CF Pacific Centre Developments

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Lotte from Korea is looking to expand globally, they will be opening a second hotel in Chicago in late 2023. Maybe them? they had their first US location in Seayyle.

Sounds plausible this is how they described the new Chicago brand

A lifestyle hotel refers to a boutique hotel equipped with trendy interior and services. It seeks to suggest guests with a new lifestyle reflecting local culture. Starting with ACE Hotel opened in Seattle in 1999, there has been lifestyle hotel boom around cities such as New York City and Los Angeles.

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/lo...d-l7-launching-in-chicago-819665178.html

[officedweller]

Some work going on on the roof of 701 West Georgia.

Pic by me today.

[C3YVR]

I was just looking at the Georgia thread and I realized the renovated Hotel Georgia just had its 12th anniversary since reopening. The hotel renovation was to take two years but because of the 2008 financial crisis it took 3 1/2 years, which is about the same time the Four Seasons has now been closed. While looking at the thread I noticed LeftCoaster made this comment in June 2010 about the CF rotunda replacement:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Well its not an if at all, in fact in a way the project is already well underway. The lobby re-positioning occurring at 701 west georgia (The IBM Building) is the first phase of the project as the lobby needed to be moved to make way for the new addition. CF is currently in the process of landing an anchor tenant and when the work is completed on 701 work will likely start immediately.

With CF it is interesting to see how they view time, as actual removal of the rotunda did not occur for almost another decade (it took them that long to sign a tenant and get approval) and then took 2 1/2 years to construct a two story building. In January 2020 when CF put out the press release for a renovated hotel they advised they also would have more info soon. So going by that time frame CF should have the new hotel ready by when? Nordstrom replacement?

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by C3YVR

With CF it is interesting to see how they view time, as actual removal of the rotunda did not occur for almost another decade (it took them that long to sign a tenant and get approval) and then took 2 1/2 years to construct a two story building. In January 2020 when CF put out the press release for a renovated hotel they advised they also would have more info soon. So going by that time frame CF should have the new hotel ready by when? Nordstrom replacement?

They've just been doing demolition since the hotel closed and I doubt was there any rush to get a new hotel open in the middle of Covid. Unless they do massive changes to the exterior of the Nordstroms building then it seems like it would still open first considering the hotel still needs most of the facade to be replaced let alone all the mechanical/interior changes for 29 floors.

There is zero chance it opens until 2026 which makes announcing a hotel partner pretty pointless.

From April:

“I can’t comment on timing, but we’re continuing to pursue plans for a luxury hotel for that building,” Knoepfel said.

“We’ll partner with one of the major [hotel] banners. We won’t run it ourselves.”

https://biv.com/article/2023/04/businesses-bracing-impact-nordstroms-vancouver-exit

[C3YVR]

In what world do you really believe they have needed 3 1/2 years for "demolition", in a city with a hotel shortage no less?
Hotel brands are not like Apple, they want people to know that they are coming to a city well in advance.
Besides W Hotels (which are luxury but not 5 star) I think they are having a hard time convincing a top tier provider that the hotel could become a 5 star property.

[madog222]

The Development Permit still isn't issued.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

... From April: /edited/

https://biv.com/article/2023/04/businesses-bracing-impact-nordstroms-vancouver-exit

IMHO, the loss of Nordstrom's is a fair blood loss, whichever way you cut it. Microsoft's presence is pretty cool, but would their departure open up more retail space?
I had always hoped for something like The Crystal Court in Minneapolis: light, airy, with trees, and high-end stores plus coffee and lunch places on terraces overlooking a courtyard. The concept
of the courtyard aspect could be adapted to Vancouver's needs for more retail that The Crystal Court seems to have. It is the overall light and airy quality that would serve as an oasis downtown.


https://rejournals.com/a-sign-of-hope-cr...s-still-believe-in-downtown-minneapolis/


I think it would need to be high-end to provide drawing power fro customers, and to be in keeping with high-end Creed's and other such stores in the main mall. There is great potential here, I like to think.
Combining an architectural concept like the CC, revamping the former Nordstrom site, possibly enlarging the building a little, plus 'major surgery' to adapt the interior could deliver something really great.

[dreambrother808]

A new Retail Insider post about Yorkdale says that a large format retailer is rumoured to be taking much of the former Nordstrom space there. Hopefully that’s a good sign for the Vancouver location.

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

A new Retail Insider post about Yorkdale says that a large format retailer is rumoured to be taking much of the former Nordstrom space there. Hopefully that’s a good sign for the Vancouver location.

There has been talk that Simons has wanted to get into Yorkdale for years... I wouldn't be surprised it's them.

Ron.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by C3YVR

In what world do you really believe they have needed 3 1/2 years for "demolition", in a city with a hotel shortage no less?
Hotel brands are not like Apple, they want people to know that they are coming to a city well in advance.
Besides W Hotels (which are luxury but not 5 star) I think they are having a hard time convincing a top tier provider that the hotel could become a 5 star property.

