[Conrad Yablonski]

I had a chance to check out the Liquidation World on Bridgeport in the old RONA location. Pretty disappointing stuff in terms of merchandise.
That kind of place can be great if you go on a regular basis but unless you live nearby......

There used to be one on Clark Drive that I stopped into regularly coming home from work, all kinds of parking easy access and once in a while I scored big-I mean 2 litre jars of Bicks Dill pickles for $0.99/ea! :cheers:

I wonder what they could put in the arbutus location and make it last - trader joes would be amazing there but they aren't coming to canada ever
Parking is nothing short of a giant PITA @ that place, it was designed for an age when there were a lot less cars than now.

[hollywoodnorth]

trader joes never stated they will NOT come to Canada. it's just NOT a priority right now. They will be here eventually. once you max out the USA you need to snag that easy extra 10% up north. Target is coming ... Lowes is here, etc etc.

[SpongeG]

i kinda hope they don't its my little secret store :)

[hollywoodnorth]

i kinda hope they don't its my little secret store :)

haha ;)

I hear ya if they were in Vancouver I would rape that store So bad I would almost feel bad for it ;)

[SpongeG]

i bought a bunch of stuff there on saturday they had 75% off lots of christmas stuff - like chocolates and cookies :P

speaking of retail when did the future shop on scott road move to that new location near the Canada tire? and their old location is becoming a Shoppers Drug Mart

[officedweller]

A&P? Wow. Never knew they were out west.

[SpikePhanta]

Escada on thurlow is open.


Robson isn't that crazy filled with x-mas shoppers. It seems that the downtown shopping is mostly done now at pacific centre.

[Conrad Yablonski]

Robson isn't that crazy filled with x-mas shoppers. It seems that the downtown shopping is mostly done now at pacific centre.
Granville Island Market, often a refuge for last minute shoppers, is on the quiet side I was there two days in a row only Terra Breads doing a steady business.

[sacrifice333]

More on Meinhardt's Arbutus Store:

http://www.maynards.com/media/Meinhardt_web%20graphic_NEW.jpg

Too bad. I hope they can keep things going with the Granville store. I guess the fact is even rich people make the treks to Superstore & Costco. :(

[SpongeG]

poor location - i wonder if they could have done better if they located on west 41st in kerrisdale - that area gets a lot of foot traffic - and i think thats the reason why granville street does well enough it has the casual passersby who will pop in - the arbutus location was sort of only good if u knew it was there and could find parking

[SpikePhanta]

Granville Island Market, often a refuge for last minute shoppers, is on the quiet side I was there two days in a row only Terra Breads doing a steady business.

What about the kid's market?
I know lots of people go there for last minute toy ideas.

[nname]

It is confirmed that the new NCIX stores in Coquitlam and Richmond (Sea Island Way) will be opening on Boxing Day.

[SpongeG]

nice - i drove by yesterday they were working in a flurry at the coquitlam location

[whatnext]

It is confirmed that the new NCIX stores in Coquitlam and Richmond (Sea Island Way) will be opening on Boxing Day.

Is that the old RONA location, will they be sharing with Liquidation World?

[teriyaki]

Is that the old RONA location, will they be sharing with Liquidation World?

Looks like they're taking over the old Compu2000 space at the mall across from Liquidation World. Was wondering what they would do with their lease there.

[AdrianT]

Kinda funny...they moved from Union Square to Aberdeen and now another location just a minute drive from their old location...at Union Square.

[hollywoodnorth]

Is that the old RONA location, will they be sharing with Liquidation World?

http://ncix.com/promo/promosale.php?webid=BoxingDayInStore2010

wow with the 2 new Ontario stores this has been a HUGE year for NCIX!

[SpongeG]

some pics - all by me

new michael kors signage...

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/285/dsc01637gr.jpg

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/4976/dsc01638r.jpg

Escada
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/3018/dsc01663od.jpg

pacific centre was insane - this part particularly very hard to move
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1285/dsc01657ju.jpg

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/623/dsc01658jw.jpg

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8319/dsc01659u.jpg

http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/7923/dsc01661e.jpg

100's were lined up for Hollister - i don't know why the deals were the same last week 40% off the entire store - they had last week

[Yume-sama]

How have that many people not heard of the internet *_*

I didn't do any shopping on Boxing Day this year, all the deals sucked :(

[SpikePhanta]

The electronic deals did suck, but some stores had some nice deals.
I saved around 300+ today on clothes only though, Eb games, Futureshop and bestbuy all had the shittyest deals ever, even Walmart beats them.

[Van23H]

hey does anyone know what is going into the space adjacent to Escada? I was told by the leasing agent that Mont Blanc was seriously looking into leasing the space, but I was not sure they ended up leasing it.

