[zahav]

there isn't one in north van? whereabouts?

[wrenegade]

Not one yet. Being built. Next to Capilano Square on the old Chevy dealership site.

[GeeCee]

Noticed today that the Port Chev Olds in Port Coquitlam is empty.. they seem to be clearing out all the clothes and misc merchandise. All the cars are gone.

[SpongeG]

yah they lost their dealership thing

so did Barnes Wheaton next to IKEA in coquitlam

[GeeCee]

I knew about the Port losing the dealership, but didn't know the date.. didn't know that Barnes Wheaton did as well. Don't really drive past either one too often except for heading to Silvercity.. huh.

[SpongeG]

yah thats two dealers for the area - i don't know where the other ones are - are there any others? or were they in the interior? island? I think i heard it was 5 or 7 for BC something like that

[officedweller]

Bread Garden is moving into the retail space at the Vancouver Block (former jewellery store) on Granville St.

[SpongeG]

nice - they are expanding again it seems - they have one that is taking forever to get done on davie street too

[hrhsheba]

Bread Garden is moving into the retail space at the Vancouver Block (former jewellery store) on Granville St.

Irene Woo, the owner of Ideal Jewellery that was there before, is the franchisee for Bread Garden. She decided that with the new Skytrain Station being right there she'd like to keep longer hours. Too much of a security risk for a jewellery store to be open late in that neighbourhood so she went for an eatery. She should do well in that location.

[officedweller]

Cool.
Although I'll have to find a new place for watch batteries...

[nova9]

Cool.
Although I'll have to find a new place for watch batteries...
Same here, that's where I went.

So, there is not change of ownership? Jsut a change of business?

[jlousa]

Highly recommend the place in Waterfront centre for watch batteries, the guy also does amazing work on shoes, he's in the corner across for the dentist office.

[officedweller]

Thanks

[hrhsheba]

Officedweller and Nova9, you'll be happy to hear that Irene is working on a floor plan with the building to keep a tiny kiosk open next to the Bread Garden for jewellery repairs, batteries, etc. No retail sales, just services. Her husband, Esmond, is the jeweller and it will be him that will be manning that. Of course, this may not come to fruition if the landlord isn't flexible. I think they need to annex a small part of a storage room or something in order to pull it off. In the interim, if you're a denizen of Yaletown, the German Watchmaker in the little mall behind Yaletown Gelato is terrific, he could help you out with batteries.

[SpongeG]

the old centro (on granville) is going to become a new eatery - they hope to be open by christmas apparently - before the games anyway

its such an amazing location yet it seems like nothing can ever survive there - thats weird

[officedweller]

Cool.

*****

BTW - in the 24 Hours today - Sears had an advertisement for its new Outlet Centre on the 6th floor - opens tomorrow.

[Locked In]

I don't recall if this has been mentioned yet... the Globe was making a big deal about Toronto's opening today:

The Room returns as the Bay adds luxury

Retailer restores a Toronto tradition as it tries to win customers with a page from Macy's and Bloomingdale's

http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/archive/00279/bonnie_brooks_th_279081gm-a.jpg
Marina Strauss
TORONTO — From Thursday's Globe and Mail Published on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 12:00AM EDT Last updated on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 8:20AM EDT

Bonnie Brooks is brimming with pride as she shows off the latest fashions to arrive at the Bay: a $21,000 sequined royal-blue Balmain cocktail dress; a Proenza Schouler school satchel-style purple suede handbag for $3,295.

This is the new face of the Bay, but not all Bay stores are created equally.

Today, Ms. Brooks relaunches The Room, formerly known by the stodgier St. Regis Room moniker, as a vastly expanded space in the downtown Toronto flagship. But it's just part of the CEO's vision to revive the storied but tired department store chain.

She needs more than the high-fashion shopper to fulfill her mission. The majority of her shoppers are "pragmatists" who watch their budgets in these tough times but are ready to spend an average of $1,900 a year on clothing.

And so, Ms. Brooks, who arrived at the Bay just over a year ago, is borrowing a leaf from the book of U.S.-based Bloomingdale's with plans to roll out The Room as a luxury showcase at its key flagship stores - in this case Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Like her U.S. department-store counterparts, she will launch three other types of Bay stores with merchandise for "pragmatic" and even more cost-conscious "value" shoppers.

"That's the key to the work we're doing here - you can't paint Canada with one brush," said Ms. Brooks, dressed in fall-chic of an Antonio Berardi outfit (at The Room for $3,490).

"What works in Toronto isn't necessarily going to work in London or in Kitchener ... Before, we didn't have a range of products to differentiate our stores. Now that's changing."

Her task of transforming the Bay is daunting: Its productivity, an important measure in retail measured in sales per square foot, now stands at $165 and lags that of U.S.-based Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom - two of her models which generate close to $400 sales per square foot.

Now she thinks she can almost double the Bay's productivity to $300 per square foot in less than five years. Her blueprint for change includes focusing more than ever on fashion; replacing most of the brands with updated lines; creating different department-store models in different parts of the country; and dramatically scaling back - by half - the number of promotional sales at the stores.

The adjustments will bolster the Bay's $2.5-billion of annual sales by more than 30 per cent over five years, she predicted.

Elizabeth Evans is typical of the kind of customer that Ms. Brooks is trying to woo. Ms. Evans, in her 50s, shops mostly at specialty stores even though her office is close to the Bay and its main rival, Sears Canada. When she does head to the department stores, it's mainly to pick up cosmetics on their main floor.

