Winnipeg Retail

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by horrorbro123

Also HMV Will Open New Location In Polo Park On Monday What Gonna Happen To Old Location

Based on the old HMV location in Polo Park I would guess it will convert to a Pink store as part of the Victoria Secret next door.

--

In terms of the Target reno at KP it is interesting to note is that the approved exterior seems to have four additional spots for signage for tenants beyond Marshalls, HomeSense and H&M. Let the speculation begin...

[bomberjet]

I noticed in the renderings, which may be what Cory is referring to. Aside from the main mall entrances that appear to be going in, there appears to units with exterior doors fronting the Regent side. Almost like a strip mall.

[CoryB]

From reading the text that went with the renders for KP to city hall it sounds like the plan is basically move the prominent Regent (south) facing Target door to the middle of what was Target. Run that hall straight through the space. As you go out the north side there would be a new road that would continue north. It sounds like a replacement to the parking lot cutting east side road to the point that road access might be changing.

In terms of the Regent fronting doors, it looks like the main Target door, shifted east, and a reworking of the River City space for H&M with their own parking lot access/doors/windows.

What I was mentioning is if you look at the east elevation that are four squares, two on either side of the ones over the entrance, which seem to be positioned as sign locations for tenants. It is a little odd as most mall based tenants do not normally have exterior signage like H&M, Marshalls or HomeSense. That said, say they landed Forever 21 or Old Navy or (not happening) Holt Renfrew those would normally warrant some exterior signage. What makes this even more interesting is the design has four more places yet there are at most two larger tenants meaning there would be reason to plan for two tenants around the 5,000 sq ft range to have exterior signage. I could be misreading it but it is definitely something outside the norm and a possible hint of something special to come.

[bomberjet]

Yeah it does look interesting. In the first picture below, you can see what both of us are talking about. On the south (top) elevation. there is space for the additional boards. Below the boards, you can also see doors. That's what leads me to believe there is some form of exterior access to units. Which seems odd. Also, I don't believe these reno's show anything with the River City space. Where the H&M logo is situated appears to be on the side of the target space.

I'm betting Marshalls/Homesense go along the east side of the Target space. With an interior mall access point and an exterior access point to the north parking lot (maybe through the mall who knows).



The second image shows the north elevation.



The third image shows the reconfigured parking lot on the north side. They're adding a loading door into the renovated space and moving garbage bins around. The road will be moving away from the mall at that location.

[horrorbro123]

Laura Plus Will Open New Location at Polo Park Later This Week

[Pinus]

One of Canada's leading retail chains — Hudson's Bay Company — is trying out a new concept and Winnipeg is the only city where it's being tested.

The stores are at three former Home Outfitters locations — 710 St. James St., 1580 Regent Ave., and 1585 Kenaston Blvd. But unlike Home Outfitters, which carried mainly bedroom, bathroom and kitchen products, the new stores feature items "for every room" in the home. That includes indoor and outdoor furniture and accessories, big and small appliances, pots, pans, dishes, cutlery, beds, bedding, and towels.



The stores have been rebranded as Hudson's Bay Home and are having their grand opening today through Sunday.

"This is a new concept for HBC, and the first of its kind in Canada," company spokesperson Tiffany Bourré said in an email. "HBC has a long history with Winnipeg, and we are very excited to celebrate another milestone here by bringing this new store concept to the city."

Asked why Winnipeg was chosen as the testing ground, Bourré said, "Winnipeg is a very strong market for HBC. These (the three former Home Outfitters outlets) are already successful stores, and the city is a proven market with three diverse locations."

When asked whether the concept will be rolled out across the rest of the country if it's well received in Winnipeg, Bourré said, there are no other Hudson's Bay Home stores planned at this time.

"Our focus is on these three Winnipeg stores."

Read more: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/bus...374202391.html

[bomberjet]

Look at you Winnipeg!

[Urban recluse]

Now, about that downtown store...

