General Retail News

[SpongeG]

Simons sets sights on Ottawa with store in Rideau Centre: Report

The trendy, Quebec-based clothing retailer La Maison Simons is planning to further expand its reach outside of the province by opening up a store in Ottawa’s Rideau Centre, according to a media report.

Le Droit reported Wednesday negotiations have been ongoing for about five years and the store plans to come to Ottawa in 2015.

The negotiations between Simons and Cadillac Fairview Corp., Rideau Centre’s owner, have been reported in the past.

The company’s president and CEO, Peter Simons, told Le Droit the Ottawa store would be a “big” one, but not as big as the one that opened in Edmonton last fall. A spokesperson for the company told Metro the CEO was unavailable for comment Wednesday afternoon.

The West Edmonton Mall location was the company’s first step outside of Quebec.

The news exploded on Twitter Wednesday with several people sending exclamation-filled tweets and retweets.

,,,

http://metronews.ca/news/ottawa/6121...centre-report/

[eternallyme]

I wonder how this will impact the suburban malls?

I'd like to grab all the less-important retail areas near the Transitway and future LRT, and redevelop them into secondary CBDs in some cases...

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Simons sets sights on Ottawa with store in Rideau Centre: Report

The trendy, Quebec-based clothing retailer La Maison Simons is planning to further expand its reach outside of the province by opening up a store in Ottawa’s Rideau Centre, according to a media report.

Le Droit reported Wednesday negotiations have been ongoing for about five years and the store plans to come to Ottawa in 2015.

The negotiations between Simons and Cadillac Fairview Corp., Rideau Centre’s owner, have been reported in the past.

The company’s president and CEO, Peter Simons, told Le Droit the Ottawa store would be a “big” one, but not as big as the one that opened in Edmonton last fall. A spokesperson for the company told Metro the CEO was unavailable for comment Wednesday afternoon.

The West Edmonton Mall location was the company’s first step outside of Quebec.

The news exploded on Twitter Wednesday with several people sending exclamation-filled tweets and retweets.

,,,

http://metronews.ca/news/ottawa/6121...centre-report/

Here is another important line form the article, a quote from Cindy VanBuskirk, GM of the Rideau Centre;

"She said a formal announcement on the project will likely be made in early summer 2013."

I'm not sure if this is about the Rideau centre expansion or Simons, but if the Ogilvy will be completely torn down by the end of April, I would expect something a little earlier.

[MichelKazan]

Looks like H&M has confirmed that they will be opening this fall at Bayshore.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/busines...661/story.html

[kevinbottawa]

Rideau had big news a few weeks ago about Simons. Now Bayshore comes back with a big announcement. Ottawa can only benefit from this kind of competition. I look forward to more announcements in the near future as competition gets even hotter, including news about a St. Laurent expansion (they're getting left behind).

[Radster]

I am almost certain that H&M will also open at Rideau, St-Laurent and possibly Promenades de l'Outaouais as well following the expansions at each of those malls.

[AuxTown]

from www.ctvottawa.ca

ctvottawa.ca
Published Wednesday, May 15, 2013 2:09PM EDT
Last Updated Wednesday, May 15, 2013 7:00PM EDT

A new outlet mall is coming to Ottawa’s west end in 2014.
Tanger Outlets Ottawa will be located on Highway 417 at Palladium Drive in Kanata.There will be 80 stores featuring about 350,000 square foot of shopping.
Confirmed stores include the Nike Factory Store, Gap Outlet, Banana Republic Factory Store, Coach Factory Store, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Brooks Brothers, Guess Factory Store, American Eagle Factory Store, Michael Kors, and Donna Karan New York.
All promise big discounts.
“It’s 30 to 70 per cent off of the finest designer brands in the world,” said Steve Tanger, president & CEO of Tanger Outlets.
About 700 jobs will be created during construction, and about 1000 full and part-time retail jobs once the outlets are open.

Is it sad that I'm actually a little excited about this outlet mall? Looks like it will have some unique stores and, at least from the renderings, it looks like a decent pedestrian experience. The actual execution will be key on this one.

[J.OT13]

I'm predicting something similar to Kanata Centrum; mini Byward Market (minus the market) surrounded by a parking lot.

[kevinbottawa]

So far the only stores we don't already have in this city are Nike, DKNY, and Brooks Brothers, and the first two have merchandise available at other stores. The only store I'm somewhat excited about is Brooks Brothers, and perhaps Coach if they have men's stuff like the one in Niagara Falls. We'll see if the prices are actually worth it.

[YOWflier]

I think we need to keep the following in mind when we consider the 11 confirmed tenants:

Originally Posted by http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/name+retailers+coming+Ottawa+outlet+mall/8388809/story.html

Tanger said demand for space in the centre has been overwhelming. Some initial tenants were announced Wednesday, with more than 70 other brands to be announced in the months leading up to the centre’s official opening.

Moreover, the rendering above shows an Under Armour outlet. One can buy its products at a number of retailers, but we don't have a standalone store in Ottawa. UA isn't on the confirmed list, but I hope it's part of the outlet.

Finally, here's an older article that I can't remember being posted.

http://www.retail-insider.com/2013/0...-with-hr2.html

It references one retail analyst who suggests that "hr2", Holt Renfrew's discount concept, might occupy significant space in the mall.

