General Retail News

[acottawa]

Seems like a pretty elaborate operation for a small convenience store.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/glebe-smoke-shop-raid-1.3886933

A convenience store in the Glebe was raided by RCMP and the Canada Revenue Agency on Thursday morning.

The Glebe Smoke Shop reopened last week after renovations. It was closed Thursday morning as CRA investigators went through documents and stock.

No other information was immediately available.

The reason for the raid has not yet been released.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Seems like a pretty elaborate operation for a small convenience store.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/glebe-smoke-shop-raid-1.3886933

A convenience store in the Glebe was raided by RCMP and the Canada Revenue Agency on Thursday morning.

The Glebe Smoke Shop reopened last week after renovations. It was closed Thursday morning as CRA investigators went through documents and stock.

No other information was immediately available.

The reason for the raid has not yet been released.

It's been "under renovation" for a few weeks. Not sure if that is related.

[rocketphish]

Revenue agency, RCMP raid four convenience stores owned by local couple

Megan Gillis, Postmedia
Published on: December 9, 2016 | Last Updated: December 9, 2016 2:21 PM EST

Investigators with the Canada Revenue Agency, backed by RCMP officers, raided a string of convenience stores owned by a local couple Thursday.

The first raid appeared to be at the Glebe Smoke Shop on Bank Street near Fifth Avenue Thursday morning. About half a dozen officers were in the 24-hour convenience store which stocks a large selection of magazines and tobacco products, according to an employee who answered the phone.

The employee said the agents had not told him why they were in the shop, which recently reopened after a renovation, and deferred all comments to the store’s owner. Agents were seen handling what appeared to be a hard drive, examining books and rifling through shelves.

As well, RCMP officers and CRA investigators raided three Zesty Markets, one on Elgin Street and two on Rideau Street.

Nava Vosough, co-owner of the four stores with her husband, said Friday that the searches came as a shock after they had been cooperating with CRA staff.

“I don’t know exactly what they’re looking for,” she said. “Everything we’re doing is very legal and documented with an accountant, I have a tax lawyer on my files… We have no issues and suddenly they came to our stores without any notice and they start going through all the documents we have.”

It’s “very, very stressful,” she said.

The agency was tight-lipped but issued a statement late Thursday afternoon confirming that it conducted searches in the Ottawa area and that “the Minister of National Revenue is committed to cracking down on tax evasion.

“The majority of Canadians pay their fair share of taxes, but some individuals avoid paying taxes by hiding their money. This is not fair and it needs to change.”

The agency won’t comment further “to ensure the integrity of ongoing investigations and ensure we respect the confidentiality provisions of the legislation we administer,” a spokesman said.

The CRA spokesman said that the agency recently strengthened its criminal investigation program’s ability to prosecute tax criminals and increased focus on more serious tax evasion. It enhanced case selection to focus on the “most egregious” tax evasion and fraud, built a specialized investigative capacity with the flexibility to work complex files across the country and boosted cooperation with the RCMP and federal prosecutors, he said.

[email protected]

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news...convenience-stores-owned-by-local-couple

[rocketphish]

Patio changes aim to give more sidewalk back to the people

Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: December 9, 2016 | Last Updated: December 9, 2016 5:02 PM EST

Pedestrians would reclaim 20 centimetres of walking space and restaurants could play outdoor music if a new bylaw governing sidewalk patios receives council’s endorsement this winter.

The rules on sidewalk patios currently mandate a minimum walking space 1.8 metres wide, but according to a draft recommendations paper, the city wants to increase the minimum width of “clearway” to two metres.

And if a business has a sidewalk patio, it wouldn’t be able to plop an A-frame sign on the sidewalk directly in the path of pedestrians.

The city has been reviewing its rules on sidewalk patios this year with the goal of reforming the rules in time for the next patio season. Planning staff have gathered feedback and crafted several suggestions for council’s transportation committee to consider.

The challenge for the city is setting guidelines that animate the streetscape while not irritating pedestrians and nearby residents.

Business owners pay a fee to the city to have a patio on a sidewalk.