[LotusLand]

hey does anyone know what is going into the space adjacent to Escada? I was told by the leasing agent that Mont Blanc was seriously looking into leasing the space, but I was not sure they ended up leasing it.

Blenz Coffee mmm love their hot chocolates

[SpikePhanta]

hey does anyone know what is going into the space adjacent to Escada? I was told by the leasing agent that Mont Blanc was seriously looking into leasing the space, but I was not sure they ended up leasing it.
Another poster a few pages back said that its going to be Starbucks.


Blenz Coffee mmm love their hot chocolates

My favorite is the belgian white hot chocolates

[nova9]

I overheard this and I think it can't possibly be true. But I wanted to ask about the possibility of it happening or if it was ever considered - a Holt Renfrew moving into the current Zellers space at Oakridge. I would love it but as I heard it from a member of the public, I assume it's just wishful thinking.

[dreambrother808]

:previous:

The GTA has 4. Could Vancouver not support another?

[SpongeG]

it could be good to house Nordstrom who is rumoured to be scouting for a location in Vancouver - but its a little small for them

[LotusLand]

Another poster a few pages back said that its going to be Starbucks.

I talked to a worker at the site, they confirmed that Blenz Coffee is going in there :)

My favorite is the belgian white hot chocolates
My fave is their belgian milk hot chocolate or their matcha green tea lattes so yum especially compared to the other guys.

[whatnext]

I see Macdonald Realty has opened that rare sight in Vancouver, a storefront realty office, on Main Street. I always wondered they are so common in the UK, but not here.:shrug:

http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/yy177/Whatnext2010/Vancouver/macrealty.jpg

(my photo)

[SpongeG]

those are everywhere - mostly in malls i guess but maybe more common in the suburbs

[djh]

I see Macdonald Realty has opened that rare sight in Vancouver, a storefront realty office, on Main Street. I always wondered they are so common in the UK, but not here.:shrug:

http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/yy177/Whatnext2010/Vancouver/macrealty.jpg

(my photo)

They're not common here because once a realtor's sold you a leaky condo they don't want to ever see you again...:D :D :D

[whatnext]

They're not common here because once a realtor's sold you a leaky condo they don't want to ever see you again...:D :D :D

Too true!

I was downtown today and noticed Macdonald has also opened a storefront office on Howe, beside the old Bosmans Motor Inn. So this must be a new strategy for them. I wonder if it will spread to other realtors?

[NewfBC]

Too true!

I was downtown today and noticed Macdonald has also opened a storefront office on Howe, beside the old Bosmans Motor Inn. So this must be a new strategy for them. I wonder if it will spread to other realtors?

That's been there for years.

Ron.

[SpongeG]

No Frills has signs up for a hiring fair for their new store on broadway near cambie

the "H&M" space at metrotown is all empty again - the furniture store that was there is gone maybe they will start work on the store now

the new banana republic at mtown looks quite nice quite the departure from the last look of the store

[Conrad Yablonski]

No Frills has signs up for a hiring fair for their new store on broadway near cambie....
They are going to Kick Ass in that 'hood.

[SpikePhanta]

There opening a tim hortans in royal centre next to the entrance to the burrard station.

Metrotown is becoming quite the mall, basically now there is traffic in all areas.
The area with not that much foot traffic is the south wing near zellers, the G and UP levels.
The north end wasnt doing so well but HM and XXI helps the area.
Also the old entertainment. zone is dead at times.

[SpongeG]

another tim hortons in royal centre? wow

[ryanmaccdn]

There opening a tim hortans in royal centre next to the entrance to the burrard station.

Metrotown is becoming quite the mall, basically now there is traffic in all areas.
The area with not that much foot traffic is the south wing near zellers, the G and UP levels.
The north end wasnt doing so well but HM and XXI helps the area.
Also the old entertainment. zone is dead at times.

It's a big mall... but by no means is it a good mall. They really shot themselves in the foot adding T&T and Superstore. And also ditching the old Metropolis tenants and theme.

It's pretty bad in terms of lack of decent stores.

Where is?

H&M (on the way but really? took them till 2010)
Anthropologie
Urban Outfitters
Bath and Body Works
Express
Hollister
Abercrombie & Fitch
Crate and Barrel
Michael Kors
The Limited
Williams & Senoma
Victoria's Secret
Wet Seal
Aerie
Apple Store
Cold Stone
Marble Slab
Disney Store (used to have)
Hot Topic
Restoration Hardware

Also back in the day I remember finding parking on weekends basically impossible..now it's really easy.

PS. It also has shitty anchor tenants.