"The challenge for the Bay is getting customers back into the stores," said Ms. Evans, director of Ryerson University's Ted Rogers School of Retail Management. "It's difficult when you're in the middle part of the market, which is where department stores traditionally have been."

The department stores have been losing business to specialty and discount chains for more than a decade, she said. According to market researcher NPD Group, department stores' sales in the $19.1-billion Canadian apparel industry dropped to 15.6 per cent in the year ended in June, 2009, from 17.6 per cent in 2007.

Ms. Brooks said she is already making headway at the Bay. The average customer purchase rose by $5 to $70 this year from 2008, she said. Sales in the key sections of women's wear, handbags and footwear gained 2 per cent to 5 per cent this fall from a year earlier, she said.

"We still have a lot of work to do," she added.

Part of the work is the $5.3-million refashioning of The Room by star design firm Yabu Pushelbelg: expanding its space by more than five-fold to 21,500 square feet and stocking 70 upscale brands, from about a dozen previously. She has tripled the number of staff to 25 and added a full-time concierge and VIP lounge. In the first year alone, she expects that The Room's sales will triple to $15-million. "It sends a new signal to our customers and to the marketplace."

But beyond adding The Room at two other flagships in the next two years, Ms. Brooks will focus on adding more moderately priced fashion lines to the stores. She has been helped by design houses that, during the recession, launched less expensive lines such as T Tahari by Elie Tahari and BCBGeneration by BCBG.

She has in mind four different types of stores to cater to various markets. They are the three urban flagships which will house The Room; three other flagships in Calgary, Ottawa and Winnipeg; high end suburban stores in such cities as Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver; and older stores.

"What we're building is a hybrid of the major brand dominance that Macy's has ... and the excitement of a Bloomingdale's," she said.


Source: Globe and Mail (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/the-room-returns-as-the-bay-adds-luxury/article1324259/)

[nova9]

I think the vision is great. I can already start to see her vision as evidence in the 'trendy' leanings of the 2010 athletes line. Holt Renfrew should not be our sole upscale department store - and like in our YVR thread, a little competition can only be a good thing.

I support anything that will ensure this enduring Canadian legacy.

[mr.x]

There's no doubt that part of the Olympic Store in downtown was meant for The Room post-Games.

[SpongeG]

and dramatically scaling back - by half - the number of promotional sales at the stores.

they do seem to put the same items on sale every other week - like I follow towels and it seems the ralph lauren towels are always on sale every other week - maybe once in a while would be better for them to make some money

[hrhsheba]

just for the sake of a little amusement... I'm very familiar with the $21,000 blue Balmain number that is referenced in the first line of the article. To the poor soul who might wind up buying it - it's not cleanable in any way. There isn't a dry cleaner on the planet who'll touch it. Nice, a disposable dress for disposable income!

By the way, when I first arrived in Vancouver from Europe many years ago, the Bay did have The Mirror Room. That department carried a full range of higher end merchandise but it went the way of the dinosaur when management realized that Vancouverites are only interested in wearing jeans and t-shirts and, on cold days, a little polar fleece.

[SpongeG]

i remember it too

i think her idea though to treat the stores regionally is a good one though - what works in one city isn't going to work in another

[jtwin]

jtwin - where did you hear Office Depot on Broadway is closing?


I'm new to this forum, but find it pretty bold that someone is asking where I heard about something. My brother's girlfriend's sister's friend...is a psychic and read it in the cards!

They're looking to sublease.

[SpongeG]

Bed Bath & Beyond!

they are taking over the office depot in coquitlam - they could do the same for west broadway! that area needs something like that

[GeeCee]

No Name Foods opens in Coquitlam on Oct 21 or so..

[SpongeG]

no frills?

[GeeCee]

err yeah, I think that's it.. :) loblaw's in any case.

[SpongeG]

didn't seem that close last time i passed a couple weeks ago - good to know

whats going to happen with the supervalue? will it become shoppers?

[GeeCee]

Just found this article.. the Super Valu apparently just closed on Saturday the 17th.

http://www2.canada.com/coquitlamnow/news/story.html?id=7a8283dd-c795-4978-b7f3-e4d12905dc4c

Not sure what's next for the store but for the amount of construction going on there, I doubt that it's going to sit empty..

[SpongeG]

yah their old store is quite small and crappy and seeign teh direction shoppers is going i imagine they might move over

[osirisboy]

I'm new to this forum, but find it pretty bold that someone is asking where I heard about something. My brother's girlfriend's sister's friend...is a psychic and read it in the cards!


I think its a valid question. if you present something as fact then you should be prepared to be asked what your source is.

[sacrifice333]

are people still expecting West Elm to move into Mantra?

[SpongeG]

hoping they do - accodring to some report the one space was leased already to williams-sonoma inc. for it but no more info on it

the info:

West 4th Avenue
Coast Mountain Sports, a mainstay in the area, moved • from 6500 sq ft at 4th and Yew to 10,000 sq ft at 1st and Burrard.
Vacancies in the 2100-2200 block are a rarity but escalat•
ing rents are creating some turnover.
In the 1700 Block, the former Flag Shop space will wel•
come a 10,000 sq ft Billabong store. Down the block, 20,000 sq ft has been leased by Williams Sonoma’s mid-priced furniture store West Elm.

http://www.dtzbarnicke.com

[Shibuya]

didn't seem that close last time i passed a couple weeks ago - good to know

whats going to happen with the supervalue? will it become shoppers?

