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‘URBAN-SIZED’ GROCERY STORE OPENS IN CENTRAL MONTREAL

By
Craig Patterson
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Le Seville, site of the 14,000 sq ft Marché Adnois

Grocery retailer Marché Adonis has opened a urban-sized store in downtown Montreal. It’s a model that may be copied for future locations as the grocer seeks space in urban centres. It could open a second Montreal store in the coming months, and it may expand further into Toronto and beyond.

For those unfamiliar, Marché Adonis is a Mediterranean-inspired grocery retailer with six locations in the Montreal area as well as one in Mississauga, Ontario. Most locations are in the 30,000-40,000 square foot range. It was bought by Metro in late 2011, and appears to be in expansion mode.

The new downtown Montreal Adonis is about 14,000 square feet and is located at the base of a new condo tower, Le Seville, on Ste Catherine Street West between Atwater and St-Mathieu Streets. Adonis may open a second similarly-sized location as part of a multi-building condominium development in Montreal’s Griffintown, in a project called District Griffin by Devimco.

A source tells us that Marché Adonis could open one or more stores in Downtown Toronto. We won’t elaborate until we can provide a confirmation.

Entrance to Marché Adonis’ downtown Montreal store. Image: Facebook

Adonis’ move is part of a larger trend that is seeing grocery retailers opening stores in downtown locations. Downtown Toronto and Vancouver are already home to a substantial number of grocery stores, and the trend is growing throughout Canada. Montreal continues this trend as new condos are constructed and more residents move downtown.

The above topic merits further comment. Canada is seeing a growing trend of car-free (or almost car-free) lifestyles. Urban food retail is adapting accordingly. We believe that walkable neighbourhoods should ideally have a food retailer (at least for staple items) within a five-minute walk, or about 400 metres from a residence’s front door. The idea has succeeded in Manhattan for generations and is experiencing increased popularity in American cities like Chicago, where there has been a noticeable increase in grocery stores in its densely populated River North neighbourhood. Toronto’s downtown core has seen considerable increase in grocery stores including a flagship Loblaws at the base of Maple Leaf Gardens. Vancouver’s downtown core includes grocery chains and boasts three upscale grocery stores, each about 25,000 square feet, called Urban Fare.

We’ll be writing more on urban grocery store retail, as we find the concept interesting. Living in a Downtown Vancouver condo tower, this author very much appreciates having three grocery stores within two blocks, helping make car ownership unnecessary.

[Marché Adonis website]

WILL SAKS FIFTH AVENUE OPEN IN CALGARY?

By
Retail Insider
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Hudson's Bay in downtown Calgary. Photo: Google

Saks Fifth Avenue could open in Calgary, and it could open either downtown or at the Chinook Centre. A Calgary store could follow Saks openings in Vancouver and Toronto, which are expected to open first according to HBC CEO Richard Baker.

Calgary cold be considered a prime city for Saks Fifth Avenue. It has over 1 million people. Salaries are high and income and other taxes are relatively low compared to the rest of Canada.

We would expect a Calgary Saks store to be, at least initially, located within existing Hudson’s Bay store space. More specifically, we’d likely see Saks either within the flagship Downtown Calgary Hudson’s Bay store, or somehow integrated into the current Hudson’s Bay store, now under renovation, at Chinook Centre. Locating within existing Hudson’s Bay space would be much more cost-effective for Saks as HBC owns its Downtown Calgary store and has an excellent long-term lease at its Chinook Centre store. 

As an aside, we’re not sure if Hudson’s Bay’s opening one or more “Saks departments” within its existing stores would be a good idea. Saks stores are noted for their customer service and attractive store interiors. Hudson’s Bay stores have not traditionally been known for either. The Saks brand could be damaged if it is placed too commonly within existing Bay stores, and we think segregating the two would be better for the Saks brand. With Richard Baker’s recent assertions that Hudson’s Bay would become “Canada’s Harrod’s” with the inclusion of Saks, we’re concerned that random Saks spaces within Hudson’s Bay stores could seriously harm Saks Fifth Avenue’s image both to Canadian shoppers as well as internationally. 

Saks Fifth Avenue, Downtown Calgary:

The Downtown Calgary Hudson’s Bay store is about 450,000 square feet over six levels. Its 75,000 square foot floorplates allow for some flexibility with the possible inclusion of Saks occupying one or more floors. Saks could also possibly occupy some of several floors or even include smaller “Saks departments” throughout the downtown store. 

The Bay store faces several challenges for Saks. It’s separated from Downtown Calgary’s main shopping Centre, The Core, by an adjacent shopping plaza called Scotia Centre. Scotia lacks the attractive interiors of the neighbouring Core, and its connection to Hudson’s Bay lacks both attractiveness and convenience of entry. Calgary’s downtown retail is dominated by above-ground pedestrian walkways and because of this, a Saks within the downtown Bay could be less than ideal. 