Zellers (puke)
Sears ( not updated since 1960)
The Bay ( awkwardly in transition)
Chatpers ( irrelevant now)

Why not?

Sears (updated)
Best Buy
Lord & Taylor
Nordstroms ( looking at entering Canada)

Sigh.

[SpongeG]

MNG Mango is supposed to open there in 2011

i've heard that a lot of crappy tenants have long leases and as they have been expiring they have not been getting their leases renewed so that the retailers - many in your list - can get the space - mariposa might not be what it used to be but its surprising that they got booted out - obviously to make room for H&M

Miss Sixty/Energie replaced some dull hair salon or nail place i think

[officedweller]

the new banana republic at mtown looks quite nice quite the departure from the last look of the store

I remember seeing ads in the papers about "the best Banana Republic in the world" and wondering what the hype was about.

[hollywoodnorth]

I hear Hot Topic will be in the lower mainland in time for X-Mas 2011 ;)

[SpikePhanta]

It's a big mall... but by no means is it a good mall. They really shot themselves in the foot adding T&T and Superstore. And also ditching the old Metropolis tenants and theme.

It's pretty bad in terms of lack of decent stores.

Where is?

H&M (on the way but really? took them till 2010)
Anthropologie
Urban Outfitters
Bath and Body Works
Express
Hollister
Abercrombie & Fitch
Crate and Barrel
Michael Kors
The Limited
Williams & Senoma
Victoria's Secret
Wet Seal
Aerie
Apple Store
Cold Stone
Marble Slab
Disney Store (used to have)
Hot Topic
Restoration Hardware

Also back in the day I remember finding parking on weekends basically impossible..now it's really easy.

PS. It also has shitty anchor tenants.

Zellers (puke)
Sears ( not updated since 1960)
The Bay ( awkwardly in transition)
Chatpers ( irrelevant now)

Why not?

Sears (updated)
Best Buy
Lord & Taylor
Nordstroms ( looking at entering Canada)

Sigh.

Best buy is just across the street.
To be fair, lots of those stores dont even have locations in the area.
And as SpongeG said, the leases kill them, but Superstore and T&T do attract a lot of people. And the old tenants of metropolis like TGIF and Playdium did move out themselves.

[twoNeurons]

T&T generates tonnes of traffic in that section of the mall.

[officedweller]

Yeah, just because a store isn't "trendy" or "upscale" doesn't mean it doesn't generate pedestrian traffic or revenue share for the landlord.

i.e. the retail unit occupied by London Drugs at Vancouver Centre is far far busier than it ever was as Birks Jewellers or as Bollum's Books or as Duthie's Books.

[nova9]

I remember seeing ads in the papers about "the best Banana Republic in the world" and wondering what the hype was about.

i really love it. though i won't hate to work in it for 6/8 hrs a shift. apparently, only a handful of Banana Republics got this renovation in North America in this 1st phase. In a few months/years, all other that can become that new format will look like the Metrotown one.

With regards to ryanmaccdn, I can understand the desire for 'better' stores. But Metrotown is our region's biggest mall, it has to have options for the majority of shoppers who in that area, will not be frequenting Lord & Taylor or Anthropologie. If anything, a lot of the ones on your list are stores I want to see opening downtown.

[whatnext]

Marketplace IGA in Fort Langley was destroyed by a huge fire this morning:
http://www.vancouversun.com/Photos+Huge+fire+destroys+MarketPlace+Fort+Langley/4058065/story.html

[ryanmaccdn]

i really love it. though i won't hate to work in it for 6/8 hrs a shift. apparently, only a handful of Banana Republics got this renovation in North America in this 1st phase. In a few months/years, all other that can become that new format will look like the Metrotown one.

With regards to ryanmaccdn, I can understand the desire for 'better' stores. But Metrotown is our region's biggest mall, it has to have options for the majority of shoppers who in that area, will not be frequenting Lord & Taylor or Anthropologie. If anything, a lot of the ones on your list are stores I want to see opening downtown.


My concern is its BC's biggest mall , and is a destination for many tourists. If anything it should have all of these brands to create a reason for people to visit the mall.

Metrotown used to be a destination mall..... it isn't anymore and I know alot of people in my family, and people close to us that won't touch the mall due to what it has become in terms of store selection and the people that shop there.

Stores like TnT/Superstore while driving strong business themselves don't help the mall... as I always see older women dragging groceries back and forth from the skytrain being a strong majority of its shoppers.

It's definitely not a customer they want..... it hurts the mall concept. You want a customer who while visiting whatever mall anchor will swing into American Eagle and pick up some jeans and a hoodie, and then grab a DVD at HMV.... ect.

