[Elbownian]

I've only walked by and never actually stuck my head in, but Shelf Life Books (4th St and 13th Ave) seems to carry a relatively conventional selection.

[ginsberg]

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

Not mainstream, but Shelf Life books on 4th (by Boxwood) is an exceptional book store. Great selection and they do lots to support the literary community with readings and what not. Highly recommended!

[Calgarian]

Unfortunately not many people read these days. And with the e-reader phenomenon, actual paper books are becoming relatively obsolete.

Always meant to check out shelf life, looks like a cool store.

[ginsberg]

Unfortunately not many people read these days. And with the e-reader phenomenon, actual paper books are becoming relatively obsolete.

Always meant to check out shelf life, looks like a cool store.

This is true. And the decline/closing of independent book stores is all too common. I was quite surprised when Shelf Life opened. Don't see these types of book stores opening, they're usually shutting doors.

Interestingly though, Pages in Kensington is flourishing. A couple months ago, CBC had a little news piece on the few book stores that are still alive across Canada and Pages is apparently doing very well. They also are very community based with readings and events. Hope they stick around for many years to come.

[fusili]

I think it is just another case of "Adapt or Die." Stores like Pages are probably flourishing because they adapted to a changing market. E-books are going to be cheaper, more convenient and less bulky than regular books and conventional book sales are going to hurt, so you have to do something different and make yourself unique (make the store an experience/place of connection and not just a place to buy books). The same thing happened to video rental shops and NetFlix. It is simply part of a changing world.

[5seconds]

I think it is just another case of "Adapt or Die." Stores like Pages are probably flourishing because they adapted to a changing market. E-books are going to be cheaper, more convenient and less bulky than regular books and conventional book sales are going to hurt, so you have to do something different and make yourself unique (make the store an experience/place of connection and not just a place to buy books). The same thing happened to video rental shops and NetFlix. It is simply part of a changing world.

Also: Music stores. On top of that, I was sad, but not especially surprised, to find that the once sizable music section of Indigo is now relegated to a 2'x5' shelf.

[Ramsayfarian]

Jesus. That's horrible.

Normally I'd agree, but it was a shitty bookstore.

[Me&You]

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.

Not wanting to interrupt the book store convo, but this is all plain wrong.

The Holt Renfrew store in Calgary is BY FAR the nicest department store I've ever been in and that includes the BH and 5th Ave Saks stores, Harrods and many others. I can't imagine a "particle board storage unit" there. The selection is a little limited, but I've yet to find them unable to order in an item I wanted. My guess is that you waited to the last minute before Xmas, when it would be obviously picked through and didn't bother to ask any employee about the belts. I left one gift to the last minute and they were able to overnight it from another store for me to arrive on the 23rd! The service is phenomenal and completely refreshing in Calgary.

[Tropics]

I can't imagine a "particle board storage unit" there.

Go up to the top/mens floor. Go to the south side of that floor where they keep the main selection of belts. Look at the thing those belts are stored in.

[DizzyEdge]

Can anyone recommend places to buy mens casual shoes (think leather, but not 'dress shoes'), which are a good mix of quality and price? I am constantly worried in Calgary that I am paying top dollar for bottom quality, and not just for shoes.

[chenmau]

Believe it or not, Campers Village has a decent selection of men's casual shoes.

[mersar]

Can anyone recommend places to buy mens casual shoes (think leather, but not 'dress shoes'), which are a good mix of quality and price? I am constantly worried in Calgary that I am paying top dollar for bottom quality, and not just for shoes.

SAS across from Chinook (in the mall where BMO is) is where I've been buying shoes recently. The current pair I have from there has lasted almost a year and no sign of wear really aside from the sole, leather is still in quite good condition. The old guy who runs the store knows what he's doing and the shoes are top quality (most are all handmade, all made in the US). I think the ones I have were about $150 and aren't overly dressy. I'm planning on getting a pair of sneakers from there this summer, I was going to earlier but I've completely stopped wearing my sneakers as these other shoes are too comfortable and fit far better.

