Canadian Retail Thread

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

I don't really see the mystery. The east and west teams don't often play at the same time because of time zones. Toronto has always been the national option, ratings showed that for decades. Now there are choices on the nights that the networks are allowed to show games nationally because of the multi-channel universe. Most Canadian teams can be seen nationally on Saturday nights.

The games yes but we get zero pre and post game coverage and are lucky to see our team in the highlights because the Toronto highlight guy is already in bed before our game is done.
They'll show a different Toronto team instead.

[zahav]

It's funny other people have the same memory of Harvey's from the 90s as me. I used to love when my dad would go on trips because he would always get me Harvey's from YVR lol. I haven't had it in years so couldn't comment on the taste now, but it was good as I remember it.

A&W is insanely fast growing, they open tons of new locations every year and are in so many small towns. But I prefer 90s Harveys to current A&W burgers, again not sure about a current comparison. A&W chicken and poutine and onion rings are really good though. Their focus on quality etc. was a gamble but seems to have paid off, people are paying it. And A&W is headquartered in North Van, so it's supporting local as much as eating at small chains or Earls/Cactus.

[Airboy]

Originally Posted by zahav

It's funny other people have the same memory of Harvey's from the 90s as me. I used to love when my dad would go on trips because he would always get me Harvey's from YVR lol. I haven't had it in years so couldn't comment on the taste now, but it was good as I remember it.

A&W is insanely fast growing, they open tons of new locations every year and are in so many small towns. But I prefer 90s Harveys to current A&W burgers, again not sure about a current comparison. A&W chicken and poutine and onion rings are really good though. Their focus on quality etc. was a gamble but seems to have paid off, people are paying it. And A&W is headquartered in North Van, so it's supporting local as much as eating at small chains or Earls/Cactus.

A&W has to bring back the Whistle dog. I don't miss Harveys, It was the go to if nothing else was available. Small towns in Alberta seem to have A&Ws now displacing the Alberta Favorite Burger Baron. or they are becoming more prevalent. A lot of Alberta towns will have an A&W before a MacD. Tomorrow I have a 650 km trip. I'll pass 4 A&Ws 3 Burger Barons and 2 MacDs. but 6 subways.

One thing I have been seeing as well in larger regional centres of at lease 1000 pop. is Boston Pizzas showing up.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Airboy

A&W has to bring back the Whistle dog. I don't miss Harveys, It was the go to if nothing else was available. Small towns in Alberta seem to have A&Ws now displacing the Alberta Favorite Burger Baron. or they are becoming more prevalent. A lot of Alberta towns will have an A&W before a MacD. Tomorrow I have a 650 km trip. I'll pass 4 A&Ws 3 Burger Barons and 2 MacDs. but 6 subways.

One thing I have been seeing as well in larger regional centres of at lease 1000 pop. is Boston Pizzas showing up.

It does seem that there is a certain small town, Sim City like, fast food hierarchy

On the prairies it goes more or less like this:

Basic Tier:
Subway (always the first)
Dairy Queen
A&W

Mid Level:
Tim Hortons
KFC
McDonald's

Elite Tier:
Popeye's
Wendy's
QDOBA

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by zahav

It's funny other people have the same memory of Harvey's from the 90s as me. I used to love when my dad would go on trips because he would always get me Harvey's from YVR lol. I haven't had it in years so couldn't comment on the taste now, but it was good as I remember it.

A&W is insanely fast growing, they open tons of new locations every year and are in so many small towns. But I prefer 90s Harveys to current A&W burgers, again not sure about a current comparison. A&W chicken and poutine and onion rings are really good though. Their focus on quality etc. was a gamble but seems to have paid off, people are paying it. And A&W is headquartered in North Van, so it's supporting local as much as eating at small chains or Earls/Cactus.

Yeah, the last Harvey's I ever had was from YVR Domestic!

[Airboy]

Originally Posted by esquire

It does seem that there is a certain small town, Sim City like, fast food hierarchy

On the prairies it goes more or less like this:

Basic Tier:
Subway (always the first)
Dairy Queen
A&W

Mid Level:
Tim Hortons
KFC
McDonald's

Elite Tier:
Popeye's
Wendy's
QDOBA

heading up 44, 2 and 88 tomorrow. Westlock, Slave Lake and High Level are the big towns. The centres of commerce. so we should see. I do see now if there is a FN owned service centre that KFC and or Dominos is part of it.

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by esquire

It does seem that there is a certain small town, Sim City like, fast food hierarchy

On the prairies it goes more or less like this:

Basic Tier:
Subway (always the first)
Dairy Queen
A&W

Mid Level:
Tim Hortons
KFC
McDonald's

Elite Tier:
Popeye's
Wendy's
QDOBA

I think this works for the BC Interior as well. We have half of these missing KFC (used to have it) and missing all of elite. Never heard of QDOBA.

[cslusarc]

QDOBA, a Mexican fast casual chain, has 12 locations in Canada, including 5 in Winnipeg.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by cslusarc

QDOBA, a Mexican fast casual chain, has 12 locations in Canada, including 5 in Winnipeg.

