Winnipeg Retail

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

eileen fisher does operate in canada - vancouver has a store and calgary - the only 2 current locations

Sorry, you are correct there. When I checked the company's website I managed to miss those in the flood of retailer partners their site returned.

That still feels more like a long shot though when they do not even currently have Toronto stores yet. That said, if the right place came along in a market that was planned for future expansion, ie Polo Park in Winnipeg, most chains would give it serious consideration. With H&M announcing a Fall 2014 opening it sounds like there may be a longer wait to find out what is coming to Polo Park, almost to the point that it should be over lapping with announcements for Polo North and Seasons.

[wags_in_the_peg]

atmosphere (outdoor clothing, similar to MEC) is opening up ground floor of polo park building (old CTV hq)

[h0twired]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

atmosphere (outdoor clothing, similar to MEC) is opening up ground floor of polo park building (old CTV hq)

Atmosphere is the outdoorsy branch of SportChek.

[trebor204]

Speaking of SportChek, SportChek is closing the Pembina Village by April 2014.
Sport Mart across the street closed a few years ago.

http://www.shindico.com/media/com_es...3763242292.pdf

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by trebor204

Speaking of SportChek, SportChek is closing the Pembina Village by April 2014.

Pretty sure this was mentioned earlier in the thread, that SportsCheck is not "closing" but is rather relocating to Kennaston next to Canadian Tire.

As for SportsMart, Canadian Tire completely closed that entire chain to put a greater emphasis on SportsCheck and Canadian Tire as the go-to sports goods destinations.

[cslusarc]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Pretty sure this was mentioned earlier in the thread, that SportsCheck is not "closing" but is rather relocating to Kennaston next to Canadian Tire.

As for SportsMart, Canadian Tire completely closed that entire chain to put a greater emphasis on SportsCheck and Canadian Tire as the go-to sports goods destinations.

What I don't get is why is there currently a SportsCheck at both St Vital Centre and Pembina Crossings, wouldn't those two stores be canaballizing each other?

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by cslusarc

What I don't get is why is there currently a SportsCheck at both St Vital Centre and Pembina Crossings, wouldn't those two stores be canaballizing each other?

I think the Pembina Crossing store had opened first, then when space became available the St Vital store opened. Now the Pembina store is relocating to Kennaston. Seems to make sense, no?

[Mininari]

Originally Posted by CoryB

I think the Pembina Crossing store had opened first, then when space became available the St Vital store opened. Now the Pembina store is relocating to Kennaston. Seems to make sense, no?

Same thing with Earls? Older location on Pembina Hwy near the University closed in favour of the St. Vital one... and maybe, possibly potentially (guess-work on my part) a new location at Seasons?

[kylbaz]

Originally Posted by trebor204

Speaking of SportChek, SportChek is closing the Pembina Village by April 2014.
Sport Mart across the street closed a few years ago.

http://www.shindico.com/media/com_es...3763242292.pdf

I don't understand how they even stay in business. The store on Regent is massive, and I don't think I've ever seen more than 4-5 people in there at a time. 5+ employees there at a time, plus operating costs, seems like it would be impossible to make a profit.

[JamieDavid Exchange]

I was recently informed that Wal-Mart is looking to open more stores and the Bay downtown building is on their short list.

[Winnipegger]

Originally Posted by JamieDavid Exchange

I was recently informed that Wal-Mart is looking to open more stores and the Bay downtown building is on their short list.

People can say what they will about Wal-Mart, but Wal-Marts can serve a variety of needs all in one location and can be an integral component of a community that lacks a lot of other amenities. If a Wal-Mart was introduced in the Bay downtown, they would cater to a slightly lower income demographic than the Bay, which I think is a more accurate portrayal of the downtown residential crowd at this point. They would most likely provide groceries too, which we all know is something downtown needs. Wal-Marts aren't exactly known for being catalysts for urban gentrification (and often quite the opposite), but if done right, I think this may be something downtown could really need. If Wal-Mart finds that downtown is a viable market, it may encourage competition for other large stores (as much as we hate them) which may make downtown feel more livable. Sure a Wal-Mart doesn't provide the same urban aesthetic feel as a dozen small business storefronts like in Osborne, but it does fill a need that needs to be filled downtown if we want more people to consider living downtown.

