General Retail News

[c_speed3108]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

How do you rotate google maps/3D !? And why would they have kept the "Eaton's" sign?

It is probably large enough that you would need some sort of crane to get it over the wall and down. This would entail at least partially closing the bridge on a Sunday or something. It is really not worth the bother for something that is not visible (aside from those pests at Google) and not causing any issues.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by c_speed3108

It is probably large enough that you would need some sort of crane to get it over the wall and down. This would entail at least partially closing the bridge on a Sunday or something. It is really not worth the bother for something that is not visible (aside from those pests at Google) and not causing any issues.

That makes sens, but wouldn't they have closed the bridge to take down the letters and replace them with 'SEARS' in the first place?

[J.OT13]

Remaining Rideau Centre Sears space should be subdivided: analyst

The owners of the Rideau Centre would be best served by subdividing the highly sought-after retail space left behind by Sears Canada (TSX:SCC), according to one of the city's leading retail analysts.
Topics : Rideau Centre , Shore Tanner Associates , Walmart , Sweden , Ottawa , Toronto

Sweden’s H&M is one of the most popular names being bandied about to fill the 83,000 square feet remaining on the Rideau Centre’s bottom floor after American fashion retailer Nordstrom announced it would take over Sears’ top two levels. But Barry Nabatian, director of the market research division at Shore Tanner & Associates, says the mall should split the vacant space into five or six upscale stores each between 10,000 to 15,000 square feet in size.

“It would attract a wider diversity of shoppers,” he says, adding that Nordstrom likely signed an exclusivity clause stating no other large department stores can be below it.

The mall would also be well served by reserving space for cultural activities, such as a performance theatre, Mr Nabatian says.

The Rideau Centre is a prime example of how regional malls are having to become more high-end because they can’t compete with bargain stores such as Walmart, Target or Winners.

“They have got to become more upscale in order to attract higher income people and those who would like to be pampered,” Mr. Nabatian says. “With the Rideau Centre, everything is there: restaurants, coffee shops, and shopping becomes a pleasurable experience instead of a necessity.”

With regional mall vacancy rates sitting at 0.6 per cent in Ottawa, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s second quarterly results, the large vacant space is a boon to the local retail landscape.

A balanced vacancy rate is between five to eight per cent, Mr. Nabatian says.

Nordstrom will open its doors to Ottawa in spring of 2015 after Sears shuts down next month.

Partnering with Rideau Centre landlord Cadillac Fairview, Nordstrom will expand into four of the commercial real estate investor’s Canadian malls in Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.

http://www.obj.ca/Local/Retail/2012-...d%3A-analyst/1

H&M needs to be on Rideau Street. Smaller high end stores or food court in the Sears space.

Although, looking at the old food court last week, it dosen't seem that bad. Small, but good enough to keep until the expansion. Put the new one on the top floor with access to the roof top terrace.

[jslath]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

http://www.obj.ca/Local/Retail/2012-...d%3A-analyst/1

H&M needs to be on Rideau Street. Smaller high end stores or food court.

Although, looking at the old food court last week, it dosen't seem that bad. Small, but good enough to keep until the expansion. Put the new one on the top floor with access to the roof top terrace.

Yes, I agree. A store like H&M needs to have street level access on Rideau Street. Similar to how Forever21 at Rideau Centre is configured. Perhaps Shoppers Drug Mart would be interested in taking over the first level of Sears. This would also open up the space currently occupied by Shoppers Drug Mart to redevelopment (and another store opening onto Rideau Street).

[AuxTown]

Those pedestrian overpasses on Rideau need a serious facelift (? replacement) as well. That section of Rideau is starting to look quite nice and the views to the West toward the Chateau are spectacular if it weren't for those fugly things!

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

Those pedestrian overpasses on Rideau need a serious facelift (? replacement) as well. That section of Rideau is starting to look quite nice and the views to the West toward the Chateau are spectacular if it weren't for those fugly things!

I vote for a facelift. The east skywalk actually functions as retail space and gets decent usage. The west skywalk punches a hole in the Bay's historic façade and it would be hard to fix with matching bricks and mortar.

They also provide a cool view of the street.

If they do eventually take them out, it would provide an opportunity for the site of the west bridge (over the food court) to become a two story retail space like Forever 21. The east skywalk, I think, we should just keep regardless since it provides a covered street level cross-walk, there is no possibility for good retail since it is just a regular mall entrance at street level and it reduces the area of blank 80s department store brown brick on the Bay side.

Anyway, as the City mentioned before, once the subway station is built and new underground pedestrian crossings open, we could consider taking out the skywalks.

[Ottawan]

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

Those pedestrian overpasses on Rideau need a serious facelift (? replacement) as well. That section of Rideau is starting to look quite nice and the views to the West toward the Chateau are spectacular if it weren't for those fugly things!

Try removed altogether. The views looking west from William Street (possibly as far as Dalhousie or even King Edward) would be awesome, while the views looking east from Confederation Square would be equally neat. I do think for practical reasons this will have to wait for the LRT line to be built as everything can be connected underground at that time.

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by jslath

Yes, I agree. A store like H&M needs to have street level access on Rideau Street. Similar to how Forever21 at Rideau Centre is configured. Perhaps Shoppers Drug Mart would be interested in taking over the first level of Sears. This would also open up the space currently occupied by Shoppers Drug Mart to redevelopment (and another store opening onto Rideau Street).

