Canadian Retail Thread

[Plus15]

Originally Posted by m0nkyman

My point was that, as huge and dominant as it is, it is getting beaten. That it does matter that it is slowly degrading. That appearance and maintenance matter. That one of Edmonton's main tourist attractions should smarten. the. fuck. up.

It matters to me because if the folks from Yellowknife, Ft. Mac and every rural town in the north decide that it's worth the negligible extra time to go down and shop in Calgary at Chinook, 'cause WEM isn't as nice as it used to be, then they won't see my ads, and maybe come to my store.

Clear?

No argument here...appearance and maintenance do matter. It just doesnt matter to the bosses WEM. Manulife place is shiny and will always have Holt Renfrew and a scattering of prestige retailers. It caters well to a small (affluent) percentage of shoppers. But its not competing with WEM and it's certainly not a threat to WEM's dominance.

WEM had no trouble signing deals with Zara, Bose, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, Lacoste, French Connection UK, Urban Outfitters, Bebe, Forever 21, G-Star Raw, H&M...despite the mall's physical degradation. What big name, high traffic draw stores have opened up at Manulife or City Centre recently that point to it 'beating' WEM? I know of none.

[SpongeG]

we used to drive 8 hours to get to Edmonton - not primarily for shopping but we would always hit WEM - i can't imagine driving a few more hours to go to Calgary - that would be insane

[SpongeG]

Shopping malls set sights on regional growth

Major retail conference being held in Alberta

Canada's shopping malls are filling their carts with new businesses as they reinforce their role as a major retail industry player.

Despite playing second-fiddle to surging power-centre growth over the last decade, shopping centres say they still want to be the primary place where customers shop 'til they drop.

Industry officials say that they expect the mall format to become popular once again, even though Vaughan Mills - the mega-mall north of Toronto that includes a mix of outlet and non-outlet retail along with entertainment features - is the only regional mall that's been built in Canada in the last 15 years.

"Over the next five to seven years, regional shopping centres should re-emerge as a growth centre of our business, probably on the peripherals of the cities - on main traffic arteries," says Bob Knight, retail vice-president for Western Canada for the Oxford Properties Group.

New enclosed regional shopping centres will also surface on a limited basis, he adds. But these newer malls may well be different than their earlier cousins, which were traditionally anchored by a number of department stores.

"They may well be unanchored, meaning there will be no department stores. You'll see some medium-sized box stores becoming the new anchors. That's the next best trend that will emerge in retail real estate," Knight predicts.

Knight is the Prairie provincial chair for the New York-based International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), which is holding its 2007 Western Canada Business Forum in Kananaskis, Alta., at the end of this month.

The ICSC is a not-for-profit trade association with more than 65,000 members in more than 80 countries, including 2,800 Canadian members.

While Knight says department stores need to reinvent themselves if they are to survive - many old stores need to be renewed, rebranded and improve customer service - he notes there are plenty of potential new mall tenants.

"One of the trends we are seeing as a result of our economy is that we've become a great destination for not only Canadian but U.S. and European retailers," says Knight, including American fashion chains such as Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister, and European players such as H&M (fashion) and Sephora (makeup).

That trend is quite evident at West Edmonton Mall (WEM), which already is home to Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister, and just recently announced 10 new stores, most of which will represent a retailer's first Canadian or first Western Canadian operation.

Italy's Mandarina Duck opens its first North American store at WEM in May, carrying backpacks, purses and luggage, while Sweden's Make Up Store has just opened its first Canadian retail store at the Edmonton shopping destination.

Meanwhile, Swedish-based H&M - already in malls in Ontario and Quebec - unveils its first western Canadian store at WEM in April and Sephora, a leading European retail beauty chain, and Miss Sixty (fashion) are eyeing June WEM openings for their first Western Canadian stores.

"In certain circumstances, existing tenants are coming up for renewal and we're not renewing them. In other instances, tenants are coming into the shopping centre and buying out my existing leases, subject to our approval," says Don Ghermezian, president and CEO of West Edmonton Mall Property Inc.

But not all is rosy in the shopping centre arena, says Peter Woolford, vice-president of policy development and research for the Retail Council of Canada (RCC), a not-for-profit association representing more than 40,000 stores of all retail formats.

