Official Fredericton, NB projects thread

[DyAm00394]

Another new retailer coming to Regent Mall:

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Mind Games is opening their 1st NB location at Regent Mall in Fredericton. Job postings now online for a Store Manager.

https://www.mindgames.ca/

[Taeolas]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Another new retailer coming to Regent Mall:

A good addition for variety at the mall. More of a Mastermind Toys replacement than a full TRU replacement; but more variety is always good IMO. Some competition/overlap with EBGames. I do wonder where they'll go in the mall? Vacancy, even with the recent announcements, is still tight. I guess they could snag the Fairweather space; that's the former RadioShack I think, so it could be good for them (and in spitting distance of Gamestop)

[OliverD]

366 Main Street is for sale again. It has already sold four times in the last 11 years. IIRC there was a small mixed-use proposal that went to PAC years ago now. It would be nice to get something built here but it's quite a small lot.

[Taeolas]

Originally Posted by OliverD

366 Main Street is for sale again. It has already sold four times in the last 11 years. IIRC there was a small mixed-use proposal that went to PAC years ago now. It would be nice to get something built here but it's quite a small lot.

While it might be nice to see something go there; maybe one of the better options might be for the city to buy it up and maintain it as parkland and future right of ways for improving that intersection. While not as congested as some of the others, it is one of the key intersections in the city, and traffic can get sticky; with the Welcome centre about to open and further developments along Union and Main in general, it's only going to get stickier with time.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

While it might be nice to see something go there; maybe one of the better options might be for the city to buy it up and maintain it as parkland and future right of ways for improving that intersection. While not as congested as some of the others, it is one of the key intersections in the city, and traffic can get sticky; with the Welcome centre about to open and further developments along Union and Main in general, it's only going to get stickier with time.

I'm not really sure what you mean by sticky but there's already slip lanes for right turns and dedicated left turn lanes – I'm not sure what an intersection upgrade here would even look like.

[KnoxfordGuy]

Edit: looked on Google Street view. T'was a house until 2016.

Was there ever anything on that lot? Or was it always empty?

[Taeolas]

Originally Posted by OliverD

I'm not really sure what you mean by sticky but there's already slip lanes for right turns and dedicated left turn lanes – I'm not sure what an intersection upgrade here would even look like.

It's not a big deal now granted, hence why I just said "sticky" as opposed to "jam". Unless you're trying to do a left turn out of Wendy's around dinner time.

But it does have the Douglas Avenue intersection with the Welcome Center nearby; with that and North side growth in general, I could see traffic getting heavier, to the point we may need to reconsider how things flow in that area.

Mainly I'm thinking there's a risk that could become as bad as Union at Dairy Queen can be for trying to get in/out of businesses, even if it is just Wendys.

It's probably not a big worry ultimately.

That all said, I do remember the City's Main Street Plans proposal, they see that intersection as the "Entrance to Main Street". They hadn't really had any major changes planned for it, aside from making it a bit more noticable (I think the render had an arch or something to welcome you to Main street?)

If a developer wants to do something with the corner lot, go for it. But since that area's already basically parkland, maybe the city should just embrace it until demand inches up a bit more. It's better than an asphalt parkign lot at least.

[Freddypop]

Quesada signage is now up at the new strip mall adjacent to Elections NB on 2NC

[frenchvulture]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

Mainly I'm thinking there's a risk that could become as bad as Union at Dairy Queen can be for trying to get in/out of businesses, even if it is just Wendys.

Unlike Dairy Queen and Tim's on Union, they have options available that wouldn't disrupt the main traffic flow at this location. They could easily remove the Wendy's left-turn out on the Main, and instead put an exit that goes directly onto Devonshire if that ever became a significant problem.

[KnoxfordGuy]

Samuel & Co. is closing its Kings Place location. Its been there a long time.

On a happier note, restoration work and painting is happening to the outside of Wilmont United Church.

[DyAm00394]

Sharing this from the NB malls thread:

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Purdys Chocolatier is opening at Regent Mall and Champlain Place this September 2026 according to a new Retail Insider interview.

