[AB Born]

The True Religion outlet was supposed to open 3rd week of January, but now I belive it's going to be in the spring. I can see this store being very popular.

[Innersoul1]

Actually the new two-floor location of Le Chateau carries womens wear only - there is a separate Le Chateau Mens shop on +15. The two level store has a pretty nifty staircase inside with glass treads.

Other retail 'news' in Calgary:

-Birks has opened its renovated store at The Core - including a Rolex boutique with a separate storefront entrance.
-True Religion Jeans is opening an Outlet at Crossiron Mills
-Free People (a division of Anthropologie) is hiring for a new Calgary store which will be the first location in Canada, location unspecified
-The Bay at Market Mall and Southcentre have installed Coach sections

Very interesting that Anthropoligie is making it's way into the Canadian market. My wife loves that store but WOW does it every bruise the wallet.

[DizzyEdge]

how does that store survive - their pricing is way out of whack - i haven't checked in a couple years but last time i was there they had t-shirts for $45 same style/type/quality at H&M was $14.95

Well H&M wasn't around before, but now at The Core it's right next door! And yes H&M did seem to be a bit Le Chateau-y.

[freeweed]

how does that store survive - their pricing is way out of whack - i haven't checked in a couple years but last time i was there they had t-shirts for $45 same style/type/quality at H&M was $14.95

If Coach can sell a very ugly $50 purse for $300, and still see lineups in its stores (I swear, the CIM location has never not had a lineup since opening), then anything is possible.

[Calgarian]

I think a lot of people buy expensive stuff simply because it's expensive and that label comes with status. Same with expensive restaurants, people eat there because it's a status symbol.

[Ramsayfarian]

If Coach can sell a very ugly $50 purse for $300, and still see lineups in its stores (I swear, the CIM location has never not had a lineup since opening), then anything is possible.

I was talking to someone yesterday who lined up for 1/2 hour to get in the store. He left when he learned the linee to pay was up to 2 hours long.

[You Need A Thneed]

The old House of Tools store on 32nd Ave NE is now a Le Chateau Outlet store.

It had been sitting empty for ~2 years.

[lineman]

I think a lot of people buy expensive stuff simply because it's expensive and that label comes with status. Same with expensive restaurants, people eat there because it's a status symbol.

From what I've heard, real rich people buy stuff like Hermes. They don't like to flaunt labels.

[Ramsayfarian]

The old House of Tools store on 32nd Ave NE is now a Le Chateau Outlet store.

It had been sitting empty for ~2 years.

From a house of tools to a store for tools.

[Jimby]

2011 sales:
$ 700 million for Chinook
$ 480 Market Mall
$ 342 Southcentre

http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Calgary+Chinook+Centre+sets+sales+record/6028690/story.html

[polishavenger]

2011 sales:
$ 700 million for Chinook
$ 480 Market Mall
$ 342 Southcentre

http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Calgary+Chinook+Centre+sets+sales+record/6028690/story.html

Thats a pretty bad number for South Center.

[Me&You]

Thats a pretty bad number for South Center.

Was South Centre still under renovation during part of 2011? I know several large spaces were still waiting to open later into the year.

[RWin]

I picked up a book last weekend called Calgary, Then and Now comparing Calgary at around the turn of the last century to now. Now being around 1978. Full of great photos but the one that stood out was Elbow and Southland in 1978. The price of gas at the stations in the photos was 18 cents/litre (81 cents/gallon).

[DizzyEdge]

I picked up a book last weekend called Calgary, Then and Now comparing Calgary at around the turn of the last century to now. Now being around 1978. Full of great photos but the one that stood out was Elbow and Southland in 1978. The price of gas at the stations in the photos was 18 cents/litre (81 cents/gallon).

That would be 57 cents a litre in todays dollars.. would be nice.

[Full Mountain]

I noticed RBC took over the corner of the lower floor of the building the on the SW corner of 10 st and Kensington Road, another waste of prime retail space

I think future developments in main retail areas (17th, Inglewood, etc.) should be limited on the width of a single tenant and force uses that are daytime only (banks, etc.) business to utilize multiple floors (i.e. tellers and bank machines on the main level with offices above, that way the street frontage has more active uses

[Innersoul1]

Went to Chinook on Saturday for the first time in a year. LOVE that Mall.

[freeweed]

That would be 57 cents a litre in todays dollars.. would be nice.

And we wonder why North America developed into a car-dependent built form. 1978 was AFTER the oil crises that raised the price so much. No wonder everyone drove everywhere back then (in 10mpg beasts, to boot).

