Winnipeg Retail

[esquire]

Originally Posted by CoryB

The question becomes at what point do we have an over saturation of the market for the pre/post game/event market?

I guess the invisible hand is doing its job... apparently it is profitable to own a restaurant in the SHED area that caters to the weekday lunch/event night crowds.

I don't mind all of the restaurants, but it would be nice to see a little more street-level retail. I'm not talking about high end shops, I mean convenience stores, shawarma shops, dollar stores, that sort of thing. The little places that at least animate the street. Downtown has a fair bit of these kinds of places, but they are quite scattered and there are very few directly on Portage... it's as though the landlords think that at any minute Portage is going to become a premier retail street right away so they have to be ready for it.

PS - CoryB, you missed the Met from your restaurant list. This helps prove my theory that the Met is practically invisible. The building still looks closed to most passerby... it's out of sight and out of mind for nearly everyone. They have a tiny sign you can barely see... I bet that an attention-getting sign that lights up would pay for itself in two months.

[viperred88]

Originally Posted by cllew

Nothing announced for there yet.

Head of downtown biz was saying in a news paper article that he thought that it should rent fast being that it is in the shed district and 1 block away from the convention center. He was thinking that it would probably be some sort of restaurant / lounge.

But who knows, maybe the Ballet needs more space for its residence and ballet school and will take it over?

Thanks, I read that too some time ago, I thought things would of progressed faster.

[Jeff]

they should just tear this "mall" down and build a museum about the history of failed mega-projects in this city... it would probably attract more people than the imax or this theatre ever did.

Globe Theatre in Portage Place to close
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/loc...262653491.html

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Jeff

Globe Theatre in Portage Place to close
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/loc...262653491.html

Not really a huge shock, I go there somewhat regularly and it seems as though attendance has really dropped off a cliff in the last year or two. It is no longer unusual to be there for 7 pm shows where the audience can be counted on two hands, sometimes even one.

I will miss it when it's gone... great selection of movies, comfortable screening rooms, very convenient, and the ultimate Winnipeg perk that no other cinema in town could match... free, heated underground parking.

[Biff]

Disney Store will be a tenant in the new Polo Park expansion. Back in the Winnipeg market, formerly at St Vital.

[bomberjet]

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/bus...259926611.html

Target fires president of Canadian operations, names US exec as replacement
By: The Canadian Press, The Associated Press
Posted: 7:03 AM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 12:20 PM

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Target has fired the president of its troubled Canadian operations, Tony Fisher, and is replacing him with a 15-year U.S. company veteran in a bid to address inventory issues and bring customers back into its stores.

The executive shakeup in Canada comes two weeks after the abrupt resignation of Target's CEO and Chairman Gregg Steinhafel.

The third-largest U.S. retailer announced Tuesday that Mark Schindele, 45, who was senior vice-president of merchandising operations, will now run the Canadian operation. Target's expansion into Canada last year marked its first foray outside the U.S. but it has struggled with weak sales and losses. The changes are effective immediately.

Schindele has played a key role in launching a new store format including an expanded grocery area, as well as Target Express and CityTarget in the U.S. He has also led a global team and provided senior-level oversight to Target's merchandising operations, including systems, global sourcing and product development.


Bring customers back into your stores? I don't think the customers were ever there to begin with..

[Chrisforpm]

Originally Posted by Biff

Disney Store will be a tenant in the new Polo Park expansion. Back in the Winnipeg market, formerly at St Vital.

Have there been any other announcements about what is going into the polo park expansion?

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Chrisforpm

Have there been any other announcements about what is going into the polo park expansion?

There was one other announcement which I can't find but it is a new to Winnipeg chain. The bulk of the stores are still unannounced although it seems there will not be another single, large foot print store like H&M.

It is also possible that some of the existing stores may be relocating to the new section.

[trebor204]

Originally Posted by CoryB

There was one other announcement which I can't find but it is a new to Winnipeg chain. The bulk of the stores are still unannounced although it seems there will not be another single, large foot print store like H&M.

It is also possible that some of the existing stores may be relocating to the new section.

