London's Malls - Page 22

MolsonExport · #**421** Posted **Dec 6, 2015, 3:56 AM**

LCBO is opening (very soon) a new location across from Costco on Wonderland. Sucks badly for Cherryhill residents for sure. All the more reason to rid Ontario of the wretched, anachronistic liquor/wine/beer distribution.

I lived across the street from the Beer Store at Westmount mall back in 2005-06, and I watched it close. Went from walking for my beer to driving for it. Assholishness. And for the record, I loathe the Beer Store. World's worst retailing establishment.

HillStreetBlues · #**422** Posted **Dec 6, 2015, 8:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

LCBO is opening (very soon) a new location across from Costco on Wonderland. Sucks badly for Cherryhill residents for sure. All the more reason to rid Ontario of the wretched, anachronistic liquor/wine/beer distribution.

I lived across the street from the Beer Store at Westmount mall back in 2005-06, and I watched it close. Went from walking for my beer to driving for it. Assholishness. And for the record, I loathe the Beer Store. World's worst retailing establishment.

I agree with every word of your post except for your use of the phrase "across the street" when referring to Wonderland. Wonderland is a horrible, horrible stroad that nobody is going to cross on foot unless very committed, or completely without options. I'm assuming the new LCBO on Wonderland will actually be located behind a massive parking lot with no dedicated foot access.

That Beer Store move was so insanely stupid. Westmount had space and I bet would have bent over backwards to refurbish a larger store for them had they needed it. But, no, they'd prefer to be in a brand-new stucco box in the middle of nowhere. I bet they noticed you and a few other people taking pleasant strolls to pick up beer, and moved somewhere where that wouldn't be possible. Their retail experience is so poor that it must take conscious effort, so it's not impossible that they would take location decisions to induce maximum consumer misery.

Blitz · #**423** Posted **Dec 6, 2015, 10:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Surprisingly, and I would NEVER have said this 15 years ago, the downtown CityPlaza seems to have become quite successful. It did an excellent job of turning itself around and acknowledging the malls can be more than just stores especially downtown.

The move of the library there was actually a Canadian first and led to many other cities following suit. The movie theatres, offices, and UWO/Fanshawe campuses filled in needed space and certainly helped the vitality of the remaining stores and food court. They seem to have done a good job of turning a lemon into lemonade.

Retail in CityPlaza continues to slowly disappear. A clothing store closed there about a year ago and nothing has replaced it, The Bargain Shop (one of the largest stores left) is closing soon and Fairweather will be also. One of the four food court outlets closed months ago and nothing has replaced it.

MolsonExport · #**424** Posted **Dec 7, 2015, 1:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HillStreetBlues

I agree with every word of your post except for your use of the phrase "across the street" when referring to Wonderland. Wonderland is a horrible, horrible stroad that nobody is going to cross on foot unless very committed, or completely without options. I'm assuming the new LCBO on Wonderland will actually be located behind a massive parking lot with no dedicated foot access.

That Beer Store move was so insanely stupid. Westmount had space and I bet would have bent over backwards to refurbish a larger store for them had they needed it. But, no, they'd prefer to be in a brand-new stucco box in the middle of nowhere. I bet they noticed you and a few other people taking pleasant strolls to pick up beer, and moved somewhere where that wouldn't be possible. Their retail experience is so poor that it must take conscious effort, so it's not impossible that they would take location decisions to induce maximum consumer misery.

heheh, but really when I moved to London, I had no car and recall running across Wonderland to my apartment from the Beer Store attached to Westmount Mall, with a fresh case of beer, dodging cars. Most retailing options in London cater first and foremost to cars. To rip off a famous quote from a long-ago James Bond film: "In London, cars come first, people come second."

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jaradthescot · #**425** Posted **Dec 7, 2015, 10:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blitz

Retail in CityPlaza continues to slowly disappear. A clothing store closed there about a year ago and nothing has replaced it, The Bargain Shop (one of the largest stores left) is closing soon and Fairweather will be also. One of the four food court outlets closed months ago and nothing has replaced it.

I was very disappointed when I saw that. Not many days left (January 27th I think is the end of the lease, but they're just going to lock the doors once stock levels get low enough). The Bargain Store is a vital cog in my downtown shopping routine -- particularly for dry/canned groceries -- and I gather it is the same for you from some of your previous posts. Any obvious substitutes now that it's disappearing?

bolognium · #**426** Posted **Dec 8, 2015, 12:24 AM**

Yep, Bargain Shop closing is definitely unfortunate. I heard Citi Plaza chose not to renew their lease, vs Bargain Shop closing for their own reasons.

