[Rusty van Reddick]

nood opened recently on 11th Ave SW where Soho+Nada was (just east of Brewster's). It's a great store- sort of a cross between Ikea and a pricier Danish design store; it's actually based in New Zealand. Check it out, it's very interesting and a great addition to a strip that has enough high-end home stuff.

[Me&You]

according to Deerfootmeadows website (http://deerfootmeadows.com), coming soon, Gap Generation, Banana Republic Factory store, and NOOD (a furniture store i believe).

NOOD (New Objects Of Desire) has a store on 11th ave north of the Safeway.... (deleted 'cause Rusty said it all).

Edit - damn, diddn't read to the end of the thread and Rusty beat me to it...

[srperrycgy]

Best Buy is now open at WestHills. "Soft" opening this past Friday with a grand opening to come.

[mersar]

Good to know. Not sure if anyone has mentioned it but Bed Bath and Beyond in Brentwood has also opened recently

[Yume-sama]

Best Buy is now open at WestHills. "Soft" opening this past Friday with a grand opening to come.

Yay!! :banana:

[Vascilli]

Best Buy is now open at WestHills. "Soft" opening this past Friday with a grand opening to come.

I should be behind the photo counter. :hell:

[Rusty van Reddick]

Good to know. Not sure if anyone has mentioned it but Bed Bath and Beyond in Brentwood has also opened recently

HOW COULD I HAVE MISSED THIS? Thanks for the update!

[srperrycgy]

I should be behind the photo counter. :hell:

They're still hiring. :rolleyes:

[Vascilli]

They're still hiring. :rolleyes:

They never called for the final interview. :maddown:

[srperrycgy]

They never called for the final interview. :maddown:

That sucks, but Xmas is coming, so you never know.

[Vascilli]

I told them I'd be happy to work seasonal. I suspect part of the reason I wasn't hired was the days I could work. (Weekends, and only one weeknight of some sort) If not, then it's off to Blacks just down the sidewalk.

[srperrycgy]

And speaking of that sidewalk, they were rebuilding them today at WestHills. It's a bit of a clusterf* there right now. I felt like I needed to bring out the steel-toed boots. Not a safe area for pedestrians....but it's WestHills, the pedestrian paradise.

[SpongeG]

NOOD is cool - they have 50% off sales (the entires store) quite often - just a hint if you see something you like

[SpongeG]

Chinook Centre: A City Within A City

As Chinook Centre prepares for its 50th anniversary in 2010, the shopping centre has released a new book that tells the tale of both Chinook and the city of Calgary over the past half century. As Calgary has grown, so too has Chinook Centre.

By Monica Zurowski, Calgary Herald

Te dream started in a dusty field, about a half-mile south of town.

Save for the chirping of a few crickets, the air was still. The first star of the night twinkled in the sweeping prairie sky. To the west, the Rockies faded from purple to grey, as the sun slipped behind them.

Headlights of vehicles cut through the dusk, as a small line of cars made its way from Calgary towards the field. Western Canada's first drivein theatre was about to open. It was May 12, 1949, and it was opening night at the Chinook Drive-In Theatre.

This drive-in would change the face of entertainment in the area for years to come. More importantly, however, it would lead to a dream--the dream of creating Chinook Centre, a development that has helped shape the city of Calgary for five decades and continues to do so today.

When the Chinook Drive-In opened, the Second World War had ended just five years earlier. Cities across North America were moving from an era of difficulty and despair into an age of innovation and optimism.

Inventions burst forward in every field imaginable. A new device called a "stored-program computer" began operation. The first 45-rpm records were introduced. And an awe-inspiring contraption called a Polaroid camera sold for a whopping $89.95.

At the same time, the drivein theatre was becoming an entertainment phenomenon. Created by a guy from New Jersey who nailed a bed-sheet screen to trees in his backyard in 1932, the concept was emerging as the ultimate family diversion.

Five Calgary businessmen knew a good idea when they heard it and decided to bring the drive-in to town. Mervyn "Red" Dutton, Reg Jennings, Frank Kershaw, Harold Millican and Ross Henderson established Western Drive-In Theatres Ltd., with Chinook being their initial drive-in project and one of the first in Canada. When Chinook opened in 1949, there were about 1,000 drive-ins in North America. That number soared to almost 5,000 in less than 10 years.

The movie on Chinook's opening night was Perils of Pauline, with The Count of Monte Cristo taking the big screen the following week.

Admission to Chinook was only 60 cents, while children under 12 were admitted free. Telling of the times were the newspaper ads used to lure Calgarians south of city limits to the drive-in. "Smoke if you like! You can't annoy anybody!" trumpeted one ad, while other promotional lures included "no babysitters; save the cost" and "Don't Dress up! Come as you are."

"The war was over, the economy was starting to explode, and, the drive-in was the place to be for families," says Donald McGregor, whose father Ken honed his promotional and management skills with the Western Drive-In group, before becoming one of Chinook Centre's first managers.

The opening of the Chinook Drive-In Theatre brought together the people, the land and the ideas that would eventually lead to the development of Calgary's largest shopping centre. Step one was complete.

As the 1950s drew to a close, drive-in theatres declined in popularity. . . . When Chinook Drive-In opened, there were only about two million television sets in North America. By the time its closure was announced in the late 1950s, that number skyrocketed to more than 41 million (of which 150,000 were colour sets.) An increasing number of people were choosing to stay at home and make television their number one entertainment choice.

The owners of Chinook, however, were visionaries and they quietly began discussing new options before the decline began.

They were always on the lookout for the next opportunity and the next big thing. Three of them--Red Dutton, Reg Jennings and Frank Kershaw-- had an inkling what that next big thing would be: The shopping centre.

