Rideau Centre Expansion | Completed

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by acottawa

So right above Uniqlo?

I think so. Third floor, in the middle where (I think) Victoria's Secret used to be.

[CanadaGoose]

https://obj.ca/quebec-hobby-store-to-occ...ideau-centre-opening-slated-for-october/

OTTAWA, RETAIL
Quebec hobby store to occupy two-storey location in Rideau Centre, opening slated for October
Sarah MacFarlane
Sarah MacFarlane
April 11, 2023
3:11 PM
ET

Concept art previews for the new store include sections for every niche, from Marvel's Avengers and Harry Potter to Manga and Pokemon. Photo provided
Organizations: CF Rideau Centre, Imaginaire
People: Anthony Doyon, Brian O'Hoski
Imaginaire, a Quebec-based collectibles and hobby store, has chosen Ottawa’s Rideau Centre as its first location outside its home province.

The retailer will occupy 20,000 square feet bridging the third and fourth floors, next to Simons in the Rideau Centre, representing a $3-million investment. It plans to open its doors in October and expects to hire 50 to 60 employees.

Owner Anthony Doyon said the nation’s capital could be a prime location for Imaginaire since it gives the retailer the ability to access markets in both Ottawa and Gatineau.

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“We wanted to see how Ontario would respond to our brand and we found that Ottawa was good — so close to Quebec and French people — and Ontario customers so they can experience the products,” said Doyon. “So we make sure we’re on track before opening more stores.”

The CF Rideau Centre shouldn’t be a new environment for Imaginaire, since its six existing stores are in similar malls. Doyon said he is prepared to thrive in Ottawa since the market in Quebec City, which is predominantly government workers, is already familiar to the company.

While Imaginaire already has large online markets in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, Doyon said he anticipates the in-person store will bolster online sales.

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“Our online store gets better once people come into the stores and know we’re a real business, see the experience we deliver in-store, so they have the confidence to shop online afterwards,” he said. “We want to increase sales over the internet by being in person.”

The retailer sells a wide selection of products in English and French, including sports cards, board games, trading cards, action figures, books, comics and other pop culture merchandise. Imaginaire is an authorized dealer of numismatic products by the Royal Canadian Mint.

Brian O’Hoski, general manager at the CF Rideau Centre, said he expects the store to be “wildly popular.”

“We really think it’s something Ottawa will enjoy,” said O’Hoski. “It’s hard to explain to someone who isn’t into (hobbies and collectibles), but they have a lot to offer. Customers will travel to see it.”

Cadillac Fairview and Imaginaire are familiar with each other since the hobby store occupies a store in the CF Promenades St-Bruno in Montreal. O’Hoski said Cadillac Fairview is happy to see Doyon enter the Rideau Centre with this “unique offering for Ottawa.”

“When we have a client looking to expand, we can make their life easier because we already have these assets,” O’Hoski said.

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Ottawa seems to be a niche market for collectible retailers. Hobbiesville, a local hobby store, recently announced it will be opening a second store in Toronto thanks to its rapid growth. Stores outside the city are also seeing great success.

Due to Ottawa’s location, hobby store owners see customers travel from Montreal, Toronto and Gatineau to shop.

Although Doyon’s stores already have locations in Quebec City, Sherbrooke, Levis, Trois-Rivieres, Montreal and Laval, Ottawa might have some unique opportunities, he said.

“We think since we’re not known in the region the first few weeks and months will be quiet, but we’re excited to see people at the grand opening,” said Doyon. “If it’s like the other stores, it will be more popular than we think.”

The new store will require escalators to be built to bring shoppers up to a showroom and will be a “big, long construction project,” said O’Hoski. “But everything is lining up well. It will truly be a place to gather, to play, and to have fun.”

[J.OT13]

Thanks for posting. So yes, third and fourth floor. Are we miss-placing Uniqlo?

[CanadaGoose]

Note: Simons didn’t take all of the 4th floor in the expansion wing.

There’s still 7000 sq ft in the expansion wing on the 4th floor.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by CanadaGoose

Note: Simons didn’t take all of the 4th floor in the expansion wing.

There’s still 7000 sq ft in the expansion wing on the 4th floor.

Right. I see it now. So the Cinema is probably not in play.

Looking at the floorplan posted earlier, Imaginaire may take 0401 next to Simons on the fourth floor, along with a combination of E306/7/8 on the third floor between Ardene and Simons.

Originally Posted by MichelKazan

I wonder how that will work.

If you look at the leasing plan, the vacant space on the 4th floor is above the soon-to-be Uniqlo and not the 3rd floor Imaginaire space. It just doesn't line up.

https://assets.ctfassets.net/p2tvuj4eecj...6288741ded629e278b3b/RIDCT20_LEASING.pdf

Uniqlo in 0338, is in the old portion of the mall, below the cinema. The vacant space in the second floor at 0401 is in the expansion. Close, but not quite above one another.

[CanadaGoose]

Nespresso in Rideau is leaving June 30.

New location will be at Lansdowne, big surprise to me!

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by CanadaGoose

Nespresso in Rideau is leaving June 30.

New location will be at Lansdowne, big surprise to me!

Wow that makes about zero sense based on my casual observations. The Rideau location often seemed busy, and Lansdowne is where specialty retailers go to die.

