Winnipeg | Retail

[thebasketballgeek]

Originally Posted by cslusarc

Earlier this month I visited The Bay at St-Vital. It looked a little depressing as the store had empty shelves, clothing racks were excessively spaced. It felt like The Bay at St-Vital was preparing to close permanently as it had not received new Spring merchandise.

On another note, Retail Insider reports that HBC will close 3 Saks OFF 5TH store in Canada this spring, Winnipeg is not on that list (yet).

Not surprising once the Outlet opened St. Vital has been slowly dying because of retail oversaturation. All my fellow Gen-z shoppers think the mall’s retail selection just doesn’t compete with Polo or the Outlet and so the wealthier residents in the south have just determined there’s no reason to go there. If it wasn’t for the Walmart it would be much worse. At this point they really need to consider redeveloping at least a few of those surface parking lots into high density development. It’s a very good location for housing because with all the services, amenities, and schools within close walking distance like Dakota. I know when I went to Dr. Penner elementary in the mid 2000s there was only 130 or so students and I’m certain there’s quite a few less kids in the area since I attended.

It’s time to take St. Vital out of the 70s!

[esquire]

Originally Posted by cslusarc

Earlier this month I visited The Bay at St-Vital. It looked a little depressing as the store had empty shelves, clothing racks were excessively spaced. It felt like The Bay at St-Vital was preparing to close permanently as it had not received new Spring merchandise.

On another note, Retail Insider reports that HBC will close 3 Saks OFF 5TH store in Canada this spring, Winnipeg is not on that list (yet).

This Bay store has always felt kind of half-baked, or at least it has over the last 20 years or so. The Unicity location was similar, but the company closed that one long ago. Yet the St. Vital store keeps trundling along with its weak selection and outdated decor. For some reason, the store has been blocked off from the mall for most of the past two years... as a result, I seldom even go inside.

It's funny because I was a regular downtown Bay shopper... I live pretty close to the St. Vital store, but I seldom bother going. It does feel like a store that's on borrowed time.

[WildCake]

Originally Posted by thebasketballgeek

Not surprising once the Outlet opened St. Vital has been slowly dying because of retail oversaturation. All my fellow Gen-z shoppers think the mall’s retail selection just doesn’t compete with Polo or the Outlet and so the wealthier residents in the south have just determined there’s no reason to go there. If it wasn’t for the Walmart it would be much worse. At this point they really need to consider redeveloping at least a few of those surface parking lots into high density development. It’s a very good location for housing because with all the services, amenities, and schools within close walking distance like Dakota. I know when I went to Dr. Penner elementary in the mid 2000s there was only 130 or so students and I’m certain there’s quite a few less kids in the area since I attended.

It’s time to take St. Vital out of the 70s!

I agree about adding residential, and wouldn't be surprised if it is being worked on already. The additional of the Goodlift turned Fit4Less is already an indication of where their mind is at in terms of what services they want at the mall.

Completely anecdotal with no numbers to back it up, but I swear going to St Vital in the 2000s, on a weekend in December, would be a struggle to find parking, anywhere.

In the last 4-5 years (pandemic excluded), most larger areas only seem to get to ~75% full at their peak (I know the convenient spots by Chapters and the food court are always full). The fringes around the Bay, Walmart, and London Drugs don't really fill up anymore unless there's been a ton of snow and no one knows where to park.

I could definitely see a mid/high rise residential building in the NE and SW corners of the property.

[CoryB]

It seemed that once all incarnations of Eaton's failed and the path was cleared for Hudsons Bay to secure a place at Polo Park the dim, flickering light that was keeping them invested in other locations in Winnipeg went out. Even the Polo Park locations seems to lack behind their brand standard with a weird mix of Eaton's, Eatons, Sears, "The Bay" and now "Hudsons Bay" design languages in their space.

Not sure what the deal is keeping them invested in the St Vital space but there must be some incentive to keep up a pretense of it being a going concern.

As for Hudsons Bay Outlet/Off 5th the Winnipeg location is likely under a similar pressure, a lease with a huge penalty if they close the space. Based on how long Hudsons Bay propped up a couple Zellers locations elsewhere in Canada as clearance outlets I wouldn't be surprised if they do similar with Off 5th at the local outlet mall until they can cleanly exit their lease.

[esquire]

Once they closed the downtown location, I stopped caring about Hudsons Bay. Open, close, whatever, I don't care.

[drew]

^ ditto for me.

[bomberjet]

I didn't even realize they were still at St. Vital. Goes along with the lack of interest in St Vital I suppose.

[horrorbro123]

Steel N Ink Is Coming To Polo Park And Something Going On Former Le Chateau Next Between Steve Madden and Cleo

[horrorbro123]

Forever 21 is Returning to Polo Park

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by trueviking

That saks hasn’t received new merchandise in two years. They are starting to sell Winners type brands just to fill a few racks.

the Saks Off 5th here in BC are the same, for what it's worth the one in Seattle was the same a few months ago. Nordstrom Rack is the same, they bring in Brands that fit the image but are not sold in a Nordstrom store ie lots of Penguin brand or stuff one can find at winners.

[esquire]

I remember stopping by the Saks Off 5th in downtown Minneapolis anytime I was in town until it closed about 7 years ago. That was a great place to find deals on some pretty nice things. The one at the outlet mall here isn't even in the same league as that one, it really does feel like a somewhat better than average Winners store. Although based on SpongeG's comment it sounds like that is the formula for their Canadian stores in general.

[bomberjet]

Isn't Forever 21 the store in that tiki hut looking store front?

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Isn't Forever 21 the store in that tiki hut looking store front?

You thinking Hollister?

Forever 21 was formerly across from Starbucks before going through some bankruptcy restructuring a few years ago and pulling out of the Canadian market.

[bomberjet]

I guess. Call me out of touch with the teeny bopper market. haha So Forever 21 was never in that space? I never pay attention to that space for that reason. Maybe I'm thinking of something else prior to Hollister being in that space.

[esquire]

Forever 21 was mostly in the old Safeway space on the east side of the mall, wasn't it?

[Jeff]

Polo needs to land a Zara. Used to hate that place, but I recently visited one in AZ and their stuff is more geared to my stocky, mid-thirties frame than I thought.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by horrorbro123

Forever 21 is Returning to Polo Park

Pretty sure Forever 21 isn't really "returning" as much as Stitches is changing the sign at its store. Following the bankruptcy, YM, the parent company behind Stitches, struck a deal to run the restructured Forever 21 in Canada while different owners took over operations in other markets.

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...eturning-to-canada-with-physical-stores/

Polo really needs a Zara/Zara Home, a Uniqlo and a Primark.

[pegcity]

CF Polo Park, also needs a Sporting life, Decathlon and JD Sports

[optimusREIM]

Speaking of polo park, did the airport secondary plan revision go through?

[cheswick]

Youngs Market looking to open a store mcphillips at kingsbury. Taking what I think was a buffet restaurant at some point and building an addition.

Not sure if it's a replacement to their smaller store further south on mcphillips.