From what I have heard, No Frills would open and Supervalu would close, then they would begin the transition of turning the Supervalu into a larger Shoppers Drug Mart. Not sure what will be going in where Shoppers is currently but I would imagine it would just turn into 1 or 2 more units.

I've been meaning to get update on the progress of this so if I hear anything I will pass it along.

[officedweller]

I think its a valid question. if you present something as fact then you should be prepared to be asked what your source is.

And to clarify - if you are bound by confidentiality through your workplace - just indicate industry sources.
If you saw something in a trade publication, newspaper article or other publicly available source, generally forummers would like to read the article in case there's other interesting information.

[GeeCee]

I saw a sign for a Fatburger at Lougheed Highway and Willingdon Ave in Burnaby today. The front door was open - it looks like it's nearly done. I don't recognize the sign so I think they must have just put it up. It's right beside the Petro-Canada in the small lot they are redeveloping beside the larger new construction (Reflections?).

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Lougheed+Hwy+%26+Willingdon+Ave,+Burnaby,+Greater+Vancouver+Regional+District,+British+Columbia,+Canada&sll=49.317354,-122.852165&sspn=0.006798,0.01929&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FRG_7wIdHR-r-A&split=0&hq=&hnear=Lougheed+Hwy+&ll=49.266464,-123.003793&spn=0.001701,0.004823&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=49.266468,-123.003971&panoid=iutsyegOsTTXYAUDWUHHZQ&cbp=12,336.68,,0,6.2 (street view, wait for it to finish loading)

The front of the building is now done and the hoarding is removed, but the windows in each unit are still covered up.

[SpongeG]

From what I have heard, No Frills would open and Supervalu would close, then they would begin the transition of turning the Supervalu into a larger Shoppers Drug Mart. Not sure what will be going in where Shoppers is currently but I would imagine it would just turn into 1 or 2 more units.

I've been meaning to get update on the progress of this so if I hear anything I will pass it along.

cool thanks - the reno is looking good there - i bet a tim hortons will open up in there

[SpongeG]

I saw a sign for a Fatburger at Lougheed Highway and Willingdon Ave in Burnaby today. The front door was open - it looks like it's nearly done. I don't recognize the sign so I think they must have just put it up. It's right beside the Petro-Canada in the small lot they are redeveloping beside the larger new construction (Reflections?).

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Lougheed+Hwy+%26+Willingdon+Ave,+Burnaby,+Greater+Vancouver+Regional+District,+British+Columbia,+Canada&sll=49.317354,-122.852165&sspn=0.006798,0.01929&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FRG_7wIdHR-r-A&split=0&hq=&hnear=Lougheed+Hwy+&ll=49.266464,-123.003793&spn=0.001701,0.004823&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=49.266468,-123.003971&panoid=iutsyegOsTTXYAUDWUHHZQ&cbp=12,336.68,,0,6.2 (street view, wait for it to finish loading)

The front of the building is now done and the hoarding is removed, but the windows in each unit are still covered up.

nice that area needed something like that - well my office used to be there - it would have been popular

[phesto]

I'm new to this forum, but find it pretty bold that someone is asking where I heard about something. My brother's girlfriend's sister's friend...is a psychic and read it in the cards!

They're looking to sublease.

Didn't mean to prod, only curious if this was inside info or public (ie. in the news).

FYI - they own the building, so would not be subleasing...;)

[Shibuya]

nice that area needed something like that - well my office used to be there - it would have been popular

Sadly no Horton's will be headed in there. Fat Burger, a sushi restaurant and 2 other spaces... Can't recall what they will be.

The building beside it is Commerce at Citi.

[GeeCee]

Sadly no Horton's will be headed in there. Fat Burger, a sushi restaurant and 2 other spaces... Can't recall what they will be.

The building beside it is Commerce at Citi.

I think SpongeG was referring to the Como Lake Village Shopping Centre or whatever it's called, in Coquitlam, rather than that space in Burnaby. :)

There's a mini-Tim's in the Esso at that intersection, I think..

[SpongeG]

yes i was trhinking of como lake - lougheed willingdon has more than enough tim hortons

[Shibuya]

yes i was trhinking of como lake - lougheed willingdon has more than enough tim hortons

Oh god how I would love a Hortons in Como Lake. It seems like the perfect spot just not sure how the city feels about drive throughs.

[entheosfog]

Speaking of Tim Hortons, that one on Terminal is getting glass installed already. It'll be open in no time!

[nova9]

Did anyone catch the AWESOME Tim Horton's scene on last night's How I Met Your Mother!!!! Haha.

Add with yet another cameo by the Canucks jersey, is why I love that show.

[SpongeG]

new NO FRILLS opened - its very plain had some cheap food though - quite busy too - I don't know how it compares to the SuperValu as I only ever went there about twice

[GeeCee]

does it have a bakery? superstore bakery stuff is usually pretty good..

[SpongeG]

i don't know i didn't look there - possibly

[Denscity]

Whats the deal with No Frills? Is it better/worse or just somehow different than Extra Foods? Our Extra Foods here in Castlegar is rumoured to be changing over to a No Frills? Are we stepping down a notch?