[polishavenger]

I noticed RBC took over the corner of the lower floor of the building the on the SW corner of 10 st and Kensington Road, another waste of prime retail space

I think future developments in main retail areas (17th, Inglewood, etc.) should be limited on the width of a single tenant and force uses that are daytime only (banks, etc.) business to utilize multiple floors (i.e. tellers and bank machines on the main level with offices above, that way the street frontage has more active uses

Its a textbook example of what Jane Jacobs talked about how in the success of a retail street lies its demise. As rents push every higher, the eclectic shops that make a street really interesting start getting forced out by the chains and high rent places like banks, which eventually crowd out anything unique and truely interesting, which in turns kills what was once the appeal of the place. Thats why Im a big proponent of using our brains instead of just allowing the market to do whatever and putting in certain restrictions on retail areas that become popular that help maintain the appeal.

[freeweed]

I'm a big proponent of just banning retail branches of banks entirely. They really serve little purpose other than as empty caves during the evening.

I'm not being completely facetious here either. I've tried to figure out exactly what purpose they serve for years now. Helping old people who hate ATMs and online banking? Is this such a growing demographic that the recent explosion in retail outlets is justified?

[Jimby]

I'm a big proponent of just banning retail branches of banks entirely. They really serve little purpose other than as empty caves during the evening.

I'm not being completely facetious here either. I've tried to figure out exactly what purpose they serve for years now. Helping old people who hate ATMs and online banking? Is this such a growing demographic that the recent explosion in retail outlets is justified?

Manulife Bank doesn't have any branches and they make house calls - you don't even have to be old.

[Full Mountain]

Its a textbook example of what Jane Jacobs talked about how in the success of a retail street lies its demise. As rents push every higher, the eclectic shops that make a street really interesting start getting forced out by the chains and high rent places like banks, which eventually crowd out anything unique and truely interesting, which in turns kills what was once the appeal of the place. Thats why Im a big proponent of using our brains instead of just allowing the market to do whatever and putting in certain restrictions on retail areas that become popular that help maintain the appeal.

I agree,

I think the max retail bay width would go a long way to reducing this, rather than regulating what goes in the retail (as some might suggest)

i.e. The building must have retail at ground level, and a single tenant cannot occupy more than 25' of frontage, with allowances for shared elevators to the higher floors to allow for mutli-level tenants (e.g. banks)

That said I think the regulations should be flexible enough that if someone comes up with an innovative idea/use it can be accomadated within them, or if a proposal is truly great, it can get bonusing (less/more parking, more height, etc.).

[Full Mountain]

I'm a big proponent of just banning retail branches of banks entirely. They really serve little purpose other than as empty caves during the evening.

I'm not being completely facetious here either. I've tried to figure out exactly what purpose they serve for years now. Helping old people who hate ATMs and online banking? Is this such a growing demographic that the recent explosion in retail outlets is justified?

While I agree, there must be demand, otherwise they wouldn't exist, if nothing else it's false demand due the extreme profit centric nature of banks, (fees, holds, etc.)

[freeweed]

While I agree, there must be demand, otherwise they wouldn't exist

I'm not sure this is entirely correct. I think a few people here have suggested that most of these branches operate mostly as advertising frontage for the banks. It sure seems that way when I look into them - the amount of customer traffic is miniscule these days. Especially considering the sheer size of these outlets.

[jeffwhit]

I'm not sure this is entirely correct. I think a few people here have suggested that most of these branches operate mostly as advertising frontage for the banks. It sure seems that way when I look into them - the amount of customer traffic is miniscule these days. Especially considering the sheer size of these outlets.
Also, most of any bank is offices/cubicles. Not exactly "retail" in any regard. They should be relegated to the second floor with just an ATM bay on the ground.

[Calgarian]

2011 sales:
$ 700 million for Chinook
$ 480 Market Mall
$ 342 Southcentre

http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Calgary+Chinook+Centre+sets+sales+record/6028690/story.html

That's a lot of business for Chinook. Any idea what kind of numbers the Core put up?

[Jimby]

That's a lot of business for Chinook. Any idea what kind of numbers the Core put up?

I was wondering about the Core, Mallzac, and just what an average Costco, Walmart, Superstore, and Safeway would gross.

[Bassic Lab]

I was wondering about the Core, Mallzac, and just what an average Costco, Walmart, Superstore, and Safeway would gross.

If I'm remembering correctly the average Safeway would probably do something around 50 million in annual sales.

[mersar]

If I'm remembering correctly the average Safeway would probably do something around 50 million in annual sales.

Easily. I know the Cochrane Safeway back when my dad worked there averaged $1M/week most of the year, twice that before major holidays (Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving). Crowfoot I recall was about $5M. Superstore is probably quite a bit higher, just due to a lot more throughput of customers.