On the flip side, bringing Saks into the Downtown Calgary Bay could bring more shoppers eastward from The Core. A benefit to the location of Downtown Calgary’s Bay is that it is located across the street from the upscale shopping strip called Fashion Central, which includes upscale retailers such as Wolford. Saks could be an interesting addition if located across from Wolford at the corner of 8th Avenue Southwest and 1st Street Southwest. Furthermore, Saks could also increase the demand to remodel Scotia Centre to include better retailing, services, access and interiors.

A Saks in Downtown Calgary would join a 147,000 square foot Holt Renfrew store and would compete with a 31,000 square foot Harry Rosen store in the menswear category.

Saks Fifth Avenue, Chinook Centre: 

Hudson’s Bay’s Chinook Centre store is about 203,000 square feet. A full-sized Saks store would ideally be in the 75,000-130,000 square foot range. Given this, we would expect a smaller Saks shop-in-store at the Chinook Hudson’s Bay store, if at all. Chinook Centre will be expanding near the current Hudson’s Bay store and from the plans we have reviewed, we don’t see an allowance for another anchor store. Chinook Centre is one of Canada’s top malls, and next year it will open Canada’s first Nordstrom store. The 140,000 square foot Nordstrom will be a huge draw to the mall, and Saks could be a welcome addition as a fourth anchor store for Chinook (joining Hudson’s Bay, Nordstrom and a recently opened Target store). 

There would be at least two benefits to opening Saks at Chinook. One is the availability of ample parking in a city that loves its cars and has expensive downtown parking. The other is the lack of competition from Downtown Calgary’s Holt Renfrew store, which includes some of the same concessions carried at Saks, ie. Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, and Prada, among others.

Given the affluence, population and low taxes in Alberta, we’d be surprised if Calgary didn’t see a Saks location either downtown or at Chinook Centre.

SAMSUNG WILL OPEN ITS 2nd CANADIAN STORE AT TORONTO’S YORKDALE SHOPPING CENTRE

By
Retail Insider
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Samsung at Yorkdale (2013)

Canada’s second Samsung store will open at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. It will be 2,160 square feet and will carry a wide variety of Samsung products including mobile, computing and consumer electronic products.

Canada’s first Samsung store opened in July 2012 at the Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby, BC. It is 1,603 square feet.

Samsung is the latest technology retailer to open multiple brick-and-mortar retail locations, similar to the likes of Apple Store and Microsoft Store concepts. 

Thank you to our Toronto Retail Insider ACT7 of Urban Toronto for forwarding us this article’s tip. 


[Samsung website]

WORLD’S SECOND-LARGEST VICTORIA’S SECRET STORE OPENS AUGUST 27TH IN VANCOUVER

By
Retail Insider
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Photo: Victoria's Secret

The world’s second-largest Victoria’s Secret store opens August 27th in Vancouver. It will be 34,814 square feet and will occupy two levels in the Robson Central complex at the northeast corner of Robson and Burrard Streets.

We have located lease plans through Robson Central’s landlord, Morguard Investments. The basement level of the store will be 20,815 square feet, while the ground floor will be 13,999 square feet. The space was previously home to an HMV store and its second-level mezzanine has been removed to accommodate higher ceilings for Victoria’s Secret.

Lower and ground floors of Robson Central, to be occupied by Victoria’s Secret.

Robson Central was built in 1957 as the main branch of the Vancouver Public Library. It served this purpose until 1995 when it was converted to retail and other commercial uses. The first retail tenant for the Victoria’s Secret space was a Virgin Megastore. 

Robson Central, pre-Victoria’s Secret. [Image Source]

The largest Victoria’s Secret store in North America (as well as in the world) is its Herald Square store in New York City. It is about 60,000 square feet. 

[Victoria’s Secret website]

AZZEDINE ALAÏA BOUTIQUE OPENS IN THE ROOM AT HUDSON’S BAY, TORONTO

By
Retail Insider
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Photo: Azzedine Alaïa

*****UPDATE: The Azzedine Alaïa boutique at Hudson’s Bay opened August 21st 2013*****

A dedicated Azzedine Alaïa boutique has opened within The Room at the flagship (Queen Street) Hudson’s Bay store in Toronto. The shop carrys Alaïa’s collection of ready-to-wear as well as handbags. Alaïa’s footwear is carried in The Room along with these items, as well as in The Room shoe department in the new, massive women’s shoe floor located on the ground floor of Hudson’s Bay. 

The Alaïa boutique is located in space formerly occupied by The Room’s shoe department on the third floor.

For those unfamiliar, Azzedine Alaïa is a Paris-based premium designer brand with women’s ready-to-wear priced well into the thousands. Its distribution is limited to selected retailers worldwide.