[SpongeG]

yes - I noticed there was no music - I don't know if thats common or just not installed? perhaps one of the "no frills"

its pretty bare - the store feels like more warehouse and not homey at all

I think this is the second one - there is a no frills on Denman street - it took over the Extra Foods - seems like they are spreading over from Ontario where they are quite well established

overall its not bad and it does feel a little less than Extra Food - so perhaps a step down

[NewfBC]

Whats the deal with No Frills? Is it better/worse or just somehow different than Extra Foods? Our Extra Foods here in Castlegar is rumoured to be changing over to a No Frills? Are we stepping down a notch?

http://shopnofrills.ca

Ron.

[tGill]

yes - I noticed there was no music - I don't know if thats common or just not installed? perhaps one of the "no frills"

its pretty bare - the store feels like more warehouse and not homey at all

I think this is the second one - there is a no frills on Denman street - it took over the Extra Foods - seems like they are spreading over from Ontario where they are quite well established

overall its not bad and it does feel a little less than Extra Food - so perhaps a step down
no frills and extra foods are both the discount chains for Loblaws, perhaps extra foods as a brand is being phased out, just like SuperValu (there are a few left) was phased out to extrafoods, and real canadian superstore was created as the loblaws megastore.

[SpongeG]

Pulse Nightclub is gone!!! its now called The Junction Public House and its not a gay bar anymore - its for everyone - its been painted too - must have been in the last week - it was Pulse last time i saw it

[wrenegade]

Aritzia in Pacific Centre will now open in December, not November. I was walking through the mall the other day and saw a guy replacing the signs on the hoarding. Thought it was kinda funny. Anyways, cutting it pretty close for Christmas! edit: nevermind, I guess they can just walk downstairs and shop there.

[SpongeG]

was in HMV today they have rearranged their store - all music is basically on the second floor now - the main floor is pretty wide open now - the plan is for most of the main floor to become another store? is that what I read here somewhere... or will it be a store within a store sharing teh space with HMV?

anyway it seems better with all the music on the top floor - busier up there at least

[GeeCee]

Probably part of their effort to be known as less of a music store.. physical music sales are declining due to iTunes, etc. They'll probably have electronics / movies, etc on the main floor, though I am not familiar with the layout of that store in particular (assuming you mean the former Virgin store?).

[SpongeG]

yes - but somewhere on the forum someone mentioned that HMV was downsizing the store and another store was going to take up a chunk of the space - i can see how they can divide it up...

wil be interesting to see what happens with the corner

[LotusLand]

yes - but somewhere on the forum someone mentioned that HMV was downsizing the store and another store was going to take up a chunk of the space - i can see how they can divide it up...

wil be interesting to see what happens with the corner

They'll probably give up one of their floors or consolidate their 3 floors to one main floor. What I can see happening is the underground floor and the main floor being for HMV and the top floor going to another store. or the bottom floor goes to another retail outlet. Right now the basement floor is DVD, video games and books, posters etc... Main floor is music by category and the top floor is music but not of the mainstream variety and comic toys.

[danby]

Pulse Nightclub is gone!!! its now called The Junction Public House and its not a gay bar anymore - its for everyone - its been painted too - must have been in the last week - it was Pulse last time i saw it


It still looks very much like a gay bar to me when visiting their site.. they still will have go go boys and special drag king and queen nights.

Ill have to check it out soon!

[SpongeG]

They'll probably give up one of their floors or consolidate their 3 floors to one main floor. What I can see happening is the underground floor and the main floor being for HMV and the top floor going to another store. or the bottom floor goes to another retail outlet. Right now the basement floor is DVD, video games and books, posters etc... Main floor is music by category and the top floor is music but not of the mainstream variety and comic toys.

well they moved all their music upstairs and their main floor is almost empty its very sparse at the moment with books and their DVD deals and 2 for $20 CD's kinda stuff

it looks like they will keep the burrard entrance and can block off most of the main floor giving the main floor the robson entrance

[officedweller]

That makes sense - they can get the most rent for the big display windows on the corner and HMV can survive as a big box without windows. That's the best thing that HMV did when it took over from Virgin - opened up the display windows on the corner that Virgin had walled-off.

[David]

Weird... I went in to HMV on Saturday night, and I noticed that the main floor had been completely re-arranged with new displays and everything (the rows were no longer the long lived diagonal layout, but were a simpler horizontal layout), and they were in the process of re-stocking the re-arranged displays with CDs on the main floor. From what it sounds like SpongeG is saying, that arrangement has been completely abandoned since then... maybe they're just testing new layouts for the store rather than preparing for a new one to take over part of it?

[LotusLand]

Haven't been there in a while, thanks for the update sponge :) Hmm perhaps we could see the much rumoured Apple store move in there :D

[Shibuya]

Haven't been there in a while, thanks for the update sponge :) Hmm perhaps we could see the much rumoured Apple store move in there :D

I'd love a flagship Apple store in Downtown Vancouver but if they have two smaller format locations already in Vancouver, I can't see them opening one without closing the Pacific Centre location... which is far too small for the amount of traffic it gets.

Fingers crossed that it happens at some point. Perhaps at Jameson now that it is back up and running?

[Yume-sama]

How high is foot traffic around the Jameson site? I wouldn't think high enough to be ideal.

[Shibuya]

How high is foot traffic around the Jameson site? I wouldn't think high enough to be ideal.

True, but I had heard they were looking there back when the project first started. Probably just a rumor, but I wouldn't think they would need to be directly on Robson or anything like that. Apple would bring people where ever they went. It certainly would be interesting if they did go there. Apple is so particular with their requirments that even if they find the area they want, they have to be sure they are able to create the "Apple look" in the space.

