in 2017. It has been 5 years now. The plan is for 2040. So that would mean there won't be anything done for another 18 years, including street maintenance and repair? I wonder how Gastown would look like then. Perhaps back to dirt roads for horses and carriages?

[Vin]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Yow! I had no idea Gastown was as bad as that. That and Alberni Street still give the city a "rough around the edges" feel. Oh well, one day ...

Shocking huh? Well, let us all enjoy looking at Montreal's cobblestone streets:

Rue Saint-Paul, Oct 2021:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5090034,...Y9dETfLduvE5HAm4b8KGg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Bonsecours Street, Nov 2020:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5101182,...ev-Glr4AVCa2l7RvZ5rsw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Rue Bonneau, Nov 2020:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5103963,...Jl9X4THRd5LDeoTCuYpjg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

St Sulpice Street, May 2021:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5045426,...oGMBzTB08UIXmZumYltdQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

There are a lot more well-maintained heritage district streets there!

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Vin

Shocking huh? Well, let us all enjoy looking at Montreal's cobblestone streets:

Rue Saint-Paul, Oct 2021:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5090034,...Y9dETfLduvE5HAm4b8KGg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Bonsecours Street, Nov 2020:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5101182,...ev-Glr4AVCa2l7RvZ5rsw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Rue Bonneau, Nov 2020:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5103963,...Jl9X4THRd5LDeoTCuYpjg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

St Sulpice Street, May 2021:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5045426,...oGMBzTB08UIXmZumYltdQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

There are a lot more well-maintained heritage district streets there!

Yes, those are well-kept, nice to look at. It shows that where there's a will, there is usually a way, and surely there is both the will and the way to fix Gastown and Alberni Street.

[Klazu]

Vancouver streets are like third-world country. Driving through Gastown is hell on low-profile sport tires but it isn't much betters elsewhere in the city either. I cannot think of any long stretch of new asphalt in the city. Marine Drive is promised to be fully repaved as a result of the water main work, but I am not holding my breath.

[connect2source]

Even Halifax is completely re-doing the entire streetscape of Spring Garden Road ( similar to Robson Street ) from end-to-end with super high-quality stone work, widened sidewalks, integrated street furniture and features throughout. This after Argyle Street, the famous pub and bar street, was recently completely transformed. Vancouver's sidewalks, in prime areas, are beyond appalling, Gastown is beyond comprehension, the area around the Europe Hotel is literally rubble.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbquokBUYLY&t=282s

[Denscity]

Sidewalks on Granville and some of Robson Street are nice n wide. And widened fairly recently.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Denscity

Sidewalks on Granville and some of Robson Street are nice n wide. And widened fairly recently.

Granville still looks good, except the wood on the street furniture is worn.
The slate strips were also a poor choice because they are slippery in the rain.
They should have installed them perpendicular to the line of travel so you don't walk along them.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by supercanuck

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/tt-supermarket-1085-woolridge-street-coquitlam?auto=true

New T&T in the old Home Outfitters location beside Ikea Coquitlam. Opening late 2022.
I've been waiting for a long time for this.

Location is a bit small for a T&T (if I remember the old Home Outfitters correctly), and also parking will be a pain if this one is as popular as all the other T&T's.

The sublease sign on the building said it was 38K square feet.

Sungiven is opening another Burnaby store in Greystone Village

https://www.burnabynow.com/local-busines...as-grocery-store-battle-heats-up-5126644

[supercanuck]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

The sublease sign on the building said it was 38K square feet.

Sungiven is opening another Burnaby store in Greystone Village

https://www.burnabynow.com/local-busines...as-grocery-store-battle-heats-up-5126644

Thanks! So about the size of the Richmond Oval one then, according to this article. I've only ever been to the City Square Sungiven but the few times I've been, I'm surprised that it's still in business. It must be doing much better elsewhere for them to keep on expanding.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/tnt-supermarket-lansdowne-centre-richmond

"Up until 2015, the company had a 22,000 sq. ft. store within President Plaza – located next to Yaohan Centre and Aberdeen Centre – but the space remains unoccupied.

The Lansdowne Centre location will be considerably larger than other T&T Supermarket stores.

For comparison, the Richmond Oval Village store is 38,000 sq. ft., the Marine Gateway store is 40,000 sq. ft., and the Metropolis at Metrotown store – the region’s largest – is about 60,000 sq. ft."