The city says about 100 establishments operated patios on city property in 2015. They have been governed by a general encroachment bylaw, but the city wants to create a specific bylaw for sidewalk patios.

Under the proposal, the sidewalk patio season would run April 1 to Sept. 30. No patio equipment would be allowed on sidewalks outside of that timeframe, unless the establishment has a separate encroachment permit.

Amplified music on patios is one of the more divisive issues on commercial strips surrounded by homes.

The current bylaw doesn’t allow patios on city sidewalks to have audio speakers, although the rule is rarely enforced. A proposed change would allow speakers, but not if a patio is within 30 metres of a property zoned residential. All patio speakers would need to be shut off by 11 p.m.

The city wants to loosen up on its umbrella rules, too.

As long as they have a minimum height of 2.2 metres, patio umbrellas would be allowed to stretch into the space above the sidewalk when they’re fastened to a railing. They would need to fold down when the business is closed or when there’s rain.

Sidewalk patios wouldn’t be restricted to the area directly outside a restaurant, which means curbside patios could be possible, as long as the two-metre-wide path on the sidewalk is open to pedestrians and there’s space for people to get out of their vehicles. An internal design review team would be tasked to review the patio setups.

The draft recommendations would also make it less burdensome for restaurants that don’t serve alcohol to have a sidewalk patio. The city is considering eliminating a requirement to have a railing surrounding the patio, but the edges of the patio would need to be detectable by people using canes.

For sidewalk patios with railings, restaurants wouldn’t be allowed to hang advertising banners on the railings.

The city will continue to collect feedback until Dec. 16. The final recommendations are scheduled to be ready by February.

[email protected]
twitter.com/JonathanWilling

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/patio-changes-aim-to-give-more-sidewalk-back-to-the-people

[Harley613]

Maybe the CRA and the RCMP can go after other obvious tax evasion schemes like the Kettleman's Bagels on Bank that still takes cash only in the year 2016 and the plethora of Shawarma Shops in the region next.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Maybe the CRA and the RCMP can go after other obvious tax evasion schemes like the Kettleman's Bagels on Bank that still takes cash only in the year 2016 and the plethora of Shawarma Shops in the region next.

Unless one has proof, one should be cautious with allegations of illegal activity, don't you think?

[rocketphish]

Renovated Bayshore Unwraps New Holiday Shopping Experience

Ottawa Citizen, 10 Dec 2016



To celebrate the end of its comprehensive, four-year renovation, Bayshore Shopping Centre is bringing an exciting new feel to the holidays by unveiling a 30-by-60-foot synthetic indoor skating rink that can accommodate about 50 people at a time.

Launched Dec. 1, the rink is part of a special holiday space called the Crystal Hall, on Level 3 of the shopping complex. There, visitors can rent skates and helmets, and glide over the ice to music played by a live DJ. While they’re skating, they can even have gifts wrapped at the Crystal Hall gift-wrapping station.

“The Crystal Hall offers a unique experience for visitors and complements Bayshore’s transformation into a dynamic, streamlined space that helps make shopping easier and more pleasurable,” said Denis Pelletier, Bayshore’s general manager.

Better access to parking is one of the most important upgrades. The old parking garage has been replaced by three five-storey parking decks that total 1,365,000 square feet and provide 4,000 free parking spots. What’s more, Pelletier said, Bayshore’s exterior design has been enhanced to facilitate connections between pedestrians and local transit, including Phase 2 of the LRT, which will terminate at the mall.

“With a more open space, the sightlines from one end of the mall to the other are more evident,” Pelletier said. “As a result, shoppers find it easier to navigate the mall and can get more done in a shorter period.”

The changes are in line with the trend among large-scale shopping centres across North America to evolve into multi-use spaces that involve the community in a variety of ways. Bayshore already offers facilities such as a Lifestyle Lounge for families and “Mommy and Me” yoga classes that attract more than 70 participants. If it’s a hit, the Crystal Hall could become an annual tradition.