[SpongeG]

Weird... I went in to HMV on Saturday night, and I noticed that the main floor had been completely re-arranged with new displays and everything (the rows were no longer the long lived diagonal layout, but were a simpler horizontal layout), and they were in the process of re-stocking the re-arranged displays with CDs on the main floor. From what it sounds like SpongeG is saying, that arrangement has been completely abandoned since then... maybe they're just testing new layouts for the store rather than preparing for a new one to take over part of it?

I was there on sunday - sounds the same as what you saw but its much more sparse and doesn't feel permanent - the window area is just books and the rest seems like filler which used to rotate around the store

anyway I'll try find what someone on here wrote about the main floor being divided up so a new retailer can move in unless the person who wrote it can update it

[LeftCoaster]

yes - but somewhere on the forum someone mentioned that HMV was downsizing the store and another store was going to take up a chunk of the space - i can see how they can divide it up...

wil be interesting to see what happens with the corner

That was me who mentioned that. The plans are still there, and related to the empty floors above (the old Planet Hollywood). When and if they are going to go ahead with it I do not know anymore though, but as of late summer it was still very much a project that was going to go ahead.

[SpongeG]

ic - seems like HMV is making way now for it to happen than - they have moved a lot of their stuff around in prep It seems

also - Murale opens this week in Oakridge Centre - first one for Vancouver

[SpongeG]

Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation to open first Murale store in Vancouver

New beauty destination offers access to global beauty brands and an
elevated level of beauty expertise

TORONTO, Oct. 26 /CNW/ - On Thursday, October 29th, 2009, Shoppers Drug Mart will unveil its innovative and exciting new retail beauty store, Murale, in Vancouver with a media preview and VIP customer event. The store opens to the public on Friday, October 30th, 2009 in Oakridge Centre. The beauty store will feature an unprecedented assortment of luxury, dermatological, fragrance and niche brands from around the world.

"We've brought the best in beauty brands and expertise together in this fantastic new beauty destination," said Jurgen Schreiber, President and CEO of Shoppers Drug Mart. "Murale is unlike any other beauty offering in North America with its unique combination of leading beauty and dermatological products and professional, expert services and consultation."

Upon entering the store, customers will be delighted by the assortment of leading global luxury prestige cosmetics brands including Bobbi Brown, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Estée Lauder, Lancome, Stila and Nars, among others, each with their own area for interactivity and application. The store's fragrance section includes over 75 men's and women's scents from fragrance houses and designers like Prada, Donna Karan, Chloé, Cartier and Etat Libre d'Orange. Offering personalized and unbiased beauty advice, Murale Beauty Masters will assist customers in finding cosmetics and fragrances suited to their needs and also provide expert makeup applications.

Murale's sophisticated dermatological area is equipped with professional assessment tools and the latest in topical treatments and nutra-cosmetics. With an assortment that delivers excellence in skin care, Murale will feature trusted and innovative brands like Natura Bissé, Vichy, Dr. Brandt, June Jacobs, and Darphin. Murale's professional skin care team, comprised of the store's Beauty Masters and an Aesthetician, is focused on personalized consultation.

"Murale is a truly unique experience that promises to delight, surprise and inspire everyone to find their own beautiful," says Shelley Rozenwald, President, Murale. "We've travelled the globe to create the finest assortment and we're thrilled to bring these beauty discoveries and treasures to the Vancouver market." In addition to leading products, expert consultation and advice, Murale will also offer unique services including a Benefit Brow Bar and professional beauty consultations.

Elegant and contemporary, Murale's design is inviting and allows customers the opportunity to touch, feel and discover the extensive range of beauty products, as well as interact with the store's experts. The first Murale stores opened in Ottawa and Montreal at the end of the 2008 followed by additional locations in Toronto and Calgary this fall. The Company plans to open one additional location this year in Ottawa. More information on Murale, and the brands and services within, can be found at www.murale.ca.

On October 29th, 2009, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, media will have the opportunity to preview the new Vancouver store located at Oakridge Centre, 650 West 41st Avenue.

Shelley Rozenwald, President of Murale, and Tammy Smitham, Director of Communications and Affairs, Shoppers Drug Mart, will be available for interviews. Following the media preview beginning at noon, invited VIP customers will have the opportunity to experience the new store. Tammy Smitham will be available for interviews at the store until 6pm.

http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/October2009/26/c9726.html

[Blake]

I have to say, Shoppers continues to impress me.

In only about 2 years they've gone from completely irrelevant (to me) to top of mind when I need the essentials.

Friendly staff, beautiful stores, great locations with convenient access and great prices.

Whoever runs this company should win Executive of the Year.

[GeeCee]

I wish they would split their fragrance department in SDMs into Murale on the whole.. walking into that gross mixture of smells grosses me out immediately upon walking in the door.

[SpongeG]

all the new stores are set up so you are forced to walk through it too

I must admit they have some good deals and my cupboard is full of their paper towel cause it goes on sale for 69 cents

[Vancity]

Shoppers has good prices.

There's one on No.5 and Cambie St, in Richmond ;)

[twoNeurons]

I have to say, Shoppers continues to impress me.

In only about 2 years they've gone from completely irrelevant (to me) to top of mind when I need the essentials.

Friendly staff, beautiful stores, great locations with convenient access and great prices.

Whoever runs this company should win Executive of the Year.

Yeah, they're prices are MUCH better than what they used to be. They also easily have THE Best rewards program out there. If you're a careful shopper, there are great savings to be had, especially when you shop during their 30x or 40x points times.

