The Retail Thread - Page 77

devonb · #**1521** Posted **Aug 29, 2011, 7:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lubicon

At some of the locations - yes. The Sarcee Costco at Beacon Hill has a liquor outlet. Not sure about the others.

The Deerfoot Meadows store has one as does Okotoks (so I've been told).

Doug · #**1522** Posted **Aug 29, 2011, 7:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeweed

I'd be happy as a start if they at least allowed the co-op/sobeys/safeway liquor stores to even share a frigging BUILDING with the parent store. We sometimes wonder where so much urban sprawl comes from, and then we mandate that retail has to have all this excess SPACE and parking. It's mind-boggling to an outsider. And annoying as hell to watch people actually drive between 2 stores that in any sane world, are really one store.

I didn't realize this, but technically bringing alcohol into BC is illegal for some obsolete (but occasionally enforced) reason.

I think it is technically illegal to transport alcohol and certain quantities of tobacco over any provincial line. BC is probably the only province that even tries to enforce. I got a $280 ticket 12 years ago for having 2 Alberta purchased beers in a cooler in my trunk. Of course I never paid it.

It is really easy to bring alcohol in from the US as well. When I drove up a couple of weeks ago, I brought 2 cases of wine (48 bottles) up for my brother.

freeweed · #**1523** Posted **Aug 29, 2011, 7:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by YYCguys

Is it that triangle piece of vacant land near the Walmart or on the other side?

Also, any news of what retail will follow Shoppers to that area? A gas station/convenience store would do well and be very handy for Royal Oak residents as the nearest one is the Coop gas bar in Rocky Ridge.

And you're right, the same shops pop up in all these suburban shopping plazas. Would be nice to see some variety.

It's in the new "Royal Vista" or whatever they're calling the new commercial/industrial park. Just east of the existing retail complex, across 85th St. Not sure exactly what all is planned for there but much of it is not retail. I don't forsee a gas station for many many years, even though the closest are in Citadel/Rocky Ridge.

SpongeG · #**1524** Posted **Aug 29, 2011, 10:27 PM**

thanks re the costco info

the guy who crossed the border was Terry David Mulligan - hes some kind of wine something now and he was promotoing a book at the time as well - it is a bizarre law

freeweed · #**1525** Posted **Aug 29, 2011, 10:49 PM**

TDM was one of the first MuchMusic VJs. Always wondered what happened to him, but I keep forgetting we have this Internet thing I can look people up with.

Rusty van Reddick · #**1526** Posted **Aug 29, 2011, 11:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeweed

TDM was one of the first MuchMusic VJs. Always wondered what happened to him, but I keep forgetting we have this Internet thing I can look people up with.

He has a show on CKUA and is at folk fest every year.

mersar · #**1527** Posted **Aug 30, 2011, 12:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeweed

It's in the new "Royal Vista" or whatever they're calling the new commercial/industrial park. Just east of the existing retail complex, across 85th St. Not sure exactly what all is planned for there but much of it is not retail. I don't forsee a gas station for many many years, even though the closest are in Citadel/Rocky Ridge.

Pretty much. All of the area east of 85th/south of 112th is zoned for light industrial type use (car dealerships, mechanics, industrial supply, that sort of thing), plus medical clinics and a church. The triangle parcel beside Walmart and Sobeys is zoned commercial. Though I will say that area is already starting to die, quite a few of the stores in there have closed and both BMO and Scotia have turned a few bays apiece into huge new branches for their respective banks.

YYCguys · #**1528** Posted **Aug 30, 2011, 1:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mersar

Pretty much. All of the area east of 85th/south of 112th is zoned for light industrial type use (car dealerships, mechanics, industrial supply, that sort of thing), plus medical clinics and a church. The triangle parcel beside Walmart and Sobeys is zoned commercial. Though I will say that area is already starting to die, quite a few of the stores in there have closed and both BMO and Scotia have turned a few bays apiece into huge new branches for their respective banks.

Hopefully the additional commercial and light industrial will spur on successful retail in the shopping district.

It's strange to see THREE banks within spitting distance of each other in the same strip mall (includes RBC at the opposite end of the strip) as I don't think suburban malls usually have more than one bank, if any, in them.

devonb · #**1529** Posted **Aug 30, 2011, 1:52 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug

It is really easy to bring alcohol in from the US as well. When I drove up a couple of weeks ago, I brought 2 cases of wine (48 bottles) up for my brother.

Alberta is probably the best province to bring alcohol into. I brought a case of wine over and it was a mere $2.50/bottle in duty plus GST. That's versus BC charging 80% duty on the value of the bottle plus GST.

So if you bought a $100 bottle of wine, in Alberta total cost for the wine would be $107.50. In BC, it would be $189. Ontario is similar, both trying to protect their wine industry. Moral of the story: enter Alberta with your booze.

eggbert · #**1530** Posted **Aug 30, 2011, 3:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by YYCguys

Hopefully the additional commercial and light industrial will spur on successful retail in the shopping district.

It's strange to see THREE banks within spitting distance of each other in the same strip mall (includes RBC at the opposite end of the strip) as I don't think suburban malls usually have more than one bank, if any, in them.