[Authentic_City]

Originally Posted by Winnipegger

People can say what they will about Wal-Mart, but Wal-Marts can serve a variety of needs all in one location and can be an integral component of a community that lacks a lot of other amenities. If a Wal-Mart was introduced in the Bay downtown, they would cater to a slightly lower income demographic than the Bay, which I think is a more accurate portrayal of the downtown residential crowd at this point. They would most likely provide groceries too, which we all know is something downtown needs. Wal-Marts aren't exactly known for being catalysts for urban gentrification (and often quite the opposite), but if done right, I think this may be something downtown could really need. If Wal-Mart finds that downtown is a viable market, it may encourage competition for other large stores (as much as we hate them) which may make downtown feel more livable. Sure a Wal-Mart doesn't provide the same urban aesthetic feel as a dozen small business storefronts like in Osborne, but it does fill a need that needs to be filled downtown if we want more people to consider living downtown.

The Zellers in the basement of the Bay was a great store and was always busy. I don't see why a Walmart or Target couldn't also do well in that spot. It would serve a need that is not being fully met in downtown Winnipeg.

[esquire]

Wal-Mart in the HBC store strikes me as unrealistic, mainly because I doubt that they'd be willing to abandon their usual practice of standardized, cookie-cutter everything in order to set up shop in an old building with no free parking. Zellers did it because the corporate parent owns the building and the space wasn't being used for anything, but it is unlikely to say the least that Wal-Mart would go to the trouble of acquiring and retrofitting that building for what probably wouldn't be that great of a location anyway. Wal-Mart thrives on people loading up their car full of stuff, which you can't really do at Portage and Memorial.

Between all of that and the fact that there is already a Wal-Mart not that far from downtown (Ellice and Empress), I just don't see it happening.

[Jeff]

was just at polo park.. huge swath of the second floor near centre court (at least 5-6 storefronts) is boarded over and in full demolition mode. new h&m location?

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by JamieDavid Exchange

I was recently informed that Wal-Mart is looking to open more stores and the Bay downtown building is on their short list.

Grant Park Festival is obviously high on the list. We have also heard at great length about the East St Paul/North Kildonan location at the Perimeter and Raleigh related to the political fights over road access to the site. Southpointe, Sage Creek and east Transcona all also feel like strong possibilities for Walmart if they can find a suitable sized and zoned location.

Considering HBC is essentially willing to gift the downtown store and parkade to anyone willing to take it off their hands due to the on-going operational costs such as taxes, heating and minimum up keep. Giving one hour (or more) of free parking with a minimum purchase at a store downtown is not unheard of in Winnipeg and Walmart could do something similar addressing the concern that esquire raised. The issue becomes that even if you say they used three floors (or two floors and the basement) there is still a lot of unused space. I think the surplus of space might be more a deal breaker on this one than anything else.

[cllew]

Have not heard an outcry of a "food desert" but apparently the Pal Supermarket on Henderon Hwy in Elmwood is closed.

From what I have heard the landlord came in and changed the locks about a month ago. Now means the locals have the 7-11 or have to go up Henderson to the Safeway at Bronx for the nearest full service store.

[Riverman]

That is very close to me, I used to go in there quite a bit when I could walk that far. They had a good butcher some time ago but it has gone downhill recently.

[Riverman]

Originally Posted by h0twired

Target doesn't suck.

I'm not a shopper.

I've been to Target quite a number of times already and they've had what I needed and I thought the prices are reasonable. Plus it doesn't have the stank that Walmart does.

[bomberjet]

I didn't expect Target to be what it is in the states. I've only been there once by the way. But I expected more than Zellers. I don't hate them just my opinion.

[cllew]

Here is CBC's Rick Mercer take on Target

http://www.cbc.ca/player/Shows/Shows...ID/2419555556/