And to the previous post about Vancouver Center and London Drugs... well that mall is so piss poorly managed they have to cling onto anything that can get customers in the door. I mean have you seen the marketing the mall uses to advertise itself... the girl has a hairy upper lip. Common.

[mezzanine]

Metrotown used to be a destination mall..... it isn't anymore

now that's an oxymoron from hell... If we ever get to the point where a shopping mall becomes the main cultural and economic draw for the metro vancouver area then i'm going to shoot myself.

An example I can think of that might be what you are suggesting as 'destination malls' in north amreica would be some of the spots in las vegas, like fashion show mall by the wynn or the miracle mile in planet hollywood, which in the end serves a very different demographic under a very different business model. and some spots in those malls are quite moribund anyway.

[phesto]

^Has Metrotown ever been a draw for tourists?

Regarding your dislike of the tenant mix, large landlords like Ivanhoe Cambridge know retail as well as anyone and want the hottest tenants in order to draw more traffic. The problem with a large enclosed shopping centre like Metrotown is that there is a hierarchy in space; new tenants aren’t just going to set up shop anywhere in the mall. That’s why you see some vacant spaces in some corners of the mall, but others simply change tenants without downtime.

Further to Officedweller’s point, almost all leases in an enclosed shopping centre like Metrotown are based on percentage rent, so the fact that a retailer is “new” or “cool” is really secondary to whether it can prove it will have gross sales revenue to justify its location in the mall. Conversely, these new tenants only want to be where they know they will have the traffic to justify their sales targets. So Urban Outfitters for example may have already looked at Metrotown and said it makes sense, but only if they can get such and such location within the mall.

It's hardly a matter of the mall 'overlooking' new tenancies and becoming stale.

[NetMapel]

Most foreigners (Friends and families from Asia) I introduce Metrotown to laugh when I said this is the biggest mall here. The mall is tiny when compared globally. So I wouldn't say Metrotown is a draw for tourists. They are generally more impressed by Robson street because it's different than malls that are commonly found throughout Asia.

[SpongeG]

starbucks has changed its logo they have completely removed their name :sly:

http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2011/01/05/PH2011010502687.jpg
In this undated product image provided by Starbucks, the company's new 40-year anniversary logo is seen on a cup at right. Other cups bearing the company's logo from over the years, from left, 1971, 1987, and 1992, are also shown. (AP Photo/Starbucks) NO SALES (AP)

[LotusLand]

Apparently The Corner Suite Bistro has closed

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2011/01/corner-suite-bistro-closed/

[Conrad Yablonski]

......the retail unit occupied by London Drugs at Vancouver Centre is far far busier than it ever was as Birks Jewellers or as Bollum's Books or as Duthie's Books.
Many, many, many, many times busier.

My concern is its BC's biggest mall , and is a destination for many tourists
Few tourists come to BC to visit shopping malls-my guess is that you've seen very little of BC or even the Lower Mainland to make a nonsensical post like that.

now that's an oxymoron from hell... If we ever get to the point where a shopping mall becomes the main cultural and economic draw for the metro vancouver area then i'm going to shoot myself.
Me next!

[twoNeurons]

Probably because they don't only sell coffee anymore. I wonder if they're going to expand into even more...

[twoNeurons]

Many, many, many, many times busier.


Few tourists come to BC to visit shopping malls-my guess is that you've seen very little of BC or even the Lower Mainland to make a nonsensical post like that.


Me next!

I think tourists go to metrotown because it's convenient and because it DOES have most of the stores that travelers want.

Your high-end customers go to special stand-alone stores which don't do as well in malls.

[SpongeG]

Probably because they don't only sell coffee anymore. I wonder if they're going to expand into even more...

in the states they are branching into alcohol after testing in seattle they are taking beer and wine offerings nationwide

[SpongeG]

I think tourists go to metrotown because it's convenient and because it DOES have most of the stores that travelers want.

Your high-end customers go to special stand-alone stores which don't do as well in malls.

I agree - most tourists want to spend at least one day shopping and most will go to metrotown - up until a couple years it was great because pacific centre sucked but pacific centre in the last few years has really become a prime shopping spot - metrotown has to catch up again

[officedweller]

starbucks has changed its logo they have completely removed their name :sly:

The logo looks top-heavy now. It would look more balanced with a border - even if it doesn't say Starbucks Coffee.

[phesto]

I agree - most tourists want to spend at least one day shopping and most will go to metrotown - up until a couple years it was great because pacific centre sucked but pacific centre in the last few years has really become a prime shopping spot - metrotown has to catch up again

I highly doubt that most tourists will have even heard of Metrotown when they leave, but most will have visited Robson Street.

