Canadian Retail Thread

[Innsertnamehere]

There are two in Toronto from my understanding, but they both opened this year.

Don't remember seeing TGIs, Applebee's, or Ruby Tuesdays anywhere. I've seen a couple of chuck e cheeses around the gta, can't specify where though.

[youngregina]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

London Drugs would be an interesting business case study. They seem to do okay, and yet they sell everything that a WalMart might sell in an area the size of a small grocery store. Their stores have barely any on site storage/warehousing space to speak of. Even more interestingly, they seem to be pioneers of urbanization, often opening up in the base of new condo projects that other large format retailers get cold feet over.

Learning that they have a single store in Winnipeg - 1000 km away from their next closest one - intrigues me even more.

Well their next closest location is in Regina, so closer to 600km away. But still, it's odd that they would spread themselves so thin just to get a name for themselves out there.

[srperrycgy]

Originally Posted by ue

Save-On Foods is also in Edmonton. They tested the Calgary marked in the late '90s and failed but I hear they are trying to re-enter the market.

Yes, Save-on had one store in Calgary (Midnapore) in the 90s, but it was not successful. They came back to Calgary in 2013 with locations in Panorama Hills (North), Seton (SE), and Walden (SE). Another new store opened in the spring on Macleod Trail south of Heritage. With the Safeway divestment of stores with the Sobeys purchase, Save-on added the former Safeway locations in Canmore and Cochrane. I grew up with Overwaitea & Save-on, so I was pleased to see it in Calgary.

As for Carls Jr., there is one in Kelowna and in Penticton. Their food is absolute crap.

[SpongeG]

there is one in grande prairie. the food i would take over mcdonalds anyday

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

Don't remember seeing TGIs, Applebee's, or Ruby Tuesdays anywhere. .

These three are in Niagara Falls, Ontario I am positive. Maybe elsewhere too.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Acajack

These three are in Niagara Falls, Ontario I am positive.

That's almost America anyway. Within spitting distance at least.

[north 42]

There's a few Applebee's in The Windsor area.

[SpongeG]

there were some applebees in the vancouver area, port coquitlam and langley had them

there were two TGIF's, one downtown and one at metrotown in burnaby but they closed long ago, vancouver is full of picky people when it comes to food, especially chains

[caltrane74]

There was a concrete pour this morning at the north facing LED Signage being built at the Eaton Centre.

The company behind the LED Signage on the North facing side is Media Resources



http://mediaresources.com/

Looks like they've done some other LED projects around town.

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

There are two in Toronto from my understanding, but they both opened this year.

Don't remember seeing TGIs, Applebee's, or Ruby Tuesdays anywhere. I've seen a couple of chuck e cheeses around the gta, can't specify where though.

There's an Applebee's in Ajax, and Chuck E Cheese is in Whitby. There's also a Chuck E Cheese in Kingston on Gardiners Road.

Red Lobster is still around in Ontario. There's one in Kingston on Bath Road, and as far as I know there's still at least one in London.

Interestingly St-Hubert used to be a lot more prevalent in Ontario - I remember visiting one in London in 1989. However they all closed except for locations in Ottawa and Cornwall. Almost three years ago they attempted a small expansion westward with a location in Kingston near the 401, but it lasted less than a year. I went in there a few times and noted many of the customers spoke French, which told me these were travelers from Quebec and not Kingston locals. The service was very slow, even though it was set up like a fast food restaurant and was even called St-Hubert Express. I think the slow service is what killed it.

The great mystery in Toronto is how Pizza Pizza survives against local chains Pizzaiolo and Pizza Nova. Pizza Pizza seems to get worse and less fresh every year, and no matter where you go the service is horrible.

[TorontoDrew]

Sadly with Pizza Pizza everybody knows their number and there are more people out there who will do as they are told by the corporate world then experience unknown gems that offer a better product. Pizza Pizza is around like Molson McDonald's, and the like solely through their marketing power. They are starting to suffer though as generation X and next aren't falling for it as much. I do like Big Macs though.

[WhipperSnapper]

Think Pizza Pizza will go the way of Coffee Time as other chains take over.

[MalcolmTucker]

There was a licensed Pizza Pizza in Calgary a decade ago as part of an institutional catering contract at the University of Calgary, it was rebranded as a Pizza 73 when they realized there was no brand currency here.

[WhipperSnapper]

I don't think McDonald's move introducing better quality with a matching price will pay off. Too much competition. I guess they need to adjust though. Cheap isn't good enough anymore.

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

I don't think McDonald's move introducing better quality with a matching price will pay off. Too much competition. I guess they need to adjust though. Cheap isn't good enough anymore.

Yet there is a market for cheap - look at the rapid proliferation of Dollarama. In some market segments, inferior quality is acceptable if the price is right.

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Think Pizza Pizza will go the way of Coffee Time as other chains take over.

There's still a few Coffee Time locations around including about 6 within a 10 minute drive from me in Toronto. They're not as prevalent as I recall them being back in 2005. I never recall seeing any west of K-W.

I've never understood the appeal of that chain. I've been there twice, both times in Kitchener, and I couldn't believe how awful it was. Dirty atmosphere, and the worst iced capuccino I've ever had. Haven't set foot inside one in over 8 years now. To me they're a poor man's Tim Hortons.

If there's a coffee chain I like other than Tim Hortons, it's Coffee Culture. I wish there were more of those around. They seem to be more prevalent in smaller towns such as Napanee, Exeter, and Wingham.

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

Yet there is a market for cheap - look at the rapid proliferation of Dollarama. In some market segments, inferior quality is acceptable if the price is right.

It is more because they are the only thing that half the population these days can afford.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

It is more because they are the only thing that half the population these days can afford.

Most of the patronage at places like Dollarama and Walmart **could** shop elsewhere, but they (wisely, IMO) choose to keep their shopping costs down.

Back in the day, years ago before these cheap stores were a thing, people used to struggle to acquire goods... now they don't have to struggle as much.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Most of the patronage at places like Dollarama and Walmart **could** shop elsewhere, but they (wisely, IMO) choose to keep their shopping costs down.

I confess I shop at Dollarama and Walmart because I like the low prices. Before Dollarama started selling things like HDMI cables for $1.50 or whatever the original price was, it was tough to find them in stores for under $10. There are other things like that where Dollarama kicks the ass of other places.

But that said, I wish Dollarama was around back in my student days... I could have stretched my money a lot farther by buying a soup ladle for $1.00 instead of $3.97 at Zellers or whatever. Saving a few bucks here and there makes a real difference to people who don't have a lot of money to spare.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by esquire

I confess I shop at Dollarama and Walmart because I like the low prices. Before Dollarama started selling things like HDMI cables for $1.50 or whatever the original price was, it was tough to find them in stores for under $10. There are other things like that where Dollarama kicks the ass of other places.

But that said, I wish Dollarama was around back in my student days... I could have stretched my money a lot farther by buying a soup ladle for $1.00 instead of $3.97 at Zellers or whatever. Saving a few bucks here and there makes a real difference to people who don't have a lot of money to spare.

I don't buy any food at Dollarama but for many household items they've made a big dent in the bottom line of the larger retailers. Like decorations for parties and holidays, children's crafts, gardening stuff, household storage like hooks, bins, or kitchen stuff like tongs, graters, or outdoor brooms for your garage, or cleaning supplies, etc. Much of it is two to three times cheaper at Dollarama.

Maybe the Dollarama stuff doesn't last as long, but I'm not sure that's always been the case...