"Just as the automobile helped revolutionize the theatre industry, so is the private passenger car revolutionizing commerce," Kershaw said in an interview with Calgary Herald writer Merv Anderson in the late 1950s.

"The motoring public wants handy parking facilities and one-stop shopping."

Within days of Chinook's announcement that a shopping centre would be built, the official sod-turning ceremony was scheduled. A variety of dignitaries, including Chunky Woodward, were scheduled to arrive in Calgary for the event on Sept. 19, 1958, but the weather wreaked havoc on the day.

When Woodward attempted to leave Vancouver for Calgary that morning, the de-icing equipment on his scheduled TCA(Air Canada's forerunner) plane malfunctioned. An elegant 1 p.m. luncheon at the Palliser Hotel, meant to celebrate the occasion of the sod-turning, was cancelled. Woodward and a handful of his company's Vancouver-based managers were moved to the next available flight to Calgary, but that flight was running late.

The noon sod-turning was postponed to 4 p.m. to await the Vancouver group's arrival, but the weather had one more trick to play.

The drive-in theatre's screen was scheduled to be toppled over, as Woodward dug out the first shovel full of dirt for the new centre. The wind, however, was growing stronger throughout the day and eventually blew over the partially-dismantled screen before the official ceremony and sod turning occurred.

Despite the wind and a rainstorm, spirits were high.

Woodward stood, smiling and surveying the site, before plunging a shovel into the ground. The shovel itself was a significant symbol of the day. It was a $1.49 spade, which had been used to turn the sod for Woodward stores across western Canada, a tradition started by Woodward's late father in 1952.

The now-defunct Albertan newspaper noted that Woodward indicated the project "would be the first one of its size conceived and arranged for entirely in western Canada. . . . It was an indication of what westerners could do when they joined forces."

Mayor Mackay presented each of the developers and visitors with a white hat. Despite the wind and rain, the hats held steady, a symbol of what Calgarians have always valued --hard work, big dreams and optimism.

. . . On opening day, thousands sands of

Calgarians were taking in the spectacle of the new Chinook Shopping Centre. Final cost had come in at $12.5 million --$8 million for the buildings and $4 million for the fixtures.

The centre was an open-air mall (except for an underground concourse) and consisted of two sizable blocks of retail stores and services, along with the substantial Woodward's complex.

. . . Within Chinook Centre, Calgarians discovered a world of shopping wonder, exploring stores and services that many described as "very modern."

At Sterling Shoes, for example, 15,000 pairs were for sale in the relatively new "salon style" store. That meant only one pair of each style of shoes was put on display, removing rows of shoeboxes from the shopper's view. If a customer wanted a certain size, the salesperson went to a back room to fetch them. It was very innovative at the time. . . . And, "if you fancy a baby alligator handbag, there's one here for about $300," said a newspaper ad supplement.

Most clothing and accessories, however, were priced in the mid-range. Wool suits for men started at $39.95 at MacLeod Bros. For women, nylons were 39 cents a pair at Reitman's, Reit-

blouses cost $2.88 to $3.88 at Career Girl and car coats started at $15.88, with prices rising higher if the coats featured the stylish mink trim.

Betty Shop, which was becoming a favourite stop for women's attire, advertised clothes for the college crowd and beyond. "Women no longer don a black dress and shawl when they hit the 40-year milestone," the shop noted in the opening day supplement. "In many cases it's difficult to tell where the campus years end and the matronly ones begin. Women are dressing gay and young as they please now, ignoring the calendar."

In addition to clothing stores, Chinook Centre housed a florist, bakery, jeweler, furniture shop, drug store, shoe repair, deli, piano store, cigar shop, camera and stationery stop, bowling alley and a Calgary Herald newspaper office. Shoppers could even find a myna bird named Mickey that greeted visitors at Spence's Shoe Shop.

. . . . Besides these 45 stores and services, Chinook was home to a variety of medical offices, belonging to doctors, dentists, chiropractors, X-ray technicians and optometrists. . . . New ideas and inventions were touted at every turn of the mall. At Woodward's, there were leading-edge cash registers "that do everything but talk," with automatically closing drawers. . . . The advertising supplement noted a public library branch also opening in the centre would allow smoking: "Good lighting and air-conditioning add extra comfort and make it possible to feature a smoking and browsing room--something new for Calgary."

"Chinook Shopping Centre is a city within a city," continued the supplement. "About 1,000 persons are employed within its boundaries, with 1,800 on special sale days. Whether he's a super busy executive or a bus boy, his job is important and affects the smooth working of the entire centre."

Progress, however, never stands still. And while Calgarians celebrated the opening of Chinook, the owners were already thinking about future development. The centre's opening day press release noted that Chinook's first expansion would include construction of two-storey retail areas that would be enclosed. Other development would feature an eight-storey structure, which would house more stores, a medical clinic and offices.

A theatre was being planned, and also being considered were an auditorium and skating rink. Tentative cost would be $4 to $5 million. Chinook Centre was indeed becoming a city within a city --a city that was destined to keep growing.

REPRINTED FROM CHINOOK CENTRE: A CITY WITHIN A CITY, AVAILABLE MONDAY AT CHINOOK CENTRE'S KIOSK IN CENTRE COURT AND AT CHAPTERS IN THE MALL. ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE BOOK WILL BENEFIT LOCAL LITERACY AGENCIES THROUGH CANWEST'S RAISE-A-READER

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Chinook+Centre+City+Within+City/2225342/story.html

[Yume-sama]

Aspen Landing is coming along well. Though, no sign of Thai Tai.

So I got frustrated, and contacted them :P February 2010 they expect to open :(

Marble Slab and Broken Plate should be opening up any time now. Marble Slab has full signage!

