General Retail News - Page 130

J.OT13 · #**2581** Posted **May 5, 2019, 2:20 PM**

NOTE: I had originally posted this article in May 2019 and accidentally edited it in October 2019 when trying to copy-paste the image for a newer post. Here's the link to the article at least.

https://www.ledroit.com/affaires/decathlon-debarque-a-ottawa-32af5d7caba5586566cb3eea160ca5ac

acottawa · #**2582** Posted **May 5, 2019, 3:04 PM**

Winners is across the street (beside Staples).

kwoldtimer · #**2583** Posted **May 5, 2019, 3:32 PM**

I had noticed last week that part of the facade of the former Target had been stripped off to create what looked like a new storefront. Good to know what's going in. I'm still not sure whether the former Target will become two new retail locations, or whether it might be three.

J.OT13 · #**2584** Posted **May 5, 2019, 4:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by acottawa

Winners is across the street (beside Staples).

My mistake. I miss-interpreted the article. Now that you say it, I remember the Winners is in the same strip mall as Wild Wings.

waterloowarrior · #**2585** Posted **Jun 5, 2019, 2:02 AM**

Andrew Foote
@amkfoote
https://twitter.com/amkfoote/status/1136070223994527747

The Metcalfe/Lisgar Sobeys in Centretown is becoming a Farm Boy. It’s closing mid-August for several months of renovations ahead of a spring 2020 reopening.

News release says staff will be transferred to other stores in these chains & offered jobs at the new Farm Boy.

Harley613 · #**2586** Posted **Jun 5, 2019, 2:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

...The Metcalfe/Lisgar Sobeys in Centretown is becoming a Farm Boy. It’s closing mid-August for several months of renovations ahead of a spring 2020 reopening...

That is very logical and sensible and exciting!!!

Admiral Nelson · #**2587** Posted **Jun 5, 2019, 4:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

Andrew Foote
@amkfoote
https://twitter.com/amkfoote/status/1136070223994527747

The Metcalfe/Lisgar Sobeys in Centretown is becoming a Farm Boy. It’s closing mid-August for several months of renovations ahead of a spring 2020 reopening.

News release says staff will be transferred to other stores in these chains & offered jobs at the new Farm Boy.

Why does a three year old grocery store need to close for 6+ months to rebrand?

j.graham · #**2588** Posted **Jun 5, 2019, 4:20 AM**

I heard the plan was for a Sobey's Urban Fresh to go in at 900 Albert. Anyone know if that's still the plan? Is Farm Boy replacing all of them eventually?

YOWflier · #**2589** Posted **Jun 5, 2019, 12:14 PM**

Is the Sobey's/Farm Boy transaction done? Anyway it's wise to expand the Farm Boy brand and concept, especially around these parts.

Capital Shaun · #**2590** Posted **Jun 5, 2019, 12:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Admiral Nelson

Why does a three year old grocery store need to close for 6+ months to rebrand?

I agree. It's really bizarre since Sobey owns Farmboy. Only reason I can think of is the 'rebranding' includes changing the whole layout and swapping out much of the shelving and furnishings.

CityTech · #**2591** Posted **Jun 5, 2019, 2:16 PM**

The Sobeys Urban Fresh is a full grocery store.. Wouldn't Farm Boy be a downgrade in terms of product availability?

danishh · #**2592** Posted **Jun 5, 2019, 3:18 PM**

I think both Trinity centre and Claridge Moon were supposed to get Sobeys urban fresh. Makes sense to convert them to farm boy too.

OTSkyline · #**2593** Posted **Jun 5, 2019, 4:04 PM**

Weird move as it's so new. Plus Farm Boy just opened a smaller one in the Rideau Centre; to have two FB's so close to each other seems weird to me.

And think of the money going into closing, renovations, re-branding... I thought Sobey's was in Operation Sunrise to cut costs?