"What we hear from our members is that power centres are extremely popular with Canadians, they continue to flourish and prosper. On the other side, we are hearing that malls are an increasingly disadvantaged way to do retail for many retailers," says Woolford.

Woolford says malls are drawing a younger demographic such as teenagers and those in their early 20s, leaving retailers who don't cater to that age group in a tighter spot. Couple that with high rents and the mall is a tough sell for many retailers, he says.

The exception are the better-positioned or stronger malls that are leaders in their market. Nor does it hurt, he says, if the mall is located in Alberta, B.C. or Saskatchewan where the economies are strong.

However, Knight believes malls can still be refreshed to succeed in today's marketplace. "What a market owner has to do is to reinvest in their property. If they let it sit, it will grow tired," he says.

"The consumer likes to go there and feel there is something new and exciting going on. If you don't keep the consumer stimulated, you're going to find yourself in trouble. It's a matter of keeping the (tenant) mix fresh and current, but it's not always easy to do."

Terry Napper, co-chair of the ICSC Western Canada Business Forum, says industry members need to stay abreast of what is going on, either through a regionalized ICSC event or the annual fall conference.

The Western Canada forum, now in its second year, "was designed as an educational program for people in the industry who operate shopping centres and/or are retailers who are interested in operating issues and how they can help better their property," says Napper, the general manager of Calgary's Chinook Centre.

Among topics at under discussion at the event are labour issues, specifically how to grow retail with a limited labour force - especially in Alberta.

Immigration is one answer, says Napper, who also mentions that the hot retail stores such as the H&Ms and the Sephoras usually don't have trouble drawing applicants because they are in vogue.

Another labour answer could come from the RCC. With the need for retail employees on the rise, it expects even more applicants this year for its annual Retail as a Career Scholarship Program (www.retaileducation.ca).

Designed to increase awareness of the diverse job opportunities that exist in retail, the program will award 20 $1,000 scholarships to post-secondary students across Canada.

http://www.businessedge.ca/article.cfm/newsID/14984.cfm

[LordMandeep]

H&M is so typical now...

leading beauty chain....

no its a cheaper alternative to trendy stores.

[SpongeG]

out east its typical perhaps

but its still causing a stir on the west coast

most major US cities like LA, seattle, san francisco still think its a big deal

i went to a few in london and in california - never bought anything but the crowd they can bring is a mall owners dream

[SSLL]

From: http://www.icsc.org/srch/sct/sct0307...undCalgary.php
______________

High-energy market is a tough one to tap

By Steve Bergsman

Think of Calgary as the Houston of Canada. It sits in the middle of energy-rich Alberta province, home to the oil sands, which supplies 25 percent of the crude oil the U.S. imports. Though much of the oil is pumped elsewhere, all those energy companies are based in Calgary.

The city has exceeded the 1 million population mark, and some 25,000 to 30,000 new residents move in each year. Those kinds of numbers fill shopping carts, says Kevin Deeks, an associate vice president of the retail group at Cushman & Wakefield LePage, in Calgary. “The retail market is booming because we have a young population that has a lot of disposable income,” Deeks said.

Although most Alberta markets are doing well, Calgary is the province’s biggest city and attracts the most action. “Demand for retail space remains extremely high, with new projects being completely leased as fast as they are developed,” said Robert Walker, a vice president and partner at Colliers International, Calgary.

The existing market stands at about 22 million square feet, but a lot of new space is just around the corner. Colliers reports almost 6 million square feet of projects proposed or under construction; Cushman & Wakefield sets the number at closer to 8 million square feet.

Developers are erecting no new malls in Calgary, so most of the recent construction takes the form of neighborhood or power centers. The city is about to get its first lifestyle center, the 920,000-square-foot Deerfoot Meadows, developed by Calgary-based Heritage Partners and anchored by Wal-Mart. All this development has been attractive to American retailers. Home Depot has been active in Calgary and elsewhere in Canada for years, and Lowe’s will be entering the area this fall with four stores. There is talk, too, that Applebee’s, Cabela’s and Target are searching for space.

Actually, a number of American retailers have looked at Calgary and “walked away,” says Deeks, not because they did not want to be there but because unemployment is so low that finding workers is tough. Some fast-food restaurants have closed their sit-down areas and operate solely as drive-throughs because they lack the manpower, Walker says. And this with Subway sandwich shops paying C$14 ($12) an hour.

