Canadian Retail Thread - Page 230

ILoveHalifax · #**4581** Posted **Sep 10, 2016, 12:20 PM**

There is Payzant Home Hardware on Sackville Dr - it is much less than some of there stores. They also have a very small location on Wright Av in Dartmouth. There is one in Windsor, and Chester.
I am not at all surprised that they survive - their staff know their products and they wait on their customers quite unlike the big boxes where you will never find staff and if you do they don't have a clue

MonctonRad · #**4582** Posted **Sep 10, 2016, 3:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taeolas

Yeah the Bay never really expanded much in the Maritimes, at least not as The Bay.

They were in Moncton up to 5 years or so ago; but moved out when Highfield Square closed (It's where the new Downtown Events Centre is being built now). The feeling is, they want back into Moncton, but are waiting for a good location to open up. (Either somewhere downtown again, or out in Champlain Place when Sears shuts down and/or if Walmart decamps).

I do wonder, if Sears Canada's woes continue, if HBC might put them out of their misery to claim the locations.

The Bay only existed in Moncton for about 7-8 years or so. They took over the old Eaton's store in Highfield Square after that chain went bankrupt.

The Bay did decent business in Moncton despite the fact that Highfield Square nearly became a poster child for the "Dead Malls of Canada" thread. When Crombie decided to close the mall, the Bay was kicked out. As you pointed out, the new downtown Events Centre is now being built on the old Highfield Square site.

One of my sons was working at the Bay just before they closed. A couple of Toronto bigwigs came down to speak to the staff during the last week of operations. These executives essentially promised that the Bay would return to Moncton some day, as soon as a suitable location became available - the inference being in Champlain Place (the other mall), as soon as the nearly moribund Sears chain finally gave up the ghost.......

casper · #**4583** Posted **Sep 10, 2016, 3:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loco101

Would you agree that Home Hardware is maybe the most common or visible retailer across Canada? You will see stores in large urban centres, suburban areas, towns and even rural villages.

I've seen locations in rural Newfoundland, many in traditionally pro-sovereignty areas of Quebec, isolated communities in Northern Ontario, etc.. And they have locations in the territories including Nunavut. It's hard to find a market in Canada that they haven't penetrated. You'll even find locations in the most densely populated parts of Toronto.

It's amazing that they have survived with competitors such as Home Depot, Lowe's, Canadian Tire and Rona.

Different culture. Home Hardware at the corporate level is owned by each of the stores and each store has a lot of freedom. Basically it is at network small little hardware stores that can stock what they want and adapt to their customers They know the local neighborhood and what was used when most of the housing stock in that area was built. End result is they hall the odd bits and pieces needed.

BretttheRiderFan · #**4584** Posted **Sep 10, 2016, 5:01 PM**

I find it interesting how small towns will often have an A&W, at least on the prairies. Subway and A&W seem to always be the first fast food franchises to come to any small town, usually followed by Tims. Beaverlodge, Alberta population 2,365 has an A&W. Valleyview, Alberta population 1,761 has an A&W.

BretttheRiderFan · #**4585** Posted **Sep 10, 2016, 5:09 PM**

Just looked for local Home Hardwares, not to be found in the city. There are stores in Spruce Grove, Morinville, Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park, Beaumont and Devon though.

In the Peace region you'll find them everywhere. Hines Creek, Fairview, Peace River, Spirit River, Grande Prairie, Beaverlodge, Valleyview...

TownGuy · #**4586** Posted **Sep 10, 2016, 5:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BretttheRiderFan

I find it interesting how small towns will often have an A&W, at least on the prairies. Subway and A&W seem to always be the first fast food franchises to come to any small town, usually followed by Tims. Beaverlodge, Alberta population 2,365 has an A&W. Valleyview, Alberta population 1,761 has an A&W.

Tims dominates the small town market here and is usually first to town. Never really thought about it but I guess Subway is up there also, although their store format is a lot smaller than your usual franchise, more like a pizza place. A&W is a usual suspect also.

WhipperSnapper · #**4587** Posted **Sep 10, 2016, 5:56 PM**

A&W is a huge chain. You don't get that way by avoiding small towns. Like Subway/Tims They do run counters in convenience stores too.

