Winnipeg Retail

[SpongeG]

dollar tree is amazing

[Mininari]

Originally Posted by trebor204

Went by Linden Ridge today, and they have a sign up with the following openings:


Marshalls
PetSmart
Dollar Tree
SportChek

Hmm, looks like I was spot-on with the dollar store signage (rounded sign cap).
Sportchek, yep no surprise there since one does not exist in that area.
PetSmart? Ok... Petland and Pet Valu are nearby, but sure... and Marshalls, second location. I was half expecting a Bed Bath and Beyond, but I guess they've yet to get their first location (polo Park) open. Their second would likely be in the Regent area, probably the Reenders Mile...

On the IKEA flood note, was just in there yesterday and noticed a lot of missing drywall anywhere from 4 to 24 inches from the ground on most of the ground floor. Smaland was tarpped off and closed for repair, as were a few spots in the store. Otherwise, business as usual.

[monolithic]

Does anyone know what the deal is with O'calcutta on Portage Ave? I've been surprised for sometime that they are still doing business, when plenty of positive start ups have fallen out of business in the area (I know it comes down to the owner to sustain the business in the end). Were they grandfathered in to some sort of crazy lease? I have nothing against the shop, but it seems like a lot more could be done with the space..

[esquire]

Originally Posted by monolithic

Does anyone know what the deal is with O'calcutta on Portage Ave? I've been surprised for sometime that they are still doing business, when plenty of positive start ups have fallen out of business in the area (I know it comes down to the owner to sustain the business in the end). Were they grandfathered in to some sort of crazy lease? I have nothing against the shop, but it seems like a lot more could be done with the space..

I fully agree regarding the last point, but I recall reading somewhere (sorry, can't remember the exact source but probably the WFP) that the store proprietors actually own the building. O'Calcutta is more of a real estate investment than a retail business (and one that will probably pay off handsomely considering that it would have been a cheap buy in the 80s or 90s and is now surrounded by development).

That said, it is a bit of a surprise that they continue to operate an underwhelming and rather rinky-dink head shop/rock shirt emporium instead of leasing out the space to a more lucrative retail business. They could easily keep the store going with only half the space and lease the rest out... I guess the fact that no one has given the owner an offer they can't refuse speaks to the anemic state of Portage Avenue retail.

[monolithic]

Ah yes, I think I remember that article now that you mention it! Hopefully time will tell.. I was just looking at the rendering for ALT again the other day and found it somewhat funny to see that ratty shop in the rendering next to this beautiful glass enclosure:
http://www.centreventure.com/PDF/Sta...0300%20DPI.pdf

[steveosnyder]

Originally Posted by monolithic

Ah yes, I think I remember that article now that you mention it! Hopefully time will tell.. I was just looking at the rendering for ALT again the other day and found it somewhat funny to see that ratty shop in the rendering next to this beautiful glass enclosure:
http://www.centreventure.com/PDF/Sta...0300%20DPI.pdf

I think they over estimate the number of people who walk along Portage while the street lights are on.

People will not walk out the front entrance of this hotel, they will get in their car that is in the attached parking garage and drive out -- just like the Radisson.

[JamieDavid Exchange]

Saks on 5th coming to Winnipeg? Perhaps. But if they do, the store they should convert over is the Downtown store. Downtown needs retail attraction that does not exists at Polo Park or in the South End!! Let's get this right Winnipeg!

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/bre...?device=mobile

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by JamieDavid Exchange

Saks on 5th coming to Winnipeg? Perhaps. But if they do, the store they should convert over is the Downtown store. Downtown needs retail attraction that does not exists at Polo Park or in the South End!! Let's get this right Winnipeg!

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/bre...?device=mobile

While downtown may very well benefit from a Saks, its not the retailers job to revitalize Winnipeg downtown. They'll put their stores where they think it will be most successful. I'm thinking Winnipeg downtown is not that.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by cheswick

While downtown may very well benefit from a Saks, its not the retailers job to revitalize Winnipeg downtown. They'll put their stores where they think it will be most successful. I'm thinking Winnipeg downtown is not that.