[Jeff]

The fact that they actually put new lightbulbs in the old Bay signs on the building is promising! Even if it hasn't (or probably never) been rebranded HUDSONS BAY. you have to think, though, that with all this new development downtown, the bay might be the last huge puzzle piece the government will have to throw a ton of money at. I'm thinking College Park Toronto, although I'm not sure downtown needs another romper room like Portage Place..

[Urban recluse]

Based on the cost of redeveloping the downtown store, yes, it will be last on the list. However, having said that, based on all of the exciting developments in the vicinity, and even P&M, I could see this happening sooner than later. I think it is clear what needs to happen to the Bay building, and that is it needs a centre floor to roof atrium, or the building cut in half, Graham extended through and windows added to the upper floors. There needs to be a combination of residential and retail.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Jeff

The fact that they actually put new lightbulbs in the old Bay signs on the building is promising! Even if it hasn't (or probably never) been rebranded HUDSONS BAY. you have to think, though, that with all this new development downtown, the bay might be the last huge puzzle piece the government will have to throw a ton of money at. I'm thinking College Park Toronto, although I'm not sure downtown needs another romper room like Portage Place..

The downtown Bay must be one of the few left that hasn't been rebranded... seems goofy that they'd leave it up there with the old logo given how visible it is, even if it isn't the busiest store anymore.

[horrorbro123]

Cambrain Credit Union Is Moving Out Pembina Location In favour Grant Park Location Will Open In November

[LilZebra]

Originally Posted by horrorbro123

Cambrain Credit Union Is Moving Out Pembina Location In favour Grant Park Location Will Open In November

Is that what's going up beside the Petro Canada station?

[LilZebra]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

Based on the cost of redeveloping the downtown store, yes, it will be last on the list. However, having said that, based on all of the exciting developments in the vicinity, and even P&M, I could see this happening sooner than later. I think it is clear what needs to happen to the Bay building, and that is it needs a centre floor to roof atrium, or the building cut in half, Graham extended through and windows added to the upper floors. There needs to be a combination of residential and retail.

Very similar to the Save the Eaton's Building proposal of '01-'02.

Won't happen.

[Urban recluse]

Who really knows. The downtown of today is not the same as back then.

[LilZebra]

I took a really long glance at the downtown Bay store on the weekend, and, including the parkade, it's a gigantic site, possibly larger than Eaton's was.

IF the Bay and Parkade were demolished, the land would have to be parceled out into 3 or 4 chunks.

Maybe more downtown hi-rise housing like the one next to Stella's on Portage.

Maybe some retail, but it wouldn't be a 19th/20th century style department store. Those seem to be out of vogue at the moment. No dollar stores please.

The Manitoba PC gov't could travel to Toronto or wherever in N. America and attract a mid-sized corporation to expand or move their Canadian headquarters here, and build a Class A (or B) office tower...But the problem is that 201 Portage is under leased at the moment.

I've pretty well given up on Shindleman, the Univ. of Winnipeg to come up with something. If they were serious they would have done something by now.

Just as bad though would be to demo and not have a plan for a building. Gee, didn't they say that about Eaton's?

I wish MTS didn't sell off Allstream (nee AT&T Canada). They are already at 200 Graham and could have expanded their workforce here at 201 Portage or 225 Hargrave St.

[Urban recluse]

There is no way the Bay building will be demolished.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by horrorbro123

Cambrain Credit Union Is Moving Out Pembina Location In favour Grant Park Location Will Open In November

Thanks for sharing that. It's not bad, but not quite as architecturally showy as some of the buildings some other CUs have been coming up with lately... Sunova, Assiniboine and Carpathia in particular have been doing some good stuff.

Things have certainly changed for the better since the 90s when most new bank and CU branches were abysmal. I still get nauseated whenever I drive by the North Winnipeg Credit Union on Leila.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

There is no way the Bay building will be demolished.

If it happened to Eaton's, I don't see why it couldn't happen to The Bay. As much as I love the building, no one is really interested in taking on such a massive old building, and I'm not sure that government should step in to pour money into it that the private sector flatly refuses to.

[Urban recluse]

Greater architectural significance than the Eaton's building.