Real estate expenses have become painful too. An acre of land that cost C$400,000 five years ago now goes for C$1 million. Construction of a free-standing bank building once cost C$80 per square foot, but now it is C$200 per square foot. And High Street leases are on target to crack the C$100 per square foot mark this year.

No surprise, then, that Tiffany is scheduled to open its first store in Calgary. Real estate moguls will need a place to spend those hard-earned loonies.

[SSLL]

From: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...Story/Business
___________

'Wal-Mart effect' feeds grocer price wars
Sobeys posts 27-per-cent plunge in profit; 'the marketplace went a little irrational'

MARINA STRAUSS
RETAILING REPORTER
Wal-Mart Canada Corp.'s aggressive expansion into groceries has plunged Ontario supermarkets into an "irrational" price war, the head of a leading rival says.

The pricing frenzy will continue "for the foreseeable future," Bill McEwan, chief executive officer of Sobeys Inc., predicted yesterday.

As a result, Loblaw Cos. Ltd., the hard-pressed market leader, is not alone in feeling the wrath of Wal-Mart. Sobeys, the No. 2 grocery chain in Canada, saw its third-quarter profit drop 27 per cent -- to $33.3-million or 51 cents a share -- as it raced to revamp its operations to take on the stiffer competition. Since last fall, Wal-Mart has opened its first seven Supercentres in Ontario, and it's expected to expand rapidly across Canada in the coming years. The mega-outlets carry a full array of food along with everything else.

"The marketplace went a little irrational," Mr. McEwan told a conference call. "We wanted to make sure that we protected the price competitive position that was so hard fought and so difficult to achieve over the last two to three years with all our investments. We had no intention of letting it slide, irrespective of the impact on the short-term results."

While Mr. McEwan doesn't think that a similar tumble in prices will happen when Wal-Mart starts rolling out Supercentres in Western Canada -- expected later this year -- others weren't so sure.

Robert Gibson, retail analyst at Octagon Capital, said Loblaw would likely react quickly to the new entry in Western Canada by lowering its prices, forcing Sobeys and others to follow suit.

"It's the Wal-Mart effect," Mr. Gibson asserted.

"When I think of a price war, I think of a temporary period of time that will end. With Wal-Mart in here, I don't know if this is temporary. This could be the new reality," Mr. Gibson said. The Wal-Mart factor is forcing all players to find new ways to operate more efficiently to boost profits, he said.

Yesterday, Sobeys warned that it faces further restructuring costs in the next two quarters, which analysts said will pinch margins.

On the Toronto Stock Exchange, Sobeys shares slid 4.2 per cent or $1.75 on the day to close at $39.91.

The major grocers have been overhauling systems and slashing their prices to battle discounter Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer. Loblaw has seen a steady drop in its profit over the past couple of years as it tried to get ready for the inevitable. But the restructuring went awry, and now it's working it over under new leadership.

Analysts said the food pricing environment is a nail-biter for investors -- and will remain that way for the next couple of years -- but a treat for consumers.

"This is just the cost of doing business now," added Don Povilaitis, retail analyst at Standard & Poor's bond rating agency. "You have to keep reinvesting in your back end to keep competitive in your front end."

Sobeys, Loblaw and others are pouring money into upgrading their backroom distribution systems in order to run a tighter ship and keep prices down at the "front end" -- that is, the store. It leaves the companies with razor-thin profit margins.

Still, Mr. McEwan said he thought Sobeys is well prepared for the Wal-Mart Supercentre entry into the Western provinces. He said Sobeys has already lowered prices in that part of the country.

But Mr. Gibson said that even so, Loblaw will probably cut its prices in the face of the arrival of Supercentres in the West, forcing Sobeys and others to do the same.

In the latest quarter, Mr. McEwan said that Sobeys managed to make a 1.8-per-cent gain in same-store sales, compared with a year earlier -- even in the tough environment. Same-store sales are those in stores open a year or more, and are considered a key measure in retailing.

"Our third-quarter results reflect our continued solid same-store sales performance and commitment to sustain our price position as competition intensified, particularly in Ontario," he said. (However, same-store sales increased 4.1 per cent in the same period a year earlier.)

