General Retail News

[brentgaulois]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

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

You are completely right. I double-checked on their website, and I misread their map. But I wonder who is responsible for that southern section?

[citydwlr]

Regarding Top Man/The Bay, there's an article on Retail Insider that mentions Top Shop (and presumably Top Man) will be rolling into Ottawa and Calgary this year through March 2014. I actually thought they would try and create a street-facing Topshop/TopMan on Rideau as there is some street presence at the Bay on Queen Street in Toronto.

Interestingly, they mention the following:

The last three TopShop stores will be located within Hudson's Bay stores in Vancouver (Opened October 2012), Downtown Calgary and Downtown Ottawa, both of which will coincide with substantial renovations to each of these Hudson's Bay stores.

So, hopefully, those "substantial renovations" will brighten/liven things up over there. I also agree they should get rid off the brown cladding on the George St. side. They also need to even out the flooring - I feel like I'm walking in that crooked house at the Museum of Science and Tech every time I shop there :S

I also think they could bring more interest to the exterior of the store by creating seasonal window displays. I'm surprised they don't do more of that and make it into an event (like unveiling the displays around christmas time)... Again, the Toronto location does it, as do other stores like Holt's and well, Macy's in NYC. I find the current displays get lost - there's nothing overly appealing about them. There are a number of artists, not to mention art, design, architecture students around town that would gladly help with the effort, I'm sure. Especially if it could showcase their work.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by citydwlr

Regarding Top Man/The Bay, there's an article on Retail Insider that mentions Top Shop (and presumably Top Man) will be rolling into Ottawa and Calgary this year through March 2014. I actually thought they would try and create a street-facing Topshop/TopMan on Rideau as there is some street presence at the Bay on Queen Street in Toronto.

Interestingly, they mention the following:


So, hopefully, those "substantial renovations" will brighten/liven things up over there. I also agree they should get rid off the brown cladding on the George St. side. They also need to even out the flooring - I feel like I'm walking in that crooked house at the Museum of Science and Tech every time I shop there :S

I also think they could bring more interest to the exterior of the store by creating seasonal window displays. I'm surprised they don't do more of that and make it into an event (like unveiling the displays around christmas time)... Again, the Toronto location does it, as do other stores like Holt's and well, Macy's in NYC. I find the current displays get lost - there's nothing overly appealing about them. There are a number of artists, not to mention art, design, architecture students around town that would gladly help with the effort, I'm sure. Especially if it could showcase their work.

As far as I can tell, they haven't done any renovations at all since the early 80s. And as you said, things like street presence and seasonal displays would be a great way to show off the store as more than a bland 80s/90s/00s department store; it could bring back the feeling of the place from the early/mid 20th century when department stores were king. As I have said before, take advantage of owning the last of the historic Ottawa retail buildings.

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by brentgaulois

You are completely right. I double-checked on their website, and I misread their map. But I wonder who is responsible for that southern section?

No one, it is not part of any BIA.

[gjhall]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

As far as I can tell, they haven't done any renovations at all since the early 80s. And as you said, things like street presence and seasonal displays would be a great way to show off the store as more than a bland 80s/90s/00s department store; it could bring back the feeling of the place from the early/mid 20th century when department stores were king. As I have said before, take advantage of owning the last of the historic Ottawa retail buildings.

HBC's strategic plan was to sell Zeller's leases to Target and use the funds to renovated their downtown stores, rebranded as simply "Hudson's Bay"... which they've done to a couple downtown stores in Vancouver and I believe Queen Street in Toronto. The Bay's downtown Montreal store was an absolute abomination last time I was there, but I imagine some work has been done by now. If I were HBC I would have waited on the Rideau Centre's renovation and the LRT plans being approved (almost there with the Rideau Centre's site plan application in) to make sure my renovation of $50-100M would be the right one and good value for shareholders. That's what I expect they are doing now.

[citydwlr]

Originally Posted by gjhall

HBC's strategic plan was to sell Zeller's leases to Target and use the funds to renovated their downtown stores, rebranded as simply "Hudson's Bay"... which they've done to a couple downtown stores in Vancouver and I believe Queen Street in Toronto. The Bay's downtown Montreal store was an absolute abomination last time I was there, but I imagine some work has been done by now. If I were HBC I would have waited on the Rideau Centre's renovation and the LRT plans being approved (almost there with the Rideau Centre's site plan application in) to make sure my renovation of $50-100M would be the right one and good value for shareholders. That's what I expect they are doing now.

