London's Malls

[ericlewis91]

only if Masonvillle was expanded or renovated

kinda falling behind white oaks

[MolsonExport]

indeed. It is like saying Detroit is falling behind Cleveland. Shitty boring 1980s-extreme malls, both of them are.

[go_leafs_go02]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

indeed. It is like saying Detroit is falling behind Cleveland. Shitty boring 1980s-extreme malls, both of them are.

as long as them "smart"centres are being built, you'll have the non-descript malls.

I lived 10 years in London, and only ventured into White Oaks once. Always seemed to end up at Masonville - Living in Oakridge did that.

[bolognium]

I often stay away from malls, but when I do go to them I usually hit up Masonville.

Since I don't have a car I rarely make it all the way up to that stupid smart-centre in Hyde Park, but I still remember being awestruck when I walked into the Hyde Park Wal-Mart for the first time. It felt like walking into an indoor soccer stadium or something.

[ericlewis91]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

indeed. It is like saying Detroit is falling behind Cleveland. Shitty boring 1980s-extreme malls, both of them are.

like no new stores or anything'

we should have allot more here.. its a good sized city

hint; apple?

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

American Apparel is broke (bankrupt). good riddance.

Aw, admit it, you liked their LTC bus shelter ads.

[Kokkei Mizu]

Originally Posted by ericlewis91

like no new stores or anything'

we should have allot more here.. its a good sized city

hint; apple?

I definitely vote for an official Apple Store in London. They have the habit of taking old, run-down buildings, and combining old architecture with new designs. However, most of these projects happen in enormous cities like New York, Paris, or London, England. If an Apple Store was built in downtown London, I'm sure that would help our economy!

[ericlewis91]

Originally Posted by Kokkei Mizu

I definitely vote for an official Apple Store in London. They have the habit of taking old, run-down buildings, and combining old architecture with new designs. However, most of these projects happen in enormous cities like New York, Paris, or London, England. If an Apple Store was built in downtown London, I'm sure that would help our economy!

agree. couldnt find if apple would go to White Oaks or Masonville
-Masonville seems like higher end, but then white oaks is near the highway etc

but then downtown (richmond row) would make a cool spot for a store.

[ldoto]

Yes I agree!!!! Downtown!!!!!

[MolsonExport]

Apple has two stores in the state of New Hampshire. Could one make it in London? Actually, I do a case study on the very topic with my students at UWO.

[Kokkei Mizu]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Apple has two stores in the state of New Hampshire. Could one make it in London? Actually, I do a case study on the very topic with my students at UWO.

Apple just announced they have 300 stores worldwide. Which isn't that many, you're right. However, London is a guinea pig city, with lots of interesting projects happening despite the population being relatively small. I wouldn't be all that surprised if Apple decided to build a store in London.

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Apple has two stores in the state of New Hampshire. Could one make it in London? Actually, I do a case study on the very topic with my students at UWO.

Where is the nearest Apple Store anyways? Clinton Township, MI?

[biggoalie]

the closest is probably square one in mississauga.

[ericlewis91]

depends where your from

North End of London... zip on the 401 via fanshawe park road, take the ferry over in sombra/marine city, then hop on 94 all the way to 59 and your set

south end might be faster to head to square one


the first route was about an hour and 45 minutes.. which with toronto traffic, would be faster


but VOTE on richmond ROW

[ldoto]

The London home-improvement market got a lot tighter this week as retailing giant Lowes opened its first store in the city on Fanshawe Park Road at Hyde Park.

The new Lowes will be butting heads with well-established national retailers in the local market, including Home Depot and Rona - and local businesses such as Copp's Buildall.

Chris Hawkins, manager of the new store, said Lowes will carve out market share by promoting superior customer service.

"Customer service is how we separate ourselves from the competition. We are a destination and we want to make sure that service is available every day, all through the store," said Hawkins, who transferred in from a Lowes Windsor location.

A television campaign for the company is advertising features such as customer-help buttons and a "no more than three in line" checkout policy."

The new London location has 103,000 square feet of retail sales space and a 29,000-square-foot garden centre.

While the new housing market in Canada has cooled off, the renovation market is going strong and Lowes is trying to inspire homeowners with showroom displays.

"We are looking to inspire people to improve their home, not just fix it," said Eymbert Vaandering, vice-president of operations for Lowes Canada.

Vaandering said Lowes also offers installation services including kitchen, bathroom, windows, doors and decks, working with contactors who have to meet the same standards as Lowes employees.

"It not like picking someone out of the Yellow Pages. The Lowes brand guarantees both the product and workmanship," said Vaandering.

The London store is the 18th Canadian outlet for the Canadian unit.

The Lowes outlets is located in a former Sam's Club store that was shut down last year when Wal-Mart decided to shut down all six Sam's Clubs in Ontario.

The new London store is part of a rapid expansion into the Canadian market by the US-based retailer.

New stores in Waterloo, Calgary and Edmonton are now under construction and the Lowes plans to have 29 outlets in Canada by next May.

[MolsonExport]

They will get my business quick if the customer service is even marginally better than the wretched lack-thereof currently at RONA (and to a lesser extent, Home Depot).

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

They will get my business quick if the customer service is even marginally better than the wretched lack-thereof currently at RONA (and to a lesser extent, Home Depot).

Tell me about it. The service at the RONA near Wonderland and Beaverbrook is horrendous. Some of their employees have a really bad attitude.

I still much prefer smaller hardware stores, of which there are very, very few left in London. I like stores like Tuckey's Home Hardware - now they know good service.

We haven't had a hardware store of any kind in Byron (or Oakridge, for that matter) since 1996. It would be nice to have a Home owner helping local home owners.

[MolsonExport]

You know, I was at Westmount shopping centre for the first time in 3 months...I dunno about that transformation thing, because inside, all the shops were exactly the same, except some Rogers kiosk near the ghosttown Zellers.

Outside, the wrecking balls are ripping down the old cinemas.

[haljackey]

It's sad... I live like a 15 minute walk from Westmount Mall and yet I haven't been there in months.

I think the last time I was there was to see Inception at the Cineplex, but I don't think that counts because the new cinemas are detached from the mall itself.

[Simpseatles]

Ventured into White Oaks yesterday for some Christmas shopping. Of course it was busy as hell!

Of the 3 big malls in London, it is definately my least favourite design-wise. It's a sprawling 1 storey mess, that lacks grand atriums, fountains, or anything that makes a mall a more bearable place. Not to mention it looks like an army bunker from outisde, and I still get lost whenever I walk around that place.

At least the new food court is much better.

BTW, is Westmount considered a dead mall yet, because it must be on it's last legs. Then we will have a massive empty shell of suburban exuberance to be proud of!

I find it quite humerous that the only way it can sustain it's existance is by building stores outside the mall! (expanded movie theater, Shoeless Joe's)