The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by officedweller

How much are those $200/mo?

Yeah from reading it's around $175-200 but I guess it's more full-service than just using equipment (?).

[RDW989]

On the 1000 block Robson (between the Manhattan and Sephora, maybe 1067?) the new building is nearing completion

My pix, today
[IMG][url=https://flic.kr/p/2jrsLMm]

and a year ago, June 29, 2019
[IMG][url=https://flic.kr/p/2gnPRP1]

[officedweller]

Thanks.
My guess is that some retailer will lease the space and tear down the wavey canopies because it's not their style.
(i.e. like the building on Granville housing Joe Fresh.)

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Yeah from reading it's around $175-200 but I guess it's more full-service than just using equipment (?).

Steve Nash Sports Club had a higher fee ($80/mo early on, maybe less later) because they had towel service and shampoo in the showers. I'm sure there were other extras, but that wasn't my membership level.

[officedweller]

DAVIDsTEA to close all B.C. stores except for one at CF Pacific Centre
https://biv.com/article/2020/07/davi...pacific-centre

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by officedweller

DAVIDsTEA to close all B.C. stores except for one at CF Pacific Centre
https://biv.com/article/2020/07/davi...pacific-centre

Dunkin Donuts is closing 800 stores in the US. I wonder if McDonalds and Tim Hortons will be spared here since they are franchises, and therefore the owners are much more vested in each individual location.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by officedweller

DAVIDsTEA to close all B.C. stores except for one at CF Pacific Centre
https://biv.com/article/2020/07/davi...pacific-centre

This one certainly needs our support: for one it's Canadian.

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by Vin

This one certainly needs our support: for one it's Canadian.

Anyone who knows anything about Tea knows just how dreadful David's was- there are many more deserving Canadian tea retailers.

[SpongeG]

they've been carrying it at a lot grocery stores recently, it ain't cheap, but the brand is still out there

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Conrad Yablonski

Anyone who knows anything about Tea knows just how dreadful David's was- there are many more deserving Canadian tea retailers.

Dreadful? Lol that's pretty dramatic. Care to share about the other "deserving Canadian tea retailers"?

Originally Posted by SpongeG

they've been carrying it at a lot grocery stores recently, it ain't cheap, but the brand is still out there

I like its tea actually. Problem with a lot of local companies is that they tend to sell their products at a premium price even though they're not really well known internationally. The retail here depends a lot on tourists and new immigrants that do spend to survive.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

they've been carrying it at a lot grocery stores recently, it ain't cheap, but the brand is still out there

I've been ordering a lot online from them. The supermarket selection is pretty limited.

As for their quality, they aren't growing or producing their "real" teas. Maybe he is referring to the fruity, artificially-flavoured ones but I buy their organic greens, blacks, and herbals instead.

Tealyra is also good to order from and they have a larger selection than David's.

[SpongeG]

is there where that Dunns smoked meat place was?

In Vancouver, Polestar will open at 827 Seymour Street which is at the base of The Capitol Residences condominium building where Retail Insider was once based out of.

from this article:

Automaker Volvo-owned electric performance brand Polestar will open three storefronts in Canada this fall. The first three showrooms will be in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver in high-profile downtown locations. The company will also open service centres in Victoria, BC and Waterloo, ON.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

is there where that Dunns smoked meat place was?

...

Yes, Dunn's was at 827 Seymour, Capital Residences entrance was at 833 and VSO School of music was at 843.

I'll try to remember to keep an eye on it and see how soon the place is changed. Opening "this fall" sounds pretty soon.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Yes, Dunn's was at 827 Seymour, Capital Residences entrance was at 833 and VSO School of music was at 843.

I'll try to remember to keep an eye on it and see how soon the place is changed. Opening "this fall" sounds pretty soon.

The strata unit is/was on the market for $5.2 million

https://www.collierscanada.com/en-ca...ada/can2004689

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

is there where that Dunns smoked meat place was?



from this article:

What a bizarre place to open a high end car dealer.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by whatnext

What a bizarre place to open a high end car dealer.

GAIN is fronting the Vancouver operations:

https://gain-vi.ca/

But why would a Vancouver Island based group open the service centre in Victoria and a sales center in Vancouver? Some articles said they had Volvo dealerships in Vancouver but I don't see any listed.

[Vin]

Very sad to see Dunn's go, and I think its failure is due to a lack of retail synergy over that location, although it does have pretty high ratings at various online food review sites. I think it works better for Dunn's to be in a food court or mall setting, again IMO.

Never heard of Swedish-Chinese joint venture Polestar: I suppose this car is mostly made in China? Always welcome EV alternatives in this city. Made a quick google and found the car pretty nicely done, aesthetically speaking. The newer model will set one back about 70 grand.

https://driving.ca/polestar/2/auto-n...-for-canadians

[teriyaki]

They're a Volvo off-shoot brand. Still more niche at the moment, but seems like they're going after the Tesla market. Lots of growth in that segment in the future. Seems like the electric market is going to more emulate retail stores, vs emulating the giant car dealership franchise model.

[dreambrother808]

That location has little to no discoverability. You have to be seeking out whatever is specifically there so anything that is unable to build awareness in other ways is going to fail. Polestar might do well though since people seek out dealerships and they require fewer individual sales.

[officedweller]

Seymour has been considered a back street since the Orpheum and old Capitol 6 backed onto it.
That may improve with the new building at 600 Robson providing a nicer streetscape on Seymour, but it doesn't have a lot of retail.

[jollyburger]

I don't think they really need a high profile location. They just want a somewhat central location to showcase their cars for people who actually want to come in to see it.