Are there stats somewhere that show tourists are actually getting on Skytrain and going out to visit Metrotown to shop more than anywhere else? From experience most tourists do their shopping downtown/gastown or at the airport, that's about it.

[SpongeG]

when i have people from out of town i suggest we go there since its easy to get to and has most of what they will need

i am not talking about people who just show up here without any knowledge of a local

[Locked In]

The logo looks top-heavy now. It would look more balanced with a border - even if it doesn't say Starbucks Coffee.

The new logo looks a little washed out to me - needs some more contrast.

Probably better than the 1987 logo though... can't imagine why they ditched that one.

http://assets.starbucks.com/assets/5a106e41fe954581999566a4293ced89.jpg
Source: Starbucks (http://www.starbucks.com/preview)

[Yume-sama]

Jesus. It'll probably cost them $20 million just to re-brand the stores in Vancouver.

It'll forever change the look of every single block in this city! :P

[Spork]

Jesus. It'll probably cost them $20 million just to re-brand the stores in Vancouver.

It'll forever change the look of every single block in this city! :P

Back in 2007 when their website's store locator allowed you to find more than 10, they had 240 stores within 50 miles of downtown. It's gotta be over 300 by now, as I can probably count 15 that I've seen open around the lower mainland.

[mezzanine]

Apparently The Corner Suite Bistro has closed

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2011/01/corner-suite-bistro-closed/

Never got to try them, too bad.

That being said, paying $20,000 for your espresso maker adds significantly to your risk. the cost of those swank blue chairs alone were $21000.

And IIRC, wasn't there a significant delay in their opening?

The trick, as in any business, is to be as calculating as possible. A $138,000 bank loan coupled with $212,000 split between McGillivray and Da Cruz isn't going to go far: besides the $90,000 to purchase Saveur (a sum that includes everything from the stoves and furnishings to the existing lease and liquor licence), there's $25,766 for rent while under construction; $12,500 down on new kitchen equipment; $21,000 down on gorgeous blue Six Inch chairs from Belgium; $12,000 on tables; $7,250 down on a point-of-sale system; $18,000 for staff training; $16,000 for bar stock; $17,000 for food; $1,300 down for insurance; $3,800 for signage; $30,000 for painting, plumbing, electrical, sanding, plastering, and drywalling; and $15,886 for legal fees and computers and office supplies.
...
And then there's the three-and-a-half-foot-tall Victoria Arduino "Venus Century" espresso machine, the bar's centrepiece. It's the sixth of only 100 ever made (the first is owned by the Pope), and the only one in British Columbia. It's setting them back $21,000 ($5,250 down).


from a surprisingly revealing article from Vancouver magazine, prophetically titled "Are these guys nuts (http://www.vanmag.com/Restaurants/Are_These_Guys_Nuts?page=0%2C3)".

[Yume-sama]

I guess they were nuts. Young, and naive :P

Back in 2007 when their website's store locator allowed you to find more than 10, they had 240 stores within 50 miles of downtown. It's gotta be over 300 by now, as I can probably count 15 that I've seen open around the lower mainland.

Supposedly there are 70 in the Downtown Core, and well over 300 in the Lower Mainland.

Manhattan has only 171, so, per capita we have quite a ridiculous amount more :haha:

Apparently there are 964 locations in Tokyo. :sly:

[SpongeG]

some agency says 1 in 5 restaurants will close in 2011 a lot thanks to the HST and new drinking laws but i think its just theres just too many of them now it seems like one popular place will have closed and than staff from it splits off and they each open their own place

[Yume-sama]

Well, restaurants with owners who are financially irresponsible are the most likely to he hurt and close, just like everything else in life. They were in way over their heads with extravagance and $21,000 coffee machines. I've yet to see any hard evidence that restaurants are hurting because of HST, though I don't think it's entirely unreasonable, it just seems baseless without any stats.

[officedweller]

Jesus. It'll probably cost them $20 million just to re-brand the stores in Vancouver.

It'll forever change the look of every single block in this city! :P

Most of their signs say "STARBUCKS COFFEE" - I doubt those will change -the logo is often a separate smaller sign - those are the only ones that will need to be replaced.

Probably better than the 1987 logo though... can't imagine why they ditched that one.

I think the original Pike Place Market store still has the "spread eagle" logo.

[sacrifice333]

Yes... but they are experimenting quite a bit with un or limited branded stores. So we shall see.

Maybe Vancouver will just be filled with un-labelled generic coffee shops.