Also, there is a really massive Cupcake store coming soon. Yeah, Cupcakes.

[YYCguys]

Aspen Landing is coming along well. Though, no sign of Thai Tai.

So I got frustrated, and contacted them :P February 2010 they expect to open :(

Marble Slab and Broken Plate should be opening up any time now. Marble Slab has full signage!

Also, there is a really massive Cupcake store coming soon. Yeah, Cupcakes.
:notacrook:

[Yume-sama]

The Westhills Famous Players (now a Cineplex Odeon) has been completely renovated. New exterior, new interior, new theaters, new seats... stadium style, no ramp.

And, if you go on Tuesdays you get free popcorn and drink with movie ticket :notacrook:

Now people don't HAVE to go to Chinook unless they want to see an IMAX film :P

[mersar]

The reno's are done? Good to hear.

The theatre in Cochrane reopen's tonight after its expansion (ok, well it was closed for 2 days, the existing 2 screens were still in use during the construction of the 3 new screens) so I'm thinking of going and checking it out, should be nice to actually have a selection of movies out there.

[Yume-sama]

I'm not sure they are completely done, but, some of the theaters are at least done.

[bigcanuck]

Aspen Landing is coming along well. Though, no sign of Thai Tai.

So I got frustrated, and contacted them :P February 2010 they expect to open :(

Marble Slab and Broken Plate should be opening up any time now. Marble Slab has full signage!

Also, there is a really massive Cupcake store coming soon. Yeah, Cupcakes.

Any word on Wok Box? Or Broken Plate?

[Wentworth]

Last time I drove past, Broken Plate had a "coming soon" sign posted, but no date, and I'm not even sure where in the complex it will be located. No info on either WokBox or Broken Plate's web sites.

[MasterG]

The Westhills Famous Players (now a Cineplex Odeon) has been completely renovated. New exterior, new interior, new theaters, new seats... stadium style, no ramp.

And, if you go on Tuesdays you get free popcorn and drink with movie ticket :notacrook:

Now people don't HAVE to go to Chinook unless they want to see an IMAX film :P

Thank god haha. I had no problem with Westhills, because the lines at Chinook were stupid. Westhills is a fine theatre, no lines, lots of seats.

I avoid Chinook the friday/saturday night crowds they are crazy! They could double the number of screens and still be sold out there. Westhills is the way to go :tup:

[Yume-sama]

Last time I drove past, Broken Plate had a "coming soon" sign posted, but no date, and I'm not even sure where in the complex it will be located. No info on either WokBox or Broken Plate's web sites.

Yeah, I drove around today and couldn't find them at all.

M&M Meatshops opened today, and a Flower shop opened in the last couple of days, too. Crave Cupcakes is the name of the cupcake store, which looks to be opening soon. It is a REALLY big store, I'll be interested to see if they make it, the rent must be expensive. Though, they will probably follow the model of a chain of Vancouver cupcake stores that sells them for around $3 - $4 each, they are so worth it, though :P Good Earth Cafe is coming along, and Marble Slab *looks* finished, but still not open.

[mersar]

Crave Cupcakes is the name of the cupcake store, which looks to be opening soon. It is a REALLY big store, I'll be interested to see if they make it, the rent must be expensive. Though, they will probably follow the model of a chain of Vancouver cupcake stores that sells them for around $3 - $4 each, they are so worth it, though :P

This will be Crave's 4rd location in the city now, the others on Kensingten Road, 17th Ave and Willow Park, so I doubt the rents are any worse in Aspen Hills then those first two places. Their web site says the new one opens Dec 1

[Rusty van Reddick]

The Westhills Famous Players (now a Cineplex Odeon) has been completely renovated. New exterior, new interior, new theaters, new seats... stadium style, no ramp.

FANFUCKINGTASTIC! I hope the seat are as comfy as before. WH is the only non-downtown theatres I go to (easy drive or 6 bus from Bankview), and I'd been reading about how WH was going to be converted to a Silver City years ago- like 9 years ago.

Thanks for the update!

[Vascilli]

They also have "new" arcade machines, and by that I mean they bought used ones from somewhere. They're all pretty beat up except for the Guitar Hero machine which they probably blew their budget on. They do have pinball, and most people don't play it, which is good because you also don't have to pay. (Press the coin return button)

[srperrycgy]

Nice to hear that it's finished. Been there the past two Sunday nights and it was a bit of a disaster.

[jeffwhit]

Thank god haha. I had no problem with Westhills, because the lines at Chinook were stupid. Westhills is a fine theatre, no lines, lots of seats.

I avoid Chinook the friday/saturday night crowds they are crazy! They could double the number of screens and still be sold out there. Westhills is the way to go :tup:
Wow, awesome. I have hurt my neck every time at westhills. Sometimes it seemed like seating was sloping down away from the screen.

[srperrycgy]

Went to CrossIron Mills this morning. Not bad. A few stores that I haven't seen yet. Access was great with the new exit off of the QE2. I'd go back, but not on a weekend. :)

[Ramsayfarian]

Noticed today that Guardian Drugs is opening a store in the Louise Block. It might do well considering there isn't a store anywhere near there. One would think that a drugstore would be going into Keystone.

[Jimby]

Noticed today that Guardian Drugs is opening a store in the Louise Block. It might do well considering there isn't a store anywhere near there. One would think that a drugstore would be going into Keystone.

You mean Keynote? There is the new Shopper's Drug Mart in Vetro/Sasso which is close to there.

[Ramsayfarian]

You mean Keynote? There is the new Shopper's Drug Mart in Vetro/Sasso which is close to there.


yeah I meant Keynote. Shoppers is like the Starbucks of 2009/2010. I won't be surprised when Shoppers announces that they're in financial trouble due to over expansion.