Wow only 12. We have 3 in London, and it sure seemed like there are more, but I also get them mixed up with Mucho Burrito. I don't go to either, but my wife says MB is better than QDOBA.

[thewave46]

Originally Posted by esquire

It does seem that there is a certain small town, Sim City like, fast food hierarchy

On the prairies it goes more or less like this:

Basic Tier:
Subway (always the first)
Dairy Queen
A&W

Mid Level:
Tim Hortons
KFC
McDonald's

Elite Tier:
Popeye's
Wendy's
QDOBA

Tim's is always Basic level in Ontario, along with McD's. DQ is Mid-Level, along with Wendy's. Quesada is moving on up. Five Guys and Popeye's are Elite Tier.

[Loco101]

In Northern Ontario it's normally:

Subway
Tim Hortons
A&W
McDonald's
KFC

[JHikka]

The downtown Ikea is openinig here in Toronto in May, fwiw. Signage has gone up.

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Wow only 12. We have 3 in London, and it sure seemed like there are more, but I also get them mixed up with Mucho Burrito. I don't go to either, but my wife says MB is better than QDOBA.

Will Shelby's ever expand out of London? I keep seeing the guy's tiktoks and it has interested me enough to want to get some.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by JHikka

The downtown Ikea is openinig here in Toronto in May, fwiw. Signage has gone up.



Will Shelby's ever expand out of London? I keep seeing the guy's tiktoks and it has interested me enough to want to get some.

I can't believe how fast they are growing here. There are 2 just in my corner of west London. Even through the pandemic, they were adding locations. I can't imagine they limit themselves to London, I can see them expanding to a wider area before too long.

[casper]

Originally Posted by esquire

It does seem that there is a certain small town, Sim City like, fast food hierarchy

On the prairies it goes more or less like this:

Basic Tier:
Subway (always the first)
Dairy Queen
A&W

Mid Level:
Tim Hortons
KFC
McDonald's

Elite Tier:
Popeye's
Wendy's
QDOBA

Your missing one of the hallmarks of Western Canada road trips. The Husky/Esso restraint. There are others with other gas brands. That is where you to get you crappy coffee and and all day breakfast.

[casper]

Originally Posted by JHikka

The downtown Ikea is openinig here in Toronto in May, fwiw. Signage has gone up.



Will Shelby's ever expand out of London? I keep seeing the guy's tiktoks and it has interested me enough to want to get some.

Given we are on the topic of food. Any work if that downtown Ikea will have a cafeteria? We do have standards in Canada and Ikea without meat balls is not Ikea.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by casper

Given we are on the topic of food. Any work if that downtown Ikea will have a cafeteria? We do have standards in Canada and Ikea without meat balls is not Ikea.

Good question.

The IKEA Toronto Downtown store is our first smaller format store that will include more than 2,000 IKEA products for purchase and immediate takeaway, while larger furniture items will be on display and available for home delivery. We will also offer a unique new food concept and an array of services to support a seamless shopping experience. We are excited to share more details about what to expect at the new store in the near future!

https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/stores/toronto-downtown/

I'm assuming it won't be a full cafeteria. That's fine - there's no shortage of food options at Yonge & Gerrard, as opposed to the food deserts that IKEA normally operates out of.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by thewave46

Tim's is always Basic level in Ontario, along with McD's. DQ is Mid-Level, along with Wendy's. Quesada is moving on up. Five Guys and Popeye's are Elite Tier.

Quebec is somewhat different. The classics like McDonald's, Tim Hortons and Subway are all there, but many others mentioned are largely absent and should be replaced by Thai Express, Sushi Shop, and a number of other Québécois chains.

I've been surprised to see Thai Express at highway exits in small towns far away from major cities.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by casper

Your missing one of the hallmarks of Western Canada road trips. The Husky/Esso restraint. There are others with other gas brands. That is where you to get you crappy coffee and and all day breakfast.

Eat here and get gas?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by thewave46

Tim's is always Basic level in Ontario, along with McD's. DQ is Mid-Level, along with Wendy's. Quesada is moving on up. Five Guys and Popeye's are Elite Tier.

Tim's hasn't been in Western Canada quite as long, there were some locations in Winnipeg going back to the 80s if not earlier, but they didn't really start expanding in a big way around here until maybe the late 90s. Even more recently than that in BC, IIRC. Some fairly big towns just got their first Tims in recent years.

As for Thai Express, they are a mall food court staple but I'm not sure I've ever seen a standalone location in Manitoba.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by casper

Your missing one of the hallmarks of Western Canada road trips. The Husky/Esso restraint. There are others with other gas brands. That is where you to get you crappy coffee and and all day breakfast.

Irving Big Stops here in the east.

To be honest, a Big Stop is a great place to eat if you are looking for large portions of traditional food, or an all day breakfast. I get a hankering about once a month, hopefully not frequently enough to kill me.