General Retail News - Page 24

Acajack · #**461** Posted **Apr 13, 2012, 6:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

Wouldn't those two stores create their own traffic?

Perhaps, but companies like these aren't big on these types of gambles...

At least that's what I think.

BlackRedGold · #**462** Posted **Apr 13, 2012, 9:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by c_speed3108

The Sparks Zellers is going to be tricky.

46000 is a funny size.

Most department type stores would not touch that size...too small.

On the other hand it is big for many types of stores.

Good size for an urban grocery store. Sobeys has been pretty aggressive in opening in downtowns in other cities.

TransitZilla · #**463** Posted **Apr 14, 2012, 2:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackRedGold

Good size for an urban grocery store. Sobeys has been pretty aggressive in opening in downtowns in other cities.

Except that Sobeys is already planning to open a few blocks away in Tribeca at Metcalfe & Lisgar.

m0nkyman · #**464** Posted **Apr 14, 2012, 5:59 PM**

It's just about the right size for a downtown Winners location though.

eternallyme · #**465** Posted **Apr 14, 2012, 9:40 PM**

Would it be better just to convert that to office space?

rodionx · #**466** Posted **Apr 15, 2012, 12:20 AM**

It's not a bad site for retail. That Zellers was packed with office workers on weekdays and got decent business from locals even on the weekend. It's well known to Centretown parents as a place to get cheap toys, for example.

Of course, these debates always seem to end in Shoppers Drug Mart. I predict one on the main floor, and another in the basement.

Uhuniau · #**467** Posted **Apr 15, 2012, 3:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eternallyme

Would it be better just to convert that to office space?

If your intent is to douse one of the last embers of life on Sparks Street, yes.

Uhuniau · #**468** Posted **Apr 15, 2012, 3:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodionx

It's not a bad site for retail. That Zellers was packed with office workers on weekdays and got decent business from locals even on the weekend. It's well known to Centretown parents as a place to get cheap toys, for example.

Of course, these debates always seem to end in Shoppers Drug Mart. I predict one on the main floor, and another in the basement.

With a Shoppers Drug Mart within the one in the basement.

J.OT13 · #**469** Posted **Apr 15, 2012, 2:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

If your intent is to douse one of the last embers of life on Sparks Street, yes.

What life on Sparks Street?

McC · #**470** Posted **Apr 16, 2012, 2:43 PM**

first new post from Midcentury Modernist in a while gives a typically excellent history of the building http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2012/04/s...rt-1-of-5.html
+1 to m0nkeyman's suggestion of a Winners. it seems about the right size, and the downtown Winners in Montreal does great business.

c_speed3108 · #**471** Posted **Apr 16, 2012, 3:00 PM**

I like the Winners idea as far plain jane retail goes.

========================

It would cool if we generate something unique that would be a draw bucketloads of people.

As an example a permanent Lululemon outlet type store with some sort of Yoga facility in basement or something.

McC · #**472** Posted **Apr 16, 2012, 3:17 PM**

is there such a thing as an "urban outlet" -- I realize you were looking for a "unique" idea, but is that even a possible business model? I would think they'd be better off with a marquee store (maybe along with practice space in the basement) given what I imagine to be the economics of the location. But it seems pretty big for just them?

c_speed3108 · #**473** Posted **Apr 16, 2012, 5:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by McC

is there such a thing as an "urban outlet" -- I realize you were looking for a "unique" idea, but is that even a possible business model? I would think they'd be better off with a marquee store (maybe along with practice space in the basement) given what I imagine to be the economics of the location. But it seems pretty big for just them?

I might still be too big. Depending on what you include. I was trying to figure out something that people would go nutso over. I thought of their recent sale at the CE centre with Parking problems and all the rest and thought maybe there is some way to extend that idea.

There probably is no such thing as an urban outlet, but maybe being first is what we need to be on Sparks - provided the economics could work somehow.

I wanted something that is

a) one of a kind (so it is an attraction to the street)

b) something people go stupid nuts over.

Kitchissippi · #**474** Posted **Apr 16, 2012, 5:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by c_speed3108

I wanted something that is

a) one of a kind (so it is an attraction to the street)

b) something people go stupid nuts over.

Like if the Apple Store moved from the Rideau Centre to set up a flagship-type store on Sparks

Cre47 · #**475** Posted **Apr 17, 2012, 12:17 AM**

Wou hoo! Gatineau gets a fourth Wal-Mart (sarcasm).

It will replace the Zellers on St-Joseph. Aren't all those Wal-Marts too close. There's already one in Le Plateau, only five minutes from Place Cartier. Then another one just off Maloney and Hwy 50, about 7-8 minutes away from St-Joseph and 5 minutes further down the oldest Wal-Mart of the bunch on Maloney near the Sports Complex. Four Wal-Marts within a 15-20 minute-drive.

eternallyme · #**476** Posted **Apr 17, 2012, 1:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cre47

Wou hoo! Gatineau gets a fourth Wal-Mart (sarcasm).

It will replace the Zellers on St-Joseph. Aren't all those Wal-Marts too close. There's already one in Le Plateau, only five minutes from Place Cartier. Then another one just off Maloney and Hwy 50, about 7-8 minutes away from St-Joseph and 5 minutes further down the oldest Wal-Mart of the bunch on Maloney near the Sports Complex. Four Wal-Marts within a 15-20 minute-drive.

Yet there isn't one in Aylmer, nor one in Buckingham/Masson...so they are indeed clustered.

Acajack · #**477** Posted **Apr 17, 2012, 1:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cre47

Wou hoo! Gatineau gets a fourth Wal-Mart (sarcasm).

It will replace the Zellers on St-Joseph. Aren't all those Wal-Marts too close. There's already one in Le Plateau, only five minutes from Place Cartier. Then another one just off Maloney and Hwy 50, about 7-8 minutes away from St-Joseph and 5 minutes further down the oldest Wal-Mart of the bunch on Maloney near the Sports Complex. Four Wal-Marts within a 15-20 minute-drive.

The only positive in this is that Village Place Cartier will not become an abandoned eyesore on St-Joseph.

McC · #**478** Posted **Apr 27, 2012, 7:25 PM**

Survey question:
Is the Indochino pop-up store the coolest thing to happen in male-oriented retail in Ottawa since...
(a) ever
(b) Y2K
(c) last week
(d) other (please specify)

bikegypsy · #**479** Posted **Apr 28, 2012, 12:34 AM**

According to Collier, Ottawa is ready for international retail chains

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/busines...156/story.html

Admiral Nelson · #**480** Posted **Apr 28, 2012, 4:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by McC

Survey question:
Is the Indochino pop-up store the coolest thing to happen in male-oriented retail in Ottawa since...
(a) ever
(b) Y2K
(c) last week
(d) other (please specify)

It is pretty cool. I actually dropped by on Wednesday and got myself fitted for a suit. I'll see in three weeks if it was worth my time.