The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by theKB

I still question how Brentwood is rolling out with this sort of half finished setup with so many empty spaces. There is a novelty factory of going there but it really doesn’t have much when you actually get there with only a few stores open. The old mall is unbelievably depressing.

The outdoor space still sucks. I drive by a lot and see very few people out and about, compared with the local population. I think they all still drive in and out of their parkades, they don't walk anywhere.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by theKB

If Brentwood ever gets fully done you could see them taking on a similar position of Bellevue to Seattle

I really don't think so.

As covered before on this forum, Brentwood will be sorely lacking a large selection of luxury stores, even though the mall will appear to be up-scale.

I don't think we're about to see an exodus of our luxury stores from the Alberni/Robson/Burrard/Thurlow area.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

I really don't think so.

As covered before on this forum, Brentwood will be sorely lacking a large selection of luxury stores, even though the mall will appear to be up-scale.

I don't think we're about to see an exodus of our luxury stores from the Alberni/Robson/Burrard/Thurlow area.

The stores are also empty whenever I’ve gone there and I worry for the mall’s future. The theatre and food court are seemingly doing very well though.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by theKB

During Covid - suit supply is taking over the space.

If Brentwood ever gets fully done you could see them taking on a similar position of Bellevue to Seattle.

I still question how Brentwood is rolling out with this sort of half finished setup with so many empty spaces. There is a novelty factory of going there but it really doesn’t have much when you actually get there with only a few stores open. The old mall is unbelievably depressing.

Burnaby is never going to be Bellevue.

Bellevue's median income converted to Cdn is about $30k higher than Burnaby's.

[C3YVR]

Barnes and Noble in Bellevue just announced they were closing a couple days ago to be replaced by Onni Bellevue, a three tower project likely starting early next year. A brochure can be downloaded on the link.

https://kidder.com/properties/single.html?listing=11031125&property=210039

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Well clearly not everybody is obsessed with going to malls. There might be other reasons for going to Seattle - what's more interesting is why Seattle is doing so poorly, and Vancouver's retail is the most resilient in Canada?

All of Vancouver's city/town centre malls are doing very well, thanks to good public transportation network and policies of municipal governments, especially the suburban cities. Many of these malls have been helping to elevate the status of old sleepy villages and towns into exciting new city centres. Seattle is still expanding like a typical US, and hence its failures.

Clearly everyone, including visitors coming to Vancouver is obsessed with shopping at the malls, and Seattle would've succeeded as well if they planned their retail better.

Guess why Bellevue is successful? You guessed it, it's got a nice mall!

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Vin

All of Vancouver's city/town centre malls are doing very well, thanks to good public transportation network and policies of municipal governments, especially the suburban cities. Many of these malls have been helping to elevate the status of old sleepy villages and towns into exciting new city centres. Seattle is still expanding like a typical US, and hence its failures.

Clearly everyone, including visitors coming to Vancouver is obsessed with shopping at the malls, and Seattle would've succeeded as well if they planned their retail better.

Guess why Bellevue is successful? You guessed it, it's got a nice mall!

You live in a pretty funny world. Thank for those suburban governments are propping up Vancouver malls.

[hollywoodnorth]

Tsawwassen Mills mall sold to Chinese-owned development firm

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/tsawwassen-mills-mall-sold-central-walk

interesting stuff in the comments of this post on DH >>


RandyB
1 day ago

It would be nice if we knew more about the company Central Walk and the owner, Weihong Liu. It seems in 2012 "SHENZHEN Yijing Central Walk Business Co. was suspected of illegally selling retail property" as per an article in Shenzen Daily. Also the same owner of this company "punched a reporter in the chest during a Monday press conference" as reported by Shenzen Daily, in regards to an investigation into the illegal property sales, also in 2012. An company by the name of Central Walk Barbados is registered under person by the name of Weihong Liu, leaked by the Panama Papers.

With the current scrutiny of Russian assets being held overseas, hopefully the ownership of some of the largest commercial real estate in western British Columbia would also be transparent in the ownership and source of funds. As per Central Walk's own website, Ms. Weihong Liu serves as a member of the All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce, operating under the leadership of the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, which as per Wikipedia: "gathers intelligence on, manages relations with, and attempts to influence elite individuals and organizations inside and outside China", and which is currently under sanctions and visa restrictions by the U.S government. She also serves as a member (per Central Walk's website) of the Provincial Congress of Political Consultation, is a part of the CCP's United Front organization, whos purpose is (per Wikipedia): " political strategy of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) involving networks of groups and key individuals that are influenced or controlled by the CCP and used to advance its interests"

[Tysonbrown]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

Tsawwassen Mills mall sold to Chinese-owned development firm

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/tsawwassen-mills-mall-sold-central-walk

interesting stuff in the comments of this post on DH >>


RandyB
1 day ago

It would be nice if we knew more about the company Central Walk and the owner, Weihong Liu. It seems in 2012 "SHENZHEN Yijing Central Walk Business Co. was suspected of illegally selling retail property" as per an article in Shenzen Daily. Also the same owner of this company "punched a reporter in the chest during a Monday press conference" as reported by Shenzen Daily, in regards to an investigation into the illegal property sales, also in 2012. An company by the name of Central Walk Barbados is registered under person by the name of Weihong Liu, leaked by the Panama Papers.