[SpongeG]

there was one SB logo before the 90's that had nipples and than the 1992 one eliminated them I remember it very clearly

[SpongeG]

a new restaurant... what space there is big enough to house this? is that indian restaurant shutting down? or is it opening in the capital? i'll just look at google maps

Articles: 50 New Jobs at Dunn's Famous - BC Flagship Restaurant
Dunn’s Famous - BC’s Restaurants and Sports Bars (specializing in authentic Montreal smoked meat) is opening their flagship bistro on Seymour and Robson in the Spring of 2011. Exciting times are ahead for local Yaletown and West End residents as well as hundreds of local businesses in the downtown core. Vancouverites David and Cindy Heaven own the BC franchise with the management team consisting of Francis Lo and Stuart Heaven. The franchise is committed to providing a Canadian-Style Appreciation to every patron, employee, and supplier, and to select charities. Before Christmas, DFBC donated over 100 food items to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.

The 150-seat restaurant and sports bar will open its doors at 827 Seymour Street (at Robson) in Vancouver. The flagship bistro will provide service from 6:00am to 2:00am - 7 days per week, with shortened hours on Sunday. The BC lifestyle menu will include select flavours from the local community (West Coast Vegetarian combinations, BC Salmon and Seafood plates, etc.).

The Dunn’s Famous franchise originated in Montreal, Quebec, in 1927. The chain of six restaurants in Quebec is represented by their mascot and pickle, Dillon Dunn.

http://www.wireservice.ca/index.php?module=News&func=display&sid=4216

[SpikePhanta]

Trying something unique in the restaurant industry is always a risk.
My family tried a new type of bistro in Gastown that only lasted 2-3 years.

@sponge
Maybe the thai place? Yume wouldnt be happy if the burrito place or india gate closed. :P

[Conrad Yablonski]

Dunn’s Famous - BC’s Restaurants and Sports Bars (specializing in authentic Montreal smoked meat).....The BC lifestyle menu will include select flavours from the local community (West Coast Vegetarian combinations, BC Salmon and Seafood plates, etc.).
Uh Yeah OK-can you say Confused and Confusing?

[SpongeG]

was out at Richmond Centre yesterday - the renos are done - the new hallway is open and a lot of the stores have opened - Forever 21 is still underway, a few empty spots - pretty small ones - the new Roots store is really small but so was the old location

they have a new take 5 cafe in the one area where the stores used to come out in that odd turn - near the apple store - they eliminated that dead end feeling and made the long walkway/hallway whatever you call it - goes to the renovated part nowwith take 5 taking up most of the former hallway area its quite nice overall

should be interesting to see what happens when the food court reno happens

[Yume-sama]

@sponge
Maybe the thai place? Yume wouldnt be happy if the burrito place or india gate closed. :P

That's the understatement of the year! It better be that thai place.

The address for Capitol is 833, 827 would be just beside it... I didn't think there was enough room.

Both Red Burrito and India Gate (and India Gate is past Granville) would have Robson Street addresses.

It could also be that "Time Frame" art / print store that's pretty large.

[officedweller]

So the Capitol Residences is 833 Seymour and Khai Thai has an address of 809 Seymour, then it's gotta be in The Capitol podium - maybe on the second floor accessed from the ground floor?

[Yume-sama]

I haven't heard anything about them even having retail space. I know some sort of music school is supposed to be going in~

[Built Form]

Here's a link to the Dunn's website confirming the addy is 827 Seymour St.

http://dunnsfamousbc.com

[Built Form]

The new logo looks a little washed out to me - needs some more contrast.

Probably better than the 1987 logo though... can't imagine why they ditched that one.

http://assets.starbucks.com/assets/5a106e41fe954581999566a4293ced89.jpg
Source: Starbucks (http://www.starbucks.com/preview)

My friend worked there as a manager for 10 years here's what happened. In 1987 the logo was changed to remove the bare breasts then the political correctness went further in '92 eliminating the crotch area. There had been complaints believe it or not.

[ryanmaccdn]

^Has Metrotown ever been a draw for tourists?

Regarding your dislike of the tenant mix, large landlords like Ivanhoe Cambridge know retail as well as anyone and want the hottest tenants in order to draw more traffic. The problem with a large enclosed shopping centre like Metrotown is that there is a hierarchy in space; new tenants aren’t just going to set up shop anywhere in the mall. That’s why you see some vacant spaces in some corners of the mall, but others simply change tenants without downtime.

Further to Officedweller’s point, almost all leases in an enclosed shopping centre like Metrotown are based on percentage rent, so the fact that a retailer is “new” or “cool” is really secondary to whether it can prove it will have gross sales revenue to justify its location in the mall. Conversely, these new tenants only want to be where they know they will have the traffic to justify their sales targets. So Urban Outfitters for example may have already looked at Metrotown and said it makes sense, but only if they can get such and such location within the mall.