[DizzyEdge]

Thanks for the tips. Basically, not that I would buy shoes from Walmart, but if I pay $150 for a pair I'd like them to wear substantially better than some $25 pair from Walmart, but that said I'm fine with paying $150 if they're worth it.

[mersar]

Thanks for the tips. Basically, not that I would buy shoes from Walmart, but if I pay $150 for a pair I'd like them to wear substantially better than some $25 pair from Walmart, but that said I'm fine with paying $150 if they're worth it.

I would say they are. Between me and my wife we've bought I think 4 pairs in the past 2 years and we're still wearing all of them.

[AB Born]

True Religion Brand Jeans opened today at CrossIron Mills. I had a chance to speak with two of the staff brought out from California to launch this store, and it is very much an outlet. They sound excited to be here sans the snow. :)

[Innersoul1]

True Religion Brand Jeans opened today at CrossIron Mills. I had a chance to speak with two of the staff brought out from California to launch this store, and it is very much an outlet. They sound excited to be here sans the snow. :)

That's good news! Perfect jeans to match Ed Hardy and Affliction t-shirts!

DOUCHEBAG!:D

I own a pair of TRB jeans :cool:

[lineman]

I'm actually quite impressed that this brand is still growing. I've known about them for about eight years and find their aesthetic tacky.

Hey, good for them.

[DizzyEdge]

I see the Forest Lawn No Frills is well underway, in fact the main store appears to be fully built as far as the structure itself, and two smaller buildings adjacent to 17th ave appear to be having their exterior cladding applied.

[tsumetai]

I'm actually quite impressed that this brand is still growing. I've known about them for about eight years and find their aesthetic tacky.

Hey, good for them.

Some of it is tacky, but I actually find their Joey cut to be one of the few "flared-bootleg" jeans to actually look decent and masculine.

I definitely don't have the patience nor the desire to buy a pair of raw denim and sleep & shower in it & wear it 24/7 and never wash it and wait for personal creases and fading to appear haha.

[Ramsayfarian]

Some of it is tacky, but I actually find their Joey cut to be one of the few "flared-bootleg" jeans to actually look decent and masculine.

I definitely don't have the patience nor the desire to buy a pair of raw denim and sleep & shower in it & wear it 24/7 and never wash it and wait for personal creases and fading to appear haha.

Espy in Inglewood has a great selection of non-douchebag jeans. I'm kind of partial to their Fidelity and some brand that starts with the letter M. Too busy too google it. I used to be a Lee/Levi guy now I just buy all my jeans there.
But they also do a groupon fairly often that's a great deal and the service is amazing.

[Policy Wonk]

A new mall proposal is being prepared for by a US based developer, should drop by the end of the summer. Phase one will be 600,000 square feet with another 300,000 square feet to follow depending on demand.

Proposal is said to be spearheaded by a US retailer after a fruitless eighteen month campaign for a suitable Calgary location which included trying to get Toys R Us or Safeway to give up their Market Mall locations and looking at the bowling alley at Chinook.

Supposedly the development will be on a country club and equestrian theme...

[Full Mountain]

A new mall proposal is being prepared for by a US based developer, should drop by the end of the summer. Phase one will be 600,000 square feet with another 300,000 square feet to follow depending on demand.

Proposal is said to be spearheaded by a US retailer after a fruitless eighteen month campaign for a suitable Calgary location which included trying to get Toys R Us or Safeway to give up their Market Mall locations and looking at the bowling alley at Chinook.

Supposedly the development will be on a country club and equestrian theme...

So access will be via ring road or major highway and won't be near a thing ala Cross Iron?

[Ramsayfarian]

So access will be via ring road or major highway and won't be near a thing ala Cross Iron?