Who the hell was in a rush to open a hotel during Covid?

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

I had always hoped for something like The Crystal Court in Minneapolis: light, airy, with trees, and high-end stores plus coffee and lunch places on terraces overlooking a courtyard. The concept
of the courtyard aspect could be adapted to Vancouver's needs for more retail that The Crystal Court seems to have. It is the overall light and airy quality that would serve as an oasis downtown.

Sounds like the former Rotunda, or even the former food court atrium where Holt Renfrew moved to.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

A new Retail Insider post about Yorkdale says that a large format retailer is rumoured to be taking much of the former Nordstrom space there. Hopefully that’s a good sign for the Vancouver location.

Simons would be an absolutely great fit for Pacific Centre, far less market overlap with Holts than Nordstrom had and more mass-market. It would be a huge hit, although like Yorkdale, a full sized Simons would likely need about 50%-60% of the sq. footage of the former Nordstrom.

[theKB]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Simons would be an absolutely great fit for Pacific Centre, far less market overlap with Holts than Nordstrom had and more mass-market. It would be a huge hit, although like Yorkdale, a full sized Simons would likely need about 50%-60% of the sq. footage of the former Nordstrom.

Is the Simons in Park Royal that successful? Outside of a few brands represented, it is largely fast fashion house brands. Albeit there was a lot of overlap in nordstrom and holt they both carried different items / collections because many of the brands were largely controlling their own presences. (Several instances where sales reps were willing to transfer product from holt renfrew as an example).

I am bias and would suggest I would be disappointed if simons took over that iconic spot. I would love to see Eataly take a portion. I wonder if there would be an appetite for a larger Harry Rosen footprint similar to the one in dowtown toronto. Maybe even a holt renfrew mens store given the tiny footprint of the mens department.

The Nordstrom location was wildly successful, let's hope this building doesn't become a revolving door or just additions from a suburban mall.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by theKB

I am bias and would suggest I would be disappointed if simons took over that iconic spot. I would love to see Eataly take a portion. I wonder if there would be an appetite for a larger Harry Rosen footprint similar to the one in dowtown toronto. Maybe even a holt renfrew mens store given the tiny footprint of the mens department.

The Nordstrom location was wildly successful, let's hope this building doesn't become a revolving door or just additions from a suburban mall.

Maybe there's a reason they have small footprints.

[officedweller]

Holt Renfrew's men's department is just a bunch of concessions, shoes and a trendy casual wear area, and even with the expansion, seems smaller than it was before when it had business suits, shirts and ties.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Holt Renfrew's men's department is just a bunch of concessions, shoes and a trendy casual wear area, and even with the expansion, seems smaller than it was before when it had business suits, shirts and ties.

Agreed. Used to by my suits and shirts there ( mostly on sale ) prior to the expansion, now I just don't get-it or connect with the men's dept. Now it seems like crazy experimental sneakers and bizarre high-fashion garb, they've lost me.

[Capitol Hill]

How about if Holts moved into the Nordstrom space as it’s more logically set up, and Simons took over Holt’s space?

[theKB]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Holt Renfrew's men's department is just a bunch of concessions, shoes and a trendy casual wear area, and even with the expansion, seems smaller than it was before when it had business suits, shirts and ties.

I would suggest you are probably correct in the sense that what used to be the mens department (which is a larger space) is now the cosmetics area.

Most of the other holts have more sizable selections of suits - even Harry Rosen offers this is other cities as well. Nordstrom's selection was also very limited for day to day work wear.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by Capitol Hill

How about if Holts moved into the Nordstrom space as it’s more logically set up, and Simons took over Holt’s space?

Good idea!

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by theKB

Is the Simons in Park Royal that successful? Outside of a few brands represented, it is largely fast fashion house brands. Albeit there was a lot of overlap in nordstrom and holt they both carried different items / collections because many of the brands were largely controlling their own presences. (Several instances where sales reps were willing to transfer product from holt renfrew as an example).

I am bias and would suggest I would be disappointed if simons took over that iconic spot. I would love to see Eataly take a portion. I wonder if there would be an appetite for a larger Harry Rosen footprint similar to the one in dowtown toronto. Maybe even a holt renfrew mens store given the tiny footprint of the mens department.

The Nordstrom location was wildly successful, let's hope this building doesn't become a revolving door or just additions from a suburban mall.

I love Simons, when I go on weekends it is very busy, due to work schedule changes I used to only go on weekdays and found it to be quiet.

Some stores have locked up deals with brands making it impossible to buy them elsewhere, such as when Bond NYC moved from Holt Renfrew to Hudson Bay. Simons does have a lot of brands they don't carry at Park Royal but in other places, I remember the Edmonton store had a lot of Alexander McQueen at one point, not so much here for example.

Simons also has a good selection of Korean brands and my beloved Benetton, I still buy a lot of their stuff thanks to Simons for carrying them.

How big are the Simons stores out in Quebec?