Mr. McEwan said it will take a few more years to get Sobeys' systems in place to be fully prepared for the sharper competition. That follows major restructuring over the past few years to improve productivity.

[SpongeG]

target in calgary?

nooo

target should not come to Canada - booo

[SSLL]

From: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...Story/Business
________

Wal-Mart takes expansion up a notch
Retail giant eyeing downtown locations and aims to spend over $500-million

SHIRLEY WON
Discount powerhouse Wal-Mart Canada Corp., whose foray into the grocery business has sparked a price war in Ontario supermarkets, plans to spend "considerably more" than $500-million to open 21 more supercentres this year.

And the retailer, which has typically opened its stores in suburban areas and small towns, yesterday said it is also eyeing opportunities in downtown neighbourhoods of major Canadian cities.

The aggressive expansion of the super centre format "represents by far our single largest annual investment in Canada," Mario Pilozzi, chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Canada, told analysts during an investor day in Mississauga. "Many will be in Ontario. Some will be in Alberta, and some are already under construction."

These megastores combine Wal-Mart's traditional discount store format with a grocery section carrying everything from fresh produce and baked goods to organic foods.

The expansion, which will be on top of seven supercentres opened in Southern Ontario since last fall, includes 10 newly built stores, 10 conversions of existing discount outlets and one relocation.

"This is in our opinion a smart investment," Mr. Pilozzi said. "This is unquestionably our most important change since 1994."

That was the year the Bentonville, Ark. retailer entered the Canadian market by purchasing Woolco, a struggling discount department store chain. The acquisition immediately gave it 122 locations.

The move also shook up the Canadian retail industry that resulted in the closure of several major chains. Sears Canada Inc. and Hudson's Bay Co. are the only other major department-store rivals.

With its supercentres, Wal-Mart is going head to head with Loblaw Cos. Ltd.'s Real Canadian Superstores, which Canada's largest grocer had been rolling out in Ontario in anticipation of the new competition.

The launch of Wal-Mart supercentres in Ontario has already taken some toll on Loblaw, which lost money in the fourth quarter, and Sobeys Inc., which recently reported a 27-per-cent decline in quarterly profit as it struggled to streamline its operations.

Wal Mart's supercentres, which range from 100,000 to 250,000 square feet, are about 50 per cent larger than its traditional discount stores. The retailer also expects to add eight more discount stores this year. It has 289 stores in Canada.

Wal-Mart also plans to open stores in downtown cores of cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, Mr. Pilozzi said. He did not elaborate whether these stores will be the traditional discount store or supercentres.

"There is a trend to redevelop the urban core, and we plan to take advantage of the opportunities that this trend presents," he said.

In Toronto, there are development plans for an old building on a major downtown route along the waterfront and Wal-Mart expects to be part of that renewal, Mr. Pilozzi said. In Vancouver, Wal-Mart has a project under way on an old car dealership property.

Wal-Mart has opened six Sam's Club outlets in Ontario since 2003, but there are no plans to open any more this year.

"The Sam's business is not what we would like it to be," he said.

Sam's is battling warehouse-club leader Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd., which is well established.

[SpongeG]

i hope they open a super walmart in vancouver area soon

hopefully its cheese is as cheap as it is in seattle - haha

[SSLL]

From: http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/199201
_______

Yorkdale attracts top U.S. retailer
TheStar.com - Business - Yorkdale attracts top U.S. retailer

Toronto first stop in Crate and Barrel expansion drive

April 04, 2007
Dana Flavelle
business reporter

Crate and Barrel, a leading U.S-based home furnishings and housewares retailer, is opening the first of a chain of stores in Canada.

The Chicago-based retailer confirmed yesterday it is opening its first store outside the U.S. in Toronto's Yorkdale Shopping Centre in the fall of 2008.

"It's the only one we have in Canada so far," said Crate and Barrel spokesperson Bette Kahn. "We hope to have more in Toronto and our expansion plans call for more stores in Canada. We feel Canada is a very sophisticated and interesting market and a natural choice for our first international expansion."

She was unable to provide details on the number of stores Crate and Barrel has planned for Canada, nor on future locations outside the Greater Toronto Area. But observers said Calgary and Vancouver are likely choices.

The company operates 145 stores in the U.S.

