Winnipeg Retail

[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.

[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).

[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.

[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.

[Authentic_City]

Originally Posted by CoryB

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).

Don't forget the Colony (1 screen).

Originally Posted by CoryB

...I would imagine that the space will be difficult to rent to another organization.

UW has been approached in recent years to use the Globe Theatre as a lecture theatre. I think the space was offered rent free, however.

Imax has also been mentioned as a potential lecture theatre for UW.

Not sure what else these spaces could be used for.

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

UW has been approached in recent years to use the Globe Theatre as a lecture theatre. I think the space was offered rent free, however.

Imax has also been mentioned as a potential lecture theatre for UW.

Not sure what else these spaces could be used for.

Speaking of UW and Portage Place, they had some opening ceremony on the UW offices they built at the west side of the mall. It's something to do with legal aid I think? Not entirely sure. Axworthy was there making a speech and what not as I was passing by.

[Authentic_City]

Originally Posted by cheswick

Speaking of UW and Portage Place, they had some opening ceremony on the UW offices they built at the west side of the mall. It's something to do with legal aid I think? Not entirely sure. Axworthy was there making a speech and what not as I was passing by.

New location for Legal Help Centre, a joint UM/UW effort.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

Imax has also been mentioned as a potential lecture theatre for UW.

Not sure what else these spaces could be used for.

It has been a while since I was in the Imax auditorium but it would seem to be possible to adapt the space for theater performances, maybe when PTE?

The movie auditorium all seem large for U of W lecture halls where they try to market themselves as having small class size. Also how many failed downtown buildings can the U of W save? The Winnipeg Roller Rink, Army Surplus, the bus depot, The Bay, NRC, and now Portage Place? Maybe CentreVenture can just be merged into the U of W accommodations division and we can all call it a day.

[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.

[The Unknown Poster]

Portage Place theatres used to be our go-to screens. I fondly remember lining up there for popular films. But its a volume business, right? Why would i drive to Portage Place when I have a choice of bigger/better theatres close by.

Actually, to be honest, comfort and convience is more important. Im fairly close to the VIP theatre on McGill and it took me awhile to go because I was aware the screen size was small compared to "standard" screens. Usually go to Polo Park. But we've been regulars at VIP because we like the comfort of the theatres. If Portage Place converted to VIP cinemas, I'd check them out (their size would allow for bigger screens) but Im not sure $21 a film (or whatever it is) would work in that area. But what do I know?

[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...

[esquire]

^ On paper, it really does have everything. But even from day 1 it didn't really work as well as expected.

That being said, it is pretty successful as a place that serves the needs of the downtown population.

[1ajs]

it wasnt planned properly

[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.