That makes sense. Actually, I was at Yorkdale mall recently, and the Bay there is under heavy renovation. The whole mall seems to be expanding, so I'm not sure if they are under the same arrangement as these other Bay stores, but from what I've seen so far of the new space, it's looking pretty good. It does make me wonder if the one on Rideau will get a similar treatment.

[gjhall]

Originally Posted by citydwlr

That makes sense. Actually, I was at Yorkdale mall recently, and the Bay there is under heavy renovation. The whole mall seems to be expanding, so I'm not sure if they are under the same arrangement as these other Bay stores, but from what I've seen so far of the new space, it's looking pretty good. It does make me wonder if the one on Rideau will get a similar treatment.

There was an article a while back on Retail Insider that HBC has a downtown and a mall/suburban version of their renovations. So likely not exactly the same, which of course would make sense given the difference in structures they work with in the two store types.

[p_xavier]

Originally Posted by gjhall

HBC's strategic plan was to sell Zeller's leases to Target and use the funds to renovated their downtown stores, rebranded as simply "Hudson's Bay"... which they've done to a couple downtown stores in Vancouver and I believe Queen Street in Toronto. The Bay's downtown Montreal store was an absolute abomination last time I was there, but I imagine some work has been done by now. If I were HBC I would have waited on the Rideau Centre's renovation and the LRT plans being approved (almost there with the Rideau Centre's site plan application in) to make sure my renovation of $50-100M would be the right one and good value for shareholders. That's what I expect they are doing now.

The Montréal store had the same renos as the one in Toronto.

[J.OT13]

So the flagships in Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver are all done. Ottawa, Calgary and Winnipeg should be next ones in line. Hopefully they don't cheap out here in Ottawa.

[Harley613]

Drove by the Tanger site in Kanata yesterday. No signs of action...I think the groundbreaking was ceremonial, I don't think construction has started yet. That's going to be a very very busy area with the new Minto development across the street, The huge new Mattamy neighbourhood, Scotiabank Place, and the ever-expanding auto mall!

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

So the flagships in Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver are all done. Ottawa, Calgary and Winnipeg should be next ones in line. Hopefully they don't cheap out here in Ottawa.

I too hope they don't cheap out. It's a fantastic location and the building could be so much more! You would think this is on the drawing board with Nordstrom and Simons confirmed across the street!

[toaster]

Not sure if this has been posted, but Victoria Secret will be opening its first location in Ottawa at Bayshore soon. It will be on the first level of the current (old) part of the mall. Drywall with signage is up now.

[Cre47]

Probably many know it, since Sporting Life will merge all T&L activities to the Lansdowne redeveloppment

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/sto...buys-acquires-lansdowne-bank-street.html

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by Cre47

Probably many know it, since Sporting Life will merge all T&L activities to the Lansdowne redeveloppment

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/sto...buys-acquires-lansdowne-bank-street.html

What a waste of a new building. I bet Brad Lamb is salivating at the possibility of this property being put up for sale.

[Cre47]

Definitely a good location for another Central with some good ground retail (at least not a pharmacy) for sure. Hopefully another sporting store or at least outdoor-theme related store

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

What a waste of a new building. I bet Brad Lamb is salivating at the possibility of this property being put up for sale.

Hope somebody snaps it up - the new building was a massive underbuild for that site.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Cre47

Probably many know it, since Sporting Life will merge all T&L activities to the Lansdowne redeveloppment

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/sto...buys-acquires-lansdowne-bank-street.html

Did they merge or bought out?

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Did they merge or bought out?

Bought out. Sporting Life is basically buying the nearest competition and shutting them down. And they also get a complete set of qualified staff in the process. A very astute business move.

[MountainView]

What's going to happen to the other T&L locations? Will they stay as T&L or becoming Sporting Life? Perhaps some will close then.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by MountainView

What's going to happen to the other T&L locations? Will they stay as T&L or becoming Sporting Life? Perhaps some will close then.

For now, they are saying all locations will close. But who knows, they might change their mind.