Would be surprised if it's just west of the city where those RV dealerships and that Alberta BBQ, or whatever it's called now is located.

[DizzyEdge]

if it's equestrian theme couldn't it be near Spruce Meadows?

[Calgarian]

A new mall proposal is being prepared for by a US based developer, should drop by the end of the summer. Phase one will be 600,000 square feet with another 300,000 square feet to follow depending on demand.

Proposal is said to be spearheaded by a US retailer after a fruitless eighteen month campaign for a suitable Calgary location which included trying to get Toys R Us or Safeway to give up their Market Mall locations and looking at the bowling alley at Chinook.

Supposedly the development will be on a country club and equestrian theme...

Would this mean that the Sears in Chinook is already spoken for?

[Full Mountain]

Would be surprised if it's just west of the city where those RV dealerships and that Alberta BBQ, or whatever it's called now is located.

I was thinking more along Dizzy's suggestion, though this could be another spot

if it's equestrian theme couldn't it be near Spruce Meadows?

[Reesonov]

Supposedly the development will be on a country club and equestrian theme...

Fuck me. :yuck:

[Calgarian]

Fuck me. :yuck:

There needs to be a thumbs up or like button on SSP, because I agree with this post.

[AB Born]

Best Buy is closing 50 stores in the US, hopefully there won't be any delays in opening the 17th Ave SW location.

[Full Mountain]

Best Buy is closing 50 stores in the US, hopefully there won't be any delays in opening the 17th Ave SW location.

I suspect that Best Buy Canada has better market share in Canada considering it's ownership of Future Shop, additionally the market for luxury items in Calgary is much better than most of the US at this point in the recovery.

[WIGS]

A new mall proposal is being prepared for by a US based developer, should drop by the end of the summer. Phase one will be 600,000 square feet with another 300,000 square feet to follow depending on demand.

Proposal is said to be spearheaded by a US retailer after a fruitless eighteen month campaign for a suitable Calgary location which included trying to get Toys R Us or Safeway to give up their Market Mall locations and looking at the bowling alley at Chinook.

Supposedly the development will be on a country club and equestrian theme...

another mall, just what we needed. :rolleyes: and with a country club or equestrian theme no less :haha:

These malls aren't enough:
Chinook - 1.3M SF
CIM - 1.1M SF
Southcentre - 1M SF
Market Mall - 900k SF
Sunridge Mall - 800k SF

Not to mention The Core, Northland Mall, North Hill Centre, Marlborough Mall, Deerfoot Mall and power centres like Westhills, Crowfoot, Deerfoot Meadows, Sage Hill, and all the others I'm forgetting. sooo much retail :ahhh: lol

[AB Born]

A new mall proposal is being prepared for by a US based developer, should drop by the end of the summer. Phase one will be 600,000 square feet with another 300,000 square feet to follow depending on demand.

Proposal is said to be spearheaded by a US retailer after a fruitless eighteen month campaign for a suitable Calgary location which included trying to get Toys R Us or Safeway to give up their Market Mall locations and looking at the bowling alley at Chinook.

Supposedly the development will be on a country club and equestrian theme...

Lots of choices if they wanted to not build new... The CORE has tons of space, and CIM has almost an unlimited amount of space to expand if you include the land around it. Chinook has a fair amount of space, where FlatIron Grill was supposed to go and a few empty store fronts.

RioCan has a proposed mall at 17 Ave SE & Stoney Trail too.

[mersar]

RioCan has a proposed mall at 17 Ave SE & Stoney Trail too.

Just another power centre. They have their anchor tenants signed (Walmart, Empire Theatres, Lowes) and supposedly are breaking ground this summer or fall for a Fall 2013 opening. Its just shy of 1.6m square feet of retail over 3 phases. Plus they also have another project by Metis and Country Hills of about 1m square feet over multiple phases (both are joint projects with Trinity Developments and a few other groups)

[5seconds]

New farmers market out by Calaway Park

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2012/04/18/calgary-farmers-market-new-west-highway-1.html

[Ramsayfarian]

New farmers market out by Calaway Park

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2012/04/18/calgary-farmers-market-new-west-highway-1.html

That's where I suggested the Country Club themed mall might be going. That place is the kiss of death. A farmer's market might make it if they can get some good vendors.