[octothorp]

Since Fashion Central is still behind schedule, some of the tenants planned for Fashion Central will be opening up temporary stores in Art Central, so that they can still have a storefront during the Christmas season. Not sure which tenants this includes, but at least one of them will be open by First Thursday this week.

[Doug_Cgy]

There's now H&M hoarding on the 3rd level of the Core right next to Holt Renfrew.

[agent_imperial]

There's now H&M hoarding on the 3rd level of the Core right next to Holt Renfrew.

Good news in my opinion... H&M can be a good place to pick up some cheap items. I hope this store has their full line of men's business wear unlike the other locations in Calgary.

[bigcanuck]

There's now H&M hoarding on the 3rd level of the Core right next to Holt Renfrew.

We want a Big 'n Tall shop in the core again. There used to be one where Belgo currently is but it shipped out a while ago.

I'm on the tall side of things with an above-average sleeve length. Basically, anything purchased downtown except for made-to-order won't fit (shirts, suits, blazers, jackets, etc.).

[Plus15]

Good news in my opinion... H&M can be a good place to pick up some cheap items. I hope this store has their full line of men's business wear unlike the other locations in Calgary.

The store is going to be a flagship location, 2 levels and about 28,000 square feet (twice the space as Market Mall). It should carry all lines and will also carry "Trend" and promo designers such as the recent Jimmy Choo collaboration which was only available in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. A huge coup for downtown - and the lower price point will contrast nicely with the stratospherical Holt Renfrew next door.

[Stang]

Speaking of the Core, is it worth heading down there yet (in terms of things open already)? Also, when is the expected completion date?

I must admit that I haven't had much a reason to go in there lately during construction, but I am certainly curious.

[Rusty van Reddick]

Speaking of the Core, is it worth heading down there yet (in terms of things open already)? Also, when is the expected completion date?

I must admit that I haven't had much a reason to go in there lately during construction, but I am certainly curious.

Holt Renfrew is absolutely worth the visit, as is seeing the skylight in person. However, the rest of the mall is very much under construction, though you might find that part interesting too.

[frinkprof]

Apparently there will be a Lowe's on Sunridge Way NE, near Barlow Trail and 16th Ave.

Google Streetview of site (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Calgary&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=28.109852,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Calgary,+Division+No.+6,+Alberta&ll=51.069232,-113.994999&spn=0.026697,0.109863&t=h&z=14&layer=c&cbll=51.069324,-113.995873&panoid=E6QrO8zHGrr9yXowpPQnsQ&cbp=12,218.42,,0,1.7)

[mersar]

Apparently there will be a Lowe's on Sunridge Way NE, near Barlow Trail and 16th Ave.

Google Streetview of site (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Calgary&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=28.109852,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Calgary,+Division+No.+6,+Alberta&ll=51.069232,-113.994999&spn=0.026697,0.109863&t=h&z=14&layer=c&cbll=51.069324,-113.995873&panoid=E6QrO8zHGrr9yXowpPQnsQ&cbp=12,218.42,,0,1.7)

Yep. They've done the grading for the site and it looked like they'd staked out the building footprint last time I was up there.

[Wentworth]

In the obscure retail news column: Sweetgrass Market (@ 85th St. SW and 9th Ave) relaunched yesterday as the Westside Farmers Market, under the new ownership of the Simple Simon Pie guy. We were in there today and though they have a lot of great little retailers, the customer traffic was really slow. Mind you, the new Aspen Landing Safeway doesn't seem to be doing much business either. The west side is turning out to be a retailing dead zone.

[Ramsayfarian]

I was in TD Square the other day and I noticed that Play is gone and I don' think it's a victim of the renos as there is now a Telus store in it's location. Sad to see it go and not just because I had store credit.

[unibrain]

I was in TD Square the other day and I noticed that Play is gone and I don' think it's a victim of the renos as there is now a Telus store in it's location. Sad to see it go and not just because I had store credit.

Yeah, their Market Mall store also closed a few months ago... I went by the TD Play store this summer, and there was a notice of landlord seizure posted on the gate... all their stuff was still inside.

[Rusty van Reddick]

I was in TD Square the other day and I noticed that Play is gone and I don' think it's a victim of the renos as there is now a Telus store in it's location. Sad to see it go and not just because I had store credit.

They went out of business. All locations.

[Ramsayfarian]

Yeah, their Market Mall store also closed a few months ago... I went by the TD Play store this summer, and there was a notice of landlord seizure posted on the gate... all their stuff was still inside.

While it's a shame to lose an independant record store I am not surprised to see it close. I would consider myself an avid music fan and my purchase have gone from an average of $150 a month to about $20.

[bigcanuck]

In the obscure retail news column: Sweetgrass Market (@ 85th St. SW and 9th Ave) relaunched yesterday as the Westside Farmers Market, under the new ownership of the Simple Simon Pie guy. We were in there today and though they have a lot of great little retailers, the customer traffic was really slow. Mind you, the new Aspen Landing Safeway doesn't seem to be doing much business either. The west side is turning out to be a retailing dead zone.

It's always been slow at Sweetgrass (now Westside). It's always lacked the retailers who will drive up the traffic. It was a big step forward when they actually brought in a fresh fruit/veggie vendor but their stall was still too small to be effective. The niche retailers they do have are great but may not be enough to make it a 'wandering' destination much like the Calgary Farmers Market. Most people won't necessarily go out of their way to pick up some flash frozen meat unless it's a very specific meal/request.

My thoughts: Viva tea is great - large selection, Simple Simon Pies was a good addition, some of the prepared food vendors have good offerings (Greek, Indian), and the ice cream shop is quite reasonable!! Let's hope it keeps afloat.