H&M will be the anchor at the mall's centre and the new tenants -- Anthropologie, a Georgia-based retailer of women's clothing and accessories, home furnishings, gifts and decor, is the only one to have been confirmed -- will have a heavy emphasis on U.S. retailers that will be new to Winnipeg.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/bus...257282621.html

I heard rumors of Microsoft Store.
I would like to see Lego Store

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by trebor204

I heard rumors of Microsoft Store.

That would make sense however on lists I have seen of their planned openings Winnipeg is not on their radar yet, neither is Calgary which would likely be a higher priority.

White House, Black Market and Chico seem like strong contenders best on their Canadian expansion. Also high of the list of candidates would obviously be any chain that has a shop in St Vital that is not in Polo Park. St Vital has been getting more aggressive on getting those "first to market" stores which always used to find a home at Polo Park.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by trebor204

H&M will be the anchor at the mall's centre and the new tenants -- Anthropologie, a Georgia-based retailer of women's clothing and accessories, home furnishings, gifts and decor, is the only one to have been confirmed -- will have a heavy emphasis on U.S. retailers that will be new to Winnipeg.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/bus...257282621.html

I heard rumors of Microsoft Store.
I would like to see Lego Store

anthropologie is in the sister store to urban outfitters - i feel poor looking at the knobs in there so pretty so pricey

[Cyro]

Winnipeg is about to get a second Habitat for Humanity recycled-building-supplies store.

A new 9,000-square-foot Habitat ReStore is scheduled to open June 1 in the former Canada Safeway store at the corner of Ellice Avenue and Wall Street.

The items will include new and used lumber, doors, windows, paint, plumbing fixtures, appliances and some furniture. But because it doesn't have an outdoor compound, the new store won't carry such things as recycled bricks and sidewalk blocks.

Frey said all the products in the store will be donated to Habitat by individuals, retailers or manufacturers. Proceeds from the sale of the items will be used to help build new homes in the community.

That included removing the existing facade, reducing the size of the building to about 13,500 square feet from 20,000 square feet, dividing the space into two units, installing new lighting and mechanical systems and constructing a new facade.

"We also knew it (the building) would lend itself better to being subdivided" if it wasn't so deep, he said.

He said the second unit is about 4,300 square feet in size, and "we're working with someone (a prospective tenant) on it right now," he added.


Article/ Above continues after the 111 Lombard Heritage Restoration/Conversion - Mid Page
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opi...259898441.html

[h0twired]

Noticed that Ardene and City Submarine in Portage Place are both closed.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by h0twired

Noticed that Ardene and City Submarine in Portage Place are both closed.

Wow, has it been even a year since Ardene expanded from a small store into what must have been one of their largest locations? Quite a change in fortunes for them.

I guess that frees up space for an Apple store and a Louis Vuitton to move in.

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by h0twired

Noticed that Ardene and City Submarine in Portage Place are both closed.

Ardene relcoated to a massive store on the second level a while ago. It wasn't closed when I passed by it on my lunch today...

Originally Posted by esquire

Wow, has it been even a year since Ardene expanded from a small store into what must have been one of their largest locations? Quite a change in fortunes for them.

I guess that frees up space for an Apple store and a Louis Vuitton to move in.

Yeah, Ardene isn't closed. That candy store on the second level is the only recent retail closure outside city sub. Its my understanding that city sub was owned by the same guy who owns pita pit and chester chicken in the food court.

[Jeff]

I know a few women who work at hydro across the street and the ardene super store in portage place is the only thing they cross the street at lunch to check out.. hint hint cheap women's clothing stores

[trebor204]

Victoria's Secret is opening up a second location in St Vital Mall (old HMV)

[Biff]

Fossil will be in the new Polo Park expansion as well.

[trebor204]

It looks like there is some activity (building piles?) going on beside Cabelas (where Lowe's was slated to go) at the Seasons of Tuxedo

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by trebor204

It looks like there is some activity (building piles?) going on beside Cabelas (where Lowe's was slated to go) at the Seasons of Tuxedo

The site plans that circulated relatively recently showing the outlet mall on the north parcel still included a home improvement store on the "Lowe's" site at Seasons of Tuxedo. Could this be a sign that Lowe's has given up on their Rona take-over bid and wants to establish a presence in the Winnipeg market?

In other news, Retail Insider included a reference to an interesting expansion being planned for Polo Park. They are light on the details but the time horizon the article is referencing is beyond the Zeller's conversion. Source - scroll to the Winnipeg section.