The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[Panpillsnoo]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

Remember the scented watches?

I have those lying around in one of the boxes

[jollyburger]

No building permits yet for the old Roots location or their possible new home at 929 Robson.

And Payless Shoes is just something short term until they figure out the 800 Granville rezoning I assume. Seems like it's a Halloween shop?

https://www.merchantofdream.com/

[NewfBC]

The Body Shop Canada to close 33 stores, end online sales

The Body Shop will close 33 of its Canadian stores and end online sales, the Canadian subsidiary of the U.K. beauty and cosmetics shop announced.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/the...sing-1.7131045

Kinda sad to see this one go (well 1/3 of the stores for now.. but we know how that usually ends)...

Ron.

[jollyburger]

Royal Bank is moving into the old HSBC in Yaletown.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Royal Bank is moving into the old HSBC in Yaletown.

Well, Royal Bank bought HSBC's Canadian operations.

But I have to imagine they will close the Pacific Blvd RBC location that's pretty much across the street.

[theKB]

So out of curiosity... will the Bay finally initiate bankruptcy proceedings when their last elevator breaks down?

The main escalators now are broken, there is no direct access from pacific centre anymore, the main floor has a growing odour from the water leak issue they had, which seems to be just covered and has no work being done. They have closed down partial floors and a lot of their sales seem very liquidation style (example woman's shoes area has big sections of inventory priced at 9.99, 19.99 etc). A lot of empty shelves.

The bay was never great for shopping in my opinion but its truly sad to see this hallowed brand being absolutely run into the ground.

[RedArbutus]

Originally Posted by theKB

So out of curiosity... will the Bay finally initiate bankruptcy proceedings when their last elevator breaks down?

The main escalators now are broken, there is no direct access from pacific centre anymore, the main floor has a growing odour from the water leak issue they had, which seems to be just covered and has no work being done. They have closed down partial floors and a lot of their sales seem very liquidation style (example woman's shoes area has big sections of inventory priced at 9.99, 19.99 etc). A lot of empty shelves.

The bay was never great for shopping in my opinion but its truly sad to see this hallowed brand being absolutely run into the ground.

Man, I was in there a few weeks ago and it has really gone downhill. The escalators not working was one thing - some of them have been like that for years - but 1/4 elevators operating, huge swaths of empty space everywhere...it's really, genuinely sad. The building is beautiful and if I'm going to shop at a department store I'd rather support a Canadian company than anything else.

Still mourning Nordstrom, though.

[hollywoodnorth]

yup it is a HUGE joke what a shit show THE BAY is now.

[SpongeG]

I remember reading that article a few months back that a number of their suppliers or the places they buy from stopped shipping products to them and it's getting noticeable now. One of them seems to be the Polo Ralph Lauren stock is not getting replenished.

[bluefox]

Total first-world problem but I am already mentally preparing myself for the inevitability that I'm going to have to start schlepping my way out to Metrotown to get Nespresso capsules once the Bay closes downtown. But that's just it, it speaks volumes about what the Bay is now, I would only go there to get a product sold out of a concession and wouldn't shop there otherwise.

Like others here, I really hope they can figure out a proper turnaround and get a much needed capital injection, but it's hard when your owners only seem concerned with the value of the real estate and not the retail.

[connect2source]

Anyone know of other downtown flagship Hudson's Bays are in such dire states, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary? I know the escalator in the Park Royal location has been out of service for months.

[jollyburger]

Toronto got that renovation to combine it with Saks so it's probably in better shape. I wonder if they even have the resources to dump money into an Oakridge opening at this point.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Anyone know of other downtown flagship Hudson's Bays are in such dire states, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary? I know the escalator in the Park Royal location has been out of service for months.

Calgary's shrank with adding two restaurants and an event space, plus a floor or two for a tech company. It has needed a renewal for a while.



The entire chain feels like they're waiting until their leases/owned properties are worth enough to sell.

[connect2source]

On that note, Macy's is closing 150 more locations including the iconic downtown San Francisco flagship on Union Square. Guess they and Hudson's Bay are on death watch.

[connect2source]

Swatch, 1100 block Robson, is now open.
Photos by me:

[jollyburger]

Adidas applied for a new sign permit for an Adidas logo on the Terrex store on West 4th

to install an illuminated fascia sign on the south elevation of this existing commercial building as follows: adidas LOGO - no copy

https://plposweb.vancouver.ca/Public...ctId=225995687

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Toronto got that renovation to combine it with Saks so it's probably in better shape. I wonder if they even have the resources to dump money into an Oakridge opening at this point.

Except weren't the Bay Vancouver's downtown elevators recently redone?

Anyway, it must be catching: the escalator at the Bay in Richmond yesterday:

[IMG]IMG_8380 by bcborn, on Flickr[/IMG]
my photo

[giallo]

Is there a people-moving device that breaks down more than elevators? Every city I've lived in has this issue.

The problem with Metro Vancouver is that the few maintenance companies in the area can't keep up with the demand. I'd think it would be a good business to get into.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by giallo

Is there a people-moving device that breaks down more than elevators? Every city I've lived in has this issue.

The problem with Metro Vancouver is that the few maintenance companies in the area can't keep up with the demand. I'd think it would be a good business to get into.

Escalators?

Elevator maintenance is a racket. A few companies control the market, and there are some restrictions on the number of new people entering the trade as I understand it.

[theKB]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Toronto got that renovation to combine it with Saks so it's probably in better shape. I wonder if they even have the resources to dump money into an Oakridge opening at this point.

Toronto eaton centre has escalators down as well. But the overall condition of the space is nowhere near as bad as Vancouver.

Lots of empty shelves in Toronto however.

Metrotown you have to leave the store to go between floors, but the fact that there is zero access from Pacific centre blows my mind. Seems related to the water leak incident. They had staff situated downstairs to direct customers. I'm not sure why they don't just close that entrance entirely, can't see the zellers offering doing much business.