You obviously haven't been to Aspen Landing then? 5 banks in that one strip mall.

freeweed · #**1531** Posted **Aug 30, 2011, 4:22 AM**

Yeah, it *used* to be strange to see so many bank branches together, but it's becoming very common now. We're overbuilding suburban strip malls, and often putting shit into them that no one ever visits - ending up with an abundance of empty bays. The banks swoop in with a cheap lease and use them for branding purposes from what I can tell. The service offered at these branches is almost non-existent - tellers that hardly do more than an ATM can do, and every other "specialist" (mortgage, retirement, etc) is by appointment and doesn't actually physically work at the branch itself.

I've been ranting about this for a while now. It's really annoying and such a waste of space and resources. But until people stop frequenting only mega-malls and big box complexes, it's what we're stuck with.

Calgarian · #**1532** Posted **Aug 30, 2011, 2:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeweed

Yeah, it *used* to be strange to see so many bank branches together, but it's becoming very common now. We're overbuilding suburban strip malls, and often putting shit into them that no one ever visits - ending up with an abundance of empty bays. The banks swoop in with a cheap lease and use them for branding purposes from what I can tell. The service offered at these branches is almost non-existent - tellers that hardly do more than an ATM can do, and every other "specialist" (mortgage, retirement, etc) is by appointment and doesn't actually physically work at the branch itself.

I've been ranting about this for a while now. It's really annoying and such a waste of space and resources. But until people stop frequenting only mega-malls and big box complexes, it's what we're stuck with.

Another good reason to live downtown. lol

YYCguys · #**1533** Posted **Aug 30, 2011, 2:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eggbert

You obviously haven't been to Aspen Landing then? 5 banks in that one strip mall.

Nope! Never been! Is it all that a bag of chips out there? I've heard that for a suburban strip mall, it's a step above the rest vis-a-vis landscaping and overall feel.

bigcanuck · #**1534** Posted **Aug 30, 2011, 3:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by YYCguys

Nope! Never been! Is it all that a bag of chips out there? I've heard that for a suburban strip mall, it's a step above the rest vis-a-vis landscaping and overall feel.

It's a bit more than a strip mall - more along the lines of an outdoor 'mall', kinda like Glenmore Landing. Unfortunately, there are stores struggling to make it there (such as i Bambini, Avacado Grill and I think a couple of clothing or home decor type stores).

Innersoul1 · #**1535** Posted **Aug 30, 2011, 5:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigcanuck

It's a bit more than a strip mall - more along the lines of an outdoor 'mall', kinda like Glenmore Landing. Unfortunately, there are stores struggling to make it there (such as i Bambini, Avacado Grill and I think a couple of clothing or home decor type stores).

Overall, it is a very well conceived suburban stripmall. The retailers who have now left were all ill-fated from the start. i Bambini was too small of a store for the baby market, they just weren't able to compete with stores such as Bo Bebe. In fact, there was a kids shoe store right next to i Bambini that also closed. Mission Skate and Snow was the first retailer to open and they struggled becuase nothing else was really open when they were. Their space was quite large and I imagine profits low. BMO is taking over their space, go figure. Avacado grill sucked from the onset. Poorly managed and the food quality sucked. I am VERY happy to see Original Joe's taking over that space. There is a gift store called Occassions that I see closing very very soon given that they are right next door to Twisted Goods and sell practically the same things. Bernard Callebaut opened a store/cafe in a small space called Cococo. It never seems to be busy, the storefront is horribly presented and they don't have the hours to compete with Good Earth, which is just across from them.

bigcanuck · #**1536** Posted **Aug 30, 2011, 6:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

In fact, there was a kids shoe store right next to i Bambini that also closed.

Didn't Little Footprints just move 2 doors down next to the CIBC?

The i Bambini in Scotia Centre is also closed now - they failed to pay their July rent so the building locked the doors on them. Not a good sign for the company.

I am looking forward to O.J.'s - I just wished they put in a restaurant that allowed kids instead.

Innersoul1 · #**1537** Posted **Aug 30, 2011, 6:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigcanuck

Didn't Little Footprints just move 2 doors down next to the CIBC?

The i Bambini in Scotia Centre is also closed now - they failed to pay their July rent so the building locked the doors on them. Not a good sign for the company.

I am looking forward to O.J.'s - I just wished they put in a restaurant that allowed kids instead.

Ahhhh you are right about Little Footprints.

I agree 100% about the kids thing. I would love a pub that I could take our daughter to. I want to go into Fergus & Bix again and see if they let kids in. You would think that OJs would amend their liquor license. It would be quite lucrative.

Calgarian · #**1538** Posted **Aug 30, 2011, 7:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

Ahhhh you are right about Little Footprints.

I agree 100% about the kids thing. I would love a pub that I could take our daughter to. I want to go into Fergus & Bix again and see if they let kids in. You would think that OJs would amend their liquor license. It would be quite lucrative.

Why not just go to a restaurant that sells beer? a pub is a bar and in my opinion (I don't have kids) kids have no place in a pub.

freeweed · #**1539** Posted **Aug 30, 2011, 7:08 PM**

Guess this is the wrong place to start lobbying for banning infants from restaurants.

bigcanuck · #**1540** Posted **Aug 30, 2011, 7:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Why not just go to a restaurant that sells beer? a pub is a bar and in my opinion (I don't have kids) kids have no place in a pub.

We're just looking for different options on the hill - you get bored with the same "restaurants that sell beer" after a while. Plus, places like O.J.s and Fergus and Bix have some food selections that make you want to go there but you have to leave the kids at the door.