H&M would be best in what is now the food court IMO (a couple of 2nd level stores would have to move to accomodate such most likely).

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by Ottawan

Try removed altogether. The views looking west from William Street (possibly as far as Dalhousie or even King Edward) would be awesome, while the views looking east from Confederation Square would be equally neat. I do think for practical reasons this will have to wait for the LRT line to be built as everything can be connected underground at that time.

Removed would be best, but it would mean no connection between The Bay and the Rideau Centre. Maybe if Rideau Street was closed to traffic, it would work. Otherwise, they are likely necessary.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

Removed would be best, but it would mean no connection between The Bay and the Rideau Centre. Maybe if Rideau Street was closed to traffic, it would work. Otherwise, they are likely necessary.

Those walkways are a blight and should be removed. The crosswalk links the Bay and the Rideau Center.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

Removed would be best, but it would mean no connection between The Bay and the Rideau Centre. Maybe if Rideau Street was closed to traffic, it would work. Otherwise, they are likely necessary.

Until the underground connections between the Rideau Centre and the Bay, as well as Rideau expansion and William Street are built. Assuming the whole project goes forward (oh please let this project go forward).

Originally Posted by eternallyme

H&M would be best in what is now the food court IMO (a couple of 2nd level stores would have to move to accomodate such most likely).

I was thinking the same thing, but I think it might be too small; they want 20,000 to 30,000 square feet and the food court and floor area above it might be around 10 to 15.

And I'm really concerned about fixing the gaping hole in The Bay's façade

[jslath]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

H&M would be best in what is now the food court IMO (a couple of 2nd level stores would have to move to accomodate such most likely).

I should clarify: I agreed to a previous comment that yes, H&M would be ideal for the food court (and space on the second level). In addition, it would be nice to see the current Shoppers Drug Mart space renovated with a store opening on to Rideau as well.

[Retail-Insider]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

I see on your blog you mentioned Ottawa's Holt Renfrew might be moving.

Possibly. We're not privy to Nordstrom's lease with Rideau Centre. Holts would love to move into an expanded Rideau Centre (proposed space towards Rideau Street at the North-East section of the mall), but Nordstrom may have signed a non-competition clause blocking larger retailers like Holt's possible tenancy. Does anyone have any info regarding this?

Holt Renfrew seems to be sizing itself into 100,000-130,000+ square foot spaces (similar to Saks and Neiman Marcus, and not much less than Nordstrom's newer stores). As Ottawa's Holt's is only about 47-48,000 square feet, it would want to obtain at least double its current square footage in a new Ottawa (and possibly Edmonton and Quebec City) store.

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by Retail-Insider

Possibly. We're not privy to Nordstrom's lease with Rideau Centre. Holts would love to move into an expanded Rideau Centre (proposed space towards Rideau Street at the North-East section of the mall), but Nordstrom may have signed a non-competition clause blocking larger retailers like Holt's possible tenancy. Does anyone have any info regarding this?

Holt Renfrew seems to be sizing itself into 100,000-130,000+ square foot spaces (similar to Saks and Neiman Marcus, and not much less than Nordstrom's newer stores). As Ottawa's Holt's is only about 47-48,000 square feet, it would want to obtain at least double its current square footage in a new Ottawa (and possibly Edmonton and Quebec City) store.

Besides, it would need to go into a Rideau Centre expansion and not the existing mall since there is no place for such.

[J.OT13]

Depending how fast Holt Renfrew wants to acquire a larger space, they could take the space in the podium of a future condo tower between Cumberland and King Ed's and create more of a continuity to the Rideau shopping district. Of course they would be at a disadvantage since they would not have a direct connection (and be a few hundred meters) to the subway system.

And again, I there are definitive arguments to build a Bank-Rideau (and eventually extend to Montreal, then split Rockliffe Base north and La Cité Collégiale/Blair south) subway line. This line should come before the Carling Tram.

[Retail-Insider]

...

[eternallyme]

With all these changes in the retail sector, I wonder if it will create a spillover as smaller local retailers move "down" Rideau, basically replacing the underdeveloped and fairly blighted section between King Edward and the Rideau River? Lower Rideau certainly needs a facelift.

[KHOOLE]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

With all these changes in the retail sector, I wonder if it will create a spillover as smaller local retailers move "down" Rideau, basically replacing the underdeveloped and fairly blighted section between King Edward and the Rideau River? Lower Rideau certainly needs a facelift.

Most of the block where the former Jewish Community Centre was (I think it's Friel and Rideau) is planned for a mega project. Probably not too long after the present water and sewage upgrading is finished. There is also the south-east corner of Rideau and Charlotte that's on the back-burner. There's probably more.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by KHOOLE

Most of the block where the former Jewish Community Centre was (I think it's Friel and Rideau) is planned for a mega project. Probably not too long after the present water and sewage upgrading is finished. There is also the south-east corner of Rideau and Charlotte that's on the back-burner. There's probably more.

The Jewish Community Centre "Beth Shalome" was bought by Claridge about a year ago or so. I hope they keep up with the better designs (and not fall back to the Claridge Plaza era).

[teej1984]

I live just off Rideau in this neighbourhood and its so sad to see how decrepit many of these sites have become as we wait for sewer upgrades. Whoever has purchased these houses has let them decay when they could have been perfectly fine businesses until redevelopment (fmr Angelo's Pizza for example).

I sincerely hope they do small scale redevelopment in this area as well (6-10 stories) to keep with the feel of the neighbourhood.