Winnipeg Retail

[esquire]

^ Extra Foods is still around on St. Anne's, Goulet, Roblin Blvd... am I missing any? Is there still one in Transcona? When I lived downtown I was a regular patron of the one on Notre Dame... all the good deals you get at Superstore without the maddening crowds and huge store to navigate. They don't have the same selection (especially with meat and produce) but still a good place to shop. It's basically Superstore but smaller.

With Co-op entering the market I don't think Save On will join in the fray. While more competition is always good, it's not like Save On is really distinctive in any way. It's cut from the same cloth as Safeway, Sobeys and Co-op in that regard as a decent, moderately-priced full-service supermarket.

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Extra Foods is still around on St. Anne's, Goulet, Roblin Blvd... am I missing any? Is there still one in Transcona? When I lived downtown I was a regular patron of the one on Notre Dame... all the good deals you get at Superstore without the maddening crowds and huge store to navigate. They don't have the same selection (especially with meat and produce) but still a good place to shop. It's basically Superstore but smaller.

With Co-op entering the market I don't think Save On will join in the fray. While more competition is always good, it's not like Save On is really distinctive in any way. It's cut from the same cloth as Safeway, Sobeys and Co-op in that regard as a decent, moderately-priced full-service supermarket.

Yeah, the one in Transcona is sitll around.

[cllew]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

Does Extra Foods still exist as concept/format in the city? I know it's basically a no frills Superstore, but it still provides some variety to the grocery landscape. Is the Goulet store still in business? Are there any others?

Perhaps we'll see some growth of independents in some of these vacant locations. Family Foods has established itself in at least two former Safeway stores (Portage and Ferry and I believe in St. Vital as well). It wouldn't be a bad outcome if a few more independents were able to establish themselves in these old stores.

Family foods stores are a "franchise" of Safeway and supplied by the McDonalds Consolidated wholesale division of Safeway.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by cllew

Don't know if it ever got repaired but 707 on Ness had structural problems in the back of the store. No large Sobeys near but a small one a little north west on Cavallier Dr.

Because 712 in the Garden City Square is so close to the one at McPhillips and Jefferson its not a surprise that its slated for closing. That was rumored for years to happen when the lease came up for renewal.

...

Would not be surprised to see more of the Safeway / Sobey's in close quarters close down. Off the top of my head Burrows at Kewaitian and Panet Road both have competing stores either across the street or a block or so apart.

The Ness store is relatively close to both the Portage and Cavallier Safeway and the Unicity Sobey's. The Sobey's on Cavallier converted to a Food Fare before the merger happened.

In terms of the Garden City area, they have long been rumored to get a large format Sobey's to replace to Maples IGA which was listed. When the merge was announced it was clear store consolidation would be occurring is this area.

In terms of still remaining duplication of stores the Kennaston stores (opposite sides of the street) and the previously between Portage @ Cavallier Safeway and Unicity Sobey's are likely in jeopardy.

Possible structural issues non-withstanding, the Ness and Garden City locations would seem to fit well with the Co-op grocery model as they are established locations and not close to their existing stores. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. The Maples IGA could potentially find new life as a Food Fare, assuming Co-op would limit their initial interest in that neighbourhood to the higher profile location on Lelia.

[cllew]

Originally Posted by CoryB

The Ness store is relatively close to both the Portage and Cavallier Safeway and the Unicity Sobey's. The Sobey's on Cavallier converted to a Food Fare before the merger happened.

In terms of the Garden City area, they have long been rumored to get a large format Sobey's to replace to Maples IGA which was listed. When the merge was announced it was clear store consolidation would be occurring is this area.

In terms of still remaining duplication of stores the Kennaston stores (opposite sides of the street) and the previously between Portage @ Cavallier Safeway and Unicity Sobey's are likely in jeopardy.

Possible structural issues non-withstanding, the Ness and Garden City locations would seem to fit well with the Co-op grocery model as they are established locations and not close to their existing stores. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. The Maples IGA could potentially find new life as a Food Fare, assuming Co-op would limit their initial interest in that neighbourhood to the higher profile location on Lelia.

The Portage/Cavalier Safeway shopping center is (was) owned by Safeway so that may have an influence over the leased space at Unicity.

Safeway as a matter of policy where possible had been developing their own stores instead of leasing spaces from developers. Don't know if this policy will stay under Sobey's as most Sobey's seem to end up in Shindico developments.

[esquire]

I notice that one of the store closures announced by Sobeys is the six year old downtown Edmonton store on Jasper Avenue... I'd say this news bodes poorly for the prospects of a new grocery store in downtown Winnipeg.