[freeweed]

I was in TD Square the other day and I noticed that Play is gone and I don' think it's a victim of the renos as there is now a Telus store in it's location. Sad to see it go and not just because I had store credit.

Play was one of the most expensive places for DVDs and such. When I first moved here I was astounded that they could even remain in business, let alone with downtown shopping mall rents.

I don't buy a lot of physical music anymore so maybe they were cheaper on the CDs, but I honestly never once found something there that wasn't 20-100% more expensive than the HMV down the hall.

[Ramsayfarian]

Play was one of the most expensive places for DVDs and such. When I first moved here I was astounded that they could even remain in business, let alone with downtown shopping mall rents.

I don't buy a lot of physical music anymore so maybe they were cheaper on the CDs, but I honestly never once found something there that wasn't 20-100% more expensive than the HMV down the hall.

I never priced out their DVDs but their CD prices were better than HMV, at least for the type of music I listen to, not sure how their top 40 prices compared. Play also had a buyers club where you receive x amount of points for your purchase that could be redeemed for free CDs. Not to mention it was locally owned.

[Vascilli]

I thought HMV was badly organized. Then I went to Play. Good riddance. (Didn't have any good music anyhow)

[AB Born]

It looks like the Calgary Zoo store at CrossIron Mills has closed.

[Plus15]

It looks like the Calgary Zoo store at CrossIron Mills has closed.

It was a temporary filler store. I beleive American Eagle is replacing it.

[Stang]

It was a temporary filler store. I beleive American Eagle is replacing it.

I was in there the other day and I noticed that. I also noticed that the staff had the back door open and there was a huge, undeveloped space in the innards of the mall.

It looked quite a bit larger than what one AE store could occupy (although this was a quick glance - didn't want to be creepy). I then started to notice that there are a few little stores around the mall that don't run very deep.

So my completely uneducated guess would be that there's a fair amount of space that remains unused at the mall that stores could one day expand into.

[Plus15]

You're bang on. There are a lot of temporary shops that have a false partition wall 20 or 30 feet back from the lease line. This way, the mall creates the illusion of being "full" with no dark holes. The space the Calgary Zoo pop up store was occupying is a full 8,400 sq.ft. - of which maybe 1,000 sq.ft. of the front portion was actually in use. The mall is still only around 80% leased...but there are few if any dark storefronts. It probably silenced a lot of naysayers who were tricked into thinking the mall was "full".

[Vascilli]

Wind Mobile is launching here in Calgary tomorrow at 10am at 1013 17th Ave, I'll be there after school to check it out. Details here. (http://www.windmobile.ca/community/WIND-news/detail/ready-roll-calgary-friday/)

[kap384]

Deville signs up now @ Fashion Central. Not sure when it's opening. Shouldn't be long. Lots of progress on the entire block.

[jeffwhit]

Wind Mobile is launching here in Calgary tomorrow at 10am at 1013 17th Ave, I'll be there after school to check it out. Details here. (http://www.windmobile.ca/community/WIND-news/detail/ready-roll-calgary-friday/)

With free incoming calls, you could get their android phone, sign up for a google voice number and never use a single minute of call time. (google voice calls you to connect the call.)

[eggbert]

With free incoming calls, you could get their android phone, sign up for a google voice number and never use a single minute of call time. (google voice calls you to connect the call.)

No android or iphone on Wind unfortunately. At least not yet.

http://shop.windmobile.ca/ProductCatalog/Handsets/

[Vascilli]

No android or iphone on Wind unfortunately. At least not yet.

http://shop.windmobile.ca/ProductCatalog/Handsets/

That really, really annoys me. The Maple or Huawei phones would be really nice with Android, but no.. :shrug:

[jeffwhit]

oops, I was under the impression the Huawei was an Android phone. You can use google voice without a specific app though, just the web interface works more than fine. There is also a google voice app for the Blackberry.

Anyway, with G-voice and a smart phone on Wind, absolutely free calling in North America.

[Vascilli]

I wish it was, it happens to be the cheapest, too. I won't be getting any data yet, my mom pays my bill for the time being and between my sister and I it's ~$70. Now on Wind we have to stay under that, so data's out of the question.

[Rusty van Reddick]

That really, really annoys me. The Maple or Huawei phones would be really nice with Android, but no.. :shrug:

..but with only 2100 band HSPA? So it'll work in Japan on 3G but not here. That's nuts.

I'm heading down there to see if they at least have a UIUC SIM card so I can, maybe, use my unlocked Nokia E71. If I'm seeing the numbers right I'd be saving enough to swallow the cost of leaving my Rogers plan early. But not if I can't get on 3/3.5G.

[Radley77]

The core is lookin' mucho sexy! A lot more scaffolding is down, and the Body Shop has glass windows overlooking a +15 streetscape. You can see the full length of the skylight now, and it's crazy how well hidden some of the mechanical supports are. It looks sooo open.

I wonder how they will clean the glass? I think I have seen some people walking on it when it was being installed. The thought of walking on that glass makes me sick. I know the PetroCanada ground level skylight has a mechanical device that rolls over top, will the Core skylight have something similar?

[Vascilli]

..but with only 2100 band HSPA? So it'll work in Japan on 3G but not here. That's nuts.

I'm heading down there to see if they at least have a UIUC SIM card so I can, maybe, use my unlocked Nokia E71. If I'm seeing the numbers right I'd be saving enough to swallow the cost of leaving my Rogers plan early. But not if I can't get on 3/3.5G.

Won't be happening unless you feel like roaming on Rogers at $0.25/minute. The E71 doesn't have AWS bands, and that's all Wind has. They aren't selling SIMs only yet either. (Dec 25)

[Rusty van Reddick]

Won't be happening unless you feel like roaming on Rogers at $0.25/minute. The E71 doesn't have AWS bands, and that's all Wind has. They aren't selling SIMs only yet either. (Dec 25)

Yep, learned the same. Nice store though.