[Jimby]

The market is only open one day a week which doesn't seem like a viable business model.

[fusili]

The market is only open one day a week which doesn't seem like a viable business model.

Overhead at a market is always extremely low. I think one day a week might be a good start.

[Rusty van Reddick]

The market is only open one day a week which doesn't seem like a viable business model.

I think it's terrible too, but I was surprised to find that the markets in London are also mostly open only one day a week, and at least one has been viable since the 13th century :)

The kitschiness of a "wild west" them just grates though- can't just be "western," have to be "wild west." So there'll be prostitutes and gunfights?

[fusili]

I think it's terrible too, but I was surprised to find that the markets in London are also mostly open only one day a week, and at least one has been viable since the 13th century :)

The kitschiness of a "wild west" them just grates though- can't just be "western," have to be "wild west." So there'll be prostitutes and gunfights?

The answer is yes. Yes there will be prostitutes and gunfights. That is how they will stay in business. The gunfights not so much, but the prostitutes for sure.

[freeweed]

The kitschiness of a "wild west" them just grates though- can't just be "western," have to be "wild west." So there'll be prostitutes and gunfights?

And cholera, and dysentery, and hostile Injuns, and broken wagon wheels.

Why yes, I did play Oregon Trail a bit too much.

[5seconds]

I think it's terrible too, but I was surprised to find that the markets in London are also mostly open only one day a week, and at least one has been viable since the 13th century :)


To be fair, most London markets are street markets, and don't have a dedicated building. The only permanent one I can think of off the top of my head, Camden, has businesses open pretty much throughout the week.

[Rusty van Reddick]

To be fair, most London markets are street markets, and don't have a dedicated building. The only permanent one I can think of off the top of my head, Camden, has businesses open pretty much throughout the week.

Somebody on here or on SSC did a photothread of London markets (I hate to call them Farmers' Markets but most seem to comprise a fresh food element among many other things) and it seemed as if all were open only one day.

I strolled through a (closed) Borough Market when I was in London a couple of weeks ago. That's the one that's been around for 800 years. They did have a couple of stands open and I got a sausage and egg buttie at one.

Anyway, it's nice to have a Farmer's Market that's not in the Blackfoot and Heritage cluster.

[YYCguys]

The Bearspaw Market (mostly outdoors, though some vendors are in the clubhouse) off of Bearspaw Road and Crowchild Trail has been one of my favorite markets. Check it out. It's small but really friendly vendors and not difficult to get to or maneover around once there.

[Innersoul1]

I think it's terrible too, but I was surprised to find that the markets in London are also mostly open only one day a week, and at least one has been viable since the 13th century :)

The kitschiness of a "wild west" them just grates though- can't just be "western," have to be "wild west." So there'll be prostitutes and gunfights?

You had me at prostitutes :frog:

Looks like Al Swearengen will be running the show there :tup:

[Full Mountain]

The place that was on this corner (http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=800+1+st+sw&hl=en&ll=51.045204,-114.06558&spn=0.000007,0.008245&gbv=2&hnear=800+1+St+SW,+Calgary,+Alberta+T2P+1N3&gl=ca&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=51.045204,-114.06558&panoid=Jnq66yMmwxqVAgdFpKA4Mg&cbp=12,290.99,,0,8.55) beside Deville, seems to be closed, there's been paper over the windows for a couple weeks

[Ramsayfarian]

You had me at prostitutes :frog:

Looks like Al Swearengen will be running the show there :tup:

<golf clap>

Here's a NSFW for those who don't know who Al Swearengen is.

vqMWBpwXX80

[Policy Wonk]

Not to mention The Core, Northland Mall, North Hill Centre, Marlborough Mall, Deerfoot Mall and power centres like Westhills, Crowfoot, Deerfoot Meadows, Sage Hill, and all the others I'm forgetting. sooo much retail :ahhh: lol

There are malls and there are malls...

