[Burnaby] The Amazing Brentwood | 15 Towers | 186m | 56 flrs | U/C & Proposed

[burnaby88]

Lougheed Mall is even worse. It's close to a dead mall.

[Vin]

This will easily be one of the most exciting new malls in the Lower Mainland once completed in a year or two. It will set a new benchmark for high density retail in this region. The current Brentwood mall owners/tenants just have to ride it out while the new portion is under construction.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Vin

This will easily be one of the most exciting new malls in the Lower Mainland once completed in a year or two. It will set a new benchmark for high density retail in this region. The current Brentwood mall owners/tenants just have to ride it out while the new portion is under construction.

Doesn't Metrotown already have all of this and more?

[rofina]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Doesn't Metrotown already have all of this and more?

I think Metrotown represents an old vision of what malls look like.

Enclosed, monotone, replicated countless times around North America. Being dropped off inside Metrotown mall you wouldn't be able to tell if you're in Chicago, Calgary, or Vancouver.

Brentwood Mall will serve to revitalize the retail vision with an open air, High Street concept much more in favour today.

For success stories of this, look to Park Royal in West Vancouver. Though a portion of the mall has been retained, the early success has been largely determined by the Park Royal Village.

The concept has now been extended to the remainder of the mall, with more retail outside of the main building.

[officedweller]

Similarly, if you go downtown shopping, you may spend some time in Pacific Centre, and get some fresh air on Robson.

The Brentwood renovation and others that incorporate an outdoor component allow that - especially if the outdoor component includes restaurants and coffee shops with patios. I think that restaurants are taking up larger and larger areas in malls these days.

[burnaby88]

I made an inquiry to Shape Properties in regards to the retail side of the project. Nobody returned my call as the person I spoke to said they would. Heard through some mall employees that only a few food places have committed to leasing apparently. Also, a rumor going around is Walmart will take the plaza anchor spot. That would ruin the project totally but I can see that happening with no Target now.

[osirisboy]

This bugs me. Walmart would ruin the project. How? Tons of people go there it would create a lot of pedestrian traffic. I don't get why low end stores are so bad. High end retail although pretty to look at is kinda useless for most people

[HomeBoy]

I agree, no issues with Walmart and lower end retailers.

The only thing about Walmart at Brentwood, is that there is one only a 5-minute drive away on Grandview Highway...

[Vin]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Doesn't Metrotown already have all of this and more?

Well, as in the above comments by others, I would also like to add that the new portion at Brentwood mall will showcase an all-newly built mall constructed to today's standards. Everything will feel up-to-date, including the cooling/heating system, which would definitely be better than the muggy old malls at Metrotown or Pacific Centre. Other Lower Mainland malls may have been renovated, but what bugs me is that there are always old parts, like the exterior, servicing hallways and corridors, existing cracked sidewalk or walkway, mouldy roofs, etc, that spoil it. Brentwood's new extension will be 100% new, something that the Lower Mainland retail needs to rejuvenate all the aging malls. I just wish they knock down the entire old portion and rebuild it.

It's just too bad that downtown and Vancouver in general do not have anything even close at the moment, but I'm looking forward to Vancouver House's and Marine Gateway's retail developments. Oakridge seems to be on hold so I'm not expecting too much from it now.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by HomeBoy

I agree, no issues with Walmart and lower end retailers.

The only thing about Walmart at Brentwood, is that there is one only a 5-minute drive away on Grandview Highway...

I think the Brentwood mall Walmart would target a different gorup: people who take transit and live in the high-density neighbourhood. Folks who shop at the Renfrew Walmart would probably hate shopping at the Brentwood mall Walmart as they anticipate the difficulty in finding parking.

All-in-all, I would think people shopping at the Brentwood Walmart will have the added benefit of dining and getting their other errands done since they have easy access to a lot more stuff.

I need to add that Victoria's Saanich district has a huge Walmart Supercentre at the Uptown Shopping Centre. Tons of folks shop there despite the traffic situation, and now Wholefoods is going to be added to Uptown.

[officedweller]

Very interesting!

I could see Wal-Mart at Brentwood REPLACING the Grandview HIghway Wal-Mart - exactly as the Willingdon Costco replaced the Grandview Costco.

The Grandview Wal-Mart was a makeshift opportunity because the City of Vancouver was stonewalling the SW Marine Drive location. The large Brentwood location would allow a full grocery department and a full selection of merchandise. The Grandview location is undersized for a Wal-Mart SuperCentre.

The question is whether the Brentwood Wal-Mart would replace the Lougheed Wal-Mart?
Although Shape Properties' current lease plans for Lougheed Town Centre show Wal-Mart in place, the long term plans do not appear to include Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart also plans an urban location at Royal City Centre in New Westminster - which is somewhat close to Lougheed Town Centre (as well as Queensborough?!).