I have no idea if this article is reliable, but here are a couple of images contained within it:

[kevinbottawa]

Bank Street BIA in midst of rebranding campaign

BIA hopes to attract new businesses ahead of competitors at Rideau Centre and Lansdowne Park

CBC News Posted: May 27, 2013 8:22 AM ET Last Updated: May 27, 2013 8:30 AM ET

The Downtown Bank Street Business Improvement Area is in the midst of a rebranding campaign to attract new businesses and shoppers from the competition as the Rideau Centre is being expanded and Lansdowne Park is being rebuilt.

The BIA is offering real-estate brokers $5,000 each if they land retailers from a hotlist that includes brands such as Lululemon and Farm Boy. And they're asking residents to come up with a dream list of shops they'd like to see along the street.

There are currently six open retail spaces along the street, which boasts more than 50 landlords.

The BIA is hoping they'll be filled with things like hardware stores, women's clothing shops and butchers instead of massage parlours, pay-day loan offices and pawn shops.

"New Look. New Stores. New Attitude," the marketing campaign boasts, rebranding the street the "Intersection Of Everything."
Aiming to attract more people in their 20s, 30s

They're hoping to attract more men and women in their 20s and 30s, who already make up most of the surrounding population and who they expect will be buying many of the new condos being built downtown.

"Have you seen Bank Street lately? It's a mess," said Ian Capstick, a member of the BIA's board.

"We've got a whole bunch of … mixed signs and that's happened because it's evolved over the past 30 or so years. So it's natural that a spot like Bank Street is going to need a little bit of a pick-me-up every now and then," he said.

"So with a brand-new logo, taking away that 1960s, 1970s Bank Street Promenade logo, plus a new focus on attracting extremely relevant retailers to the street, is going to be the key to Bank Street's success."

Several BIA open houses for businesses were held last week. An open house for property owners and real-estate brokers is set for Monday, and the new campaign officially launches Wednesday.

People can stop by the BIA at 226 Bank St. to see the new logo, tag line, promotional plans and programs for this year, and to make retailer suggestions.

Video at http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa...s.html?cmp=rss

[brentgaulois]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

Video at http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa...s.html?cmp=rss

I went to this and contributed some ideas. I hope it goes well! I would love for this street to become trendy, like Queen Street West or Ste-Catherine's Street (though I liked Saint-Laurent/St-Denis more when I lived there).

For those wondering, they said they approached several property owners of heritage buildings and offered financial support to fix up their buildings *cough* Barrymore's *cough*, but were refused, some even offended. Bank Street is blighted by unattractive/ dilapidated buildings that need to be repaired. If you know the old, 2-storey building between Lisgar and Cooper on Bank Street (eastern side), the second floor are apartments. When I went in two years ago, the wooden railing had collapsed, the entry was a horrible mess, with smell and stains all over. It looked unstable.

[kevinbottawa]

The new Bank Street BIA website and branding are pretty nice.

http://www.bankstreet.biz

[eternallyme]

The Bank Street BIA should have its jurisdiction extended to Highway 417 IMO, covering the lower Centretown part as well.

I think the mid-section of Bank Street (between Billings Bridge and South Keys) needs one or more BIA's as well, and perhaps some specialization...

[brentgaulois]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

The Bank Street BIA should have its jurisdiction extended to Highway 417 IMO, covering the lower Centretown part as well.

I could be mistaken, but according to the map on their pamphlet I picked up Monday, the entirety of Bank Street from Wellington to the Queensway belongs to them and they want to fix up. Good news because that southern area is a mess (but a great Korean grocery store and restaurant!)

[teej1984]

Apparently there is now a Top Man in the Bay @ Rideau Centre. It's small, but they are looking to expand in the next few months! Good news for men looking for trendy + reasonably priced fashion.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by teej1984

Apparently there is now a Top Man in the Bay @ Rideau Centre. It's small, but they are looking to expand in the next few months! Good news for men looking for trendy + reasonably priced fashion.

That's a good thing, I'm sure, but the Bay needs to completely revamp it's Downtown store. Modernize the 70s interior and bring out the whatever historic character that's left or hidden. The top floor still has old hardwood flooring and those awesome old wooden windows bring in so much natural light. Bring that out in the rest of the building. Also, I would love to see those brown and orange panels on George gone and restore the original brick façade and windows (I assume that's all still behind tose hideous panels).

Big competition is coming with Nordstrom and Simons, so HBC better shape up and do the best with the only historic department store building left.

[teej1984]

Totally agree w/ you! When you compare what we've got to what Montréal and Toronto have, it's a very sad story.

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by brentgaulois

I could be mistaken, but according to the map on their pamphlet I picked up Monday, the entirety of Bank Street from Wellington to the Queensway belongs to them and they want to fix up. Good news because that southern area is a mess (but a great Korean grocery store and restaurant!)

The article says their jurisdiction ends at Gladstone. It should extend to Highway 417 (where the Glebe BIA begins).

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

The article says their jurisdiction ends at Gladstone. It should extend to Highway 417 (where the Glebe BIA begins).

Who gets the underpass?