Crate and Barrel's arrival will raise the bar for competitors, including department stores, other specialty retailers, such as Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn, and to some extent Ikea, industry observers said.

"The whole sector has been growing so quickly in the last couple of years. The housing market is still growing strong. I think there's room. But I also think others will feel it," said retail consultant Wendy Evans, of the Toronto firm Evans and Co.

"They're very well run, very astute," Evans added.

"They're the best home retailer in the world," said retail consultant John Williams, of the J.C. Williams Group Ltd. in Toronto. "Their taste level. The price points. The stores are a treat. You can't go in without buying something."

From its glassware, priced at under $12 (U.S.) apiece, to its colour-co-ordinated furnishings, about two-thirds of the merchandise is designed exclusively for its stores, a Crate and Barrel spokesperson said.

Crate and Barrel "adds another dimension" to Yorkdale's existing offerings in the home furnishings segment, Yorkdale's general manager John Giddings said. "It's very much a niche market. They change their offerings, their colour schemes, so quickly. They let you see the complete package, from the cutlery to the dishes to the furniture. It all matches. They tie it all together."

Construction on the two-storey, 35,000-square-foot store is scheduled to begin in June, Giddings said.

"We're relocating a few tenants," Giddings said, citing Tip Top Tailors and Eddie Bauer as two of the stores affected.

Started by a husband and wife team, Crate and Barrel is now majority-owned by German mail order giant Otto Group. Founder Gordon Segal is still Crate and Barrel's chief executive officer. The Otto Group publishes the German equivalent of the Sears catalogue.

Yorkdale's Giddings said it took two years of negotiations to secure Crate and Barrel as a tenant.

He said the retailer was attracted by Yorkdale's "brand" and its very high productivity level. The mall sells $1,000 (Canadian) worth of merchandise per square foot, the highest for any mall in Canada, and is synonymous with fashion and quality, he said.

[kirjtc2]

Originally Posted by SSLL

From: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...Story/Business
________

They already have quite a few inner-city stores here, at least more than in the US (Dufferin Mall in Toronto and one off the Decarie in Montreal come to mind).

Most (if not all) of Wal-Mart's new stores in Canada are purposely built with open space to the side for future expansion and conversion to a Supercentre. Within 10 years they'll probably make up at least half of the location roster here.

[habsfan]

I'm against Wal-mart. I never shop there!

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by SSLL

From: http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/199201
_______

nice

went to the Crate & Barrel in Bellevue and Seattle last week

there was a desk there for $399 US - it was the EXACT same desk as is available at Jysk where it sells for $179 CDN

they had some decent stuff but really most of it can already be found at other stores

[SpongeG]

interesting article about vancouver's granville street in todays paper - a lot of retailers are opening up - finally

anyway one of the tidbits is that store Heavens Playground is a Dutch company behind the Gsus label and the Vancouver location is its first North American store

[West_aust]

From http://www.lapresseaffaires.com/arti...1/LAINFORMER01

Lucky Jeans débarque à Montréal

13 avril 2007 - 07h20

La Presse

Laurier Cloutier

La chaîne de magasins Lucky Brand Jeans, de Californie, et son propriétaire Liz Claiborne -qui comprend 15 bannières, dont Yzza- débarquent à Montréal.

C'est au Centre Eaton, rue Sainte-Catherine, que Lucky Jeans ouvrira son plus grand magasin au monde, le 29 juin prochain, a déclaré à La Presse Affaires Kevin Castanheiro, vice-président des produits chez Liz Claiborne Canada.

La superficie de 3500 pieds carrés du Lucky Jeans de Mont-réal dépassera même la taille du magasin ouvert à Las Vegas, l'an dernier, souligne le vice-président. Le magasin, qui sera aménagé sur deux étages, aura à la fois pignon sur rue et accès au Centre Eaton, «soit le meilleur de deux mondes», note Kevin Castanheiro.

Lucky Jeans ouvrira par ailleurs un magasin de 2200 pieds carrés, soit de taille moyenne pour cette chaîne, au Carrefour Laval, le 16 août prochain, dit-il.

Lucky Brand Jeans dénombre 139 magasins aux États-Unis et trois à Dubaï. Sa nouvelle collection de vêtements de la saison s'inspire de l'Inde coloniale.