[cheswick]

Noticed an Urban Bakery sign up on one of the store fronts on Graham ave. Anyone know if it's relocating from Portage or this is a different concept?

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by esquire

I notice that one of the store closures announced by Sobeys is the six year old downtown Edmonton store on Jasper Avenue... I'd say this news bodes poorly for the prospects of a new grocery store in downtown Winnipeg.

Heard reports the closure list included a few other urban Sobey's stores. While it was never officially confirmed it was widely speculated that Sobey's was the chain that SkyCity Centre was in discussions with. Personally I think a speciality food store, like DeLuca's or Lucky's would work well in the location. Those stores would offer something to the office demographic that they don't have close to home while providing enough of the core staples at reasonable prices to also meet the needs to downtown residents.

[northern_hoser]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Heard reports the closure list included a few other urban Sobey's stores. While it was never officially confirmed it was widely speculated that Sobey's was the chain that SkyCity Centre was in discussions with. Personally I think a speciality food store, like DeLuca's or Lucky's would work well in the location. Those stores would offer something to the office demographic that they don't have close to home while providing enough of the core staples at reasonable prices to also meet the needs to downtown residents.

With the grocery store landscape changing, what are the odds that Whole Foods or Trader Joe's would be interested in the market? I'd think a Whole Foods would do well in an urban setting like SkyCity.

[The Unknown Poster]

Be interesting to see what happens on Pembina Hwy.

They have an older, smaller Safeway at the corner of Pembina and McGill. The Sobeys is just up McGil at Kenaston.

Further south on Pembina is a long standing Safeway. And they just closed the one at Ft Richmond Plaza as part of the demolition of that place. Rumours always surfaced in the area of a Sobeys going in there.

[cllew]

Originally Posted by The Unknown Poster

Be interesting to see what happens on Pembina Hwy.

They have an older, smaller Safeway at the corner of Pembina and McGill. The Sobeys is just up McGil at Kenaston.

Further south on Pembina is a long standing Safeway. And they just closed the one at Ft Richmond Plaza as part of the demolition of that place. Rumours always surfaced in the area of a Sobeys going in there.

The Safeway on Pembina @ Mc.Gill does all the area of Point Road, Crescent and Mayberry. I can't remember if its one that they bought out the developer or not but if it is then they only have the fixed costs so its profitable to keep it. If people in that area want a Sobeys the one on Taylor may be closer and not as busy.

The one in the Ft Richmond mall should be replaced by a new Sobeys as they had a zoning hearing for the new store earlier this spring.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by cheswick

Noticed an Urban Bakery sign up on one of the store fronts on Graham ave. Anyone know if it's relocating from Portage or this is a different concept?

Sign on the old Portage location says they moved to Graham... isn't that where they started originally? I wonder what's in store for their old site... at one point a Boyd Bldg. parkade was planned but I doubt that was ever really serious.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by northern_hoser

With the grocery store landscape changing, what are the odds that Whole Foods or Trader Joe's would be interested in the market? I'd think a Whole Foods would do well in an urban setting like SkyCity.

To my knowledge, Trader Joe's currently has no Canadian stores and no immediate plans to enter the Canadian market. It would likely work well at SkyCity Centre as it fits the "not near my home but close to my office" model.

Whole Foods, I strongly think when it arrives here will be south of the Assiniboine. Before it was known Co-Op was buying the Safeways from the Sobey's merger I had pegged Grant Park as a likely Whole Foods target. I continue to think along those same lines with my new target location being Kennaston at McGillvary with the Sobey's being the likely location as Safeway has slightly better access but that is an extremely close call.

[cllew]

Talked to one of my friends at dinner tonight that lives in the Ft. Garry area and was told that they noticed that the Pembina and McGilvery Safeway has increased in business since the Grant Park Mall Safeway converted to a Co-op.

[Danny D Oh]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Extra Foods is still around on St. Anne's, Goulet, Roblin Blvd... am I missing any? Is there still one in Transcona? When I lived downtown I was a regular patron of the one on Notre Dame... all the good deals you get at Superstore without the maddening crowds and huge store to navigate. They don't have the same selection (especially with meat and produce) but still a good place to shop. It's basically Superstore but smaller.

With Co-op entering the market I don't think Save On will join in the fray. While more competition is always good, it's not like Save On is really distinctive in any way. It's cut from the same cloth as Safeway, Sobeys and Co-op in that regard as a decent, moderately-priced full-service supermarket.