With the current scrutiny of Russian assets being held overseas, hopefully the ownership of some of the largest commercial real estate in western British Columbia would also be transparent in the ownership and source of funds. As per Central Walk's own website, Ms. Weihong Liu serves as a member of the All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce, operating under the leadership of the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, which as per Wikipedia: "gathers intelligence on, manages relations with, and attempts to influence elite individuals and organizations inside and outside China", and which is currently under sanctions and visa restrictions by the U.S government. She also serves as a member (per Central Walk's website) of the Provincial Congress of Political Consultation, is a part of the CCP's United Front organization, whos purpose is (per Wikipedia): " political strategy of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) involving networks of groups and key individuals that are influenced or controlled by the CCP and used to advance its interests"

So basically, sold to the Chinese Gov't. There are NO Chinese private companies.

[whatnext]

So according to Global, Black Dog Video on Commercial had a three hour lineup for their going out of business sale! Kind of odd they didn’t come out and support it more when they were open.

[SpongeG]

I read a while ago that Baskin Robins was making a comeback and expanding, I know they are very popular in Korea.

Anyway Guildford TC is getting a BR.

2022-05-22_08-45-23 by snub_you, on Flickr

[jollyburger]

Natalie Joseph, Senior International Field Marketing Manager for Baskin-Robbins Canada, said the company for 2022, 2023 and beyond has brought on a franchisee who is going to be developing in the British Columbia market, predominantly in the Greater Vancouver Area.

“This gentleman has just signed on a 15 store development over the next two to three years and the first shop is going to break ground in March with a planned opening of April or May,” she said.

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...sion-with-major-west-coast-growth-plans/

[djh]

Originally Posted by whatnext

So according to Global, Black Dog Video on Commercial had a three hour lineup for their going out of business sale! Kind of odd they didn’t come out and support it more when they were open.

...and then there was One.


The last man standing in the game of musical chairs for video stores appears to now be Video Cat. It used to be Black Dog (Cambie St.) but the owner sold it to a staff member, who rebranded it.

I make an effort to go in there at least once a week, but it still struggles, even though they have so many videos that you can't find online, and the staff are incredibly enthusiastic cinephiles, and you can buy popular or rare films there, and they can recommend you stuff that you just wouldn't find by doing an online search. There's nothing that beats the personal touch.


If only we as a society spent more time frequenting our high streets and not buying everything from nameless, faceless foreign corporations, we'd have more lively shopping districts run by our own little success story businesses. Instead, we seem to relish in lining up for the next big thing to open up here....and then never even support them regularly as loyal customers because we've unlocked our "First!" badge and collected our Likes and Subscribes.

[SpongeG]

Can you rent movies out of red box here? I've never seen any of those here but down in Bellingham they are outside a lot of stores.

[officedweller]

Ninety-seven per cent of employees at Loblaw’s Superstore and Distribution Centres in British Columbia have voted in favour of a strike, according to the union representing workers across the province.

“The strike vote saw a strong turnout from Loblaws union members across the province. We have notified the Company of the results and the pressure is now on the Company to return to the table,” says a union spokesperson in a bulletin posted on its website.

A strike vote is valid for three months after the date of the vote, the union is required to serve 72 hours’ notice of strike action to the Company.

Contract discussions have been underway since last year.

https://www.grocerybusiness.ca/news/b-c-loblaws-superstore-distribution-centres-vote-to-strike

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by officedweller

https://www.grocerybusiness.ca/news/b-c-loblaws-superstore-distribution-centres-vote-to-strike

I sense a return to toilet paper hoarding.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

You live in a pretty funny world. Thank for those suburban governments are propping up Vancouver malls.

It's the other way round.

[whatnext]

Interesting that a big candy store will be opening on the Granville Strip. I wish them luck, it will be nice to have the variety along there.

New sweet shop in downtown Vancouver could be 'the biggest candy store in B.C.'
It's going to be right on the Granville strip
Brendan Kergin
2 days ago

The Granville strip will be a little sweeter this summer.

That's when Karmuddin "Ricardo" Rizaie is opening up the second Ricardo's Kandy Korner. His White Rock location is already one of the biggest sweet shops in the province, and he says the new one "will be the biggest candy store in B.C." at over 1,500 square feet.

"It's going to be about double the size of the White Rock one," Rizaie says. "We're going way bigger and grander for everything."

The local entrepreneur will be stocking the new store with over 450 different bulk candies along with sweets from around the world. There will also be beverages from the U.S., UK and Europe, he adds...

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/food-...sweet-shop-downtown-vancouver-bc-5406624

[SpongeG]

Harry Rosen has opened up at the McArthur Glen Outlets. Michael Kors moved to where J Crew used to be and a cheesecake place has opened. Not much else has changed.

[theKB]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Harry Rosen has opened up at the McArthur Glen Outlets. Michael Kors moved to where J Crew used to be and a cheesecake place has opened. Not much else has changed.

Wonder Harry Rosen will keep the Tsawwassen Mills location open with that going in there.