“The ability to enjoy one of Ottawa’s favourite winter pastimes in a warm indoor environment will make Level 3 of the mall a real destination,” Pelletier said. “Even more so once lessons begin in the new year, when moms and dads will be able to bring the kids for a skating lesson and have a coffee or tea while they wait.“The rink will remain open until March 2017.

Location: Level 3
Open: Dec. 1 2016 to March 2017
Hours: 9 a.m. - 10 p.m., Mon. - Sat., 10 a.n. - 6 p.m., Sun.
Donation: $5 to access the rink (includes skate and helmet rental)
Lessons: Starting January 2017

https://www.pressreader.com/canada/ottawa-citizen/20161210/281925952645312

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Maybe the CRA and the RCMP can go after other obvious tax evasion schemes like the Kettleman's Bagels on Bank that still takes cash only in the year 2016 and the plethora of Shawarma Shops in the region next.

Agreed. Generally, I think that a store being cash-only should generally be automatic grounds for a police warrant. I never trust a place that doesn't take debit. The whole "transaction fees" argument is bullshit because debit is cheaper to process than cash. Credit cards, on the other hand, can be expensive, so I'm ok with a place that uses that argument to justify having debit but no credit.

Accepting debit should be required by provincial retail laws.

[1overcosc]

It should be noted, though, that cash is a lot more traceable than people think.

Every time a banknote is withdrawn from or deposited into an ATM, a note of it is made in a government database that records the serial number of the note, the location of the ATM, and the bank account number of whatever account it was withdrawn from or deposited to. The RMCP routinely uses this information to investigate money laundering and other criminal activity. The Bank of Canada recently completed major upgrades to the IT infrastructure that performs this task.

[rocketphish]

A sure sign that the end is near for Sears?

Sears Canada takes gamble on groceries as losses more than double

The Canadian Press ~ OBJ
Published on December 12, 2016

Sears Canada, which has been struggling with store closures and sagging sales, says it will venture into the grocery business in an effort to lure shoppers.

The Toronto-based retailer said it has signed a partnership with two specialty supermarket operators to run food markets at some of its revamped locations.

The company declined to provide further details. But executive chairman Brandon G. Stranzl said he is confident the agreement will bring customers to Sears more frequently.

"A grocery store, you might go to two or three times a week," Stranzl said in an interview. "A department store you might go to once a month ... once a quarter or something."

The announcement came as Sears Canada reported its third-quarter loss more than doubled from the same time last year.

"We're not, obviously, happy with where the business is financially," Stranzl said.

Sears Canada's loss rose to $120.0 million from $53.2 million during the same period last year as revenue declined. That amounted to $1.18 per share, compared with 52 cents per share a year ago.

Quarterly revenue was $625.2 million, down 21.1 per cent compared to the third quarter of 2015, when the company had $792.1 million in revenue.

Same-store sales at Sears Canada (TSX:SCC) – those at locations open during the third quarters of 2015 and 2016 – totalled $507.5 million. That's down from $616.8 million last year when the company had more stores.

Once a mainstay of the Canadian shopping experience, Sears Canada has seen its footprint erode over time.

It operates 211 corporate and hometown stores in the country, down from 306 in the same quarter last year. Most of the closures were franchisee-owned stores in rural areas, said Stranzl.

The company's financial situation won't turn around "overnight," he added.

Sears has roots in Canada that date back more than 60 years. It has been attempting to stage a comeback by redesigning its stores, setting aside less square footage for its current merchandise and leaving more space to bring in new partnerships such as the ones it announced Friday.

Other companies such as Walmart and Shoppers Drug Mart have also entered the grocery business in recent years. But Stranzl said he doesn't see the likes of Walmart as a competitor.

http://www.obj.ca/Canada---World/2016-12...n-groceries-as-losses-more-than-double/1

[rocketphish]

If you don't "see the likes of Walmart as a competitor.", you are doomed to failure, Brandon G. Stranzl.

[rocketphish]

World of Mocha? Second Cup leases prominent West Wellington retail space

Peter Kovessy, OBJ
Published on December 09, 2016

Second Cup will construct one of its new café concept stores in the former World of Maps storefront on Wellington Street West as the Canadian coffee chain attempts to regain market share lost in recent years to its expanding competitors.