[twoNeurons]

no frills and extra foods are both the discount chains for Loblaws, perhaps extra foods as a brand is being phased out, just like SuperValu (there are a few left) was phased out to extrafoods, and real canadian superstore was created as the loblaws megastore.

Extra Foods is their small format store. They're essentially the same as superstore. For some reason, I don't mind Extra Foods... but don't like Superstore.

There's one on Fraser Highway which was opened up a few years ago.

Friendly staff, they actually bad your groceries ( unlike self-service superstore ) and I don't think they charged for bags. Though that may have changed.

I can't stand ANY massive grocery stores, but I have a particular disdain for Superstore...

They tend to have bad produce and meat
They attract the budget asian shopper. I have seen some of these peel corn in the store, leaving the husks there... presumably to not have to pay for the extra weight.
According to a friend who's husband is a Loblaws exec, they targetted this demographic early on because they were less "brand" conscious ) They now have mindshare in the Asian community as the "cheapest" place to shop.
They never have enough tellers, creating line-ups
They're huge and force you to go through the whole store to get to basic things ( I realize that all grocery stores do this, by putting dairy, bread and meat on opposite corners of the store )
They're only open until 10PM, even though they're usually busy until 9:59. I can only imagine this is a cost cutting measure and a way to ensure the store is always busy.

[trofirhen]

Imagine if Vancouver had one VERY chic, high class shopping district (Yorkville in Toronto springs to mind) . . . where would it be?

Yorkville has things like Cumberland Terrace, Hazelton Lanes, and several complexes with courtyards, cappucino bars, and sleeker-than-sleek mini-malls with all the top names, like Gucci, Balmain, Givenchy and so forth.

Is Vancouver big enough, and wealthy enough, to support a truly ultra-elegant shopping district? We have some very smart stores, but they are sprinkled here and there, often next to a hamburger joint or video arcade (well.... almost)

Any thoughts on this? Maybe we're not big enough for it yet. Or are we? :rolleyes:

[wrenegade]

I don't know that we're big enough yet, but there are sorta two groupings right now. One, down by Howe/Horbny & Hastings with Boss, Escada, Cartier (and more) and the other on Alberni, from the Hotel Van (Louis Vutton, Snowflake, and Fendi?) to the Shangri-La. Hermes, Coach, Betsy Johnson, Tiffany, Burberry, Agent Provocateur, Blubird and Brooks Brothers are all there. Urban Tea Merchant is moving into the old Canadian Forces recruiting space in the Grosvenor building. Obviously not all of those are really high end, but I could see that street moving that way. With the Ritz hopefully going in as well as a new office tower across from Shangri-La in the future, hopefully there is more of that draw. There is huge vacancy on the west end right now with at least 10,000 sq. ft. in the Carlyle unoccupied on the 2nd floor and underground (that one will be tough to fill), and ~4,000 sq. ft in the old Ritz presentation centre/Comor space. Alberni has the most potential, but the Carlyle building and the ugly parkade are definitely holding it back.

With the all the hotels down at the waterfront though, I still think there will be that draw around where Cartier is.

[ozonemania]

I see potential at Alberni and Thurlow, when they get rid of that concrete abomination. People have mentioned office tower there, which is an excellent use. But a multi-level upscale retail a la Ginza would be pretty cool too.

[vanlaw]

Imagine if Vancouver had one VERY chic, high class shopping district (Yorkville in Toronto springs to mind) . . . where would it be?

Yorkville has things like Cumberland Terrace, Hazelton Lanes, and several complexes with courtyards, cappucino bars, and sleeker-than-sleek mini-malls with all the top names, like Gucci, Balmain, Givenchy and so forth.

Is Vancouver big enough, and wealthy enough, to support a truly ultra-elegant shopping district? We have some very smart stores, but they are sprinkled here and there, often next to a hamburger joint or video arcade (well.... almost)

Any thoughts on this? Maybe we're not big enough for it yet. Or are we? :rolleyes:

If we were thinking outsode of the downtown core (as yorkville is outside of the main business core in TO) I would say south Granville 6th -16th.

[trofirhen]

I see potential at Alberni and Thurlow, when they get rid of that concrete abomination. People have mentioned office tower there, which is an excellent use. But a multi-level upscale retail a la Ginza would be pretty cool too.

Yes, that's a potentially chic area.
What concrete abomination are you referring to?
(I ask this because there are several right around there)
Thanks

[Smooth]

If we were thinking outsode of the downtown core (as yorkville is outside of the main business core in TO) I would say south Granville 6th -16th.

That area came to mind for me too as the closest to a Yorkville equivalent.

Doesn't Yorkville have a pretty big mall just to the South of the high end shops? I wonder if a large retail development would ever be built near Granville & Broadway. That would provide some larger anchor tenants do draw people to that shopping region.

[vanlaw]

That area came to mind for me too as the closest to a Yorkville equivalent.

Doesn't Yorkville have a pretty big mall just to the South of the high end shops? I wonder if a large retail development would ever be built near Granville & Broadway. That would provide some larger anchor tenants do draw people to that shopping region.

Manulife Place on bloor/bay?

[officedweller]

Yorkville property has Hazelton Lanes - it expanded back in the early 90s and then lost its cache because of it.
Yeah, Manulife is across Bloor I think it links up to a n underground mall under Holt Renfrew too that eventually connects to The Bay at Yonge & Bloor.

**********

I don't mind Superstore - the worst part is the line-ups.