I would suggest the Brentwood location would replace Grandview with a bigger store, allow closure of Lougheed, and perhaps allow entry into Coquitlam Centre Mall's Target location (but Port Coquitlam Wal-Mart is very close to Coquitlam Centre).

[TourOdeon]

Wal-Mart at Brentwood?! If Shape Properties signs a deal with Wal-Mart, thats a sign of desperation to me.

I thought the plan is to offer a unique experience. Certainly, theres nothing excitng about Wal-Mart lol.

[Pinion]

Originally Posted by rofina

For success stories of this, look to Park Royal in West Vancouver. Though a portion of the mall has been retained, the early success has been largely determined by the Park Royal Village.

What do you mean by early success?

I love Park Royal Village but mainly due to the store/restaurant selection. I spend more time there than my local retail street (Lonsdale). I could go to Edgemont Village, which is a real "village" in the same vein, but don't because it doesn't have good stores.

Same with Brentwood. It's no farther away than Park Royal for me but I won't go just because it looks fancy. On the other hand, I do go to Madison Centre in Brentwood (half-baked mostly failed mall) because my wife loves Joey.

[VarBreStr18]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

This bugs me. Walmart would ruin the project. How? Tons of people go there it would create a lot of pedestrian traffic. I don't get why low end stores are so bad. High end retail although pretty to look at is kinda useless for most people

Why is everybody classifying Walmart as a low end store? I do not see anything low end about it. It is a store that sells everything hi-end store sells at a reasonable price. Would you classify Costco as a bargain hunter store? It really is not anymore high end than Walmart. Yet you see tons of top of the line Mersedes Benz and BMW parks there in order to shop at Costco. That just tell you super rich people needs to get everyday goods too, and they want to buy them at reasonable price. Walmart is a decent addition to Brentwood to balance the retail markets... people buy at Walmart so that they can afford to buy fancy hi-end shoes, LV purses, dresses , suits etc at some pricey store.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by VarBreStr18

Why is everybody classifying Walmart as a low end store? I do not see anything low end about it. It is a store that sells everything hi-end store sells at a reasonable price. Would you classify Costco as a bargain hunter store? It really is not anymore high end than Walmart. Yet you see tons of top of the line Mersedes Benz and BMW parks there in order to shop at Costco. That just tell you super rich people needs to get everyday goods too, and they want to buy them at reasonable price. Walmart is a decent addition to Brentwood to balance the retail markets... people buy at Walmart so that they can afford to buy fancy hi-end shoes, LV purses, dresses , suits etc at some pricey store.

?????

Walmart sells the cheapest crap they can get, much like Superstore or Dollar stores.

Costco sells higher end brands for a good price.

Your bolded comment makes no sense. Those products aren't for sale at Walmart.

[osirisboy]

Varbrestr18. my point was more that it isn't "high" end like nordstrom or Simons etc

[VarBreStr18]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Varbrestr18. my point was more that it isn't "high" end like nordstrom or Simons etc

My point is for Brentwood to be a truly convenient comprehensive livable community, it needs a balance of retail services. Can you buy laundry soap, a dozen egg, baking supplies from Nordstrom or Simon, or even a pack of bus tickets? Dont forget Brentwood will eventually have 8 more towers. Theses people need a convenient place to shop for everyday goods. One cannot live on brand names alone.

[VarBreStr18]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

?????

Walmart sells the cheapest crap they can get, much like Superstore or Dollar stores.

Costco sells higher end brands for a good price.

Your bolded comment makes no sense. Those products aren't for sale at Walmart.

Believe me Costco sells some crabby ordinary stuffs too. One can almost tell it is a Costco T shirt , or Costco jacket. Nothing too brand name about it.

[osirisboy]

Varbre. Yes I agree. That's what I was saying from the beginning (did you not read my post you replied to?)I was the one that said having Walmart would be good as it's more useful than a high end store. But relative to a Nordstrom Walmart and Costco are low end, even if the parking lots are full of European luxury cars. Lol

[rofina]

Originally Posted by Pinion

What do you mean by early success?

I love Park Royal Village but mainly due to the store/restaurant selection. I spend more time there than my local retail street (Lonsdale). I could go to Edgemont Village, which is a real "village" in the same vein, but don't because it doesn't have good stores.

Same with Brentwood. It's no farther away than Park Royal for me but I won't go just because it looks fancy. On the other hand, I do go to Madison Centre in Brentwood (half-baked mostly failed mall) because my wife loves Joey.

The village part of Park Royal was finished years before the current mall development.

Im sure that its success was a huge part in deciding to allow more open air retail in the recent South side mall upgrades.