[wild wild west]

It looks like the Calgary Zoo store at CrossIron Mills has closed.


Speaking of CrossIron, I heard a rumour that visits to the mall have lowered drammatically since the first few weeks after opening, and that a lot of the stores are struggling (although others, Bass Pro in particular, are thriving). Anyone else heard anything similar?

[MichaelS]

All second hand rumour (dad talking to a store owner in the mall), but heard that many of the stores are in on a short term lease, to keep the mall filled for the holiday shopping rush. Curios to see how it looks come spring/early summer, when supposedly many of these leases expire.

[Ramsayfarian]

Speaking of CrossIron, I heard a rumour that visits to the mall have lowered drammatically since the first few weeks after opening, and that a lot of the stores are struggling (although others, Bass Pro in particular, are thriving). Anyone else heard anything similar?

I've had friends and co-workers tell me that the mall wasn't that busy when they were there. No doubt visits will have dropped after the opening week.

[mersar]

I've had friends and co-workers tell me that the mall wasn't that busy when they were there. No doubt visits will have dropped after the opening week.

My parents were there on the weekend, they said it was definitely slower then their previous visit soon after opening but still fairly busy.

[You Need A Thneed]

I wonder how different it would be if they had just stacked stores on top of each other. It's so far to walk between store if the two stores you want to go to are on opposite ends of the mall.

[Bassic Lab]

My parents were there on the weekend, they said it was definitely slower then their previous visit soon after opening but still fairly busy.

Fairly busy during the Christmas shopping rush could be a very bad sign. Other malls have been packed. Chinook Centre has been as busy as ever.

[Yume-sama]

The fact it's somewhat out of the way off of a death trap of a highway during Winter weather may explain why it only gets "fairly" busy compared to others in the city.

I certainly wouldn't risk my life for whatever is at Crossiron Mills.

[freeweed]

Calgary is still very underserved by retail compared to similarly-sized cities. I don't think they have much to worry about, once the biggest recession in 2 decades ends.

If a place like Northland can survive, when there's never ANYONE in the mall, I think CIM might just do OK.

[mersar]

If a place like Northland can survive, when there's never ANYONE in the mall, I think CIM might just do OK.

If it wasn't for Walmart, Future Shop and Best Buy, Northland would have probably been gone a long time ago now. That said, I don't find it too dead when ever I'm there.

And speaking of Northland, Shaganappi Chev has moved into their temporary tent showroom while renovations are being done, there were a couple excavators parked in front of the old showroom this morning and it appears they ripped up most of the parking lot by the piles of rubble when I went by tonight. I'm not sure the extent of the renovation, but its supposedly in the multi-million dollar range.

[Doug_Cgy]

I was at Crossiron this past weekend, and it was packed. I think it will do just fine. I honestly prefer it to Chinook...Shorter drive for me, and when the entertainment wing opens, I'll go even more.

[Wentworth]

Fairly busy during the Christmas shopping rush could be a very bad sign. Other malls have been packed. Chinook Centre has been as busy as ever.

When I was at Chinook Centre on Saturday, shopping traffic was surprisingly modest for the last shopping weekend before Christmas, in my opinion.

Also, I went shopping at Westhills on Saturday night and didn't even have to contend with checkout lineups, not even at Superstore or Zellers.

[wild wild west]

Calgary is still very underserved by retail compared to similarly-sized cities. I don't think they have much to worry about, once the biggest recession in 2 decades ends.

If a place like Northland can survive, when there's never ANYONE in the mall, I think CIM might just do OK.

Well that's true. Deerfoot Mall is another one that has struggled for years and is still around for some reason. I did check out CrossIron a couple of times over the Xmas shopping season and while it was quite busy, it certainly wasn't as busy as I would expect for a big mall at X-mas shopping season. Sunridge, for example, seems busier, and Chinook is always a zoo.

Anyways, perhaps the short term is iffy but I think over the long term CrossIron will do okay. Airdrie is probably the fastest growing city in Alberta right now and new communities in Calgary like Skyview and Redstone will eventually be home to tens of thousands of people a few minutes drive away from the mall. Plus, access is excellent even though it's at the edge of the city, being practically at the intersection of HWY 2 and the ring road. Anyone living in north Calgary can probably drive to CrossIron in much less time than Chinook.

[craneSpotter]

Speaking of CrossIron, I heard a rumour that visits to the mall have lowered drammatically since the first few weeks after opening, and that a lot of the stores are struggling (although others, Bass Pro in particular, are thriving). Anyone else heard anything similar?

Well that is due in part to a large drop in retail spending in Alberta over the past 12 months. Retail spending was down $450 million in October 2009 compared to 2008, or about 9% overall. More than half of that drop was in the Calgary region. The drop is likely to continue in 2010 if natural gas prices don't improve soon.

The timing of the opening of a large retail centre during a recession will make it a tough go for many stores in Crossiron for a while - that and its location relative to the population concentrations in the Calgary region at present.

[mersar]

Retail spending was down $450 million in October 2009 compared to 2008, or about 9% overall. More than half of that drop was in the Calgary region. The drop is likely to continue in 2010 if natural gas prices don't improve soon.

I don't think most people have realized but natural gas has rebounded already compared to earlier this year. Granted it is the middle of winter, but the current price for Henry Hub is around $5.75/mmbtu and even AECO is around $5.25/GJ currently which puts it back pretty close to some of its higher historical price points excepting that one spike where it flew way past before it crashed back a few days later. The biggest issue from this past year was the huge supply that was in storage, most of which will be expended by the time winter is over.

