[Moncton] Retail Thread

[Taeolas]

Thanks; their location finder wasn't playing nice with me.

So so far we have:

1 "New to this block" restaurant (Subway)
1 "New to the city" restaurant (Taco Boyz)
1 "New to the province" restaurant (Blaze Pizza)

Maybe the last will be new to the region at least?

*Edit* Fredericton had a Pannizza briefly, but I think it was a COVID casualty. The location was decent enough, on Prospect next to FHS, but it never seemed busy. Buffet 2 Go replaced it.

[MonctonRad]

So, the fast food panoply at Granite will include:

- McDonalds
- Starbucks
- Subway
- Boustan
- Wing'n It
- Taco Boyz
- Blaze Pizza

What's next........ Five Guys???

[stephan.richard]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

So, the fast food panoply at Granite will include:

- McDonalds
- Starbucks
- Subway
- Boustan
- Wing'n It
- Taco Boyz
- Blaze Pizza

What's next........ Five Guys???

How I hope

[drewber]

Opening at 184 Alma st in the former Kanpai Izakaya. Opening soon as per retail talk and share.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by stephan.richard

How I hope

Five Guys is destined for greater Moncton, probably sooner than later. The obvious place for it to get built is in the Granite Centre, especially with all the other food options that have been announced there recently.

Moncton has been on Five Guys radar for some time. This article is from 2018 (pre pandemic).

https://www.thinkretail.ca/post/five-guys-fires-up-plans-for-15-new-restaurants

Koeppel Companies has also plans to ramp up expansion of Five Guys in the Maritimes in early 2019 and the initial focus there is on Halifax, Moncton and St. John's. They seek opportunities of 2,500 to 3,200 sq. ft. in open-air centres (with patio), high streets and super regional malls.

[bridgeoftea]

Is there anymore details on the Cobbs Bread rumour?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by bridgeoftea

Is there anymore details on the Cobbs Bread rumour?

No. All we know is that Cobbs is interested in all three main NB markets. I imagine the next step will be if a qualified franchisee steps up to the plate.

[MonctonRad]

Pseudio has already reopened in the former Samuel & Co, in the south wing of CF Champlain, next to the new LL Bean store, currently under construction.

Renovations in the former Pseudo space for Torrid are apparently imminent. This should progress quickly, as Torrid is expected to open in August.

[MonctonRad]

Swarovski is apparently closing at CF Champlain.

Not a surprise really. The store never seemed that busy.

[ColSJ]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

No. All we know is that Cobbs is interested in all three main NB markets. I imagine the next step will be if a qualified franchisee steps up to the plate.

I saw a project for Cobbs on CCD the other week for a location in Moncton.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by ColSJ

I saw a project for Cobbs on CCD the other week for a location in Moncton.

Really!

Good to know. Thanks!

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Swarovski is apparently closing at CF Champlain.

Not a surprise really. The store never seemed that busy.

This might me a good space for Starbucks. If not that, than whatever goes there can take a chunk of the old VS space if they needed as well. Gives some options anyway.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

This might me a good space for Starbucks. If not that, than whatever goes there can take a chunk of the old VS space if they needed as well. Gives some options anyway.

If you look at the CF Champlain leasing map, the Swarovski space added to the old VS/Pink location makes for a very nice rectangular footprint for a new store.

I heard an unofficial rumour from a source with unknown credibility a couple of months ago that there was interest being expressed in the old Victoria's Secret space. Could this be an indication there is something afoot???

[stephan.richard]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

If you look at the CF Champlain leasing map, the Swarovski space added to the old VS/Pink location makes for a very nice rectangular footprint for a new store.

I heard an unofficial rumour from a source with unknown credibility a couple of months ago that there was interest being expressed in the old Victoria's Secret space. Could this be an indication there is something afoot???

It would make a nice space for a Hollister?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by stephan.richard

It would make a nice space for a Hollister?

More likely something like Aritzia or Zara, but, sure........

[OUIR@random]

Aritzia or Zara would be a nice catch for Champlain. I'm still surprised Lush is not here yet...

a Nike store perhaps? or is that a better fit for the Trinity area?