[rocketphish]

Uniqlo opening good news for Rideau Centre

Andrew Duffy, Ottawa Citizen
Published Jun 17, 2023 • Last updated 4 hours ago • 2 minute read



Shoppers flooded into the Rideau Centre on Saturday to visit Ottawa’s first Uniqlo store, which opened its doors this week.

The high-profile Japanese clothing retailer marked the opening of its 15,000-square-foot store on the third-floor of the downtown shopping centre with special giveaways and promotions.

Uniqlo marketing manager Whitney Maryniuk said the store had been busy during its first two days of operation.

“The turnout has been really nice to see,” she said.

The store’s grand opening Friday was marked with taiko drumming, a form of traditional Japanese drumming, and Moo Shu ice cream.

This weekend the store is giving away tote bags to shoppers who spend $100, while also running a traditional Japanese game called garapon to award prizes. The top prize is a gift package from the nearby Ottawa Art Gallery.

Uniqlo is known for its leisure and sport-related apparel. “Our concept is that clothing is made for everyone,” Maryniuk said. “We try to position our products so they’re functional, so it’s just not clothing you wear, but it helps to improve your life.”

Some of its suits, for instance, have UV protection built into them, while its active clothing wicks moisture. The company also collects and recycles old Uniqlo clothing items.

Originally founded in Yamaguchi, Japan, in 1949 as a textiles manufacturer, Uniqlo is now a global brand with more than 1,000 stores worldwide.

Uniqlo has seven stores in the Toronto area, but the Rideau Centre outlet is its first in Ottawa. The Ottawa store is part of an ambitious five-year expansion plan to open 20 stores a year and to reach 200 outlets across North America by 2027.

The Uniqlo opening is good news for the Rideau Centre, which this year suffered the loss of its Nordstrom outlet and last year was forced to close for 24 days during the convoy protest that occupied downtown Ottawa. Mall officials had trouble controlling large crowds and some shoppers had face masks ripped off by protesters.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/uniqlo-opening-good-news-for-rideau-centre

[J.OT13]

Uniqlo will probably attract more traffic than the far larger Nordstrom.

[CanadaGoose]

Once it opens in Bayshore mall, it won't attract as much people.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by CanadaGoose

Once it opens in Bayshore mall, it won't attract as much people.

Are they planning one for Bayshore? Rideau may lose around 1/4 of the Ottawa-Gatineau market if one opens there.

[originalmuffins]

Very happy we got it. Good addition to the local market, hope it can stay for a long time. H&M was a great addition too.

[Jay31]

Originally Posted by CanadaGoose

https://obj.ca/quebec-hobby-store-to-occ...ideau-centre-opening-slated-for-october/

Oh my... this will be a major destination store for kids across the city.

Originally Posted by CanadaGoose

Nespresso in Rideau is leaving June 30.

New location will be at Lansdowne, big surprise to me!

Honestly, I'm surprised they even need a brick and mortar presence (I order all of my fresh coffee beans online... pods see a lot more... non-perishable), but the Rideau location always looked busy... perhaps it's all the fancy packaging and bags that makes people want to buy it in person? It doesn't seem like a destination store, but perhaps I'm wrong.

Originally Posted by CanadaGoose

Once it opens in Bayshore mall, it won't attract as much people.

I think Ottawa could support 3-4 Uniqlo's with each of them reasonably busy - similar to Eddie Bauer, but likely with better prices and more traffic. I think their style will be perfect for the Ottawa market... a much better fit than Nordstrom.

[Kitchissippi]

I've been to cities in Asia where there are Uniqlo stores within walking distance of each other.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

I've been to cities in Asia where there are Uniqlo stores within walking distance of each other.

The Shoppers of Asia? Tim's? Starbucks of Asia?

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

The Shoppers of Asia? Tim's? Starbucks of Asia?

The Starbucks of Asia is Starbucks.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by acottawa

The Starbucks of Asia is Starbucks.

I meant in the every city corner sense, not, like, Starbucks in the sense that the Loblaws of Quebec is Provigo.

[SkeggsEggs]

Retail Insider article on Rideau Centre.

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...tawa-to-increase-foot-traffic-interview/

Mall is 90% leased and here is a bit of info on the Imaginaire space:

O’Hoski said Arc’teryx was a quick backfill on a former Nike location which moved within Rideau Centre to another spot which was triple in size. The Uniqlo store is in the former Victoria’s Secret space. The Imaginaire space is unique where “we actually punched in the escalators and an elevator up into the fourth floor. So the retail entrance will be on the third floor of the shopping mall in the expansion but the bulk of their space is actually above in the fourth floor that was formerly a theatre space from a long time ago. It wasn’t being utilized,” he said.

[nsavage]

Originally Posted by SkeggsEggs

Retail Insider article on Rideau Centre.

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...tawa-to-increase-foot-traffic-interview/

Mall is 90% leased and here is a bit of info on the Imaginaire space:

Not sure how I feel about the quote about the theatre "from a long time ago" and what that says about how old I'm getting.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by nsavage

Not sure how I feel about the quote about the theatre "from a long time ago" and what that says about how old I'm getting.

Agreed. I feel like I saw Cutthroat Island in Rideau Cinema 1 about a year ago. I even remember seeing a poster for Biodome by the concession that day, it came out a few weeks later.