[SpongeG]

maybe someone in the banking business must know but perhaps the retail banks serve as a tax expense and offer some kind of tax write off for them - I agree i don't see that much need for banks these days and even when you do go face to face with them they have to go consult each other to do anything it seems

[Cage]

There is a lot of stuff going on at the local bank branch, such as:
- retail counter/tellers
- commercial counter/tellers
- loans officers are specialized among mortgage, retail/personal Line of credit, private business, private clients services.
- investment advisers are split into several categories depending type and amount of wealth (CIBC has three separate lines of investment advisory services).
- Insurance requires a separate entrance, location, and front counter staff from other bank divisions.

Finally on the space requirement each adviser gets their own office, where as 15 years ago the advisers were primarily in cubicles. It all adds up to a big space requirement for each branch.

Also each branch has a much larger catchment area than 15 years ago. For example the TD Bank branch at Dalhousie is a amalgamation of 4 branches.

[Me&You]

Finally on the space requirement each adviser gets their own office, where as 15 years ago the advisers were primarily in cubicles. It all adds up to a big space requirement for each branch.

Also each branch has a much larger catchment area than 15 years ago. For example the TD Bank branch at Dalhousie is a amalgamation of 4 branches.

With the proliferation of bank branches, that can't possibly be true :shrug:

[eggbert]

Also each branch has a much larger catchment area than 15 years ago. For example the TD Bank branch at Dalhousie is a amalgamation of 4 branches.

I don't see how this is possible. 15 years ago people living in Dalhousie had to go to Market Mall or Crowfoot and now they have their own bank. Plus Crowfoot and Market Mall have both expanded tremendously from a retail bay into their own buildings with multiple levels. What 4 branches moved into this one?

[Cage]

With the proliferation of bank branches, that can't possibly be true :shrug:

Sorry I miss quoted. The original TD Bank Dalhousie Branch is located at the Market Mall location (by original I mean pre Canada Trust merger when Dalhousie Station was a mobile home park). Market Mall TD Bank has four branch numbers attached to the location, three legacy and the current branch number.

Dalhousie Station TD Canada Trust location was a new build after the market mall merger.

[WIGS]

I was wondering about the Core, Mallzac, and just what an average Costco, Walmart, Superstore, and Safeway would gross.

:haha: @ Mallzac

According to the author of this thread: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=195639&highlight=walmart
a Walmart pulls in $70M/year. Since your avg. Supercentre is 200k SF, by comparison Chinook Centre at 1.3M SF with sales of $700M is doing fantastic!

[Doug]

If I'm remembering correctly the average Safeway would probably do something around 50 million in annual sales.

A buddy who is an exec with Costco claimed that the south Calgary location is one of the top performing and averages over $500K per day.

[Cage]

That's a lot of business for Chinook. Any idea what kind of numbers the Core put up?

Core numbers would be depressed for 2011 as the mall was just a food court for the first half of the year.

[Spring2008]

A buddy who is an exec with Costco claimed that the south Calgary location is one of the top performing and averages over $500K per day.

Used to work for Costco. The top 3 Costco's in Canada by sales revenue are all in Alberta. Edmonton South, Edmonton north each pull in about 240million/year. Calgary South even more, but may have gone down a bit due to new store openings in the Calgary region. Not uncommon to have million dollar days at these locations, pretty crazy...

[suburb]

Used to work for Costco. The top 3 Costco's in Canada by sales revenue are all in Alberta. Edmonton South, Edmonton north each pull in about 240million/year. Calgary South even more, but may have gone down a bit due to new store openings in the Calgary region. Not uncommon to have million dollar days at these locations, pretty crazy...

Wow! I doubt The Core would have hit single-site Costco numbers for 2011. Perhaps they'll pull even in 2012 with all the stores in place.

[Jimby]

Those are amazing revenues for single stores to pull in.
I wish Calgary had a downtown Costco like Vancouver has, but I have heard that the Vancouver store has under-performed expectations since opening, so they wouldn't risk a downtown location in a market with half the population.

[devonb]

We used to always go to that Costco because it was always dead. It was also very close to our place.

[SpongeG]

Those are amazing revenues for single stores to pull in.
I wish Calgary had a downtown Costco like Vancouver has, but I have heard that the Vancouver store has under-performed expectations since opening, so they wouldn't risk a downtown location in a market with half the population.

it doesn't help that downtown location that its all pay parking, a real deterrent - i occasionally see someone lugging a box of giant packages onto the train but not very often, costco shopping and transit don't go well together

[Jimby]

it doesn't help that downtown location that its all pay parking, a real deterrent - i occasionally see someone lugging a box of giant packages onto the train but not very often, costco shopping and transit don't go well together

I was at the Midtown Market Co-op the other day and the clerk was pulling grapes out of the magazine rack. She was telling me they have a terrible time with grazers who eat their way around the store and leave. If they are confronted, they stuff the grapes in the magazines or whatever and leave. It is hard to make them pay for what they have swallowed!
So I was thinking a downtown Costco wouldn't have that problem because access is restricted to their membership which keeps the undesirables out.

