General Retail News

[Cre47]

Heard on CTV that a Simon's store could be in the works for Gatineau. Now, as far as the location, I would though Les Promenades would be the place, but all large spaces seems to be occupied. Though I find it odd that Urban Planet uses a large space - the former Steinberg/Super C/Metro location just east of the bus terminal. Though maybe it would be too small for Simon's. My fear is that it will land in Le Plateau where there is still tons of space available. I think the last stores are at the corner of Des Grives or about 200-300 meteres to the west. With a new access road to le Plateau open from Highway 148, that could mean an easier access to the big boxes. I see a 50% chance that Simon's will install in Le Plateau.

[wingman]

Dunno, but I tend to think they would want to install in Gatineau proper. I am thinking they could reconfigure the Galeries de Gatineau (which will house a new Target). Only other areas that are big enough are just east of Paiement on Maloney (too far) or next to Winners just off the 50.

...unless they buy the old Costco?! Nah.

Though if you look at the new plan for Plateau des Grives there are some buildings there that would be big enough.

http://www.firstcapitalrealty.ca/ima...aps/lay201.pdf

If this comes to be it would be a pretty big deal for the Outaouais.

Originally Posted by Cre47

Heard on CTV that a Simon's store could be in the works for Gatineau. Now, as far as the location, I would though Les Promenades would be the place, but all large spaces seems to be occupied. Though I find it odd that Urban Planet uses a large space - the former Steinberg/Super C/Metro location just east of the bus terminal. Though maybe it would be too small for Simon's. My fear is that it will land in Le Plateau where there is still tons of space available. I think the last stores are at the corner of Des Grives or about 200-300 meteres to the west. With a new access road to le Plateau open from Highway 148, that could mean an easier access to the big boxes. I see a 50% chance that Simon's will install in Le Plateau.

[toaster]

I read somewhere a while ago that Costco won't be renewing their lease at Promenades, so that would be a big space. I find it odd though that they'd open in Gatineau before Ottawa. Like has been mentioned a lot around here, most people who live in Ottawa won't travel to Gatineau to shop (unless it's for beer), but people from Gatineau come to Ottawa much more often to shop.

[Cre47]

I would be really surprised if Costco would be moving out of there. It has brought a bit more life in the tedious and lifeless western end of the mall - was like that between Eaton's closure and Costco's opening. They opened a few good stores in addition in that area such as Atmosphere and Archambault. Though I'm missing the Chinese buffet restaurant in that same area - seems according the mall's site it's a sushi buffet shop or something like that.

Though I haven't heard about an opening date for Simon's if they do open one in Gatineau. So probably the one planned for St-Laurent would be before that.

Maybe with Simon's possibly setting here, maybe Les Ailes de la Mode could have a second attempt at our market here but in Gatineau instead rather then repeating the Bayshore fiasco which only lasted for 20 months or something like that.

There might a little bit of space in the SE portion of the property, to built a small expansion which could accommodate either a Simon's or Les Ailes. The other one might land in Le Plateau.

Speaking of Bayshore, my goodness their website is ugly and bland compared to a few years ago. Just looked at their site, they now have a Starbucks. That will probably kill a couple of the other coffee shops. Treats will probably hang on because of their breakfasts and muffins, etc but I'm not sure about the other ones (Timothy's on 2nd), Second Cup (1st floor), etc.

[Cre47]

Originally Posted by wingman

Dunno, but I tend to think they would want to install in Gatineau proper. I am thinking they could reconfigure the Galeries de Gatineau (which will house a new Target). Only other areas that are big enough are just east of Paiement on Maloney (too far) or next to Winners just off the 50.

...unless they buy the old Costco?! Nah.

Though if you look at the new plan for Plateau des Grives there are some buildings there that would be big enough.

http://www.firstcapitalrealty.ca/ima...aps/lay201.pdf

If this comes to be it would be a pretty big deal for the Outaouais.

That would boost even more that mall, but I still remember the years as a ghost mall back in the early 1990s. There was the IGA at one end and the Zellers and Yellow at the other end and nothing in between (except a video store). Zellers had that big ass store beside the old Costco but that failed miserably since being in the middle of nowhere despite been beside the Highway 50 and the presence of Costco as well since it sell pretty much all the stuff Zellers does. Yellow moved to the Wal-Mart area not long after and IGA also shut down pretty quick because of the abundance of grocery stores nearby (Super C and Loblaws just to the east) and Metro and Maxi to the west (though Metro was replaced by Urban Planet because of Costco's move)

[waterloowarrior]

futureshop in Barrhaven opening http://forums.redflagdeals.com/futur...-10am-1097231/

[Acajack]

Article in French re: Simons/Gatineau:
http://www.journallarevue.com/Actual...che-gatinois/1

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by toaster

I read somewhere a while ago that Costco won't be renewing their lease at Promenades, so that would be a big space.