Can't speak for other locations, but the prices at the Extra Foods in Transcona are significantly higher than the Superstore down the street, and the perishable food at that store is disgusting. It's basically a convenience store with a fully stocked frozen food aisle.

[Danny D Oh]

Originally Posted by The Unknown Poster

Be interesting to see what happens on Pembina Hwy.

They have an older, smaller Safeway at the corner of Pembina and McGill. The Sobeys is just up McGil at Kenaston.

Further south on Pembina is a long standing Safeway. And they just closed the one at Ft Richmond Plaza as part of the demolition of that place. Rumours always surfaced in the area of a Sobeys going in there.

Crossroads and Reenders will be interesting too.

A smaller Sobey's there, a generation older than their new stores, and a Safeway across Reenders that was recently renovated. I could see Sobey's transitioning their current location into the current Safeway with some modest renovations to suit their brand as the leases expire, but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense IMO to keep both locations open. That Safeway is a ghost town currently. A couple of my friends worked there when we were in high school more than a decade ago and it was already struggling, and that was before Wal-Mart sold groceries.

Then we'll have another medium sized retail space with no tenant.

[CoryB]

I think we don't need to sound alarms on the closing of Safeway/Sobey's stores just yet. The three stores in the latest round of closings will provide a good indicator on what may happened when future closing happen. If those locations sit idle for an extended time I would be surprised.

[esquire]

Maybe these store closings might put the brakes on more power centre developments? Perhaps whatever was supposed to anchor the Westport development or the new Shindico thing on Reenders could just go into, or on the site of a former Safeway/Sobey's location nearby...

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by esquire

Maybe these store closings might put the brakes on more power centre developments? Perhaps whatever was supposed to anchor the Westport development or the new Shindico thing on Reenders could just go into, or on the site of a former Safeway/Sobey's location nearby...

It seems doubtful this would impact the Westport site. The proposal calls for a number of hotels and restaurants not unlikely you find on the edges of a lot of cities. In terms of retail the big anchors are speculated to be Target and Lowes/Home Depot. It seems likely Walmart has an exclusive clause on their lease which would block Target while the Safeway site seems smaller than the Super Target format that is likely planned for Westport.

In terms of Reenders, Lowes would seem to be the biggest of the leads. Both the possible sites nearby seem to lack a suitable yard location. For the Sobey's site there is also likely an exclusion clause from the Rona lease.

[vjose32]

Well i'm new to the forum here. Anyway, I live down the street from Northgate in the Garden City area in there seems to be no one interested in taking over the old Zellers store which is a shame. It would have been a great fit for Target, which has no stores anywhere in the area. At one point it was rumored Sobeys would take it, but then they got Safeway which has a store just up the road a block so they are out. There was even a Rona rumor but I seriously doubt they would fit there. With Peavey Mart entering Winnipeg there may be some hope that they could take over one of these vacated, or soon to be vacated, stores but they seem reluctant to expand further until they see how their first store does.

Rumor now is that the old Zellers will be torn down and a new retail/housing unit will be built in it's place which would be interesting but i'm not sure I dig it.

I think the Maples IGA would be a good place for a Co-op perhaps or a Family Foods. Personally I think the Garden City Safeway & Square should be demolished and replaced with a Target, would be a prime location for them, and by taking out Staples, Scotiabank, and the rest of the vacant mall, they should have enough room for a decent sized store I would think. Staples could move to the old Canadian Tire location next to Shoppers or perhaps Northgate or Garden City, same with Scotiabank.

I think it would also be wise for Sobeys to consider selling their McPhillips Safeway location or either Target or Rona and then moving into Northgate, which could be their new large format Sobeys they've been wanting in the area.

Either way something has to be done about all these vacancies going on in Winnipeg North, there's too many. Extra Foods, Zellers, Garden City Cinema, Garden City Safeway, Maples IGA, etc etc. All I keep seeing is more and more stores opening in South Winnipeg, more and more outlet malls and strip malls, and everything here is dying! All these retailers need to re-vitalize retail in the Garden City area. Hell when was the last time anything significant happened in the Garden City mall aside from Dollarama & Goodlife opening and the theater closing? They would be wise to use the area with Goodlife and the theater to expand the mall.

On a side note I may be able to find out more about the Polo renos come tomorrow as i'm supposed to be starting a new job with a company building some stores there in the old Zellers location. I believe there is 21 stores going in there, but that is all I know at the moment, should be interesting. I don't know anything about the previously mentioned expansion, though if they did want to expand the mall they missed a golden opportunity with the former arena and stadium sites, it could have been huge, instead we got stand alone stores & strip malls, yay.