The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Thank you for the clarification. What do you think is a more probable outcome for the space Nordstrom leaves behind? It's such a centrally located place.

Lots is likely in the works and there is also likely big retail demand for this space either in its current form or subdivided. Downtown is rebounding very well.

This interview with Martin Moriarty Senior Vice President at Marcus & Millichap give great insight into what may be in the works for the Nordstrom space as well as the increasing demand for retail spaces downtown.

https://retail-insider.com/podcast/2023/...ver-nordstrom-site-with-craig-patterson/

[WarrenC12]

Why does the "amazing" Brentwood think it can charge for parking? I was there on the weekend, and parked at the old outside lot (still free).

The old mall is sadder than ever, and the new area seems interesting but terribly laid out, everything is split up with weird names. Not the easiest to navigate if you aren't familiar with it.

Good selection of food so far though.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Why does the "amazing" Brentwood think it can charge for parking? I was there on the weekend, and parked at the old outside lot (still free).

The old mall is sadder than ever, and the new area seems interesting but terribly laid out, everything is split up with weird names. Not the easiest to navigate if you aren't familiar with it.

Good selection of food so far though.

SOLO charges you for parking if you park outside but you get 30 minutes free inside, I think it might be to do with two different companies (at solo) in charge of the different parking lots? Indigo does the outside parking at Brentwood and you get three hours free, does indigo also do the inside? Previously at least until 2022 the outside parking at SOLO was free.

[theKB]

Originally Posted by memememe76

Yes, I saw a pickleball court in a mall in Downtown Milwaukee. The other side of that mall was a rather nice food hall.

It's really too bad we have not started to see these sort of things pop up.

The Post will of course have the Joseph Richards concept (I really hope they are just administering it and not just sticking their suburban concepts in there). We will also see Time Out Market but we are really far behind the times.

Calgary has first street market, Toronto has many food hall dotted around downtown. New York, Chicago etc all have flourishing concepts as well.

The fingers stay crossed hard that Eataly takes a portion of Nordstrom.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by theKB

It's really too bad we have not started to see these sort of things pop up.

The Post will of course have the Joseph Richards concept (I really hope they are just administering it and not just sticking their suburban concepts in there). We will also see Time Out Market but we are really far behind the times.

Calgary has first street market, Toronto has many food hall dotted around downtown. New York, Chicago etc all have flourishing concepts as well.

The fingers stay crossed hard that Eataly takes a portion of Nordstrom.

Featured concepts will include Mexican, Asian and Italian fare; a wood fire grill; Belgian waffles; a bakery/deli; a microbrewery, bar and lounge; rotating chefs through a food incubator; and more.

https://www.foodserviceandhospitality.co...ng-food-hall-for-the-post/?cn-reloaded=1

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by theKB

It's really too bad we have not started to see these sort of things pop up.(

Food Courts are traditionally thought of as cheap. It remains to be seen how many people want to drop $20-$25 on lunch and take their own tray to shared tables like a high school cafeteria.

[memememe76]

Downtown Toronto has a ton of food courts, but only one fancy food hall. And it was only okay.

[svlt]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Food Courts are traditionally thought of as cheap. It remains to be seen how many people want to drop $20-$25 on lunch and take their own tray to shared tables like a high school cafeteria.

Can hardly get a full food court meal for less than $15 after tax nowadays that you may as well pay an extra dollar or two and sit somewhere nice. The only saving grace is most of these places won't ask for a tip, but a few are still bold enough to. I rarely hit the $0 with as much conviction as anywhere else.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by memememe76

Downtown Toronto has a ton of food courts, but only one fancy food hall. And it was only okay.

You must be referring to Chef's Hall. There used to be more large ones, but with an absence of office workers, a few closed down. I like the European fare in the food halls there. I suppose if you include Eataly's there should be about two food halls, but I bet many others will be opening or re-opening.

Good news is that the food hall at Eaton Centre is re-opening:
https://retail-insider.com/bulletin/2023...h-end-of-cf-toronto-eaton-centre-photos/
This location used to be the Richtree foodhall.