Like Cre47 said, I would be surprised if Coscto moved out of Les Promenades, since they just moved there and their store is super-busy. I believe that the Gatineau Costco is the number one retail sales location for beer in all of Canada.

That said, the addition of the Costco has caused a lot of parking issues at Les Promenades, but I am not sure if they are getting complaints from their clients and if it is keeping customers away, and if they would move because of this. It seems to me that all Costco stores seem to have parking issues: I know the one at Innes and Cyrville is a total nightmare and probably even worse than Les Promenades.

Anyway, if Costco Gatineau moves, it would likely be somewhere close by, since the far-out location on Labrosse was not a success. They will want to stay in this part of Gatineau, which is easily accessible from all parts of the Outaouais, and also fairly close to the border and lots of beer-loving Ontarians!

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Cre47

Though I haven't heard about an opening date for Simon's if they do open one in Gatineau. So probably the one planned for St-Laurent would be before that.
.

Simons at St. Laurent is off the table for the time being I think. Apparently they haven't been able to come to a deal because of various complications and they aren't even talking any more.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Cre47

I would be really surprised if Costco would be moving out of there. It has brought a bit more life in the tedious and lifeless western end of the mall - was like that between Eaton's closure and Costco's opening. They opened a few good stores in addition in that area such as Atmosphere and Archambault. Though I'm missing the Chinese buffet restaurant in that same area - seems according the mall's site it's a sushi buffet shop or something like that.

Though I haven't heard about an opening date for Simon's if they do open one in Gatineau. So probably the one planned for St-Laurent would be before that.

Maybe with Simon's possibly setting here, maybe Les Ailes de la Mode could have a second attempt at our market here but in Gatineau instead rather then repeating the Bayshore fiasco which only lasted for 20 months or something like that.

There might a little bit of space in the SE portion of the property, to built a small expansion which could accommodate either a Simon's or Les Ailes. The other one might land in Le Plateau.

If they don't lose Costco (which has been great for breathing more life into Les Promenades as others have said) and get a Simons as well, Les Promenades and even the immediate area would be a killer shopping destination.

I believe Les Promenades does have more than enough space for a new building for a Simons on its property. What they would probably do is sacrifice some surface parking and then build some multi-level parkades like St. Laurent and Bayshore. There is no reason why this could not be done.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Cre47

Heard on CTV that a Simon's store could be in the works for Gatineau. Now, as far as the location, I would though Les Promenades would be the place, but all large spaces seems to be occupied. Though I find it odd that Urban Planet uses a large space - the former Steinberg/Super C/Metro location just east of the bus terminal. Though maybe it would be too small for Simon's. My fear is that it will land in Le Plateau where there is still tons of space available. I think the last stores are at the corner of Des Grives or about 200-300 meteres to the west. With a new access road to le Plateau open from Highway 148, that could mean an easier access to the big boxes. I see a 50% chance that Simon's will install in Le Plateau.

Although the western part of the city of Gatineau (Plateau, Aylmer) is slightly richer than the more eastern parts, I highly doubt Simons would go for Le Plateau. This is all big boxes and Simons is typically anchored onto an indoor mall. All of the Simons on suburban boulevards are part of malls - not stand-alone stores. The only stand-alone stores it has are on very busy downtown shopping streets like Ste-Catherine in Montreal and in the old part of Quebec City. There are no areas like this in Gatineau so if they come to the Outaouais québécois it would almost certainly be at Les Promenades.

The only other mall option is Les Galeries de Hull but this mall appears to be totally maxed out on its site. It would be a real coup de force to squeeze a Simons somewhere in there.

[Cre47]

Originally Posted by Acajack

If they don't lose Costco (which has been great for breathing more life into Les Promenades as others have said) and get a Simons as well, Les Promenades and even the immediate area would be a killer shopping destination.

I believe Les Promenades does have more than enough space for a new building for a Simons on its property. What they would probably do is sacrifice some surface parking and then build some multi-level parkades like St. Laurent and Bayshore. There is no reason why this could not be done.