Purdys is also opening 2 other locations in Atlantic Canada. A pop up at Mic Mac Mall and a pop up at Halifax Shopping Centre with a permanent location opening in early 2027.

They mentioned they are starting with 4 locations but have already scouted out more locations in Atlantic Canada to open after these initial stores.

[Matzel_27]

Hmm...

Laura Secord closed at the end of April, ending a long run at Regent Mall.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has a fair size store in the mall.

Purdy's seems to step into that same space with its new store.

[Taeolas]

Originally Posted by Matzel_27

Hmm...

Laura Secord closed at the end of April, ending a long run at Regent Mall.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has a fair size store in the mall.

Purdy's seems to step into that same space with its new store.

Yeah, Laura didn't really close willingly; Primaris forced them out (they also apparently forced Laura out of their Halifax mall). With the Purdy's rumours and now announcement happening so soon after, it's clear they cut a deal to bring Purdy's in.

Purdy's clearly is doing some aggressive expansion into the Maritimes, hitting 3 of the main markets right off the bat, and probably hitting most of the remaining ones next year.

As I noted in the Moncton thread, Rocky and Laura lived for years in the same mall, so I expect Rocky and Purdy's will similarly do okay.

[Matzel_27]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

Yeah, Laura didn't really close willingly; Primaris forced them out (they also apparently forced Laura out of their Halifax mall).

Interesting angle.

--

AI' take:

Laura Secord is undergoing a strategic downsizing, permanently closing several long-standing mall locations across Canada to adapt to changing retail environments. The company has shut down prominent storefronts, including those in Mississauga’s Square One and Hamilton's Jackson Square, with Nova Scotia losing its last location in Halifax.

The iconic Canadian chocolatier is reducing its physical footprint due to intense competition, inflation, and shifting consumer habits, leaving approximately 60 to 75 physical shops operating nationwide.
At its peak corporate expansion (early 2000s), Laura Secord operated a maximum of 175 physical retail stores across Canada.

--

It would appear that Laura Secord is focusing on sales via online and grocery store partnerships vs. operating stand-alone stores.

[Freddypop]

Popeye's Supplements is opening up a store at the Corbett Centre in the former Mastermind store space. Signage is now up.

Also, Save-On Foods has reopened at the Corbett Centre. Been a number of months since a fire halted their operations

[Taeolas]

I think SaveOn has been reopened for about a month or so now. Though I do see they've got the road signage ads up around the Centre again.

As for Laura Secord, while I liked going there, I think the price of cocoa is biting them in the butt. Last Christmas (and the Winter Chocolate season in general) it had felt like they didn't have as much as they used to have, the few times I looked in.

When they announced they were closing, the local announcements made it sound like the mall wasn't renewing their lease, not that the chain was closing them down. And there was a comment here how both Secord's in Primaris malls were closing "suddenly" (Freddy and the one in Halifax).

[MonctonRad]

This is on CCD Canada:

MIXED-USE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING, 616 - 618 UNION ST., FREDERICTON - FREDERICTON, NB
NEW MIXED-USE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

Starting Date (estimated): N/A
Location: FREDERICTON (NB)
Size: $19,390,000.00
Stage: 3-Planning or drawing
Published: 2026-06-09
Last Update: 2026-06-09

Work type: New construction
Sector: Private
Category: 4-Residential
Subcategorie: 4B-Residential Development
Disciplines: Architecture, Civil, Electricity, Equipment, HVAC, Building mechanic, Structural, Other

Description:
NEW MIXED-USE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

Located in Fredericton, 616 - 618 Union St., this project estimated at $19 390 000 is in the planning stage. Based on a surface spread over 6 floors, works concern the construction of a mixed-use housing building providing 51 apartments as well as street-level space for commercial use.

Initiator: INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO SUBSCRIBERS

[Bishop2047]

^

https://www.fredericton.ca/sites/default...s%20-%20616%20and%20618%20Union%20St.pdf

Hope this does move forward. Above are the original proposed buildings on the site.