Other than this, a new mall in downtown Toronto will also feature a very large food hall. This one is going to be very exciting:
https://dailyhive.com/toronto/the-well-food-market-restaurants-toronto

Even Calgary has two smaller food halls now, and they have awesome food there too.

I am equally excited that The Post will host the very first one in Vancouver.

[theKB]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Food Courts are traditionally thought of as cheap. It remains to be seen how many people want to drop $20-$25 on lunch and take their own tray to shared tables like a high school cafeteria.

I was at first street market in Calgary this past week. The vendors have not changed in the few years I have visited it. The food isn't cheap by any means, but it clearly is a great gathering place, especially with young families and their friends. You can grab a drink, everyone can pick their dish of choice (burger, pizza, pasta, indian, mexican etc). The food offerings are very good and are all independent business housed under the first street market brand which is owned by a resort company.

I truly hope that the offering here will be something similar and not just repackaged JoRich restaurants, as it defeats the purpose of these sorts of places.

NYC from this eater article shows quite a few. https://ny.eater.com/maps/best-food-halls-nyc-what-to-eat
Seems like the food hall started by Jean Georges is very busy albeit powered by the JG brand.

The Chicago TOM is also a great example, very busy, not necessarily cheap but again, gathering place where everyone has a choice, a few drinks. They also do family events, DJ's, street parties etc. It's a fun place to go!

The interesting part of this development is there have been announcements for Fogo de Chao, and of course loblaws continues to be touted as a tenant. There have been no announcements or hype built up around the food hall outside of the fact that they will "have a food hall". There is no mention of Joseph Richards Group since the original announcement in 2021. With what looks like an expected completion of Fall 2023, you would think the marketing machine would be going by now?

[officedweller]

Nada Grocery is closing for good this week
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/nada-grocery-closure

[officedweller]

I noticed a series of 5 empty storefronts at The Hudson on Friday.
Plus the former Fitness World above (40,000 sq ft?) is empty (has a new tenant been announced?)
Curious whether the ground floor retail and the space above could be consolidated for a big box tenant like Uniqlo
(but now that Nordstrom will be empty...)

Pic by me.

[shreddog]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I noticed a series of 5 empty storefronts at The Hudson on Friday.
Plus the former Fitness World above (40,000 sq ft?) is empty (has a new tenant been announced?)
Curious whether the ground floor retail and the space above could be consolidated for a big box tenant like Uniqlo

Winners will be moving into this location

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by shreddog

Winners will be moving into this location

And closing the one on Robson & Smithe?

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by shreddog

Winners will be moving into this location

Sweet!
All 3 floors of the former Fitness World (40,000 sqft) plus street level?

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by whatnext

And closing the one on Robson & Smithe?

robson and smithe run the same way ......

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

robson and smithe run the same way ......

Oops, I meant Robson & Granville. If so, there'll be a bit of a deadzone with Nordstrom and Winners gone.

[officedweller]

The other question would be whether it'll be a Winners only store?
Probably, given the square footage doesn't seem big enough to combine with the Homesense on Robson.

[SpongeG]

would they make the old one into Marshalls? In Langley the winners moved to Willowbrook mall and the old location was converted to Marshalls. I've seen a couple others that did the same thing.

[Sheba]

Oh look it's not just the DTES - Police arrest 26 people in shoplifting sting at Surrey's Guildford Town Centre mall

A combined policing effort led to 26 arrests during an operation targeting retail theft at a popular Surrey mall last month.

On May 25, officers from the Surrey RCMP’s north community unit, Metro Vancouver Transit Police Services crime suppression team and Delta Police Service patrol support team were at Guildford Town Centre mall to target retail theft.

They arrested 26 people and allege that had stolen food, clothing, electronics and cosmetics. Five of those people were wanted on outstanding warrants.

One of those arrested, 26-year-old Donovan Alexander from Vancouver, was caught stealing twice within 90 minutes, police allege. He was released after his second arrest and then arrested a third time 90 minutes later at a nearby supermarket.

“We recognize that criminals are conducting retail theft across municipal borders, often using public transit, and their crimes have a significant negative impact on the community, including local businesses. These crimes result in additional costs to our families with each purchase we make,” said Staff Sgt. Nigel Pronge, who heads the north community response unit.