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/1288/dirtmall.jpg

[Policy Wonk]

Lots of choices if they wanted to not build new...

The issue is just as often lease rates as availability. For the retailer in question they felt they could not make a satisfactory deal at a property they felt acceptable. They then turned to one of their US based landlords and pitched the idea of a Calgary development, which they are apparently running with.

[Policy Wonk]

Would be surprised if it's just west of the city where those RV dealerships and that Alberta BBQ, or whatever it's called now is located.

I don't believe that to be the case.

[Innersoul1]

HAHAHAHA Ramsay! That's an awesome clip!!

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whadaya have stagecoach to catch!?"

[WIGS]

^one of the funniest and disturbing clips I've seen. and that quote is just :haha:

[Ramsayfarian]

HAHAHAHA Ramsay! That's an awesome clip!!

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whadaya have stagecoach to catch!?"

That's one of my favourite lines of all time. Not sure if I could tell such a tale and still enjoy myself.

[bookermorgan]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned or anyone has more info, but I heard through the rumor mill (construction workers) that Apple is moving their Market Mall store to where the Tommy Hilfiger was.

[Jimby]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned or anyone has more info, but I heard through the rumor mill (construction workers) that Apple is moving their Market Mall store to where the Tommy Hilfiger was.

Someone I know who works there mentioned they were expanding the store so I guess that could include a move too.

The Bay is apparently in talks with Bloomingdale's to change some Bay locations to Bloomingdale's.

[Stang]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned or anyone has more info, but I heard through the rumor mill (construction workers) that Apple is moving their Market Mall store to where the Tommy Hilfiger was.

Can you refresh my memory as to where the Hilfiger store was? I'm sure I have seen it, but I can't think of where it was.

[Cage]

The Bay is apparently in talks with Bloomingdale's to change some Bay locations to Bloomingdale's.

Statement above is partly true. according to the news articles (http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/05/01/hbc-bloomingdales-canada.html) Bloomingdales would be a section of the existing Bay store. Just for arguement sake, lets say The Bay removed the Furniture and Appliances departments out of the store and put in a section dedicated to Bloomingdales merchandise. What has not been contemplated is transferring entire stores from Bay to Bloomingdales.

[Jimby]

Statement above is partly true. according to the news articles (http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/05/01/hbc-bloomingdales-canada.html) Bloomingdales would be a section of the existing Bay store. Just for arguement sake, lets say The Bay removed the Furniture and Appliances departments out of the store and put in a section dedicated to Bloomingdales merchandise. What has not been contemplated is transferring entire stores from Bay to Bloomingdales.

Thanks for the info. I know there are designer boutiques within department stores, but a department store within a department store seems strange to me.

[DizzyEdge]

What is the appeal of Bloomingdales? Are there brands they carry that the Bay doesn't? Are there Bloomingdales house brands?

[bigcanuck]

Can you refresh my memory as to where the Hilfiger store was? I'm sure I have seen it, but I can't think of where it was.

South end - across from Starbucks.

[Innersoul1]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned or anyone has more info, but I heard through the rumor mill (construction workers) that Apple is moving their Market Mall store to where the Tommy Hilfiger was.

This would make a lot of sense. One of the main issues in the current location is the space at the back of the store where all of the tech fixes are completed. There actually isn't a lot of space in the Genius workshop. So the TH location would provide a lot more space for that along with space for storage which is at a premium at the current location.

[Policy Wonk]

Market Mall is certainly the crappiest Apple Store I have ever been in.

