Edmonton Retail Thread

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Movie Studio in Garneau shutting down
http://metronews.ca/news/edmonton/13...-set-to-close/

[Shodan]

And I thought this was an April Fools joke...Ah, many fond memories from inside that whale...


Thar she blows: Beloved whale sculpture returns to West Edmonton Mall

By Marty Klinkenberg, Edmonton Journal April 1, 2015


The famous whale sculpture at West Edmonton Mall finally has a new home after about five years in storage. It’s being reinstalled in Phase 1 near Sears.
Photograph by: Ed Kaiser, Edmonton Journal

EDMONTON - A much-beloved sculpture of a right whale has resurfaced at West Edmonton Mall.

Removed in the summer of 2010 to create space outside a Victoria’s Secret outlet, the whale will soon be installed on the main level just outside the entrance to Sears, with a Reitman’s and a Baskin Robbins kiosk as its closest neighbours.

“The whale is back,” mall spokeswoman Sheri Clegg said Wednesday, a few hours after posting a news item on Facebook. “If social media is an indication, I think we made people’s day.

“They are excited about this. The sculpture is well-loved. A lot of people have a whale story and whale photograph.”

Brought out of storage Tuesday night, the bronze sculpture, called Open Sea, is currently sitting in two pieces at the confluence of mall entrances 16 and 24. Commissioned in 1983 and created in 1984-85 by Canadian artist Robin Bell, the life-size statue was popular with visitors before getting the cold shoulder in favour of lacy lingerie...

© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/story...38972&sponsor=

[Hallsy's Toupee]

High Street cash mob this Saturday from 12 PM to 3 PM
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/cash-mob...ts-16366483593

Cash Mob Edmonton is settings its sights on High Street businesses ailing amid the 102 Ave. bridge closure. On April 4th at 12pm, engaged Edmontonians are encouraged to visit High Street and take part in our biggest Cash Mob event ever.

With the bridge closed indefinitely, businesses in the area aren't getting the same traffic as usual. That's why Cash Mob Edmonton decided to hit the whole area, rather than just one business. Shops in the mostly locally-owned district report a noticeable drop in traffic coming through the doors.

Businesses will offer discounts, a wine tasting and gift cards to thank Cash Mobbers for their support. It's suggested participants bring $20, a tote bag and as many people as they can.

A little cash and a lot of people goes a long way. Help us ensure a prosperous local economy for the good of everyone.

[Coldrsx]

^great to see.

^^I want to buy that thing and install it on Jasper.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Drove by the doors of the downtown Future Shop Best Buy on my way to Wendys, and they have reopened. The only hint of the rebranding are the blue polo shirts, otherwise it's like the closure didn't happen! I imagine exterior and interior renovations will happen in due time.

[rapid_business]

Now I know the cash mob supports the local business, which is good, but the owner of high street has been a huge opponent to bike lanes on 102 ave I've heard, and that rubs me the wrong way. He's been actively trying to fight it through his connections and claiming it will be terrible for his auto-focused traffic.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Baba Finkelstein’s Cafe and Deli — soon to be renamed Baba Fink’s - is opening a patio
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/busin...783/story.html

[Coldrsx]

Patio!

[Coldrsx]

104st waiting for 'revitalization'

http://metronews.ca/news/edmonton/13...evitalization/

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

104st waiting for 'revitalization'

http://metronews.ca/news/edmonton/13...evitalization/

I agree. The 'critical mass' of foot traffic is not there yet. However, if you have the right program you can operate a successful business on that street - Credo, Kellys, Blunt, etc are all examples.

[SHOFEAR]

Originally Posted by CMD UW

I agree. The 'critical mass' of foot traffic is not there yet. However, if you have the right program you can operate a successful business on that street - Credo, Kellys, Blunt, etc are all examples.

You mean niche ideological based enterprises don't work in some of the most expensive retail in the city?

[GreenSPACE]

Slow media day - do an article on 104 Street.

[Daveography]

^ Yup. Funny that they quote The Burg, a middling burger bar operating in way more space than they really need.

[SHOFEAR]

burg always seems fairly busy whenever we go.

[Daveography]

^ I am in fact glad to hear it, but I was more referring to the layout of the place; a lot of open and unused space for a place that has to be commanding some pretty high $/sqft rent.

[SHOFEAR]

Oh no doubt. Same issue that effected the Kai, Gruby Dragon, etc etc space for all those years.

That being said, central appears to be thriving so the right tenant can make any space work.

Pretty sure it's been said before, but a Keg or moxies or something of that nature in the burg space would be perfect.

[Coldrsx]

Sometimes it comes down to YOUR business operation, not the state of a street or number of people walking by.

Joey Bell


(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...pswn6tlsfn.jpg)

[Hallsy's Toupee]

New comics store Variant Edition has their grand opening today, which also happens to be Free Comic Book Day. I know the owner and his wife, they are awesome peoples. Go check 'em out.
http://variantedmonton.com/

[Airboy]

Some of the Target locations will not sit empty for long. Waiting for Target to finish the paperwork with the property owners, but some are going to be sibdivided and turned into extentions of the malls they are at. Infact there are said to be lease deals already in place.

[rapid_business]

That's good. Although, the cost of dividing up those larger anchor CRU's can be costly. Glad to see some making it work.