They pioneered the 3 cent plastic bag (now 5 cents) before it was enviro-trendy to do so.
Their President's Choice house brands are very good quality (also @ Extra Foods) - but maybe Extra Foods doesn't have the housewares.

WRT produce they have pretty high turnover so the produce is usually fresh. They also bring in giant bins of fruit when its in season (i.e. apples that haven't been coated in wax and stored in cold storage for 6 months). They just had big bins of POM-brand pomegranates for $1.48 each.

Superstore (in Vancouver, anyways) is now open til 11:00 pm because Wal-Mart Supercentre (on Grandview) is open til 11:00pm.

BTW - anyone else notice that Wal-Mart has motion sensors on all of its freezer compartments - the lights stay off until someone walks in fromt of them. Haven't seen that in any other stores. The lighting level in the store is quite low as well.

The Wal-Mart Supercentre has an instore bakery and pretty inexpensive specialty breads (i.e. rye bread - pretty dense and I think $2.99).

[Yume-sama]

I do really like most PC Brand products, and PC Brand Blue Menu (the healthy version..) is really good!

But yes, I do not buy anything at Superstore that does not come in a can or box. Their meat makes one want to become a vegetarian.

I am pretty sure they get the "left overs" that other stores reject :P

"Is ground chicken supposed to be brown / purple? I don't know, let's sell it to Superstore..."

[SpongeG]

Extra Foods is their small format store. They're essentially the same as superstore. For some reason, I don't mind Extra Foods... but don't like Superstore.

There's one on Fraser Highway which was opened up a few years ago.

Friendly staff, they actually bad your groceries ( unlike self-service superstore ) and I don't think they charged for bags. Though that may have changed.

I can't stand ANY massive grocery stores, but I have a particular disdain for Superstore...

They tend to have bad produce and meat
They attract the budget asian shopper. I have seen some of these peel corn in the store, leaving the husks there... presumably to not have to pay for the extra weight.
According to a friend who's husband is a Loblaws exec, they targetted this demographic early on because they were less "brand" conscious ) They now have mindshare in the Asian community as the "cheapest" place to shop.
They never have enough tellers, creating line-ups
They're huge and force you to go through the whole store to get to basic things ( I realize that all grocery stores do this, by putting dairy, bread and meat on opposite corners of the store )
They're only open until 10PM, even though they're usually busy until 9:59. I can only imagine this is a cost cutting measure and a way to ensure the store is always busy.


extra foods now charges for bags - but they still bag it for you
superstore is open until 11 pm now - since walm-art changed its hours to 11 pm

I agree though superstore is pretty gross at times but i live close to all 3 no frills, extra foods and superstore and most of the time i go to superstore - usually cause they have the bank machines and some of the prices are cheaper - i always buy this one juice the same kind - presidents choice - its $2.89 at superstore and $3.49 at extra foods :shrug: but usually the prices match up :koko:

as for high end - I think its getting better but we did have a lot more in the early 90's - across from the VAG there was romeo gigli, versus, etc, chanel was on burrard, valentino, fendi, furla were on burrard - most moved or closed down

Robson used to have Polo Ralph Lauren than they moved to gastown and shut down a few years later :(

if anyplace could become a hazelton lanes I think sinclair centre would be the best - other than escada and leone its mostly crappy nothing retail - most could be replaced by some better brands and with the canada line connection it would be great for richmond shoppers

[SpongeG]

BTW - anyone else notice that Wal-Mart has motion sensors on all of its freezer compartments - the lights stay off until someone walks in fromt of them. Haven't seen that in any other stores. The lighting level in the store is quite low as well.



the price smart foods on north road has freezers that do that too - i think its going to become more common

[delboy]

Yes, that's a potentially chic area.
What concrete abomination are you referring to?
(I ask this because there are several right around there)
Thanks

He must be referring to the above ground parkade (there is a mcdonalds at ground level - real eyesore. There are still a few around downtown - real relics from the seventies when everything seemed to be about function and not form - very, very ugly.

[GeeCee]

He must be referring to the above ground parkade (there is a mcdonalds at ground level - real eyesore. There are still a few around downtown - real relics from the seventies when everything seemed to be about function and not form - very, very ugly.

Link to parkade in question from Street View:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Thurlow+St+%26+Alberni+St,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver+Regional+District,+British+Columbia,+Canada&sll=49.271803,-123.100235&sspn=0.001295,0.003484&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FeYI8AIdBkip-A&split=0&hq=&hnear=Thurlow+St+&ll=49.285276,-123.123608&spn=0.010302,0.027874&z=16&layer=c&cbll=49.28535,-123.123706&panoid=uSbsQJantT-iWiEuuyv4jg&cbp=12,283.17,,0,-15.3

I don't think it's really that bad. Sure, the space could be utilized in a much better way but it doesn't really stick out to me as ugly.

[SpongeG]

compared to its neightbour to the north though...

[ozonemania]

Link to parkade in question from Street View:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Thurlow+St+%26+Alberni+St,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver+Regional+District,+British+Columbia,+Canada&sll=49.271803,-123.100235&sspn=0.001295,0.003484&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FeYI8AIdBkip-A&split=0&hq=&hnear=Thurlow+St+&ll=49.285276,-123.123608&spn=0.010302,0.027874&z=16&layer=c&cbll=49.28535,-123.123706&panoid=uSbsQJantT-iWiEuuyv4jg&cbp=12,283.17,,0,-15.3

I don't think it's really that bad. Sure, the space could be utilized in a much better way but it doesn't really stick out to me as ugly.