It's hardly a matter of the mall 'overlooking' new tenancies and becoming stale.

Yeh but Cady Fairview should be making every stride to make room for these prime retailers and kick out the low end ones.

IE YM Canada ( Bluenotes, Stitches, Urban Behavior Suzy) takes up somewhere around 6 different stores locations with about 25,000 sq footage ..... its lucky if it hits around 200$ a sq foot in year end sales.

Hollister/Abercrombie stores in Canada is in the $900.00 per sq foot sales a year bracket at Cadillac Fairview malls.

And yes shopping is a HUGE draw for tourists.... that's a big DUH. When cruise ship season hits Pacific Center it is drowning in tourists who do anything to get any brands associated in my previous thread...most are disappointed with the small offering Pacific Center has.

[phesto]

Yeh but Cady Fairview should be making every stride to make room for these prime retailers and kick out the low end ones.

IE YM Canada ( Bluenotes, Stitches, Urban Behavior Suzy) takes up somewhere around 6 different stores locations with about 25,000 sq footage ..... its lucky if it hits around 200$ a sq foot in year end sales.

Hollister/Abercrombie stores in Canada is in the $900.00 per sq foot sales a year bracket at Cadillac Fairview malls.

And yes shopping is a HUGE draw for tourists.... that's a big DUH. When cruise ship season hits Pacific Center it is drowning in tourists who do anything to get any brands associated in my previous thread...most are disappointed with the small offering Pacific Center has.

Metrotown is owned and managed by Ivanhoe Cambridge, not Cadillac Fairview. Google them if you're unfamiliar with them, but they would know every tenant that enters the Canadian marketplace, probably moreso than CF because they have greater international presence.

Regardless of the landlord, they are all obviously familar with certain chains' sales trends and do make every "stride" to accomodate tenants with higher sales. Do you really think landlords somehow just forego higher revenue because they don't know about new tenants or just don't care?? Leases in these types of enclosed malls are typically 5-10 years and very difficult to terminate from the landlord's side. They require a significant amount of strategizing. You don't just give tenants the boot because there might be a "cooler" tenant out there.

My point about tourists wasn't that they don't shop. :rolleyes: My point was that, for the most part, they don't leave downtown to shop. What you've suggested is purely conjecture. Maybe cruise ship tourists do dislike Pacific Centre, but I am willing to bet the ratio of tourists in the summer on Robson versus Metrotown is 100 to 1. Even Gastown stores probably see more tourists.

Your last point doesn't really make sense since most cruise ship tourists come from the US, which already have most of the retailers you mentioned at every suburban shopping centre. Why would they come to Canada on a cruise and in the little time they actually have on the ground here, forego the opportunity to see some of our attractions to take public transit for 30 minutes out to a suburban shopping centre to visit the same chains they have at home?

Perhaps if Metrotown was, or could be more of a tourist draw, IC would try to differentiate itself a little more with new and unique tenants, but you're overlooking that despite it being our largest shopping mall, it is still just a typical superregional centre whose demographic is local and regional shoppers. Given the distance from downtown, tourists will remain a small portion of visitors.

[jlousa]

Agree completely with the above assessment. People also fail to realize that for a mall it's not only sales psf. Volume is one of the most important items retailers look for, hence why you have to include items that might not seem ideal to the bottom line. Movie theatres, grocery stores all bring in lots of people into the mall even if they don't bring in the same dollars a high end retailer would. Food courts keep people in the mall and stop them from leaving when they get hungry. Even low end retailers like dollar stores can be found in malls as they bring in people. Without all these people in the mall to begin with you couldn't find high end retailers willing to move in. You need to build a complete ecosystem to survive.

[whatnext]

:previous: Interestingly, when I talked to someone at Richmond Centre about the theatres leaving, they didn't seem that concerned, which surprised me.

[SpongeG]

they were crappy compared to silvercity - maybe more convenient but people would rather trek out there

[SpikePhanta]

i agree with what the posters above said.
Metrotown, even though I don't like it, caters to almost everyone, it is the centre of attraction in burnaby, but not for tourists, just regional people. If people badly want the Holt Renfrews and Hollister, they'll go travel to downtown because its easy.
The only problem i have with the grocery stores is that at times people bring the frikin buggies out of the designated areas, like some people would use the superstore buggy and go all the way to the food court with it.

they were crappy compared to silvercity - maybe more convenient but people would rather trek out there

Silvercity metrotown is still crappy, run by teenagers who don't know a thing.

