tro, for your information - none of those stores are in Seattle (well, Lauren might be now), and if they were they'd be empty (except for you Canadians coming down, perhaps).
You all think Vancouver is a 'show' city, but Seattle is even more so - because you all think it is so big and glamourous. But in reality, it's not. Not anywhere close to New York, Chicago, LA, SF, Miami, Dallas; not in the same ballpark.
Most of the high end stores, Seattle JUST got in the last 2-4 years. In fact, we FINALLY have a true high end department store, Nieman Marcus, but it is in Bellevue and is ONLY due to Microsoft's desire to create an edge city market for recruiting purposes. I once worked at corporate Microsoft, so I am well aware of the expansion plans we had for Lincoln Square and the Bravern development (both downtown Bellevue). The Seattle space was through acquisitions.
And yes, Seattle does have a high-tech economy with several hq's. But Boeing is based in Chicago and has been scaling back since (and soon will probably pull out altogether). Microsoft is not the place it used to be and realize they hired WAY TOO MANY people to support an industry dominated by SF bay companies.
You all have mentioned that we have many rich people here, but so do you. And the 'rich' people here are actually stock rich. That wealth RARELY flows liquid into the "seattle economy" because we don't have state income tax to coax it out. And we're just now getting stores worthy of not going down to Portland (or up to Vancouver) to shop.
Trof - you seemed surprised that Oneworld's HQ is in Vancouver; I think you and many others would be very surprised how big Van actually is in the world stage. It is Canada's 3rd largest city and market, that alone places it a significant advantage against Seattle and the much more competitive US market. Vancouver is a world player and would be even moreso if your government would let the city achieve it's destiny as the Singapore/Hong Kong of North America - but instead, your government insists on having everything in Toronto - THAT holds Vancouver back, whether it's international flights to Europe or Asia (outside the rim), corporate hq locations, or media/fashion. Vancouver is much more dominent on international trade and this will become very evident once Boeing does shift all commercial production out. Did you all ever realize, that Microsoft almost moved it's world headquarters to Vancouver?
Those office towers many of you admire so much in downtown Seattle are 30% empty (I read recently in the Seattle times) as they've overbuilt due to speculation and EVERY bank that once was headquartered here are gone. So, if it weren't for high tech and internet innovation (and sheer will of Microsoft), Seattle would have long been a ghost town - look at how Seattle lost the Sonics for example. (govt and corporate Seattle couldnt' get it together, ending up losing to an up and coming darkhorse city in Oklahoma City whose corporate/govt entities are hell bent on showcasing their town and have the cash to do it).
I know Vancouver lost the Grizz to an even worse city of Memphis, but that was the NBA's fault almost exclusively in that they really needed to seed Vancouver and make the hockey town into a basketball city; whereas the Sonics leaving was the EXCLUSIVE fault of Washington/Seattle govt and corporate/wealth you all think so much of. Now, how could 'such a prominent city' with a longstanding NBA presence - lose it's NBA team? Since we are so rich, whatever whatever.
Seattle does have one advantage over Vancouver, and that is taxation (or the lack thereof). But it's starting to catch up with us, as our state government is $2.5billion shortfall THIS YEAR ALONE (city of Seattle and King County also have huge deficits, I just forget how much) and our infrastructure is crumbling as I type. The next few years will NOT be good times for Seattle, and I for one will be relocating to a much larger much more prominent city - that is Chicago.
But I wanted to make those points, that Seattle isn't quite as well off as you all think we are. We have some advantages but we also have severe penis envy over Vancouver too. There's some things you guys dont even realize you have or advantages you have moreso than just having a subway while we dont.
I think some people need to travel a bit more, and AWAY from Toronto or Seattle - to really sense the impact Vancouver has. You can get to a lot more places worldwide right in your own front yard than you can coming down here (and would have even more if your government would let Vancouver prosper naturally, like it naturally would). Seattle's rich people mostly fly corporate jets and RARELY fly international (and when they do, they go to an international gateway city such as Vancouver or LA or SF/Chicago/NY like everybody else).
Vancouver reminds me of that fine girl who has many things hidden away but doesn't show off much - she just surprises you and continues to amaze you with the things she continually wears day to day. People worldwide love this pretty girl and want to go to bed with her and her less pretty older cousin SF. Vancouver may be quite shallow and not have much personality but damn, she sure is charming and very beautiful - so I and many men worldwide want to buy her things and amaze in her beauty (and give her gifts that her peer cities envy).
I see Seattle as the not so pretty sister of Vancouver who has a better education and somewhat better job than Vancouver, but somehow still gets left out to while her spoiled sister 100 miles north gets all of the attention from the best guys.
Just for kicks, I see Toronto as that blowhard bully trying to look the part of big city but really can't compete with the big boys show up. He wouldn't have what he has if it wasn't for his fairy god mother Ottawa who thinks the world of him and therefore thinks Toronto should have everything. Ottawa doesn't need to worry about that pretty girl on the west coast, because she is so quiet - yet Toronto is always whining when guys prefer Vancouver, so Ottawa makes up for it.
a bit of humor at the end - but it really is my take on the aformentioned cities.
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