À noter que le groupe Liz Claiborne Canada a déménagé son siège social discrètement, de Toronto à Montréal, à la fin de 2005.

L'automne dernier, Lucky Jeans ouvrait ses deux premières boutiques canadiennes, au centre-ville de Vancouver et de Toronto. Cette année, outre celles du Centre Eaton et du Carrefour Laval, Kevin Castanheiro signale deux ouvertures, dans le quartier torontois de Yorkdale, le 14 juin, et au centre Square One de Mississauga, le 7 juillet. Un autre lancement sera finalisé plus tard, à Vancouver.

En 2008, le responsable prévoit sept autres Lucky Jeans, tout comme en 2009, au Québec, en Ontario et dans l'Ouest canadien. Calgary fera partie du programme de l'an prochain, mais Edmonton devra attendre un peu.

Lucky Jeans mise d'abord sur les artères commerciales, comme Sainte-Catherine, mais sans négliger les centres commerciaux, explique-t-il. La chaîne base son concept sur le petit magasin de quartier, la contre-culture, le mouvement hippie, le rock n'roll et la mode rétro.

Kevin Castanheiro a rencontré les fondateurs, Gene Montesano et Barry Perlman, à plusieurs reprises en Californie, pour s'assurer de bien traduire le concept à Montréal. Le traitement du tissu doit donner des vêtements aussi confortables que ceux portés depuis des années, selon lui. Lucky Jeans vise les clients de 15 à 60 ans, dont les baby-boomers, et se retrouvera dans les plates-bandes de Parasucco, de Montréal, et de David Bitton, du groupe Buffalo, dit le vice-président.

Des vedettes comme Brad Pitt, Jessica Simpson, Gwyneth Paltrow et Ben Affleck portent des Lucky Jeans avec le slogan humoristique Lucky you imprimé à l'intérieur de la braguette.

Par ailleurs, après des ouvertures dans l'Ouest canadien et en Ontario (dont à Ottawa), la bannière Yzza a lancé son premier magasin québécois à Trois-Rivières, la semaine dernière (5 avril), pour les femmes de 35 ans et plus qui cherchent des vêtements tendance à moins de 100 $, déclare Kevin Castanheiro.

Pourquoi Trois-Rivières? Parce que Liz Claiborne exploitait déjà un de ses magasins Mexx dans le centre commercial où des locaux sont devenus disponibles, réplique le vice-président.

D'ici la fin de l'année, Yzza comptera neuf magasins au Canada. En 2008, six Yzza ouvriront et huit autres en 2009, dit-il.

[SpongeG]

Eastgate Square celebrates changes

East end mall boosts its focus on fashion
By Lisa Grace Marr
The Hamilton Spectator
(Apr 21, 2007)
It's amazing how a $1.7-million reno can spruce up a place.

This week Eastgate Square hosted a celebration of its recent changes, including a makeover of the front entrance, to coincide with the grand opening of Jack Astor's Bar and Grill.

Over the last four years Redcliff Realty, property managers of Eastgate and Centre Mall, have been securing leases with the tenants they felt best matched their market: a mix of students, seniors and families.

The result is a substantial Wal-Mart, a stand-alone LCBO now the biggest in the area with a dynamite Vintages section, a stand-alone Beer Store and Wimpy's restaurant along with a slate of new retail banners.

John Winter, a Toronto-based retail analyst, said there are two options for old style shopping centres such as Eastgate: reinvest and reinvent or demolish. He said the fashion focus of Eastgate will help its long-term outlook.

"We're not seeing any building of enclosed malls. They're all like Meadowlands. The ones we've got are fashion centres where people can walk up and down and compare and contrast the merchandise."

The retail focus at Eastgate is definitely on fashion. Those include the Shoe Warehouse fresh out of British Columbia, Please Mum, Tabi and Stitches. At the same time, Eastgate Square is shuffling around stores in an effort to keep up with demands from some retail hot spots for bigger digs.

Katie Simpson, marketing director for the east-end shopping centre, said requests have come in from The Source, Ardene and Garage Clothing.

"They're doing so well they need more space."

Eastgate will also be the home of some retail stores new to Hamilton including Eclipse, a women's clothing store and Stiletto & Stoiree - S2, a shoe store. Eclipse, which has stores throughout Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Northern Ontario, will open this spring. S2 will open in the fall. Other new arrivals this year include The Telephone Booth, Urban Behaviour (clothing) and Le Salon and Spa.