[YYCguys]

The Apple Store at The Groves in LA has got to be the nicest Apple store I've been in. Two levels. Bright and spacious. Lots of room to move around, unlike in MM where you can't move a foot without bumping in to another customer or worker!

[Vascilli]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned or anyone has more info, but I heard through the rumor mill (construction workers) that Apple is moving their Market Mall store to where the Tommy Hilfiger was.

Ding ding that would be correct. Was told by an Apple employee.

[SpongeG]

What is the appeal of Bloomingdales? Are there brands they carry that the Bay doesn't? Are there Bloomingdales house brands?

thats what i was wondering too, i went to a few bloomingdales in california and most of them were like the bay, the downtown one in san fran carried some brands you'd find at holts like marc jacobs or louis vuitton but the rest wasn't much different, they did have a nice home decor section though

maybe it will be like the bloomingdales store they recently opened in dubai...

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/incoming/article423445.ece/ALTERNATES/g3l/Bloomingdales-Dubai5.jpg
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/bloomingdale-s-mulls-new-overseas-store-openings-426157.html

[You Need A Thneed]

Apparently the old Blockbuster location in Saddletowne circle is being turned into a CIBC.

Just what the world needs - 4 banks literally side by side in the same complex. Scotia, RBC, ATB, and now CIBC will be lined up in a row, and the TD isn't very far away. Can't we get some more restaurants/ shops?

[AB Born]

The old Blockbuster in Mckenzie Towne... Part of it is now a Chicken On The Way. Has anyone tried Chicken On The Way, is it good?

[mersar]

The old Blockbuster in Mckenzie Towne... Part of it is now a Chicken On The Way. Has anyone tried Chicken On The Way, is it good?

From what I've heard over the years, its the fried chicken equivalent of Denny's when you've been out drinking all night. At least for the Kensingten location.

[Rusty van Reddick]

The old Blockbuster in Mckenzie Towne... Part of it is now a Chicken On The Way. Has anyone tried Chicken On The Way, is it good?

Like most cherished culinary institutions, the reality often disappoints. I don't find their fried chicken all the great. Corn fritters are decent and honking huge, but if you want the best corn fritters you've ever tasted, get the ones at Big Cheese.

[Ramsayfarian]

The old Blockbuster in Mckenzie Towne... Part of it is now a Chicken On The Way. Has anyone tried Chicken On The Way, is it good?

It's great if you have a really bad hangover. Noticed they opened a store in Forest Lawn as well. I wonder if they started to Franchise.

[You Need A Thneed]

Calgary Northeast Farmers Market is starting up, mondays from 3:30 to 8 pm, starting in June and running until October. At the new Genesis Centre.

[WIGS]

It's great if you have a really bad hangover. Noticed they opened a store in Forest Lawn as well. I wonder if they started to Franchise.

I've been to the Forest Lawn one. I didn't have high expectations but they had a daily combo special so the price was really good. It was ok, nothing great, nothing terrible. ^_^

[ACT7]

How in the world does Brooks Brothers stay afloat in Calgary? I never see anyone in there. Such a massive store.

[SpongeG]

same as here - me and my friend are usually outnumbered by sales people and they like to hover, its always cricketsville in the store

[ACT7]

same as here - me and my friend are usually outnumbered by sales people and they like to hover, its always cricketsville in the store
I always feel like I'm doing something wrong in there with all the hovering.

[fusili]

How in the world does Brooks Brothers stay afloat in Calgary? I never see anyone in there. Such a massive store.

By selling very expensive clothes. You don't need high volume if you have high mark ups.

[Me&You]

By selling very expensive clothes. You don't need high volume if you have high mark ups.

I don't find the clothes to be any more expensive than, say, the upper end of Banana Republic and seem to be perpetually on sale... The probably still have high mark-ups, but I've started to wonder about them myself. That being said, any other Brooks Brothers store I've been to throughout NA has never been busy...