[SpongeG]

no problem with that sort of thing - just having to pay $$$ to park to shop @ costco whereas you can park for free at any of the other costco stores which are probably 10-15 mins away by car and its not really the kind of place you pop in to grab a few little items and can walk away - you need a car to lug off most of what you buy there

------

Target to open Calgary Signal Hill store in summer 2013

$10-$11 million to be invested in remodelling store

By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald January 26, 2012

CALGARY — Target Corporation confirmed Thursday that Signal Hill in Calgary will be home to a future Target location with the store opening in the summer of 2013.

As previously announced, Target purchased the leasehold interest in the Signal Hill site, which is currently operated by Zellers Inc.

Target plans to open 125 to 135 stores in Canada, the majority of which will open in 2013. Approximately $10 million to $11 million will be invested to remodel each facility to bring the full Target brand experience to Canadian communities, said the company.

Target said the Signal Hill store will employ approximately 150-200 team members and hiring for store team members will begin in 2012.

...

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Target+open+Calgary+Signal+Hill+store+summer+2013/6055388/story.html#ixzz1kdpBx6SY

[Jimby]

I'm sick of Target already.

New farmers market of local enterprises opening April 28.
Possibly a great location, although everything else there has failed before.
calgarywestcountrymarket (http://www.calgarywestcountrymarket.ca/index.php)

[kw5150]

Yay. Target.:yuck:

[DizzyEdge]

Does anyone know of where I could find information like # of retail spots in a particular neighbourhood? I don't know if zoning would help since that might count 1 lot with 5 retail bays as "one".

[Rational Plan3]

I agree,

I think the max retail bay width would go a long way to reducing this, rather than regulating what goes in the retail (as some might suggest)

i.e. The building must have retail at ground level, and a single tenant cannot occupy more than 25' of frontage, with allowances for shared elevators to the higher floors to allow for mutli-level tenants (e.g. banks)

That said I think the regulations should be flexible enough that if someone comes up with an innovative idea/use it can be accomadated within them, or if a proposal is truly great, it can get bonusing (less/more parking, more height, etc.).

You can regulate use if you want, other countries do. After all shopping malls manage their tenant mix to keep their centre healthy.

In the UK, every council maps it's town centre and designates different streets primary or secondary retail. In the prime pitch, councils restrict non comparison retail uses, so there will be a limited number of pubs, banks, estate agents etc. In secondary streets rules are looser. Buildings have permission for certain type of uses and if a different type of occupier wants to rent a space they need to have the right classification or the landlord needs to apply for a change of use classification.

So comparison retail (fashion, jewelry etc), is A1. A2 is financial services, A3 is cafes and restaurants, A4 are bars/pubs, A5 hot food takeaways, Suis generis is the rest such as launderettes, car dealerships etc.

Many out of town units have restrictions on what goods they can sell, bulky goods only (DIY, furniture, electrical goods etc). Recently new classications have been put in place to control the spread of betting shops. Previous deregulation has allowed them out of secondary streets and allowed to have clear windows.

Non of this is set in stone, it's rare for a change of use application to be turned down on a secondary street. As usual how strict a council depends on an area, the richer it is the more choosy they feel they can be. Poor towns prefer occupied units to empty ones, consequently they don't really protect very much.

As time goes on new in town malls are built the prime pitch changes , with different streets rising and falling in popularity. Local Plan reviews need to map these changes.

[Full Mountain]

You can regulate use if you want, other countries do. After all shopping malls manage their tenant mix to keep their centre healthy.

In the UK, every council maps it's town centre and designates different streets primary or secondary retail. In the prime pitch, councils restrict non comparison retail uses, so there will be a limited number of pubs, banks, estate agents etc. In secondary streets rules are looser. Buildings have permission for certain type of uses and if a different type of occupier wants to rent a space they need to have the right classification or the landlord needs to apply for a change of use classification.

So comparison retail (fashion, jewelry etc), is A1. A2 is financial services, A3 is cafes and restaurants, A4 are bars/pubs, A5 hot food takeaways, Suis generis is the rest such as launderettes, car dealerships etc.

Many out of town units have restrictions on what goods they can sell, bulky goods only (DIY, furniture, electrical goods etc). Recently new classications have been put in place to control the spread of betting shops. Previous deregulation has allowed them out of secondary streets and allowed to have clear windows.

Non of this is set in stone, it's rare for a change of use application to be turned down on a secondary street. As usual how strict a council depends on an area, the richer it is the more choosy they feel they can be. Poor towns prefer occupied units to empty ones, consequently they don't really protect very much.

As time goes on new in town malls are built the prime pitch changes , with different streets rising and falling in popularity. Local Plan reviews need to map these changes.