The mall is also working with the city to establish a new set of lights at Centennial Parkway to deal with the increase in traffic.

The market-driven renovations at the mall indicates a strong local economy in the east end, said Simpson.

"People here like to shop and they like to spend money. (Hamilton) is a great place for retailers."


Kaz Novak, the Hamilton Spectator
A new $1.7-million front entrance and new food court invites shoppers to Eastgate.

http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NAS...=1112101662835

[malek]

Place Montréal Trust welcomes the downtown flagship store of trendy fashion retailer StyleXchange


MONTREAL, April 20 /CNW Telbec/ - The team of Place Montréal Trust, a
downtown shopping centre owned and operated by Ivanhoe Cambridge, is happy to
announce the upcoming grand opening of StyleXchange's newest location, on
April 24. The open-concept store, complete with 30-foot-high ceilings, will be
located on the McGill College Avenue side of the property, giving the renowned
fashion retailer a spectacular view overlooking one of Montreal's most dynamic
streetscapes, just north of Sainte-Catherine Street.
"The new StyleXchange at Place Montréal Trust will be the perfect
complement to the retail mix we provide consumers," said general manager
Debbie Ruel. "StyleXchange will join the already strong lineup that makes
Place Montréal Trust one of the city's choice shopping destinations, with such
well-known names as Zara, Mexx, Winners, Indigo and Omer De Serres, along with
our newest arrivals, Inglot and Dumoulin Electronique."
StyleXchange boasts a trendy, youthful selection of affordably priced
unisex apparel, footwear and accessories with distinctive urban flair,
including such popular men's and women's brands as Diesel, True Religion, Dom
Rebel, Juicy Couture, Miss Sixty, J. Lindeberg, Rock & Republic, 7 for all
mankind, Energie, G-Star, Triple 5-Soul, Jack & Jones, Fornarina, Motel 77,
Matt & Nat, Michael Kors and Mackage, as well as its exclusive Numero in-house
brand.
"We are very proud of our Place Montréal Trust store, which represents
the culmination of seven years of work," said Mark Batchoun, president of
StyleXchange. "With its incomparable visibility, innovative design and
one-of-a-kind concept, this new location is undeniably our flagship location
in the downtown area. We have pulled out all the stops to make this a
must-visit destination in downtown Montreal that will help further strengthen
the StyleXchange brand."
About Place Montréal Trust
Place Montréal Trust stands in the very heart of Montreal, and attracts
over 15 million visitors a year. Located at the intersection of the major
commercial thoroughfare, Saint-Catherine Street, and the prestigious McGill
College Avenue, Place Montréal Trust accesses the two busiest Metro stations
in the underground city within a city. It is home to 75 stores and
restaurants, of which several are large spaces occupied by well-known brands
such as La Vie en Rose & Compagnie, Mexx, Zara, Winners, Omer DeSerres, Indigo
and, since spring 2007, a brand-new StyleXchange.
About StyleXchange
StyleXchange is an innovative and sought-after retailer dedicated to
showcasing the latest fashions trends. An undisputed leader in the Montreal
and Toronto markets, StyleXchange offers an impressive selection of jeans,
leading European brands and certain collections exclusive to Canada.
StyleXchange is the preferred point of sale for Diesel in Canada and also
specializes in Energie, Miss Sixty, True Religion, Dom Rebel, J. Lindeberg,
Rock & Republic, 7 for all mankind, G-Star, Triple 5-Soul, Jack & Jones,
Fornarina, Motel 77 , Michael Kors, Mackage and Matt & Natt handbags - in
addition to its popular in-house brand, Numero. Besides this new location,
StyleXchange operates stores at Fairview Pointe-Claire, Rockland and Place
Versailles in Montreal and at 181 Yonge Street in Toronto.

For further information: Elise Bérard, Marketing Manager, Place Montréal
Trust, (514) 843-8000, eberard@ivanhoecambridge.com,
www.placemontrealtrust.com

[Taller Better]

I rode my bike past the StyleXchange downtown yesterday.

[Policy Wonk]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

target in calgary?

nooo

target should not come to Canada - booo

What is wrong with Target?