The downtown Bay store will be lucky to get a few of its tattered floor tiles fixed up. No chance that a Saks or a Saks Off Fifth will end up in there. Winnipeg is not a luxury retail kind of city (witness the closure of the Holt Renfrew store over a decade ago) so at most I would think there might be one single Saks Off Fifth store opening up somewhere in the Kenaston retail wastelands.

If HBC does anything with its stores here, I would expect a facelift to its existing Bay locations. Relative to the big city Bay stores, the Winnipeg locations (including Polo Park) are like poor country cousins in terms of decor and selection... there is a long way for the existing Bay stores here to improve without converting them to the Saks brand.

(On a related note, I find it interesting that there are 41 full-line Saks stores in the US and 67 Saks Off Fifth clearance locations... it's clear that Saks Off Fifth is more than just a clearance channel for the existing stores... it is a full-on "discount" luxury retailer in its own right.)

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by esquire

Winnipeg is not a luxury retail kind of city (witness the closure of the Holt Renfrew store over a decade ago) so at most I would think there might be one single Saks Off Fifth store opening up somewhere in the Kenaston retail wastelands.

I tend to agree with this thinking. There is talk of seven full-line Saks in Canada, Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal are all likely getting one leaving two stores of undetermined location. Edmonton, specifically West Edmonton mall seems like it is contender is space can be found. Winnipeg will likely get one of the 25 planned Off Fifth stores which themselves have high enough prices to limit their appeal. I tend to think that if HBC can secure space in Polo Park they will try to locate there, perhaps even in the old Zellers space.

Originally Posted by esquire

(On a related note, I find it interesting that there are 41 full-line Saks stores in the US and 67 Saks Off Fifth clearance locations... it's clear that Saks Off Fifth is more than just a clearance channel for the existing stores... it is a full-on "discount" luxury retailer in its own right.)

Off Fifth is definitely its own line of stores. I have seen reports that in addition to clearance items from the mail line store there is stock that is ordered specifically for this outlets.

[Svenn]

Just noticed a sign up at 180 Provencher (first building east of parking lot beside Le Garage) for Constance Popp Chocolatier. Very exciting!

[cllew]

Wonder if they are moving from their store on Portage by Ferry or opening a 2nd location?

[CoryB]

Constance Popp Chocolatier is relocating from their location on Portage Ave to a larger location.

[JamieDavid Exchange]

Originally Posted by JamieDavid Exchange

Saks on 5th coming to Winnipeg? Perhaps. But if they do, the store they should convert over is the Downtown store. Downtown needs retail attraction that does not exists at Polo Park or in the South End!! Let's get this right Winnipeg!

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/bre...?device=mobile

Seems like downtown IS agreeing with me.....

http://www.downtownwinnipegbiz.com/h...tail_strategy/

[CoryB]

Any retail anylst advising HBC on where to locate a Saks store in Winnipeg will look at the history of Holt Renfrew and their slide from a full line store to the "Last Call" outlet to the current "personal shopper" service and run screaming that high end retail does not belong downtown. It is said but how things are and it is unlikely to change. I am not sure putting a Saks,even their outlet concept, in the downtown Bay would be enough of a draw to get people in.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by JamieDavid Exchange

Seems like downtown IS agreeing with me.....

http://www.downtownwinnipegbiz.com/h...tail_strategy/

The BIZ is trying hard, but it's pretty clear that downtown as a retail destination is fading away. Other than some Exchange District boutiques, the only growth in downtown retail has been in the sort of thing you would see in a suburban strip mall... dollar stores, discount retail, pharmacies, owner-operated shops aimed at the local immigrant population, etc. Luxury retail on a large scale (as compared to a small shop like Birks) doesn't really fit into the picture.

I don't think there has been a real boost to the downtown retail scene since about 10-15 years ago when a few big-name retailers were lured downtown like Staples, MEC and A & B Sound. But even those retailers couldn't fill the massive void that was created with the demise of Eaton's.

Personally, I try hard to do as much of my retail spending as possible downtown, but it's getting more difficult. As recently as a decade ago it was still easy to do all of my Christmas shopping downtown, but the selection these days is so limited that you're forced to look elsewhere. It's a bit of a downward spiral.

