Winnipeg Retail

[DonaldSmith]

...

[Biff]

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 with the piles is not the Lowes site. The Lowes site is still sitting there just to the NW of Cabelas.

[Pegoise]

Hi there, longtime lurker, first-time poster.
The development by the Cabela's is another Broadstreet Rental project
http://www.winnipeg.ca/CLKDMIS/ViewD...ac/2014/m13344

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Pegoise

Hi there, longtime lurker, first-time poster.
The development by the Cabela's is another Broadstreet Rental project
http://www.winnipeg.ca/CLKDMIS/ViewD...ac/2014/m13344

Interesting, thanks for that.

I wonder what their marketing pitch will be? "Enjoy the lifestyle of living in the Cabela's parking lot!" It seems like a weird place for apartments.

[esquire]

^ But can you blame Centreventure for that? Two of the most amazing theatres in the entire city are conveniently located in downtown Winnipeg and they close due to lack of business despite paying next to nothing in rent... if the Globe was paying market rates it would have closed down after two months of massive operating losses.

In the decade that Landmark has operated the theatre, I don't think I ever once saw a screening room more than 1/3 to 1/2 full at the most. (By contrast, in the early days when it was still operated by Famous Players, it would often fill up)

[WJG]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ But can you blame Centreventure for that? Two of the most amazing theatres in the entire city are conveniently located in downtown Winnipeg and they close due to lack of business despite paying next to nothing in rent... if the Globe was paying market rates it would have closed down after two months of massive operating losses.

In the decade that Landmark has operated the theatre, I don't think I ever once saw a screening room more than 1/3 to 1/2 full at the most. (By contrast, in the early days when it was still operated by Famous Players, it would often fill up)

I wonder if Famous Players would consider taking it over again. Seems like there's definitely a market for watching movies in the area (ie. Towne 8).

[esquire]

Originally Posted by WJG

I wonder if Famous Players would consider taking it over again. Seems like there's definitely a market for watching movies in the area (ie. Towne 8).

Doubtful. The Globe was getting to a point where it needed some upgrades, as the upholstery was starting wear out and the place was starting to get a bit dingy and in need of repairs/upgrades. Landmark used up the original fixtures and decided to turn out the lights... if someone else took over they'd need to spend a fair bit of $ just fixing up the seats alone, and I doubt that's going to happen.

Towne 8 is sort of getting to the same point... it was never as posh as the Globe, but it's getting to be in pretty rough shape. Who knows whether the owner will actually upgrade it or just shut'er down.

[Authentic_City]

Originally Posted by esquire

Doubtful. The Globe was getting to a point where it needed some upgrades, as the upholstery was starting wear out and the place was starting to get a bit dingy and in need of repairs/upgrades. Landmark used up the original fixtures and decided to turn out the lights... if someone else took over they'd need to spend a fair bit of $ just fixing up the seats alone, and I doubt that's going to happen.

Towne 8 is sort of getting to the same point... it was never as posh as the Globe, but it's getting to be in pretty rough shape. Who knows whether the owner will actually upgrade it or just shut'er down.

Hard to believe that downtown theatres might be on the verge of becoming entirely a thing of the past. How many screens have disappeared downtown in the past 30 years? Makes a person feel old.

What will become of Cinemateque I wonder. I think their business was hurt by the Globe encroaching into the market for non-mainstream fare. Perhaps this will provide a boost to Cinemateque?

Also, there was talk of Cinemateque moving out of ArtsSpace recently. I wonder where they might go?

Apparently the Met is showing retro films once per week (dinner and a movie).

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

Hard to believe that downtown theatres might be on the verge of becoming entirely a thing of the past. How many screens have disappeared downtown in the past 30 years? Makes a person feel old.

My count might be off but it is close to 20, Convention Centre (1), Eaton's Place (8), Met (1), Capital (2), Northstar (2), Garrick (4), Odeon (1), Imax (1) and now Portage Place/The Globe (3).

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

What will become of Cinemateque I wonder. I think their business was hurt by the Globe encroaching into the market for non-mainstream fare. Perhaps this will provide a boost to Cinemateque?

Also, there was talk of Cinemateque moving out of ArtsSpace recently. I wonder where they might go?

This makes me wonder, if Cinemateque is serious about relocating might the Imax or Globe locations be suitable for them? I heard Imax closed as they needed a very costly projection equipment upgrade however the rest of the place was still very viable and an art house would use different projection equipment, granted it wouldn't need the full screen size. Along those same lines, running the established Cinemateque programming out of the Globe space might be enough to solve the attendance issues with did The Globe in. Perhaps even running in the Globe space with only a single auditorium expect for special events. I would imagine that the space will be difficult to rent to another organization.

[trueviking]

new clothing store called Blackli$t opening at 75 Albert, owned by Peter Takis, a young local DJ.

the store's twitter feet has 32,000 followers...not sure how that's possible.