1overcosc · #**4588** Posted **Sep 10, 2016, 7:28 PM**

In the small town I grew up in (Embrun, ON), the first fast food provider was Tims, around 1997 or so, followed by a Subway a few years later. Oddly, the next one was actually Dairy Queen--they arrived around 2005. The whole time I was in high school, Dairy Queen was actually the only place in town to get a fast food hamburger.. so to me, I associated the brand with hamburgers. It was a bit of a shock to move to university where everyone associated DQ with ice cream and barely even thought about their burgers.

I only go back there to visit family on occasion and I never really explore much.. but I'm pretty sure Tims, Subway, and Dairy Queen are still the only fast food places today.

The little area of Ontario I grew up in is very devoid of corporate retail. The next town over, Russell, was weird in that it had basically no corporate stores at all. A population of about 3,000.. and no Tims, no Subway, no McDonalds, no Walmart. Everything there was mom-and-pop stores on the downtown retail strip, Home Hardware being the sole exception.

BretttheRiderFan · #**4589** Posted **Sep 10, 2016, 7:48 PM**

I've always found that seniors love to hang around and have a coffee in the mornings at small town A&Ws, and even big city ones to some extent. Kind of serves as the de facto coffee shop or Tims in a lot of towns on the prairies.

Taeolas · #**4590** Posted **Sep 10, 2016, 8:31 PM**

Home Hardware is surprisingly spread out. Freddy has 3 in its city limits, along with a 4th in Oromocto. I think Nackawic used to have one as well, but it closed up. It feels to me that they are often in the centre of town, having started there with the town and the town grew around it. (Forcing bigger home retailers like Rona, Home Depot, and even Kent out here out to the outskirts/big box districts).

As for restaurants, A&W was a latecomer in my hometown. Woodstock, NB was just atlantic restaurants (Pizza Delight first, then Greco, then Pizza Twice) for the longest times.

Subway was the first National chain to move in, in the early 90's. I think KFC moved into the mall next, around 94. Finally, TIm's moved in about a year later (I may have them inverted), and that seemed to open the floodgates. McD's came in right after that, followed by Pizza Hut and a second Tim's. A&W didn't show up until 2000ish, when the town finally got a theatre (the town had a drive-in back in the 80's but for 20 years the only theatre was across the border in Houlton). Pita Pit is the most recent to show up, as of a couple years ago.

BretttheRiderFan · #**4591** Posted **Sep 10, 2016, 8:46 PM**

The last major fast food chain I remember going into Grande Prairie was Harvey's. They didn't get one until maybe two or three years ago, and then two opened up in the span of a few months.

Starbucks was a late arrival as well, not until the mid-2000s, but once they came in, it wasn't long until there were about a half dozen or more. Carl's Jr also came in about four or five years back.

One thing I've noticed most smaller cities never seem to get is a Taco Bell. Not really sure why.

Taeolas · #**4592** Posted **Sep 10, 2016, 8:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BretttheRiderFan

The last major fast food chain I remember going into Grande Prairie was Harvey's. They didn't get one until maybe two or three years ago, and then two opened up in the span of a few months.

Starbucks was a late arrival as well, not until the mid-2000s, but once they came in, it wasn't long until there were about a half dozen or more. Carl's Jr also came in about four or five years back.

One thing I've noticed most smaller cities never seem to get is a Taco Bell. Not really sure why.

Harvey's has been in Fredericton for as long as I can remember. They could really use another building; and I wouldn't mind them opening a second location, but it's a staple at the bottom of the hill.

Taco Bell seems to be taking forever to spread in the maritimes. Freddy has 1 in the mall and that's it. Even when the 2 standalone KFCs were rebuilt, they didn't put any Tacobells in.

Loco101 · #**4593** Posted **Sep 11, 2016, 12:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by casper

Different culture. Home Hardware at the corporate level is owned by each of the stores and each store has a lot of freedom. Basically it is at network small little hardware stores that can stock what they want and adapt to their customers They know the local neighborhood and what was used when most of the housing stock in that area was built. End result is they hall the odd bits and pieces needed.