I think this prevents some good things from happening though, namely having specific districts for specific types of shopping, ie a high end shopping distrct with a mix of high end clothing and other retail, the exact mix is something that the market would likely solve, not to mention this is done in calgary to some extent (there's about a three block section of 17th Ave SW that is maxed out for the number of resturants on it)

I think you'd see a huge backlash against regulating uses that closely, not to mention the huge increase in regulatory burden for both owners and government

[AB Born]

Chinook Centre is building a 2nd escalator set from P1 to P2 in their underground parkade.

[YYCguys]

Does Chinook Centre own the land that the gas station is on? If so, I sure wish they would boot them out and use that plot for something more attractive than a gas station! It's pretty difficult accessing the site anyways!

[fusili]

I think this prevents some good things from happening though, namely having specific districts for specific types of shopping, ie a high end shopping distrct with a mix of high end clothing and other retail, the exact mix is something that the market would likely solve, not to mention this is done in calgary to some extent (there's about a three block section of 17th Ave SW that is maxed out for the number of resturants on it)
I think you'd see a huge backlash against regulating uses that closely, not to mention the huge increase in regulatory burden for both owners and government

There is no restriction on the number of restaurants on 17th Avenue, only bars.

[fusili]

Does Chinook Centre own the land that the gas station is on? If so, I sure wish they would boot them out and use that plot for something more attractive than a gas station! It's pretty difficult accessing the site anyways!

Yup, they do. The entire block is one parcel.

[Ramsayfarian]

Not sure when it happened but I just noticed that Farmer Jones Used Cars in Inglewood is no more. I have to admit it was a bit of an eyesore, but nevertheless still a landmark.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=9th+Avenue+South+East,+Calgary,+AB,+Canada&hl=en&ll=51.042905,-114.039631&spn=0.024176,0.06506&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=31.23349,66.621094&oq=9th+ave+se+calgary&hnear=9+Ave+SE,+Calgary,+Alberta,+Canada&t=h&z=14&layer=c&cbll=51.042865,-114.039454&panoid=m7CynY8OHwDVK5nV2A4OGA&cbp=12,230.41,,1,-6.66

[5seconds]

Not sure when it happened but I just noticed that Farmer Jones Used Cars in Inglewood is no more. I have to admit it was a bit of an eyesore, but nevertheless still a landmark.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=9th+Avenue+South+East,+Calgary,+AB,+Canada&hl=en&ll=51.042905,-114.039631&spn=0.024176,0.06506&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=31.23349,66.621094&oq=9th+ave+se+calgary&hnear=9+Ave+SE,+Calgary,+Alberta,+Canada&t=h&z=14&layer=c&cbll=51.042865,-114.039454&panoid=m7CynY8OHwDVK5nV2A4OGA&cbp=12,230.41,,1,-6.66

gone only in the last week or so.

[Jimby]

http://m.calgarysun.com/2012/01/26/farmer-jones-out-to-pasture-thanks-to-slumping-business-soaring-rent

[Ramsayfarian]

http://m.calgarysun.com/2012/01/26/farmer-jones-out-to-pasture-thanks-to-slumping-business-soaring-rent

Thanks for digging that up and posting it Jimby. I'm suprised they had only been there for 30 years.

[SpongeG]

Sears Canada closing Chinook Centre store

Vancouver Pacific Centre and Ottawa Rideau Centre also closing

By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald March 2, 2012 7:39 AM

Sears Canada announced Friday it will be closing its Chinook Centre location this year along with stores at Vancouver Pacific Centre and Ottawa Rideau Centre.

The company announced it will return to commercial real estate developer and landlord, The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited, the three stores within shopping centres the developer owns and manages, for $170 million.

The transaction is expected to close on or around April 20, said the company.

Sears plans to exit all three locations by Oct. 31.

...

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Sears+Canada+closing+Chinook+Centre+store/6240320/story.html#ixzz1nyFijjmF

[5seconds]

Sears Canada closing Chinook Centre store

Vancouver Pacific Centre and Ottawa Rideau Centre also closing

By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald March 2, 2012 7:39 AM

Sears Canada announced Friday it will be closing its Chinook Centre location this year along with stores at Vancouver Pacific Centre and Ottawa Rideau Centre.

The company announced it will return to commercial real estate developer and landlord, The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited, the three stores within shopping centres the developer owns and manages, for $170 million.

The transaction is expected to close on or around April 20, said the company.

Sears plans to exit all three locations by Oct. 31.

...

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Sears+Canada+closing+Chinook+Centre+store/6240320/story.html#ixzz1nyFijjmF

Interesting. I wonder if there is another Anchor store willing to go in (And if so, what? Holt? I can't think of another likely candidate) of if Chinook will re-develop it into a new section for stores.

[mersar]

Interesting. I wonder if there is another Anchor store willing to go in (And if so, what? Holt? I can't think of another likely candidate) of if Chinook will re-develop it into a new section for stores.