In terms of CIM, the one thing I keep hearing though is the roads still need improving, the 'alternate way to Calgary' they've got signed out using 144th ave to Metis is in pretty bad shape as soon as it got snow covered.

[freeweed]

In terms of CIM, the one thing I keep hearing though is the roads still need improving, the 'alternate way to Calgary' they've got signed out using 144th ave to Metis is in pretty bad shape as soon as it got snow covered.

It was at best a cow trail (parts, anyway) even before the snow. I couldn't imagine using it today.

[lubicon]

I don't think most people have realized but natural gas has rebounded already compared to earlier this year. Granted it is the middle of winter, but the current price for Henry Hub is around $5.75/mmbtu and even AECO is around $5.25/GJ currently which puts it back pretty close to some of its higher historical price points excepting that one spike where it flew way past before it crashed back a few days later. The biggest issue from this past year was the huge supply that was in storage, most of which will be expended by the time winter is over.

It's still a struggle for anyone to make money at that price, unfortunately. Cost ahve come down, but still not to the point that it is economic to drill for gas. The forecast for 2010 is calling for more oil wells to be drilled in Alberta than gas wells, for the first time in 40 years. And oil drilling is holding more or less steady, not increasing significantly. That gives you an idea of how much gas drilling has fallen off the face of western Canada.

[freeweed]

:previous: Fine by me, because cheap gas means more oilsands development which is arguably the future of this province. Plus, less gas extracted now means longer-term resources for Canada (as opposed to the "we only have 20 years left" comments we kept hearing in 2007).

Of course, if this whole carbon fad takes off, it will be a completely different story. But not many parts of the world will be booming in that event anyway.

[YYCguys]

...Anyways, perhaps the short term is iffy but I think over the long term CrossIron will do okay. Airdrie is probably the fastest growing city in Alberta right now and new communities in Calgary like Skyview and Redstone will eventually be home to tens of thousands of people a few minutes drive away from the mall. Plus, access is excellent even though it's at the edge of the city, being practically at the intersection of HWY 2 and the ring road. Anyone living in north Calgary can probably drive to CrossIron in much less time than Chinook.

I've never heard of Redstone before. What do we know about this?

[You Need A Thneed]

I've never heard of Redstone before. What do we know about this?

Redstone will be between Skyview Ranch and Stoney Trail. North of Skyview Ranch.

[octothorp]

Not exactly Calgary related, but McNally Robinson is closing two more stores, including their Toronto location. As I remember it, they pulled out of Calgary in part because they felt that their Toronto location had a lot more promise; given how the recession seems to have hit Calgary less than some other cities, I wonder if they regret that decision in retrospect.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jvH7bZODJyIz2MZB1_dVQfg8C2gQ

[Vascilli]

The Sportchek in their place is such a waste of good space. (Same with Winners, actually)

[Ramsayfarian]

Not exactly Calgary related, but McNally Robinson is closing two more stores, including their Toronto location. As I remember it, they pulled out of Calgary in part because they felt that their Toronto location had a lot more promise; given how the recession seems to have hit Calgary less than some other cities, I wonder if they regret that decision in retrospect.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jvH7bZODJyIz2MZB1_dVQfg8C2gQ
They would still be closing stores if they had stayed in Calgary.

As I recall, they sold their Calgary location before the shit hit the fan and fled Dodge for cheaper parts. It appears that they made the mistake of staying in the book selling business.

Tough enough to find readers, then you're competing with the price, selection and the convenience of buying books online.

[Surrealplaces]

Sort of Calgary related. Globalive has chosen Calgary along with Toronto to start the rollout of their network.

Globalive Opening Retail Stores in Toronto Today

By Hugo Miller

Dec. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Globalive Communications Corp.’s Wind Mobile is opening 18 stores and kiosks in Toronto today after winning permission from the Canadian government to start offering wireless service.

“Our big focus right now is on expanding our footprint,” Wind Mobile Chief Executive Officer Ken Campbell told reporters today in Toronto. “There’s a lot of work to do to build this network nationally.”

Globalive, backed by Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris, is challenging BCE Inc., Telus Corp. and Rogers Communications Inc., which account for 95 percent of the Canadian wireless market. All three are cutting jobs and investing in their discount brands as they gear up for a clutch of new mobile-phone operators led by Globalive.

The company has almost 800 workers now and plans to employ more than 1,000 by year’s end as it hires more staff across Canada, Campbell said. Research In Motion Ltd.’s BlackBerry Bold 9700 is one of the handsets being offered.

Globalive’s network will start in Toronto and Calgary, with plans to add coverage in Vancouver, Ottawa and Edmonton. Globalive, based in Toronto, won permission to operate Dec. 11, after the government overturned a regulatory decision. Industry Minister Tony Clement deemed Globalive a Canadian company -- a requirement for it to compete in the mobile-phone market against the three largest carriers.

Handsets Offered

...

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=ab0NkIi13O1M

[Vascilli]

I believe they opened shop December 18th. They've got coverage issues on the edges of the city, for example no coverage west of 85th Street SW.

[RedStar]

I don't think most people have realized but natural gas has rebounded already compared to earlier this year. Granted it is the middle of winter, but the current price for Henry Hub is around $5.75/mmbtu and even AECO is around $5.25/GJ currently which puts it back pretty close to some of its higher historical price points excepting that one spike where it flew way past before it crashed back a few days later. The biggest issue from this past year was the huge supply that was in storage, most of which will be expended by the time winter is over.


It may be close to historic averages but for this time of year, each of the past three years has seen AECO above $6. Storage, as of last week, is still 13% above the 5 year average. That storage won’t get eaten away unless the east coast goes into a prolonged cold spell and shale gas drilling in the States slows down even more. Significant gas drilling in Alberta won’t begin again until AECO is consistently above $7. In the past it may have made sense to drill with $5 or $6 gas but unless everybody is willing to work for their 2004 salary, its not going to happen.