This is the third shop-in-store in The Room. Alaïa joins shops for Ralph Lauren Black Label and Armani Collezioni. 

The Room is in expansion mode, and will open next month at Lord & Taylor in NYC and at Hudson’s Bay in Montreal next year (Lord & Taylor is a the American sister store to Hudson’s Bay).

With Saks Fifth Avenue opening within Hudson’s Bay stores, it remains to be seen what role The Room will play at Hudson’s Bay. 

An email to The Room’s creative director, Nicholas Mellamphy, was unfortunately not returned. 

[Azzedine Alaïa website]

[Hudson’s Bay ‘The Room’ website]

FOLLI FOLLIE TO OPEN IN CALGARY MID-AUGUST

By
Retail Insider
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Photo: Folli Follie

Greek accessories and jewellery company Folli Follie will continue to open more Canadian shops. The latest will be a location on the 2nd floor of Holt Renfrew‘s Calgary store, according to a source at the Vancouver store. The Calgary shop will be located in the women’s ‘contemporary’ department, and is expected to open mid-August.

Its first Canadian location opened within Vancouver’s Holt Renfrew store in October 2011. Concessions have followed at Holt Renfrew’s Bloor Street and Sherway Gardens stores in Toronto, as well as a location at the Vancouver International Airport.

Folli Follie’s prices are considered relatively ‘affordable’ by designer-goods standards. We enquired why the concession was at Holt Renfrew rather than Hudson’s Bay. Were informed it is because Folli Follie is owned by the same company as Links of London which already has concessions at Holt’s stores across Canada.

[Folli Follie website] 

[Holt Renfrew website] 

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE COULD OPEN IN EDMONTON

By
Retail Insider
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Photo: Saks Fifth Avenue

Saks Fifth Avenue could open at West Edmonton Mall. The mall is actively courting upscale retailers and it is reported that Saks could be next.

We previously reported that West Edmonton Mall could get a Saks store, though possibly not within its Hudson’s Bay department store. West Edmonton Mall’s Hudson’s Bay is only about 164,000 square feet, and a full-sized Saks would ideally be in the 75,000-130,000 square foot range. We’re not yet sure if Saks will open smaller boutiques within existing Hudson’s Bay stores.

The Globe & Mail reports that West Edmonton Mall president David Ghermezian intends to approach Hudson’s Bay Company CEO Richard Baker about opening Saks in the mall. Ghermezian has successfully secured other upscale tenants for West Edmonton Mall, including Hugo Boss, Tiffany & Co. and a 118,000 square foot La Maison Simons store. He is also spending over $100 million to upgrade the mall. 

West Edmonton Mall is a family owned shopping centre. It therefore may have the flexibility to make deals with retailers that others malls might not. Ghermezian made concessions to open La Maison Simons and we’re told that Simons is doing gangbusters sales. Given the flexibility and previous efforts to secure tenants like Simons, we might see similar efforts put forth for Saks.

The Globe & Mail reports that West Edmonton Mall now achieves sales of about $745 per square foot, up from $450 five years ago. Ghermezian expects sales of $1,000 per square foot within the next few years. Given these numbers and the efforts of its owners, West Edmonton Mall could see new and exciting retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue and possibly Nordstrom.

[Saks Fifth Avenue website]

[West Edmonton Mall website]

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE’S DISCOUNT ‘OFF 5TH’ TO OPEN UP TO 25 CANADIAN LOCATIONS

By
Retail Insider
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Rendering: 'Saks Off 5th'

Saks Fifth Avenue‘s discount retail concept ‘Off 5th‘ will open up to 25 Canadian locations, according to Hudson’s Bay Company CEO Richard Baker. Saks’ Off 5th concept will likely follow the opening of Canadian Saks Fifth Avenue stores, which we expect to happen within the next 12-18 months. 

Existing Hudson’s Bay real estate will likely be utilized for Off 5th stores, including some Home Outfitters and former Zellers real estate still held by The Hudson’s Bay Company. Existing store space within Hudson’s Bay stores could also be utilized for Off 5th. 

Off 5th carries both discounted merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue’s full-priced stores, as well as products purchased specifically for the store. Off 5th will therefore compete with the likes of Nordstrom Rack and Holt Renfrew’s recently opened hr2 concept. 

Off 5th stores are generally 20,000-35,000 square feet, with a recent focus on stores in the 25,000-28,000 square foot range, according to an article describing the chain’s expansion strategy. It would be relatively easy for Hudson’s Bay to open Off 5th stores within existing Hudson’s Bay real estate, including possibly the sub-basement of Hudson’s Bay’s Downtown Vancouver store, which currently has over 43,000 square feet of space for lease. 

We’ll update you when we start learning of Off 5th Saks Fifth Avenue Canadian locations. 