[SpongeG]

i prefer stadium seating is all

i don't care about the rest i don't expect good service or treatment in Canada

[SpongeG]

metrotown is well known in BC and people come from kelowna, prince george, victoria, nanaimo whatever will all hit it up and they are all tourists

you can't go to edmonton without visiting WEM

It could use some kind of attraction though maybe a giant ferris wheel :D

or mini golf - anything to make it more of a draw

[Yume-sama]

I have once been coerced in to a trip to Edmonton that didn't involve WEM. :P

[SpongeG]

shame

thats like going to seattle and not going to barneys, j crew or crate and barrel

[phesto]

metrotown is well known in BC and people come from kelowna, prince george, victoria, nanaimo whatever will all hit it up and they are all tourists


Where are the stats to back the claims that it is a tourist draw? I have never heard this and I'm just curious. I understand maybe some resident B.C. visitors going there while they're in town maybe, but not as the primary reason for a visit, or even their first stop in shopping.

From a retail leasing perspective the mall is considered 'super-regional' meaning it should generate trips from anywhere in the Lower Mainland. But I would hardly classify it as a tourist draw from outside.

As alluded to by earlier posts, if people from Kelowna, Victoria etc come to Vancouver to shop, there isn't a really compelling reason to go to Metrotown aside from the sheer number of stores. Aside from some of the Asian-oriented retailers, it isn't really a unique experience. Unlike Holt Renfrew downtown that doesn't exist elsewhere in B.C. or some of the shops in gastown etc. that tourists are drawn to.

WEM isn't really a fair comparison as it has way more novelty attractions (ie. waterpark, skating rink, theme hotel). The retail experience is very generic though.

[SpongeG]

well i go travelling and of the days i am away on vacation i will spend one day in the biggest mall the city has to offer - in joburg it was sandton whatever I ask locals ask friends people I have met where should I go and they say blah blah blah

when tourists ask where is a good place to shop I will always recommend Metrotown as will most people I think because whether we like it or not it has everything in one spot, department stores, grocery stores, is on the skytrain line and very accessible

personally I hate hetrotown and avoid it like the plague but I do know when I want certain stores I will go there as I know I don't have to go from one mall to another to get what I want - so its great for that

I have heard other people say how much loved metrotown cause it had all the stores - my own niece from calgary always wants to go there cause she knows it - shes grown up visiting and going there every trip is something she wants to do

anyway as retailers are being pushed out which they are in the form of their leases not being renewed they are being replaced by new retailers and slowly its getting its getting better

[nova9]

I have to avoid metrotown because I don't want to run into my students. I love my students but 5 days a week is enough.

I would not want every single mall to be a high-end retail mall. There are only soo many rich people in our region and a mall is the last place they'd be caught dead in anyways (I'd prefer the one-off boutiques or Holt's if I were in that demographic).

[SpongeG]

Anthropologie is opening on South Granville in the old Urban Planet Space!

just tweeted by the south granville blog people...

[wrenegade]

New Shoppers at Park Royal opens Thursday January 20th.

[LotusLand]

Anthropologie is opening on South Granville in the old Urban Planet Space!

just tweeted by the south granville blog people...

Yup it looks like it'll open up in Spring 2011 according to Vancity Buzz
http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2011/01/anthropologie-vancouver-2011-south-granville-store/

[NetMapel]

Anthropologie is opening on South Granville in the old Urban Planet Space!

just tweeted by the south granville blog people...

!!!

:D :D :D

[204]

I guess they were nuts. Young, and naive :P



Supposedly there are 70 in the Downtown Core, and well over 300 in the Lower Mainland.

Manhattan has only 171, so, per capita we have quite a ridiculous amount more :haha:

Apparently there are 964 locations in Tokyo. :sly:

Actually, 870 stores in all of Japan as of last summer.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63C1NG20100413

[officedweller]

From the Globe & Mail:

U.S. chains circling Zellers properties

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/us-chains-circling-zellers-properties/article1866399/

The owner of Zellers and the Bay is in talks with American retailers about selling stores to them, underscoring the growing desire of U.S. chains to expand here.

U.S. real estate magnate Richard Baker, who controls Hudson's Bay Co., is in discussions to unload some of his Canadian locations, particularly Zellers properties, according to multiple sources. The negotiations could result in an announcement of a deal as early as this week, these people said, although they cautioned that nothing has been finalized.

[SpongeG]

thats probably the easiest way to get a good grasp here

[djh]

^^
Would Zellers be a good buy for Target? The locations may be a bit suburban for Target's key demographic, and I imagine they would want some high-profile downtown spaces. Either way, it's one less Canadian business in the Canadian market - and that's debatable whether this is good or bad.

[GeeCee]

Hudson's Bay Company is treating Zellers like a dumping ground. It's not really anything worth holding onto in it's current form.