Or I'd wonder if it may redevelop it period. Tear that portion down, build more parkade under it and then rebuild 2 levels of mall retail plus offices above?

As for another potential anchor, no idea there either. Its too large a space for almost anyone else who isn't already in or coming to the mall (could Target do a swap of the current zellers location for sears' location? I'd think the Sears one might be bigger)

[Plus15]

Cadillac Fairview must have some pretty SOLID deals with tenants to take up these spaces. Sears Canada had no plan to exit these locations - essentially Cadillac approached them and bought them out. IF there was no plan in place why would they pay to remove an anchor tenant? I smell Nordstrom in Van and Cgy and a redevelopment in Ottawa...

[Ramsayfarian]

Cadillac Fairview must have some pretty SOLID deals with tenants to take up these spaces. Sears Canada had no plan to exit these locations - essentially Cadillac approached them and bought them out. IF there was no plan in place why would they pay to remove an anchor tenant? I smell Nordstrom in Van and Cgy and a redevelopment in Ottawa...

I think you might be right about CF asking them to leave. If Sears was to shut down any location, you'd think it would be their North Hill store.

With regards to the article, one would think that the Herald could find a better file pic than the one they used.

[Plus15]

Yep, Cadillac Fairview paid Sears $170 million to disappear from these locations. All three are supposed to close by Oct 31. Should be interesting to see what happens...

[eggbert]

Or I'd wonder if it may redevelop it period. Tear that portion down, build more parkade under it and then rebuild 2 levels of mall retail plus offices above?

As for another potential anchor, no idea there either. Its too large a space for almost anyone else who isn't already in or coming to the mall (could Target do a swap of the current zellers location for sears' location? I'd think the Sears one might be bigger)

I was thinking the same thing about Target swapping locations. Seems to me the Sears location is way better than the Zellers location, at least considering the front and back entrance into the parking lot rather than Zeller's front entrance into the mall itself.

[fusili]

Just to add to the speculation. Chinook currently has a land use redesignation underway to include mixed use commercial and multi-residential. Perhaps they are planning something for that location. A podium-tower with tie-in to the mall?

[Innersoul1]

I think you might be right about CF asking them to leave. If Sears was to shut down any location, you'd think it would be their North Hill store.

With regards to the article, one would think that the Herald could find a better file pic than the one they used.

Yeah, I was wondering about who asked who to leave. The lease at North Hill must be dirt cheap! What a trashy store! Reminds me of shopping in Great Falls Montana

[Bigtime]

Just to add to the speculation. Chinook currently has a land use re-designation underway to include mixed use commercial and residential. Perhaps they are planning something for that location. A podium-tower with tie-in to the mall?

Very interesting, something like that could really be a catalyst to get more TOD development going in the Chinook station area.

[Innersoul1]

Just to add to the speculation. Chinook currently has a land use redesignation underway to include mixed use commercial and multi-residential. Perhaps they are planning something for that location. A podium-tower with tie-in to the mall?

That would make a lot of sense given what we have heard!

[Calgarian]

I would like to see a Nordstrom's or something similar move to the Sears location. There are a lot of large American department stores that i'm really surprised have no presence in Canada.

Is that location too large for a Brooks Brothers?

[Calgarian]

Yeah, I was wondering about who asked who to leave. The lease at North Hill must be dirt cheap! What a trashy store! Reminds me of shopping in Great Falls Montana

I think Sears probably approached CF and they worked out a deal, Sears has a lot of debt and the $170 mil will go a long way to helping relieve some of the pressure.

fusili, that's really interesting. Is the land use on their site? I thought CF also owned a lot of the land across MacLeod...

[fusili]

I think Sears probably approached CF and they worked out a deal, Sears has a lot of debt and the $170 mil will go a long way to helping relieve some of the pressure.

fusili, that's really interesting. Is the land use on their site? I thought CF also owned a lot of the land across MacLeod...

The land use is for the Chinook site itself (6455 Macleod Trail S).

[Innersoul1]

I would like to see a Nordstrom's or something similar move to the Sears location. There are a lot of large American department stores that i'm really surprised have no presence in Canada.

Is that location too large for a Brooks Brothers?

WAY too big for Brooks Brothers. That being said, I wonder how successful BBs is? I don't think that you would want to saturate the market with another store just yet.

I would be all over Nordstroms. Amazing inventory but the best part is the customer service. The hardest part would be finding capable employees to provide said customer service :haha:

[Cage]

I was thinking the same thing about Target swapping locations. Seems to me the Sears location is way better than the Zellers location, at least considering the front and back entrance into the parking lot rather than Zeller's front entrance into the mall itself.

The Zeller's location is slated to close on Aug 11. With Sears closing October 31st the North end of Chinook (minus the new space) is going to look very empty for 2012 Christmas season.