[Jimby]

Shoppers Drug Mart has bought the Paragon Pharmacies chain because we just don't have enough Shoppers locations in Calgary (sarcasm).

[DizzyEdge]

Shoppers Drug Mart has bought the Paragon Pharmacies chain because we just don't have enough Shoppers locations in Calgary (sarcasm).

All stores are Shoppers Drug Mart after the Franchise Wars.

[Innersoul1]

How in the world does Brooks Brothers stay afloat in Calgary? I never see anyone in there. Such a massive store.

You would be surprised how many people who work downtown shop at BB. They have a reputable name and they do sell quality clothing and offer great service.

The thing that surprised me about my first BB experience is that I went solely to try and buy some of the suits, ties etc featured in Mad Men. They really didn't offer much of it. I was surprised when the sales associate told me that the items were made almost exclusively for the show.

[ACT7]

You would be surprised how many people who work downtown shop at BB. They have a reputable name and they do sell quality clothing and offer great service.

Hey, I like BB. They do have a great brand and good quality clothing. But, honestly speaking, it's the emptiest BB I've ever seen.

[SpongeG]

they had a $25,000 watch on their website, i never saw one in store though

their black sheep label i think its called is really nice and very fashion oriented - the regular stuff is a little too preppy for my liking

[jeffwhit]

their black sheep label i think its called is really nice and very fashion oriented - the regular stuff is a little too preppy for my liking

Brooks Brothers is the official clothing supplier of the Yale College Republican crowd, afterall.

[Jimby]

DJ's Market at 46 X 11 SE is open for the season. They have paved the floor and bought some new shopping carts, but since the whole place is on a slant, you have to secure your cart or it will wander away in a hurry.
Although it is a produce market, they sell Hutterite bread, pies, and pickles, and probably other products will be available throughout the summer.
The cashier told me I would be back to buy more heirloom tomatoes because he said they taste so much better than regular tomatoes.

Another local retail business I like and would rather support than a large retailer is Garden Retreat at 201 60 Ave SW.

[stophs]

I was just checking out the Colliers listing for Hanson Square and it looks like North Face will be moving into the ground level retail location on the west end. A few of the other CRUs say "OFFER" on them. Would that mean that there's a lease being negotiated or an offer made?

[DizzyEdge]

I was just checking out the Colliers listing for Hanson Square and it looks like North Face will be moving into the ground level retail location on the west end. A few of the other CRUs say "OFFER" on them. Would that mean that there's a lease being negotiated or an offer made?

Do you know how many ground floor units there are?

[stophs]

Do you know how many ground floor units there are?

From the pdf on Colliers website (and walking by) it looks like 8 CRUs at the ground level. That being said some of the CRUs look pretty small (the smallest is 763 sq ft) so maybe some of them will be combined.

[outoftheice]

Not too sure if it has been mentioned but I was just browsing through the CMLC website and came across the Request for Proposal for a new block of retail in the East Village. The site is on 7th Ave and 4 St SE and based on the CMLC documents, what we could see is something very similar to Hanson Square. Of note:

In short, the EV retail strategy will marry destination-­‐styled, urban format retail with niche service-­‐oriented village retail to realize upwards of 300,000+ sq. ft. of retail development for the area... ...existing inner city residents currently patronize more peripheral retail nodes; larger-­‐scale retailers and developers are actively exploring more urban locations; the timing is ripe to plan and execute stacked larger-­‐format retail uses in EV rather than elsewhere in the downtown core

The retail concept document envisions large format retail on the second and third floor and even goes as far as to propose a movie theatre on the fourth and fifth floor. The full concept document can be found here: http://www.calgarymlc.ca/sites/default/files/page-attach/EastVillage_Retail_CONCEPT%200425_0.pdf

I think it is exciting to see more of this type of development happening in downtown Calgary. The East Village is probably a good choice for this type of retail as it provides easy access to the majority of downtown/beltline. The 4 St under-pass will make it easy to drive to should peope so choose and the City Hall LRT station will give easy access to the many condo residents who would be taking the train from either Erlton/Victoria Park or from the stations in the West end of downtown. According to the timeline the CMLC should be short-listing the proposals right now and the winning proposal should be made public in the early fall.