Blitz · #**427** Posted **Dec 8, 2015, 5:02 AM**

^ It's a good place for us downtown residents to pick up some basic household items and/or groceries. Surprised to hear it was City Plaza that wanted them out...I wonder what that's all about.

jaradthescot · #**428** Posted **Dec 10, 2015, 2:28 AM**

Talked to an employee today. He said the mall's owners are trying to convert it away from a retail mall and into one focusing on offices/education. I don't see why the two have to be mutually exclusive. Lord knows there's enough empty footage in the mall that they should hardly be forcing businesses out to make room for different sectors.

Rosso Corsa · #**429** Posted **Dec 11, 2015, 6:33 PM**

If Hudson's Bay expanded into the vacant space in Masonville they could start carrying housewares and small appliances. Would save the trip to good ole White Oaks.

ssiguy · #**430** Posted **Dec 11, 2015, 7:03 PM**

Considering it was City Plaza that refused to extend the lease and wants more education/office, that could mean a fill up of other vacant stores in the Core. Also by closing Bargain Shop which has a lot of dry grocery goods, it could make the opening of a downtown supermarket more viable.

HillStreetBlues · #**431** Posted **Dec 11, 2015, 11:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Also by closing Bargain Shop which has a lot of dry grocery goods, it could make the opening of a downtown supermarket more viable.

I think that's a very optimistic take (and I like it).

I think it was likely only hard-core downtowners (I mean real booster-types loathe to drive to the outskirt for anything) who would have been using TBS for much of their grocery needs*. But I think and hope you still have a point.

*I suspect this because I was one of these at the late great TBS in downtown Kitchener: I remember many a weird look from coworkers when I said I was going there to pick up some groceries.

manny_santos · #**432** Posted **Dec 12, 2015, 12:54 AM**

I'd rather see downtown have a real grocery store rather than TBS. It's basically Dollarama.

HillStreetBlues · #**433** Posted **Dec 12, 2015, 1:13 AM**

Obviously. But I don't think the choice is between The Bargain Shop and a grocery store at all.

Blitz · #**434** Posted **Dec 21, 2015, 6:35 AM**

It's quite a bit different than Dollarama (for example, TBS sells products that are over $20 in value). The lack of a grocery store downtown is annoying - I find myself picking up groceries at places like Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall too often.

ssiguy · #**435** Posted **Dec 22, 2015, 12:51 AM**

Well the fewer the outlets for dry goods, the more viable a true downtown grocery store becomes. With the every increasing downtown population it becomes more viable everyday and LRT will enhance that.

No doubt the Market vendors will bitch but I doubt it would really make any difference. People don't go to the market to just get groceries they can get almost anywhere else for half the price but rather the shopping and entertainment experience.

Scarface · #**436** Posted **Dec 22, 2015, 1:15 PM**

On topic but a little off topic at the same time. I've seen 2 stores that I believe had locations all over Canada (Red Apple, and The Bargain Shop), and I'm surprised any location lasted this long as there is a forum about Canadian shopping talking about the impending closure of a TPS Location so long after the majority of locations have closed from what I've seen traveling around the country.

tyeman200 · #**437** Posted **Jan 9, 2016, 10:58 PM**

Not sure if this has been mentioned or not, but I found out what is going in one of the new retail spaces in Masonville (sears/target store, not sure which one).

I heard that The Keg on Richmond st. (downtown), will be moving to masonville mall. Except they will not have an interior entrance, just one on the outside. Probably to prevent people from bringing in bags of stuff after a shopping trip.

GreatTallNorth2 · #**438** Posted **Jan 10, 2016, 2:28 AM**

I heard that H&M and Atmosphere will be at Masonville and that the Target store will be filled with a retailer new to London.

HillStreetBlues · #**439** Posted **Jan 10, 2016, 4:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyeman200

I heard that The Keg on Richmond st. (downtown), will be moving to masonville mall.

Ugh, lame move on their part. Do you know when this is happening?

ericlewis91 · #**440** Posted **Jan 12, 2016, 7:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

I heard that H&M and Atmosphere will be at Masonville and that the Target store will be filled with a retailer new to London.

Ive heard.. KEG, H&M, Zara, Chipotle (THIS WOULD BE KEY)

"This redevelopment will be attracting a lot of exciting new retailers and is targeted to open in November 1, 2016. " thats all thats posted

https://www.cadillacfairview.com/en_CA/retail-pages/cf-masonville-place/profile.html