[mersar]

Just saw this quote about the Sears closing on CBC:

"While we had no plans to close stores, the transaction for these three specific locations provides an attractive financial benefit for the company," president and CEO Calvin McDonald said in a statement Friday.

The retailer will get $170 million from real estate developer and landlord Cadillac Fairview Corp. Ltd. Sears will look into opening other stores in the three cities, the company said.Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2012/03/02/sears-stores-cadillac.html

[Ramsayfarian]

Just to add to the speculation. Chinook currently has a land use redesignation underway to include mixed use commercial and multi-residential. Perhaps they are planning something for that location. A podium-tower with tie-in to the mall?

I'm hard pressed to think of a less attractive place to live. But that's just me.

[YYCguys]

I think if residential will be built there the Shell needs to relocate. I wouldn't want to smell the gas and diesel from my balcony! Having said that, it would be a good transition from the residential properties across the avenue!

[fusili]

I'm hard pressed to think of a less attractive place to live. But that's just me.

My girlfriend has a hard time keeping me at Chinook without becoming irritable. Chapters and the Apple store are the only stop gap measures. I hate malls with a passion, and hate mall rats even more.

[SpongeG]

i read on facebook on a friend's feed, not a firm source, that nordstorm has signed a deal to take over all three locations - Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa - Nordstrom did publicly announce last year, at least here in vancouver that they were serious about entering Canada and had some deals they were working on securing some locations

[Ramsayfarian]

My girlfriend has a hard time keeping me at Chinook without becoming irritable. Chapters and the Apple store are the only stop gap measures. I hate malls with a passion, and hate mall rats even more.

I feel the same way. I'd would add Phil & Sebastian to that list.

Can you imagine having to deal with the Christmas gong show that mall turns into every time you return home? It would drive me postal.

[Calgarian]

My girlfriend has a hard time keeping me at Chinook without becoming irritable. Chapters and the Apple store are the only stop gap measures. I hate malls with a passion, and hate mall rats even more.

I hear ya man, when I go to the mall, I get what I need and get the hell out, I definitely don't linger. The thing I hate most about Chinook is the gong show that is parking and driving around there, absolutely brutal!

[Ramsayfarian]

Just saw this quote about the Sears closing on CBC:

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2012/03/02/sears-stores-cadillac.html

Sears would get a better return on that $170 million if they invested it in GIC's or just bought lottery tickets with the money.

[Innersoul1]

i read on facebook on a friend's feed, not a firm source, that nordstorm has signed a deal to take over all three locations - Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa - Nordstrom did publicly announce last year, at least here in vancouver that they were serious about entering Canada and had some deals they were working on securing some locations

Nordstroms would change the department store scene for sure. The Bay would get a real kick in the pants!

[Northern Light]

The Bay is actually profitable these days.

Sears, on the other hand is losing money.

And keep in mind some of their rents were as low as $1 per square foot...

To lose money on a lease like that takes some work.

I suspect (but don't know)..... you will see Sears exit all of their 'downtown' locations and several of their 'flagship' properties over the next while, at least in Canada.

Many of their leases are cheap, and landlord's have several large U.S. retailers knocking on their doors wanting space right now; but they are largely reluctant to build until they see how Sears shakes out. Re-capturing that space is more cost-efficient than new build.

(retailers known or thought to be interested in the Cdn market; Saks, Nordstrum, Macy's, JC Penny, Kohl's )

I'm inclined to think they will move to 'Home' stores selling appliances and furniture and the like in a greater way.

There is a long standing suggestion that the U.S. chain may fold the Sears brand all together into its K-Mart stores which are the more successful (or is that less un-successful) version of Sears Holdings (the U.S. parent)

I'm not too sure they would want to do that; but definitely see them being badly squeezed in the traditional dept. store space.

[WIGS]

Thanks for digging that up and posting it Jimby. I'm suprised they had only been there for 30 years.

That's like a century in Calgary time :D

[WIGS]

I hope that when these American chains setup shop in Canada that we get at par pricing on retail goods! one can dream, right?

I'd like to see Kohl's and Macy's and I guess Nordstrom (only briefly walked through one during my bro's wedding weekend in OR)

[Policy Wonk]

The amount of passion expended around here hating Sears boggles the mind.

Sears Canada is in far better shape than Sears Holdings in the US. If you are waiting for the demise of Sears in Canada you will be disappointed. And the Sears location at North Hill is owned and not leased as are most of the remaining original Simpson-Sears "A" locations.

[SpongeG]

sears is quite different in canada - the ones i have been to across the border are really cheap looking - they don't carry the makeup and stuff like sears does here, i've never seen anna sui or givenchy counters at sears in the states

[Tropics]

Interesting. I wonder if there is another Anchor store willing to go in (And if so, what? Holt?

I think Holt is pretty commited to the Core after already taking over one complete Sears store.