Yes delboy, that was the building I was referring to. It really is an awful building, although I can see that the building has done its best to integrate with the street. You look at the side facing Alberni, and it's just a 5 storey high concrete wall. I don't see how that is 'okay' considering that this is a prime retail location, and across the street from a development like the Shangri-la. Sure, it would be fine leaving as is, but it's not really a best use of land and market forces are putting pressure on this lot to be redeveloped. It is located on the #2 most expensive retail rental strip in Canada.

I think a building with a 5 to 7 story height (or, an office tower with a 5 to 7 story podium) for retail and restaurants would be nice there. Faced with glass you can see the interior of all the shops from the street. At night lighting would further showcase the stores, and the stores would be open late! Could you see a Harrods, or Sogo, or Selfridges, Marks & Spencer, etc there? Maybe! What would be even neater is if the development had a pedestrian connection underground to the Shangri-la and then on to the Burrard Skytrain via the Royal Centre. I know, pretty wild, eh?

[Rusty Gull]

check out superstore on mt seymour parkway... Really well managed, though still very busy. I find Superstore's prices superior to Extra Foods. I also like the Joe clothing brand.

Extra Foods is their small format store. They're essentially the same as superstore. For some reason, I don't mind Extra Foods... but don't like Superstore.

There's one on Fraser Highway which was opened up a few years ago.

Friendly staff, they actually bad your groceries ( unlike self-service superstore ) and I don't think they charged for bags. Though that may have changed.

I can't stand ANY massive grocery stores, but I have a particular disdain for Superstore...

They tend to have bad produce and meat
They attract the budget asian shopper. I have seen some of these peel corn in the store, leaving the husks there... presumably to not have to pay for the extra weight.
According to a friend who's husband is a Loblaws exec, they targetted this demographic early on because they were less "brand" conscious ) They now have mindshare in the Asian community as the "cheapest" place to shop.
They never have enough tellers, creating line-ups
They're huge and force you to go through the whole store to get to basic things ( I realize that all grocery stores do this, by putting dairy, bread and meat on opposite corners of the store )
They're only open until 10PM, even though they're usually busy until 9:59. I can only imagine this is a cost cutting measure and a way to ensure the store is always busy.

[SpongeG]

was at Oakridge today - the new Murale store is really nice - some of the wall lighting is really cool and they have a large video screen on the dead outside wall which looks cool - nice layout - definately good competition to Sephora plus you can use your optimum card and points at it and the mall itself was really busy - much busier than I've usually seen it - must be thanks to the Canada line... Zellers in particular was really busy, busier than I have ever seen it ever - also the apple store was really buzy, Quicksilver has shut down, Fossil opens soon though and Benetton now sells mens Clothing!


beard papa coming to robson and it will be next to JapaDog

and some pics

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/spongeg/november%202009/DSC06343.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/spongeg/november%202009/DSC06344.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/spongeg/november%202009/DSC06345.jpg

[djh]

was at Oakridge today - the new Murale store is really nice - some of the wall lighting is really cool and they have a large video screen on the dead outside wall which looks cool - nice layout - definately good competition to Sephora plus you can use your optimum card and points at it and the mall itself was really busy - much busier than I've usually seen it - must be thanks to the Canada line... Zellers in particular was really busy, busier than I have ever seen it ever - also the apple store was really buzy, Quicksilver has shut down, Fossil opens soon though and Benetton now sells mens Clothing!


beard papa coming to robson and it will be next to JapaDog




There's also a Beard Papa's going into City Square too (12th/Cambie). Saw it this weekend. I wouldn't have looked twice had it not been for all the raving on this forum about the place. Now I'll have to go and try it out once it opens...

[quobobo]

I think that's been open for a while.

[Yume-sama]

Holy crap. A beard papas too?! That corner will be like Japan Central :P

That's amazing :D!

Though, I wonder, how long do you think these will be there? Something tells me they might only be there for the Olympics when it'll be a pedestrian only thing going on down there. I thought all of those storefronts would be demolished and re-developed to be more "modern" like the rest of the street.

[Rusty Gull]

^I actually hope those old buildings stay. They are refreshing in contrast to all of the sleek glass and steel elsewhere. But you're probably right -- they'll probably be razed at some point.

By the way, that area will now defy the old stereotype that Japanese food is healthy for you! A JapaDog/Beard Papa lunch makes a trip to McD's look positively healthy by comparison!

[Yume-sama]

^I actually hope those old buildings stay. They are refreshing in contrast to all of the sleek glass and steel elsewhere. But you're probably right -- they'll probably be razed at some point.

By the way, that area will now defy the old stereotype that Japanese food is healthy for you! A JapaDog/Beard Papa lunch makes a trip to McD's look positively healthy by comparison!

:sly: Don't you dare try telling me creampuffs and *Japanese* hot dogs are unhealthy.

I'm on a diet, and they will be part of it! :whip: :haha:

[SpongeG]

beard papa - had them once they are pretty good - metrotown has one its seems to be quite busy, there is also one opening in Surrey Central City

[Rusty Gull]

I think one creampuff has about 220 calories, so it's probably not a lot worse than Tim Hortons.

On an unrelated note, I had to do a doubletake, but it looks like Marine Drive in North Van is going to get a Thrifty Foods. At least their logo was on a development site sign I saw there. It's about time that Thrifty Food starts having a bigger presence in the Lower Mainland.