Originally Posted by CoryB

Any retail anylst advising HBC on where to locate a Saks store in Winnipeg will look at the history of Holt Renfrew and their slide from a full line store to the "Last Call" outlet to the current "personal shopper" service and run screaming that high end retail does not belong downtown. It is said but how things are and it is unlikely to change. I am not sure putting a Saks,even their outlet concept, in the downtown Bay would be enough of a draw to get people in.

I'm a bit surprised that HR hasn't moved their operations to a place that's frequented by the high-end shoppers they go after. The big spenders I know generally don't work or live near Portage Place... even Winnipeg Square would strike me as an improvement in terms of location.

[Mininari]

Originally Posted by esquire

The BIZ is trying hard, but it's pretty clear that downtown as a retail destination is fading away. Other than some Exchange District boutiques, the only growth in downtown retail has been in the sort of thing you would see in a suburban strip mall... dollar stores, discount retail, pharmacies, owner-operated shops aimed at the local immigrant population, etc. Luxury retail on a large scale (as compared to a small shop like Birks) doesn't really fit into the picture.

I don't think there has been a real boost to the downtown retail scene since about 10-15 years ago when a few big-name retailers were lured downtown like Staples, MEC and A & B Sound. But even those retailers couldn't fill the massive void that was created with the demise of Eaton's.

Personally, I try hard to do as much of my retail spending as possible downtown, but it's getting more difficult. As recently as a decade ago it was still easy to do all of my Christmas shopping downtown, but the selection these days is so limited that you're forced to look elsewhere. It's a bit of a downward spiral.



I'm a bit surprised that HR hasn't moved their operations to a place that's frequented by the high-end shoppers they go after. The big spenders I know generally don't work or live near Portage Place... even Winnipeg Square would strike me as an improvement in terms of location.

Residential development in and around the SHED could (and will) eventually help reverse this trend... but its years and years away from having living, breathing residents in real, standing buildings. I predict a retail turnaround by 2016?

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Mininari

Residential development in and around the SHED could (and will) eventually help reverse this trend... but its years and years away from having living, breathing residents in real, standing buildings. I predict a retail turnaround by 2016?

Sadly, I think we are doomed to keep reliving how things are in downtown Winnipeg. Portage Place opened with high end retail (Holt Renfrew), new residential (Place Promenade) and including street level retail in a walkable neighbourhood. Further back, the Convention Centre development excuted on the live, work, play model including the Convention Centre, a hotel, two appartment towers, a couple office blocks and again street level retail and resturants. Did either of these projects really turn out the way we hope that the lastest round of developments are being sold?

[Mininari]

I hope you're not right ... but ...
Then there's the exchange district debacle going on now (see my post in that thread).

[esquire]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Sadly, I think we are doomed to keep reliving how things are in downtown Winnipeg. Portage Place opened with high end retail (Holt Renfrew), new residential (Place Promenade) and including street level retail in a walkable neighbourhood. Further back, the Convention Centre development excuted on the live, work, play model including the Convention Centre, a hotel, two appartment towers, a couple office blocks and again street level retail and resturants. Did either of these projects really turn out the way we hope that the lastest round of developments are being sold?

It is possible, but it won't happen with a new two-building complex every decade or so. It would take a sustained building boom with at least a couple dozen new buildings in and around downtown Winnipeg over 5 to 10 years in order to improve downtown retail's prospects.

Just think about how much retail space has been added in suburban Winnipeg over the past 20 years... literally hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of square feet in the form of IKEA, Wal-Mart, Home Depot and every other big box in spite of the fact that Plan Winnipeg and its successor documents all officially discouraged new suburban retail areas like Kenaston.

By contrast, how many more people are living downtown and in the Exchange? Maybe a few hundred more than in 1993. Surrounding areas that could be expected to feed downtown retail like the West End are probably poorer today than they were back then, which offsets the population growth to a certain extent. With such a huge imbalance in growth it's not surprising that downtown retail continues to wither.