The new store, located at the corner of Holland Avenue, will open in early 2017, company officials say.

The space has sat empty for more than a year since popular niche retailer World of Maps moved several blocks east. Store owner Petra Thoms said earlier this year that the rent, which was some $10,000 a month plus utilities, was a factor in her decision to move.

Ms. Thoms said Starbucks was initially interested in filling the storefront, but eventually took a pass. The Seattle-based chain has a location several blocks north in Holland Cross, across from Tunney’s Pasture.

The new Second Cup will also be competing against Ottawa-based Bridgehead, which has nearby locations to the east and west, as well as other speciality food and beverage shops along the popular retail strip.

John Kazmierowski, Second Cup’s vice-president of development and construction, said in an e-mailed statement that the company is betting on its new café concept – which includes locally baked goods and custom artwork – to distinguish itself from the competition.

“This location will reflect our new brand image,” he said. “The café is bright, warm and welcoming. It’s the sort of spot that customers want to spend time in and truly complements the culture of the neighbourhood.”

The company declined to discuss rental rates and fit-up costs or say whether the store would be corporately owned or owned by a franchise operator, saying the latter information was confidential.

However, a full-page ad in this week’s Kitchissippi Times newspaper (digital edition here) says Second Cup is looking for individuals to own a franchise in West Wellington.

The company’s relationship with its franchise owners has been a sore spot for the Second Cup in recent years, with several launching lawsuits and others complaining of high renovation costs and rents, according to an August Globe and Mail feature.

The story noted that Second Cup was attempting to address the concerns of its franchise owners by reducing royalty and marketing fees, among other measures.

There are currently 298 Second Cup stores across Canada, reportedly down from nearly 400 at the company’s peak.

Analysts have said the company is struggling to compete against market leaders such as Starbucks and Tim Hortons.

Earlier this week, Second Cup said it had secured an $8-million loan that will be used to pay off an existing credit facility and for general corporate purposes.

http://www.obj.ca/Local/Retail/2016-12-0...prominent-West-Wellington-retail-space/1

[acottawa]

Yikes

Didn't the Bay try this a few years ago?

[TheGoods]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Yikes

Didn't the Bay try this a few years ago?

I don't think it was the Bay unless you mean Saks food hall which is owned by the Bay and most locations are in Bay stores. Canadian Tire has tried it recently but they are a solid company.

[gjhall]

Originally Posted by TheGoods

I don't think it was the Bay unless you mean Saks food hall which is owned by the Bay and most locations are in Bay stores. Canadian Tire has tried it recently but they are a solid company.

They did, sort of, with their pharmacy/convenience store in the basement idea.

[bikegypsy]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

A sure sign that the end is near for Sears?

Sears, besides doing business as if it was the 80s, is a Walmart/Giant Tiger level retail company which tries to brand itself (very badly) as a competitor of The Bay. Furthermore, what used to be its one defining business model has been completely taken over by Amazon and EBay. Their branding is weak, lack luster, outdated and simply generally unappealing. It will take a true marketing maverick to turn this around.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by TheGoods

I don't think it was the Bay unless you mean Saks food hall which is owned by the Bay and most locations are in Bay stores. Canadian Tire has tried it recently but they are a solid company.

I meant the basement of the Rideau store (which had a lot of groceries and other consumables). There was one in the Queen Street location in Toronto as well, not sure how many others.

[TheGoods]

Originally Posted by gjhall

They did, sort of, with their pharmacy/convenience store in the basement idea.

The Pharmacy, yes, there was one in the basement of the Rideau street location.

[lrt's friend]

I would hate to see yet another player in the market disappear. I hate it to be down to mainly Walmart and HBC in Canada. The blandness of choice is becoming overwhelming. But that seems to be the wish of most shoppers that all flock to the same stores especially in the suburbs.

[acottawa]

In other news, Lowes is re-branding its large-format Rona stores outside of Quebec.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/rona-lowes-overhaul-1.3892764

I wonder if this will affect the former Target on St Laurent, which has had a "Lowes coming soon" sign for over a year.