Holt is pretty exclusive and their market is farily limited. If they opened up another store in Calgary it would do nothing more then compete with the current store, which is the only place in Calgary where you can get the truly ridiculously high end.

What Chinook should do, and might even have to do is renovate yet again and alter the current Sears space to house more then one retailer. The Sears is pretty close to the new wing and the high end stuff there, if they renovated that Sears space and made it into smaller retail locations targetting more high end stuff we could potentially see companies like Gucci, mid/high end stores like Paul and Shark, Prada, basically shoot for the exclusive brand stores like you see in Las Vegas at the Forum Shops. With the huge revenue Chinook had they actually have a chance to get them.

[Policy Wonk]

I'm told today Sears turned down an additional $80 million to break their Toronto Eaton Centre lease.

[ACT7]

What Chinook should do, and might even have to do is renovate yet again and alter the current Sears space to house more then one retailer. The Sears is pretty close to the new wing and the high end stuff there, if they renovated that Sears space and made it into smaller retail locations targetting more high end stuff we could potentially see companies like Gucci, mid/high end stores like Paul and Shark, Prada, basically shoot for the exclusive brand stores like you see in Las Vegas at the Forum Shops. With the huge revenue Chinook had they actually have a chance to get them.

Vegas sees 40+ million tourists a year. That's why they have these shops smack in the middle of the strip. Chinook will not likely see these brands for looooooooooong time - even with another reno.

[Tropics]

Chinook will not likely see these brands for looooooooooong time - even with another reno.

You likely would have said the same thing about Coach and Tiffani and Co. 3 years ago, but here we are now...

[lineman]

My fashionable friend says Coach isn't in the same league as Gucci or Prada.

[Innersoul1]

My fashionable friend says Coach isn't in the same league as Gucci or Prada.

Your friend would be 100% correct!

[Tropics]

My fashionable friend says Coach isn't in the same league as Gucci or Prada.

Coach would be a step below Prada, Tiffani and Co. as far as their target market goes is not. Calgary has also gotten afew companies that are even more high end then Prada or Gucci if you include the exclusive brand sections of Holt, Hermes for instance who in effect have a small but complete and exclusive store within Holt.

Whether or not they are going to make as much money in Chinook as they would in Vegas is a red herring as well, if they make enough in a Chinook location to make a profit then it would be in their interest to do it, and they probably would make a profit because there are simply few options when a person in Calgary want to truly shop high end, and a boat load of people in this city have the income to afford to shop in stores like that.

[h0twired]

My fashionable friend says Coach isn't in the same league as Gucci or Prada.

I feel sorry for the men that know that.

My wife could care less about designer purses.

[Rusty van Reddick]

My wife could care less about designer purses.

So, she cares a lot?

Tropics- Tiffani? Realli?

[Tropics]

Tropics- Tiffani? Realli?

I never said I cared about shopping there enough to personally know how to spell it. :P

Still, a city that has internationally recognized stores like that actually gets alot of recognition itself by having those retailers. Often when I look for a specific retailer here in Calgary I find out on their website that we do not in fact have one, but Vancouver, Toronto, they do.

Our high end shopping experience in this city is pretty limited. This X-Mas I actually was looking for alot of higher end stuff and so was a friend of mine and it sort of sucked. Holt had a limited amount of Gucci belts in a smattering of useless sizes sitting in a white painted particle board hanging belt storage unit that looked like it belonged in Walmart. Half of the belts had fallen and were all over the bottom of the thing. The only part of Holt that actually takes care to keep presentation of the products top end and have alot of stock are the brand retail areas around the perimeter of the store.

For Gucci, noone else in the entire of Calgary carries it, so you are left with that dismal shopping experience in the non-brand area of Holt where they probably don't have your size of belt unless you are a dwarf.

There are few cities in North America that have as many people making as much money as they are as Calgary. We have an economy that could support alot of those types of retailers, in fact this city is almost starving for them, we might be smaller then alot of the cities that have those outlets, but we have as much money as some of those cities that already do.

[Wooster]

So Indigo Spirit Mount Royal Village is closing on the 17th. Kind of a bummer for the neighbourhood.

[fusili]

So Indigo Spirit Mount Royal Village is closing on the 17th. Kind of a bummer for the neighbourhood.

That is a bummer. I buy a lot of books and used that store once in a while. The size was a drawback though, as they really only had best sellers and a few other titles here and there. I read a lot of environmental/science/urban/cultural non-fiction, and that place didn't have much there, other than the standard Malcolm Gladwell or Michael Lewis.

[Rusty van Reddick]

So Indigo Spirit Mount Royal Village is closing on the 17th. Kind of a bummer for the neighbourhood.

Jesus. That's horrible.

[DizzyEdge]

So does that leave any 'mainstream' bookstore in the beltline?