[mersar]

Chinook expansion to include first Abercrombie & Fitch in Calgary
By Dan Healing, Calgary Herald
January 6, 2010 11:33 AM
http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/2010wintergames/Chinook+expansion+include+first+Abercrombie+Fitch+Calgary/2411911/story.html

CALGARY - Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister Co., and Apple will be included in Chinook Centre's expansion project, the shopping mall announced Wednesday morning.
The new additions are to open next fall with the rest of the expansion project.

Abercrombie & Fitch, renowned for casual, classic and trend-right clothing, will open its first Calgary store, a 7,811-square-foot store on the main level, while Hollister will open a 7,014-square-foot location on the upper level. Hollister Co. offers Southern California inspired clothing for the laid-back and free-spirited. Both stores mark their foray into the Calgary market with their Chinook Centre locations.

Apple will increase its Calgary presence with over 5,000 square feet of new retail space for Apple fans to test-drive new products and learn more about the latest and greatest Apple products.
...



Just a bit of an update

[Yume-sama]

Well, at least they left "high quality" out of their description.

[Jay in Cowtown]

About fricking time... and no I'm not 16!

[Doug_Cgy]

I'm happy Abercrombie's coming to town, although I was really hoping "The Core" would be the mall to land them. Love 'em or hate 'em, these stores are attractions, and I think it would have been a big draw for "The Core".

[Plus15]

I'm happy Abercrombie's coming to town, although I was really hoping "The Core" would be the mall to land them. Love 'em or hate 'em, these stores are attractions, and I think it would have been a big draw for "The Core".

I agree on all points. Glad they're coming, somewhat dissapointed that massive growth on the front side of Chinook absorbed what could have been 3 key retailers for downtown (Apple signed onto Chinook as well). The H&M deal at the CORE also apparently fell through, one day they had H&M hoarding up and listed it on their website, the next the hoarding is gone and the website deleted all reference to it. Interesting.

[Ramsayfarian]

I agree on all points. Glad they're coming, somewhat dissapointed that massive growth on the front side of Chinook absorbed what could have been 3 key retailers for downtown (Apple signed onto Chinook as well). The H&M deal at the CORE also apparently fell through, one day they had H&M hoarding up and listed it on their website, the next the hoarding is gone and the website deleted all reference to it. Interesting.

I can't fault a retailer for picking Chinook over the Core. Even with the awesome reno's the Core is only going to be busy Monday-Friday 10-5:30pm.
It's a bit of a catch-22 for the Core, they won't draw the shoppers without a goto tenant and they won't land that tenant without having the shoppers.

[Doug_Cgy]

I can't fault a retailer for picking Chinook over the Core. Even with the awesome reno's the Core is only going to be busy Monday-Friday 10-5:30pm.
It's a bit of a catch-22 for the Core, they won't draw the shoppers without a goto tenant and they won't land that tenant without having the shoppers.

That's the thing. Although, I believe having stores you cannot find anywhere else in town would be a big draw for them to attract people to visit the mall outside of office tower hours. Sadly, No matter how beautiful it is (and it will be GORGEOUS)...The Core offers nothing that people can't find at Chinook or Crossiron...aside from Holt.

I'm not trying to knock the Core by any stretch...If any mall succeeds, I wish it to be them. Just stating what I think Calgarians in general think, and a nice, pretty skylight sadly won't change that. :(

[Rusty van Reddick]

TThe Core offers nothing that people can't find at Chinook or Crossiron...aside from Holt.

That, for me, is part of its appeal. As an inner-city dweller, I would much rather shop at The Core on a Saturday, with ample cheap parking, lots of transit, or even the ability to walk or bike, than have to endure the traffic and crowds at Chinook... and at Market Mall or Chinook, you have the mall and the parking lot. At The Core you have all of downtown, hundreds of places for lunch and not only those in the food court, AND you have the same stores you'd otherwise have to go to the suburban malls for.

Just wish there was still Eddie Bauer downtown.

[Ramsayfarian]

That's the thing. Although, I believe having stores you cannot find anywhere else in town would be a big draw for them to attract people to visit the mall outside of office tower hours. Sadly, No matter how beautiful it is (and it will be GORGEOUS)...The Core offers nothing that people can't find at Chinook or Crossiron...aside from Holt.

I'm not trying to knock the Core by any stretch...If any mall succeeds, I wish it to be them. Just stating what I think Calgarians in general think, and a nice, pretty skylight sadly won't change that. :(

I'm sure the Core would love to have A&F or the Apple store sign a lease, as management knows they would be a huge draw, but most retailers want to go where the people are. On the other hand, shops like Holt Renfrew wouldn't be caught dead in Chinook. The last thing they want is a hoard of mouth breathers waddling through their store.

I do most of my consumering at TD Square, main reason is that I can park at Gulf Square, breeze in and breeze out in less than an hour. I don't shop, I conduct lightening fast commando raids with pin point precession.

[DizzyEdge]

That, for me, is part of its appeal. As an inner-city dweller, I would much rather shop at The Core on a Saturday, with ample cheap parking, lots of transit, or even the ability to walk or bike, than have to endure the traffic and crowds at Chinook... and at Market Mall or Chinook, you have the mall and the parking lot. At The Core you have all of downtown, hundreds of places for lunch and not only those in the food court, AND you have the same stores you'd otherwise have to go to the suburban malls for.

Just wish there was still Eddie Bauer downtown.

I suppose as the innercity/centre city population increases whatever failings The Core has as a destination from outside of the area will be mitigated by it's appear as a 'regular mall' for those inner dwellers + daytime work crowd.