Winnipeg Retail

[steveosnyder]

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?

I agree with this, mostly because the cheap costs to land in Winnipeg. But I think there is a silver lining to this -- the fact that the City doesn't have any freeways. When traffic gets to the point where both the government can't afford to widen the streets and people have to commute >60 minutes. Eventually people will value their time more and want to live closer to work.

[204]

Originally Posted by CoryB

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.

Toronto would likely get 2, if not 3 stores.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by 204

Toronto would likely get 2, if not 3 stores.

The rumor is Canada will see sven full like Saks stores with Vancover and Toronto each likely getting two stores. With the possible exception of the Oakridge Mall location in Vancouver speculation is they will all be carved out of Bay store spaces.

The plan also calls for opening 25 Off 5th clearance/outlet stores. That number alone suggests Winnipeg would be in line for one . The most likely locations are obviously Polo Park/Polo Festival and Seasons of Tuxedo. There is an outside chance that it could also anchor the announced outlet mall that is coming here with no location yet.

The prospect of getting a full line Saks store in Winnipeg is many years out. The Off 5th store would need to open first and then likely need to consistnetly be among the best performers of all the stores. The other possibility is when Simons and/or Nordstroms open here those stores are high performers, but again that is still a ways off.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by pegcity

Whole Foods! Please!

I am a recent converted crazy.

With Whole Foods planning 40+ stores for their Canadian expansion it seems likely Winnipeg will eventually get a store, however like most retailers we will be a secondary market to Vancouver/Calgary/Toronto.

Cam across some other news yesterday that Famous Footwear is starting to open stores in Canada. Following the trend of first-to-market stores this one seems highly likely to open in Seasons at some point in a future build, perhaps as part of the build out of phase 2.

Speaking of the phase 2 build out, I thought Lowes was originally supposed to open around the same time as Cabela's yet construction hasn't started putting it almost a full year behind. Has anyone hear any updates on if the Lowes will still be happening? I also suggested that the Great Wolfe Lodge (aka privately built waterpark) might not be happening as well. Just wondering if anyone has any information there.

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by CoryB

With Whole Foods planning 40+ stores for their Canadian expansion it seems likely Winnipeg will eventually get a store, however like most retailers we will be a secondary market to Vancouver/Calgary/Toronto.

Cam across some other news yesterday that Famous Footwear is starting to open stores in Canada. Following the trend of first-to-market stores this one seems highly likely to open in Seasons at some point in a future build, perhaps as part of the build out of phase 2.

Speaking of the phase 2 build out, I thought Lowes was originally supposed to open around the same time as Cabela's yet construction hasn't started putting it almost a full year behind. Has anyone hear any updates on if the Lowes will still be happening? I also suggested that the Great Wolfe Lodge (aka privately built waterpark) might not be happening as well. Just wondering if anyone has any information there.

In regards to Lowes someone posted on here that there is still talks of Lowes taking over Rona and because of that possibility and a Rona not far from this location, the Lowes has been put on hold.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by cheswick

In regards to Lowes someone posted on here that there is still talks of Lowes taking over Rona and because of that possibility and a Rona not far from this location, the Lowes has been put on hold.

Thanks. I thought that might be what was up. The other possibility that could be behind the Lowes attempt to take over Rona rather than continue their own expansion is that finding suitable real estate in Canada for new builds of large stores can be extremely challenging. Perhaps Lowes is reconsidering their entry into the Canadian market. This real estate challenge is also why both Walmart and Target acquired existing leases for the initial expansions here.

[trebor204]

Some news on Off 5th (Saks 5th Ave Discount Stores)

http://www.retail-insider.com/2013/0...ff-5th-to.html

- Open 25 Stores across Canada within the next 12-18 months
- Store size 20,000 - 35,000 sq. Ft, with a focus between 25,000 - 28,000 sq. Ft range.
- Could utilized Hudson Bay real estate (Home Outfitters, former Zellers)

It is possible to open Off 5th at the Bay downtown?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by trebor204

It is possible to open Off 5th at the Bay downtown?

No.

[cheswick]

Couple of notes regarding Portage Place. The new Ardene is almost ready to open. Its a fairly large space, the exterior is actually pretty nice considering. They did vacate their former first floor location. Also That sports cards / jersey store that has occupied the skywalk for as long as I can remember has relocated to the second level of Portage Place proper.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by cheswick

Couple of notes regarding Portage Place. The new Ardene is almost ready to open. Its a fairly large space, the exterior is actually pretty nice considering. They did vacate their former first floor location. Also That sports cards / jersey store that has occupied the skywalk for as long as I can remember has relocated to the second level of Portage Place proper.

I cannot believe how big the Ardene store is. Either they sell endless amounts of cheap teenage girl stuff or (more likely) Portage Place is practically giving that space away.

The west end of the mall's second floor is well on its way to becoming office space with another big office conversion underway near the skywalk.

Portage Place is now pretty much where Cityplace was 12 years ago.

[vid]

Ardene must be doing well, there are hundreds of them it seems. A really big one just opened in Thunder Bay a few weeks ago, we now have 3 or 4 I think?

[cllew]

Originally Posted by vid

Ardene must be doing well, there are hundreds of them it seems. A really big one just opened in Thunder Bay a few weeks ago, we now have 3 or 4 I think?

Their website says that they have over 400 locations so they must be moving a lot of clothing and bling.

[vid]

Over 400! And that is just in Canada, people!

My god there must be 60 of them in Toronto alone!

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by trebor204

It is possible to open Off 5th at the Bay downtown?

Only locations under consideration for Winnipeg are:

- Polo Park/Polo Festival (aka old stadium site)
- Seasons of Tuxedo
- the planned outlet mall

[TR_Chick]

Originally Posted by cllew

Their website says that they have over 400 locations so they must be moving a lot of clothing and bling.

They have insane deals so young girls on a budget flock to there to buy stuff that looks relatively nice but without the huge price tags. Portage place therefore is a perfect location for them to have a larger store.

[armorand93]

Those teenage girls are going to have to get through the hoardes of creepy guys at the entrances first...

[Komatiite]

There's a rumour of an Anthropologie coming to the new Polo Park area development. My girlfriend is very excited. YMMV.

[Biff]

MTS Centre is renovating their street level store and adding a 2nd level store on the walkway level at the top of the escalators by the T Eaton Statue. It looks like it will be really nice. It will be against the back wall with access to the arena not the Portage Ave windows.

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by Biff

MTS Centre is renovating their street level store and adding a 2nd level store on the walkway level at the top of the escalators by the T Eaton Statue. It looks like it will be really nice. It will be against the back wall with access to the arena not the Portage Ave windows.

Good news! Is the main level store expanding or just renovating? I always thought it was a little small. But I guess it was built for an AHL team.

Got to give credit to TNSE. They're not afraid to spend money.

[cllew]

Originally Posted by Biff

MTS Centre is renovating their street level store and adding a 2nd level store on the walkway level at the top of the escalators by the T Eaton Statue. It looks like it will be really nice. It will be against the back wall with access to the arena not the Portage Ave windows.

Are they taking over the abandoned MTS cell store space on the 2nd level? That location has been a dead spot since MTS let its lease expire.