General Retail News

[Dundas]

What the hell is a Box grocery store? That store on tenth line looks like its going to be small.

[jslath]

Originally Posted by Dundas

What the hell is a Box grocery store? That store on tenth line looks like its going to be small.

Box by No Frills... Google is a wonderful thing, LOL.

[waterloowarrior]

Interesting, I never heard of Box before either. Basically a no frills No Frills lol
http://www.canadiangrocer.com/top-st...w-banner-40669

[Dundas]

So No frills is a crappy Loblaws,
So Box is a crappy No frills crappy Loblaws.
Got it!

[rocketphish]

Box? Never heard of it. Is this an attempt by Loblaws to fend off Dollarama's (and other dollar stores') encroachment on the low-end food sales market?

[Requin]

Some info here:
http://www.boxfoodstores.ca/en_CA.html

Who We Are
BOX™ is designed for smaller locations to offer customers a convenient shopping experience with everyday low prices on fresh food, dairy, bakery, grocery and general merchandise items, including products from popular brands like no name® and President’s Choice®.

At BOX™, we don't spend money in advertising a weekly flyer or building fancy displays. That's why you'll find great low prices in every corner, every day

[HighwayStar]

Originally Posted by Dundas

So No frills is a crappy Loblaws,
So Box is a crappy No frills crappy Loblaws.
Got it!

Doesn't Superstore fit between "No Frills" and "Loblaws" ??

[11a2b3]

Originally Posted by Requin

Some info here:
http://www.boxfoodstores.ca/en_CA.html

Reminds me of Valdi.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by 11a2b3

Reminds me of Valdi.

The guy who sang ''Play me a rock and roll song"?

[citydwlr]

I believe it was posted a while back, but, Laura Secord at Bank Street and Queen Street closed several months ago. Walking by it today, I noticed there is some wood panelling up on the exterior walls of the retail space. A quick Twitter search revealed that it will likely be a coffee shop (not Bridgehead, apparently). I'm speculating, but based on the wood panelling, the only one that comes to mind is Morning Owl, which has a location a block-and-a-half south, on Bank. That place is extremely busy at peak times, so maybe they are moving to a slightly larger space in a more visible location?

Also, speaking of Morning Owl, it seems as though a pop-up Morning Owl has appeared on Elgin (380 Elgin Street) over the last few days as part of a new clothing boutique called "The Common".

[11a2b3]

Originally Posted by Acajack

The guy who sang ''Play me a rock and roll song"?

Had to look that up. Didn't know a musician shared a similar name.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?n...,4027133&hl=en. Valdi discount foods was a chain of smallish warehouse stores.

[DEWLine]

They actually went and trademarked "Box" as a retail brand?

[Requin]

Box by No Frills is now open in Orleans, checked it out briefly yesterday. It was quite busy. Attempted to check it out on Sunday, but walked about after seeing the massive lineup at the cash.

It is indeed VERY small for a grocery store, so they only stock the basics. There were some pretty good deals. Produce looked to be of decent quality. I didn't recognize some of the brands available, such as Sterling coffee and expected to see mostly either national/well known brands or PC. I didn't notice any prepared foods that you could take out for lunch/dinner.

I was also surprised to see that some of their general merchandise includes wireless routers and the like. An interesting choice considering Canada Computers is next door.

Will be interesting to see how they fare in this location, which is already heavily served by other chains. I could see myself dropping in regularly to pick up few things after leaving the gym a couple of doors down.

Online flyer:
http://flyers.smartcanucks.ca/canada...to-19/single/1

[kevinbottawa]

According to Retail Insider, Ottawa is getting a second Saks OFF 5TH location inside the downtown Hudson's Bay. Sucks it's not a full Saks but it's better than nothing I guess.

http://www.retail-insider.com/retail...1/saks-off-5th

[TheGoods]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

According to Retail Insider, Ottawa is getting a second Saks OFF 5TH location inside the downtown Hudson's Bay. Sucks it's not a full Saks but it's better than nothing I guess.

http://www.retail-insider.com/retail...1/saks-off-5th

Same here, would have preferred a full Saks but I guess our budget is more in line with an Off the Fifth. I don't think we have the demographics to support a Saks. I noticed in an article in the Business Wire stating that Off the Fifth will be in the basement of the current Bay:

“We are delighted to have Saks OFF 5TH open in the lower level of the Hudson’s Bay Rideau store in Ottawa,” stated Liz Rodbell, President of Hudson’s Bay. “Having Saks OFF 5TH join our Ottawa store will enhance the overall shopping experience at Rideau and offer our customers an expanded assortment of merchandise at complementary price-points under one roof.”

http://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...cations-Canada

[J.OT13]

God no! Can't be in the basement. That would be so Ottawa to have a high-class store in the basement of the Bay.

Best option would have been to put them in the taller section between the main Freiman Building and Chapters/Woolworth, where the now demolished skywalk punched through.

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

God no! Can't be in the basement. That would be so Ottawa to have a high-class store in the basement of the Bay.

Best option would have been to put them in the taller section between the main Freiman Building and Chapters/Woolworth, where the now demolished skywalk punched through.

That would take up over 75% of the square footage though. Any other relocations (i.e. immediately eastward) requires reconstruction and displacing other tenants.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

God no! Can't be in the basement. That would be so Ottawa to have a high-class store in the basement of the Bay.

Best option would have been to put them in the taller section between the main Freiman Building and Chapters/Woolworth, where the now demolished skywalk punched through.

Well, if Saks Off 5th doesn't work out down there, maybe they could get a Filene's

[MichelKazan]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

That would take up over 75% of the square footage though. Any other relocations (i.e. immediately eastward) requires reconstruction and displacing other tenants.

God forbid we displace McDonald's, Tim Horton's and the payday loans place........

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

God no! Can't be in the basement. That would be so Ottawa to have a high-class store in the basement of the Bay.

Best option would have been to put them in the taller section between the main Freiman Building and Chapters/Woolworth, where the now demolished skywalk punched through.

Saks Off 5th isn't really high class, it's just like Winners or Marshall's selling leftover fashion. In fact, it's a good fit for the Bay's basement, more people would go there.

They should punch another entrance to the LRT through there, though, It would be cool to have an underground passageway/mall between Chapters and the Bay, with an exit out on to George