[Off 5th website]

[Saks Fifth Avenue website]

HAZELTON LANES RENOVATION FLOORPLANS

By
Retail Insider
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Proposed street level plan, Hazelton Lanes. Source: Kasian/First Capital


These are the proposed lease plans for Toronto’s Hazelton Lanes renovation (see above and second-to-last image). Yesterday we reported that Hazelton Lanes will undergo extensive renovations to attract more luxury tenants. From the looks of the plans, most of the mall will see an overhaul. The future of anchors Andrews (department store) and Equinox Fitness are in question, as they appear to possibly be absent from the new plans. However some anchors, including Whole Foods, will stay.


Current street-level plan of Hazelton Lanes [Image: First Capital Realty]

The current Hazelton Lanes floorplan (above) includes department store Andrews,
which has two retail levels. We’re not sure if Andrews will be part
of the mall, though it’s possible it could be relocated to two larger
retail spaces, one above the other, near the new oval atrium area. Noticeably absent from the
new plans is Equinox Fitness, as its current space appears to be
dedicated to retail in the new plans. 

136-138 Yorkville Avenue, to be demolished for Hazelton Lane’s Yorkville Avenue Entrance
Proposed Yorkville Avenue entrance, to replace 136-138 Yorkville Avenue



First Capital recently purchased 136-138 Hazelton Avenue with the
intention of demolishing structures for the mall’s southward expansion. However, we don’t yet have modified lease plans for a southward expansion of Hazelton Lanes to include an entrance on Yorkville Avenue.

Proposed street level plan, Hazelton Lanes. Source: Kasian/First Capital



We’re hoping to soon learn of which luxury retailers will sign up for space at Hazelton Lanes. Given the challenges of finding space on Bloor Street, some luxury stores may see Hazelton Lanes as a viable alternative to Bloor. And having one landlord could give Hazelton Lanes an edge in securing tenants over Bloor Street, where retail space is owned by multiple parties.

Current lower-level plan of Hazelton Lanes [Image: First Capital Realty]

We encourage commercial real estate professionals involved with the Hazelton Lanes project to keep us updated on the mall’s possible tenants. We’ll keep sources confidential. 


[Hazelton Lanes website]

HAZELTON LANES TO RENOVATE FOR LUXURY RETAIL

By
Retail Insider
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IMAGE: KASIAN/FIRST CAPITAL

Toronto’s Hazelton Lanes shopping centre is looking to get back into the luxury retail game. Landlord First Capital Realty is said to be negotiating with some of the world’s top luxury retailers (rumours include Salvator Ferragamo, among others). If successful, Hazelton Lanes could once again rival neighbouring Bloor Street as one of Toronto’s luxury shopping addresses.

For those unfamiliar, Hazelton Lanes is an upscale retail complex located in Toronto’s affluent Yorkville neighbourhood. Hazelton Lanes’ first phase (55 Avenue Road) was built in 1976 and was constructed specifically to be a small (60,000 square foot) luxury mall. Because it opened before the Toronto Eaton Centre, it managed to secure perhaps more upscale retailers than it otherwise would have. At the time, Toronto lacked luxury retail, save for Holt Renfrew (in a 60,000 square foot store at 144 Bloor Street West, now Burberry), womenswear retailer Creeds, and The St. Regis Room (now ‘The Room’ at Hudson’s Bay) at Simpsons, Queen Street.

We’ve got Hazelton Lanes renderings, a video presentation and lease plans. We’ll post the renderings and video today and the lease plans tomorrow, to keep this article relatively brief.

Above is a video provided by First Capital showing their vision for the new Hazelton Lanes. Thank you to pw20 of Urban Toronto for locating the video.

Hazelton Lanes almost tripled in size in 1988 (adding address ’87 Avenue Road’ as its north portion) and became host to even more luxury retailers. The recession that hit Toronto a couple of years later resulted in many luxury stores closing at Hazelton Lanes. The mall’s awkward configuration, low ceilings and inconveniently-located entrances didn’t help things, either.

Hazelton Lanes eventually became more of a neighbourhood shopping centre (albeit an upscale one) of almost 237,000 square feet with anchors including Whole Foods, Andrews department store, an 18,000 square foot fashion retailer called TNT, Equinox Fitness and Rexall Drugs.

Things are about to change in a big way for Hazelton Lanes. First Capital will renovate the entire Hazelton lanes and modernize the complex to include an oval-shaped central atrium as well as reconfigured entrances. An entirely new entrance will be located on Yorkville Avenue, providing better pedestrian access to the mall from affluent Yorkville.

We’ll post and discuss Hazelton Lanes’ lease plans tomorrow. Thank you to a source who wishes not to be named for providing us with renderings and lease plans for Hazelton Lanes.

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