I would have kept;
Farm Boy Express in Rideau Centre
Sobey's at Metcalfe
New Farm Boy at Claridge Moon

JHikka · #**2594** Posted **Jun 5, 2019, 4:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

Weird move as it's so new. Plus Farm Boy just opened a smaller one in the Rideau Centre; to have two FB's so close to each other seems weird to me.

They might be near to each other but it's a separate customer market - Rideau/Market v Centretown.

rocketphish · #**2595** Posted **Jun 5, 2019, 5:05 PM**

Farm Boy to move into old Sobeys space on Metcalfe

Vito Pilieci, Ottawa Citizen
Updated: June 5, 2019

Popular grocery chain Farm Boy is set to expand downtown by taking over a location on Metcalfe Street that was previously occupied by Sobeys.

Farm Boy was acquired by Empire Co. Ltd. in September as part of an $800-million deal. Empire also owns Sobeys.

The location, at 193 Metcalfe St., will give Farm Boy 28,000 square feet in Ottawa’s downtown area. The store will be based on the grocer’s popular “fresh urban” concept, which offers prepared foods, as well as fresh produce, so working people can take home a full meal at the end of the work day.

“Busy commuters and shoppers working in the downtown Ottawa area will be thrilled with our healthy, fresh, wholesome foods and friendly service,” said Farm Boy co-chief executive officer Jeff York in a release.

“We launched our first fresh urban concept store in Ottawa’s Westboro neighbourhood in 2017, then added another at CF Rideau Centre. We can’t wait to expand our proven fresh urban concept further in Ottawa’s downtown core.”

The store was previously a Sobeys Urban Fresh location. The Sobeys location will close to undergo renovations on Aug. 6 before being rebranded as Farm Boy.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/farm-boy-to-move-into-old-sobeys-space-on-metcalfe

YOWflier · #**2596** Posted **Jun 5, 2019, 6:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CityTech

The Sobeys Urban Fresh is a full grocery store.. Wouldn't Farm Boy be a downgrade in terms of product availability?

Never been in the Sobeys but Farm Boy at Rideau has quite a decent quantity and well rounded offering of fresh produce and food products (in addition to the prepared stuff) so I doubt the same concept here would leave people wanting.

HighwayStar · #**2597** Posted **Jun 5, 2019, 7:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ac888yow

Never been in the Sobeys but Farm Boy at Rideau has quite a decent quantity and well rounded offering of fresh produce and food products (in addition to the prepared stuff) so I doubt the same concept here would leave people wanting.

I live near the Westboro Farmboy and can attest it's extremely popular with a great selection of fresh and prepared food.

I guess the only difference with Sobeys, is that at Farmboy there are ZERO Household type items (i.e. paper towels, food wraps, soap, etc. etc). Strictly edibles.

Kinda strange they're doing a full conversion of the new Sobeys... but I guess these decisions are above my pay grade.

J.OT13 · #**2598** Posted **Jun 6, 2019, 2:07 AM**

I also find this to be a strange move. Downtown lacks full-service grocery stores (as mentioned by others, hygiene products, cleaning products, soft drinks and other) more than food selection offered by Farm Boy. I'm hoping Claridge Moon includes a Sobeys since that corner of Downtown doesn't even have a Shoppers to serve local residents.

acottawa · #**2599** Posted **Jun 7, 2019, 11:33 AM**

Little video on the Target fiasco.

https://youtu.be/k4hDGJ2FwDI

danishh · #**2600** Posted **Jun 7, 2019, 2:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I also find this to be a strange move. Downtown lacks full-service grocery stores (as mentioned by others, hygiene products, cleaning products, soft drinks and other) more than food selection offered by Farm Boy. I'm hoping Claridge Moon includes a Sobeys since that corner of Downtown doesn't even have a Shoppers to serve local residents.

Rexall at Minto Place is closest i think. Minto place also has the local Canada Post office.

Cathedral Hill 2 is going to be a retirement home now instead of office condos, so I wouldnt be surprised to see a pharmacy there. Really hoping for a post office there too