That certainly does explain why Home Hardware is still alive. Excellent points!

It's nice to see the stores in places such as Chapleau or Moonbeam where people can actually shop in their own town.

Loco101 · #**4594** Posted **Sep 11, 2016, 12:29 AM**

For chain restaurants in Northern Ontario:

Subway (towns with over 2000 people)
Tim Hortons (towns with over 4000 people but 2000 if on a busy highway)
McDonald's (towns with over 8000 people but 5000 if along a major highway)

KFC has closed a number of locations in towns and I'd now say a place has to have over 7000 people to have one.

isaidso · #**4595** Posted **Sep 11, 2016, 12:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BretttheRiderFan

I find it interesting how small towns will often have an A&W, at least on the prairies. Subway and A&W seem to always be the first fast food franchises to come to any small town, usually followed by Tims. Beaverlodge, Alberta population 2,365 has an A&W. Valleyview, Alberta population 1,761 has an A&W.

They're Canada's #2 burger chain after McDonalds with 800+ outlets nationally. They're also independent from A&W in the US and have been since 1972.

Denscity · #**4596** Posted **Sep 11, 2016, 2:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BretttheRiderFan

I find it interesting how small towns will often have an A&W, at least on the prairies. Subway and A&W seem to always be the first fast food franchises to come to any small town, usually followed by Tims. Beaverlodge, Alberta population 2,365 has an A&W. Valleyview, Alberta population 1,761 has an A&W.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BretttheRiderFan

I've always found that seniors love to hang around and have a coffee in the mornings at small town A&Ws, and even big city ones to some extent. Kind of serves as the de facto coffee shop or Tims in a lot of towns on the prairies.

You nailed it for Castlegar too. Subway A&W then Tims. And A&W being a seniors centre in the mornings. Our McDonald's is kind of an all day seniors meeting place and then it's on to Tims for the evening meetings haha!

Dwils01 · #**4597** Posted **Sep 11, 2016, 3:49 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loco101

For chain restaurants in Northern Ontario:

Subway (towns with over 2000 people)
Tim Hortons (towns with over 4000 people but 2000 if on a busy highway)
McDonald's (towns with over 8000 people but 5000 if along a major highway)

KFC has closed a number of locations in towns and I'd now say a place has to have over 7000 people to have one.

Last time I was in Schreiber Ontario they still has a Pizza Hut Express and a KFC Express..

It is mostly A&W and Subway. Marathon, White River have an A&W and Terrace Bay used to have one. Robin's donuts is still popular in this area with White River, Marathon, Schreiber and Nipigon having one while Terrace Bay is the only Country Style I've encountered on the route. Even Tim Horton't is spread out. They have a location in Wawa then the next one is not until Nipigon. Both of these have been built within a decade before that it was only Robins between the Sault and Thunder Bay.

MonctonRad · #**4598** Posted **Sep 11, 2016, 3:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taeolas

A&W didn't show up until 2000ish, when the town finally got a theatre (the town had a drive-in back in the 80's but for 20 years the only theatre was across the border in Houlton)

Funny you should mention that My sister and brother-in-law used to live in Centreville NB (where he was the United Church minister).

I can clearly remember driving across the border with them when I was a kid visiting them back in 1966 to see the movie Fantastic Voyage with Raquel Welch.

manny_santos · #**4599** Posted **Sep 11, 2016, 4:35 PM**

Interesting how common A&W seems to be in smaller communities. For the longest time I remember A&W was very hard to find in some larger cities. In the late 90s in London, there was a standalone location downtown, but other than that it was only found in mall food courts. The downtown location closed in maybe 2001, and for several years it was exclusively a food court restaurant in London. It was maybe around 2005 that standalone A&W restaurants slowly started to appear there.

MonctonRad · #**4600** Posted **Sep 11, 2016, 4:43 PM**

A&W has been in Charlottetown forever. When I was a kid, they were a traditional drive-in (not drive-thru), complete with food hops in uniforms taking your order and delivering your food to your car and hooking the tray on your car window.

It's amazing how drive-in restaurants and drive-in movie theatres from the 1960's seem rather exotic and nostalgic now........