Yeah I don't understand why they haven't build parkades, not that I care much about that. Sure some expansion would be great there at les Promenades before the Rapibus gets completed.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ll=...&cbp=12,0,,0,0

This is the portion I was talking about on building an addition to accomodate a Simon's or Les Ailes. A two-story addition could fit well so to avoid removing too much parking (once again not I care that much about parking space)

[Cre47]

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

futureshop in Barrhaven opening http://forums.redflagdeals.com/futur...-10am-1097231/

Marketplace complex getting more and more massive and will get even more with the new Transitway open now in Barrhaven. The whole complex must be approaching Jockvale and Longfields now.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Cre47

Yeah I don't understand why they haven't build parkades, not that I care much about that. Sure some expansion would be great there at les Promenades before the Rapibus gets completed.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ll=...&cbp=12,0,,0,0

This is the portion I was talking about on building an addition to accomodate a Simon's or Les Ailes. A two-story addition could fit well so to avoid removing too much parking (once again not I care that much about parking space)

Plus that section of the parking lot is always empty. Except at Christmas time.

[wingman]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Plus that section of the parking lot is always empty. Except at Christmas time.

Good call. If they added parkades this would make sense. Simons stores a generally pretty big so I would expect a 2 story if they were able to move into les Promenades. Prob a re-do of the food court as well as that would prob be the area they would use to link to the new addition.

All speculation of course, but it would be a great addition wherever it goes.

les Galeries de Hull I think is maxed out on space unless they go up, and I cannot see that happening.

There is a huge open space at the corner of St-Joseph and Montclair but as someone mentioned Simons are usually in Malls...

[Cre47]

Now with Target acquiring most of the Zellers stores, there is still nothing about the fate of the ones at Place Cartier and at Galeries Aylmer. They might continue as Zellers for some time, but if those two Zellers closed in the long range (although the one in Hull is busy still not sure about the Aylmer one), those two malls could be candidates as well for a Simon's. This would certainly help those two simili-dead malls especially Place Cartier.

Forget about the Galeries de Hull, the only chance a Simons would fit there is that they would built a third story or if Sears moves out which is very unlikely.

The Bay is two floors at les Promenades right?

[Kitchissippi]

A super long shot, but wouldn't be amazing if Simons went for the Portage area. Maybe on first two floors of 22 Eddy or somehow connected to Place du Centre (maybe in the old convention centre space)? It would really liven up that part of town and give old downtown Hull a defibrillator zap.

[Cre47]

Originally Posted by wingman

Good call. If they added parkades this would make sense. Simons stores a generally pretty big so I would expect a 2 story if they were able to move into les Promenades. Prob a re-do of the food court as well as that would prob be the area they would use to link to the new addition.

All speculation of course, but it would be a great addition wherever it goes.

les Galeries de Hull I think is maxed out on space unless they go up, and I cannot see that happening.

There is a huge open space at the corner of St-Joseph and Montclair but as someone mentioned Simons are usually in Malls...

I wouldn't rule that scenario out though, if Ivanhoe-Cambridge (same owners as Bayshore) would buy that land on the SE corner, they could built another section and connect both halves with a pedestrian walkway above Montclair. This is a fairly substantial lot. So it could fit a Simon's or maybe dozens more stores in a two-story addition. Maybe they could also integrate the Maxi store with the mall as well. We need to get rid of those disgusting empty lots on St-Joseph. It is getting ridicoulus how this boulevard considered as a Main Street is such in bad shape, it is embarrasing.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ll=...,93.45,,0,4.06

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Cre47

Now with Target acquiring most of the Zellers stores, there is still nothing about the fate of the ones at Place Cartier and at Galeries Aylmer. They might continue as Zellers for some time, but if those two Zellers closed in the long range (although the one in Hull is busy still not sure about the Aylmer one), those two malls could be candidates as well for a Simon's. This would certainly help those two simili-dead malls especially Place Cartier.

I have heard the several of the non-Target Zellers will become Wal-Marts, but I doubt Place Cartier will - it is too close to Le Plateau. Aylmer? Maybe.

As for Simons, these dying malls are not prestigious enough for them. They'd never go there. Even Les Promenades was not really nice enough until it got spiffied up fairly recently. Now I think it is OK though, certainly as high-end as Le Carrefour de l'Estrie in Sherbrooke, which has a Simons.

Originally Posted by Cre47

The Bay is two floors at les Promenades right?

Yes it is.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

A super long shot, but wouldn't be amazing if Simons went for the Portage area. Maybe on first two floors of 22 Eddy or somehow connected to Place du Centre (maybe in the old convention centre space)? It would really liven up that part of town and give old downtown Hull a defibrillator zap.

I think we would all love that but we are not even daring to dream. Too remote a possibility!