[DizzyEdge]

Looks like a mall.

[Full Mountain]

Looks like a mall.

A mall but better than average and it's not surrounded by a sea of parking, it'll be interesting to see what they select

[Policy Wonk]

That seems much too small to really become a destination, which was the plight of Eau Claire Market.

[Plus15]

It is good to see they are planning for this sort of thing - however I agree it is not big enough on its own to be successful. The large format stores and the theatres are a great idea - but that level in between with the smaller retail bays needs to be eliminated - it will likely look exactly like that one wing in Eau Claire that loops around near the SE entrance - vacant.

[You Need A Thneed]

That seems much too small to really become a destination, which was the plight of Eau Claire Market.

Not a destination in and of itself, but it would be directly beside BVC, the new central library, and close to the National Music Centre, and all of the new East village residents. If it was built and had a grocery store and a home store in it, it would be destination enough. It looks like it would be mostly to service the local area, and be another close destination for people who come nearby for the other destinations. I'm not sure how well to third floor smaller shops would do though.

Of course, this is just a concept design, and the final design could change that.

[DizzyEdge]

A mall but better than average and it's not surrounded by a sea of parking, it'll be interesting to see what they select

I just hope that doesn't become the trend, a blank slate and we fill it full of urban indoor malls with no retail street presence..

[Colin]

Is this the "RIFF" site? Or something completely different?

Edit: Nevermind, I just looked concept design and saw that it's a different site

[Full Mountain]

I just hope that doesn't become the trend, a blank slate and we fill it full of urban indoor malls with no retail street presence..

Good point, really hoping they have more interaction with the street.

[Ramsayfarian]

That seems much too small to really become a destination, which was the plight of Eau Claire Market.

That, and it was ahead of its time. If Eau Claire opened today, I think it would do a lot better.

[outoftheice]

The concept actually reminds me a lot of this building at Yonge and Dundas Square which features a Future Shop on the second floor, several shops and a small food court on the third floor and movie theatres and restuarants on the fourth floor. Both fourth floor restaurants offer patios that look down on the street and are a great place to enjoy the sun in the afternoon. If the developer included the restaurants, the buildings would almost be exact copies of each other... fingers crossed that they do as I think Calgary could use a few more destination patios downtown.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=yonge+and+dundas+square,+toronto&hl=en&ll=43.656286,-79.381094&spn=0.000004,0.004128&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=63.472213,135.263672&t=h&hnear=Yonge+St+%26+Dundas+Square,+Toronto,+Toronto+Division,+Ontario+M5B+2C3,+Canada&z=19&layer=c&cbll=43.656325,-79.380903&panoid=pFrm_RI8mg8cvz6L5fofbQ&cbp=12,26.15,,0,-13.16

[fusili]

fingers crossed that they do as I think Calgary could use a few more destination patios downtown.


1410 will definitely become a destination patio IMO.

[Policy Wonk]

That, and it was ahead of its time. If Eau Claire opened today, I think it would do a lot better.

Ahead of its time? Eau Claire as it was developed didn't have a time. It was just a catastrophically stupid idea. Things could have been very, very different...

[Policy Wonk]

Not a destination in and of itself, but it would be directly beside BVC, the new central library, and close to the National Music Centre, and all of the new East village residents. If it was built and had a grocery store and a home store in it, it would be destination enough. It looks like it would be mostly to service the local area, and be another close destination for people who come nearby for the other destinations. I'm not sure how well to third floor smaller shops would do though.

Of course, this is just a concept design, and the final design could change that.

I don't see this being workable in this form unless it is substantially big box.