The Retail Thread - Page 86

AB Born · #**1701** Posted: **Dec 19, 2011, 11:00 PM**

The True Religion outlet was supposed to open 3rd week of January, but now I belive it's going to be in the spring. I can see this store being very popular.

Innersoul1 · #**1702** Posted: **Dec 19, 2011, 11:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plus15

Actually the new two-floor location of Le Chateau carries womens wear only - there is a separate Le Chateau Mens shop on +15. The two level store has a pretty nifty staircase inside with glass treads.

Other retail 'news' in Calgary:

-Birks has opened its renovated store at The Core - including a Rolex boutique with a separate storefront entrance.
-True Religion Jeans is opening an Outlet at Crossiron Mills
-Free People (a division of Anthropologie) is hiring for a new Calgary store which will be the first location in Canada, location unspecified
-The Bay at Market Mall and Southcentre have installed Coach sections

Very interesting that Anthropoligie is making it's way into the Canadian market. My wife loves that store but WOW does it every bruise the wallet.

DizzyEdge · #**1703** Posted: **Dec 20, 2011, 4:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

how does that store survive - their pricing is way out of whack - i haven't checked in a couple years but last time i was there they had t-shirts for $45 same style/type/quality at H&M was $14.95

Well H&M wasn't around before, but now at The Core it's right next door! And yes H&M did seem to be a bit Le Chateau-y.

freeweed · #**1704** Posted: **Dec 20, 2011, 4:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

how does that store survive - their pricing is way out of whack - i haven't checked in a couple years but last time i was there they had t-shirts for $45 same style/type/quality at H&M was $14.95

If Coach can sell a very ugly $50 purse for $300, and still see lineups in its stores (I swear, the CIM location has never not had a lineup since opening), then anything is possible.

Calgarian · #**1705** Posted: **Dec 20, 2011, 4:59 PM**

I think a lot of people buy expensive stuff simply because it's expensive and that label comes with status. Same with expensive restaurants, people eat there because it's a status symbol.

Ramsayfarian · #**1706** Posted: **Dec 20, 2011, 9:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeweed

If Coach can sell a very ugly $50 purse for $300, and still see lineups in its stores (I swear, the CIM location has never not had a lineup since opening), then anything is possible.

I was talking to someone yesterday who lined up for 1/2 hour to get in the store. He left when he learned the linee to pay was up to 2 hours long.

You Need A Thneed · #**1707** Posted: **Dec 20, 2011, 11:24 PM**

The old House of Tools store on 32nd Ave NE is now a Le Chateau Outlet store.

It had been sitting empty for ~2 years.

lineman · #**1708** Posted: **Dec 20, 2011, 11:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

I think a lot of people buy expensive stuff simply because it's expensive and that label comes with status. Same with expensive restaurants, people eat there because it's a status symbol.

From what I've heard, real rich people buy stuff like Hermes. They don't like to flaunt labels.

Ramsayfarian · #**1709** Posted: **Dec 20, 2011, 11:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need A Thneed

The old House of Tools store on 32nd Ave NE is now a Le Chateau Outlet store.

It had been sitting empty for ~2 years.

From a house of tools to a store for tools.

Jimby · #**1710** Posted: **Jan 20, 2012, 11:13 PM**

2011 sales:
$ 700 million for Chinook
$ 480 Market Mall
$ 342 Southcentre

http://www.calgaryherald.com/busines...690/story.html

polishavenger · #**1711** Posted: **Jan 20, 2012, 11:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimby

2011 sales:
$ 700 million for Chinook
$ 480 Market Mall
$ 342 Southcentre

http://www.calgaryherald.com/busines...690/story.html

Thats a pretty bad number for South Center.

Me&You · #**1712** Posted: **Jan 20, 2012, 11:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by polishavenger

Thats a pretty bad number for South Center.

Was South Centre still under renovation during part of 2011? I know several large spaces were still waiting to open later into the year.

RWin · #**1713** Posted: **Jan 21, 2012, 3:23 AM**

I picked up a book last weekend called Calgary, Then and Now comparing Calgary at around the turn of the last century to now. Now being around 1978. Full of great photos but the one that stood out was Elbow and Southland in 1978. The price of gas at the stations in the photos was 18 cents/litre (81 cents/gallon).

DizzyEdge · #**1714** Posted: **Jan 21, 2012, 3:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWin

I picked up a book last weekend called Calgary, Then and Now comparing Calgary at around the turn of the last century to now. Now being around 1978. Full of great photos but the one that stood out was Elbow and Southland in 1978. The price of gas at the stations in the photos was 18 cents/litre (81 cents/gallon).

That would be 57 cents a litre in todays dollars.. would be nice.

Full Mountain · #**1715** Posted: **Jan 23, 2012, 7:19 PM**

I noticed RBC took over the corner of the lower floor of the building the on the SW corner of 10 st and Kensington Road, another waste of prime retail space

I think future developments in main retail areas (17th, Inglewood, etc.) should be limited on the width of a single tenant and force uses that are daytime only (banks, etc.) business to utilize multiple floors (i.e. tellers and bank machines on the main level with offices above, that way the street frontage has more active uses

Innersoul1 · #**1716** Posted: **Jan 23, 2012, 11:13 PM**

Went to Chinook on Saturday for the first time in a year. LOVE that Mall.

freeweed · #**1717** Posted: **Jan 23, 2012, 11:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

That would be 57 cents a litre in todays dollars.. would be nice.

And we wonder why North America developed into a car-dependent built form. 1978 was AFTER the oil crises that raised the price so much. No wonder everyone drove everywhere back then (in 10mpg beasts, to boot).

polishavenger · #**1718** Posted: **Jan 23, 2012, 11:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Full Mountain

I noticed RBC took over the corner of the lower floor of the building the on the SW corner of 10 st and Kensington Road, another waste of prime retail space

I think future developments in main retail areas (17th, Inglewood, etc.) should be limited on the width of a single tenant and force uses that are daytime only (banks, etc.) business to utilize multiple floors (i.e. tellers and bank machines on the main level with offices above, that way the street frontage has more active uses

Its a textbook example of what Jane Jacobs talked about how in the success of a retail street lies its demise. As rents push every higher, the eclectic shops that make a street really interesting start getting forced out by the chains and high rent places like banks, which eventually crowd out anything unique and truely interesting, which in turns kills what was once the appeal of the place. Thats why Im a big proponent of using our brains instead of just allowing the market to do whatever and putting in certain restrictions on retail areas that become popular that help maintain the appeal.

freeweed · #**1719** Posted: **Jan 23, 2012, 11:43 PM**

I'm a big proponent of just banning retail branches of banks entirely. They really serve little purpose other than as empty caves during the evening.

I'm not being completely facetious here either. I've tried to figure out exactly what purpose they serve for years now. Helping old people who hate ATMs and online banking? Is this such a growing demographic that the recent explosion in retail outlets is justified?

Jimby · #**1720** Posted: **Jan 23, 2012, 11:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeweed

I'm a big proponent of just banning retail branches of banks entirely. They really serve little purpose other than as empty caves during the evening.

I'm not being completely facetious here either. I've tried to figure out exactly what purpose they serve for years now. Helping old people who hate ATMs and online banking? Is this such a growing demographic that the recent explosion in retail outlets is justified?

Manulife Bank doesn't have any branches and they make house calls - you don't even have to be old.