[esquire]

Towne 8 is all that's left for mainstream fare downtown, and it's getting to be in need of a costly reno job. Who knows whether the operator will pony up the money or just close it down.

Cinematheque said it would like to move, but doesn't have the means to do so... kind of sad that our main arthouse cinema finds their location in the city's supposed cultural district to be such a hindrance. If Cinematheque goes, it would be nice to see the Library, the WAG or UW step up to provide a venue for local and non-mainstream films in the area.

But yes, it's entirely possible that in 5 years there will be no cinemas left downtown.

[Authentic_City]

The Ellice Theatre, formally run by Lehostky's group, is a decent theatre venue. It would make a nice art house cinema close to UW. But I agree, the Cinematheque seems best suited to the Exchange District. I hope they can stay put.

[Danny D Oh]

I haven't been to the Towne 8 in probably 15 years, and I find it kind of hard to believe that it still exists without having any extensive renovation, because it was decrepit then.

I wonder if Cineplex would have any interest in the IMAX space, since they've gone pretty heavy into the IMAX biz.

[rypinion]

Originally Posted by Danny D Oh

I wonder if Cineplex would have any interest in the IMAX space, since they've gone pretty heavy into the IMAX biz.

Would be nice (but I'm sure unlikely) for someone like Cineplex to turn the Globe/IMAX space into a multiplex like they have in other downtowns.

[esquire]

^ LOL.

I think the writing is on the wall for Portage Place... its future is clearly as an office building.

[h0twired]

Originally Posted by esquire

I think the writing is on the wall for Portage Place... its future is clearly as an office building.

It won't be an office building, it just wont be a shopping destination.

Portage Place has a successful (albeit sketchy at times) food court, and shops like Starbucks, Staples, Shoppers are consistently busy. As well as the cell phone shops, hair stylists, dry cleaners, dentists, opticians etc.

It will be a mall filled with services for nearby office workers in the same way that Shops of Winnipeg Square services office workers in the Portage and Main area.

[drew]

Originally Posted by h0twired

It won't be an office building, it just wont be a shopping destination.

Portage Place has a successful (albeit sketchy at times) food court, and shops like Starbucks, Staples, Shoppers are consistently busy. As well as the cell phone shops, hair stylists, dry cleaners, dentists, opticians etc.

It will be a mall filled with services for nearby office workers in the same way that Shops of Winnipeg Square services office workers in the Portage and Main area.

Agreed. The theatres will pose a unique challenge / opportunity for redevelopment at some point. Huge, awkward spaces to fill.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by h0twired

It won't be an office building, it just wont be a shopping destination.

Portage Place has a successful (albeit sketchy at times) food court, and shops like Starbucks, Staples, Shoppers are consistently busy. As well as the cell phone shops, hair stylists, dry cleaners, dentists, opticians etc.

It will be a mall filled with services for nearby office workers in the same way that Shops of Winnipeg Square services office workers in the Portage and Main area.

That will likely be the case with parts of the main floor where retail still seems to be thriving somewhat, at least as far as those types of services aimed at nearby workers and residents are concerned.

But realistically, office is the way of the future for PP... large swaths at each end of the second floor have already become office space, and now it's creeping into the main floor (Service Canada). Given that it has been about 10 years since the last significant inflow of new retailers at PP which speaks to their total lack of willingness to pay the rates that Peterson is asking, I would only expect this trend to continue.

As for the theatres, I would fully expect them to sit empty for a good while. It's not exactly prime space and who is going to sign the kind of lease that would justify a costly gutting and renovation?

[Bdog]

I've always found these discussions about Portage Place interesting. It can be described as:

-Central
-Well served by transit
-Mixed-use (Stores, restaurants, offices, housing, theatres, performing arts)
-Various housing types and tenures (added bonus - it's high density housing)
-Mixed-income (and stores that cater to those various demographics - from a Staples to an MTS store to a Dollar Store)
-Bustling food court with several options
-Recreation hub (YMCA)

^All of this and more within a few square blocks! Sounds like an urbanists wet-dream...except they all want it demolished...

[Danny D Oh]

Originally Posted by Bdog

I've always found these discussions about Portage Place interesting. It can be described as:

-Central
-Well served by transit
-Mixed-use (Stores, restaurants, offices, housing, theatres, performing arts)
-Various housing types and tenures (added bonus - it's high density housing)
-Mixed-income (and stores that cater to those various demographics - from a Staples to an MTS store to a Dollar Store)
-Bustling food court with several options
-Recreation hub (YMCA)

^All of this and more within a few square blocks! Sounds like an urbanists wet-dream...except they all want it demolished...

The wet dream was aborted when all the storefronts on Portage were closed off and it became a pretty basic suburban mall dropped onto North Portage.