Aritzia would be nice since it's Canadian and I'm all up for that.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by OUIR@random

I'm still surprised Lush is not here yet...

Plans for a Lush in Moncton were scuppered by the pandemic. The pop-up shop they had at city hall plaza was a smashing success, but the pandemic arrived a couple of months later, and while there were plans for a CF Champlain Place location in 2020 to build on the buzz from the pop-up location, ultimately nothing happened.

Since then Lush (a UK company) bought out it's Canadian affiliate for $180M, and is now in full control of all stores in North America. While an affiliated company based in Vancouver might have been interested in a Moncton location, a worldwide conglomerate based in London probably doesn't even know where New Brunswick is.

The dream of a Lush in NB is probably dead. Lush has 919 stores in 48 countries. They are probably more interested in new stores in Dubai or Singapore than they are in Moncton or Saint John.........

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Plans for a Lush in Moncton were scuppered by the pandemic. The pop-up shop they had at city hall plaza was a smashing success, but the pandemic arrived a couple of months later, and while there were plans for a CF Champlain Place location in 2020 to build on the buzz from the pop-up location, ultimately nothing happened.

Since then Lush (a UK company) bought out it's Canadian affiliate for $180M, and is now in full control of all stores in North America. While an affiliated company based in Vancouver might have been interested in a Moncton location, a worldwide conglomerate based in London probably doesn't even know where New Brunswick is.

The dream of a Lush in NB is probably dead. Lush has 919 stores in 48 countries. They are probably more interested in new stores in Dubai or Singapore than they are in Moncton or Saint John.........

We can only hope that someone at the Vancouver office passed on their list of potential expansion location options to the new office in London. That way it’s at least on their radar, even if it would only be a small blip on it.

[MonctonRad]

Here's an article detailing the Lush (UK) takeover of it's Canadian affiliate:

https://beautymatter.com/articles/lush-buys-out-north-american-partner

Of note is that Lush is pivoting it's business model to maximize sales, especially utilizing "new platforms" (like online). They plan on only nine new store openings worldwide in 2022. Nine!!!!

That's not many new stores for the entire world. I think Moncton is so far off the radar now as to be completely non existent..........

[OUIR@random]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Plans for a Lush in Moncton were scuppered by the pandemic. The pop-up shop they had at city hall plaza was a smashing success, but the pandemic arrived a couple of months later, and while there were plans for a CF Champlain Place location in 2020 to build on the buzz from the pop-up location, ultimately nothing happened.

Since then Lush (a UK company) bought out it's Canadian affiliate for $180M, and is now in full control of all stores in North America. While an affiliated company based in Vancouver might have been interested in a Moncton location, a worldwide conglomerate based in London probably doesn't even know where New Brunswick is.

The dream of a Lush in NB is probably dead. Lush has 919 stores in 48 countries. They are probably more interested in new stores in Dubai or Singapore than they are in Moncton or Saint John.........

I understand that Halifax can now play with the big leagues when it come to being a retail destination, they are our metropolis of the East Coast.

Still... if Halifax has 2 stores, Moncton could afford 1 store for New Brunswick. IMHO. But 9 nine (9) stores to open in 2022, that is minuscule indeed!

Lush is a possibility, but Simons is not, we just don't have enough buying power for an upscale department store, people in the region will just buy online or go to Halifax. We were in Halifax in May and it was uncanny how many NB plates I saw, lots of PEI as well. Simons is never coming here, just like IKEA is never coming either or Apple, the list goes on and on, no point in listing all of them.

Halifax Metro Area is creeping to almost half a million, 440K it can start to compete with Canada's largest metro areas, Moncton can't with little over 156 000...

In any event.

A company that I could see setting up in Moncton would be an Amazon, distribution centre ??? Central location in the Maritimes (road, air & rail) and a bilingual region. Montréal is the most Eastern location with an Amazon distribution centre (Montreal is not even considered Eastern really), they are bound to land in the Maritimes at some point, with the cargo volume going up and up at the Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport, I have a feeling that someone else is thinking of this.
We don't have the weight of Halifax on many aspects, but we are the crossroads for the Maritimes and Atlantic Canada in general which is an absolute strength!