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First Ghost Kitchen to Open in a Grocery Store in Canada Will be in a Toronto Longo’s [Interview]

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Kitchen Hub (Image: Unbound Productions)

Kitchen Hub is partnering with Longo’s supermarket chain to open the first ghost kitchen concept inside a grocery store in Toronto – the first of its kind in Canada.

The “store-within-a-store” food hall concept is inside Longo’s Liberty Village and the fourth location for Kitchen Hub.

The partners said future location opportunities are being explored.

Kitchen Hub has four new kitchens at Longo’s Liberty Village – Toronto’s beloved Thai restaurant PAI, Montreal’s buzz-worthy Mandy’s Gourmet Salads, rapidly-growing fried chicken and burger spot Cabano’s Comfort Food and authentic Mexican fare from Elia Herrera of Colibri with Tecolote. 

“We are always looking for new ways to exceed the demands of the quickly evolving takeout channel,” said Adam Armeland, Kitchen Hub Co-Founder and CEO. “We identified an incredible opportunity to not only expand our business model by adding a completely new style of virtual food hall, but also benefit our grocery partner by driving foot traffic in-store and our customers by providing streamlined access to unbelievable takeout in a way that’s never been done before. We are thrilled to partner with Longo’s, another Toronto-founded brand, for this exciting new expansion.”

Kitchen Hub (Image: Unbound Productions)

“At Longo’s, our guests are always looking for delicious food as well as increasingly convenient ways to shop for quality meal solutions. We understand the changing demands and behaviours of our guests and take pride in always evolving to deliver the best shopping experience possible,” said Anthony Longo, President and CEO of Longo’s. “Kitchen Hub’s collection of curated offerings from top-tier brands will ensure that we continue to elevate, innovate, and appeal to our guests. We are excited to deliver this new offering to our Liberty Village community.”

Kitchen Hub first launched in 2020 after Armeland was on parental leave with his daughter and he was ‘cooking’ for the family and he was finding different takeout food.

“You started to realize that there was this trend happening around convenience and people wanting takeout food to bring home and not necessarily consume in the restaurant,” he said.

“We have plans next year for another six in Toronto.”

Kitchen Hub (Image: Unbound Productions)
Kitchen Hub Co-Founders (Image: Dortas Photography)

Kitchen Hub offers pickup or delivery via KitchenHub.com, all major third-party delivery services and from all Toronto locations: 935 The Queensway (Etobicoke), 234 Parliament Street (Downtown East), 1121 Castlefield Avenue (Castlefield Design + Decor District) and the newly launched 1100 King St West, (Liberty Village). 

There are 36 Longo’s stores across Toronto and the GTA.

Armeland said it was felt that Liberty Village and the profile that exists there for the consumer was the right spot to bring the latest Kitchen Hub concept. 

“Can you actually teach people that restaurants are now available in grocery stores where we actually built four industrial kitchens . . . to rent out to restaurants to cook their incredible food?,” he said. 

“We thought this was kind of the perfect spot to test this and see what the possible is . . . We’re exploring future locations together (with Longo’s) and different opportunities. Obviously we have to see what the possible is with this one but we think it’s a really exciting partnership that really benefits both of us to help drive (traffic) from both of our brands . . . into their space.”

Kitchen Hub (Image: Unbound Productions)

Joey Bernaudo, Vice-President of Merchandising for Longo’s, said the introduction of Kitchen Hub gives the supermarket the opportunity to provide its customers with more convenient ways to shop for delicious foods. It brings together Longo’s kitchen with great quality food and partnering with restaurants through Kitchen Hub. 

“It brings multiple types of food that guests can enjoy in one spot,” he said. “We love that location (Liberty Village). We’re new in that location. It’s been about three years now. We think it’s a great opportunity.

“We just thought that that market enjoys different foods, different ways to enjoy food. So we thought that market was a great setup for this and it allows us to offer that guest a meal solution.

“(The Liberty Village store) is about 22,000 square feet. It’s a little bit smaller than our typical store but it is a full offering. It’s got our full kitchen offering. It’s got the full shop offering. The Kitchen Hub piece we’re really proud on how it actually came out. It looks like it was part of the store design from day one and it really fits the marketplace, the decor, the whole overall experience of the store. We’re really pleased with how it came out.”

Kitchen Hub (Image: Unbound Productions)

Bernaudo said Longo’s is looking at other opportunities and exploring them. If there are markets that make sense and fit the store, the community, the partnership, so it’s mutually beneficial, then the grocer will definitely explore them. But there’s nothing concrete at this point.

“But we’re definitely open for discussions as this one at Liberty Village starts to get going. I’m sure we’re going to learn lots of things and hopefully there’s some more opportunities going forward,” he said. 

“The partnership allows us to really anchor . . . meal solutions and really bring top quality food and different offerings for our guests. I think it’s just a unique way to bring something to that community.”

Restaurants in Canada: The Bleeding Continues [Op-Ed]

By
Sylvain Charlebois
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After a slew of confinements and closures, restaurants are still not out of the woods. Far from it. Over the past year in Canada, restaurant closures outpaced openings by a whopping 43%. The industry is still shrinking.

Inflation-adjusted food service sales will be around 11% below 2019 levels by the time we’re done with 2022, and could surpass the $100 billion mark, according to the latest report from Restaurants Canada. Traffic in full-service outlets is down 9%, and for quick service, it’s down 5%. Still, these are encouraging numbers.

The annual report is of course imbued with the optimism and resilience characteristic of the sector. But with both a possible recession and higher interest rates on the horizon, consumers will have to make choices and change habits. With a tighter budget, many consumers will eat in restaurants less often. We estimate that on average, 27% of our current food budget is spent on food consumed outside the home, at some type of restaurant. Before the pandemic, the percentage was over 35%, and getting back to that percentage will take time, perhaps even a few years.

But the report is a bit surprising in many aspects. For one, there’s not a single word in it about the work-from-home phenomenon. We estimate that by 2025, nearly 40% of the Canadian workforce will work at least one day a week or more at home. A more domestic, more sedentary market does not have the same relationship with food as a consumer market that commutes daily.

The Shake Shack chain in the United States, which operates more than 6,000 restaurants worldwide, including a few in Canada, has become a model case for strategic pivoting during the pandemic. The chain’s revenue is around $500 million annually. In March 2020, their online sales were practically zero. Today, 43% of their sales are online, through phone apps. In fast food, only 16.5% of consumers will eat their meals on site. Before the pandemic, that percentage was 33.9%. Ordering online for delivery or pick-up is almost the norm now for many consumers.

It’s not surprising, then, to see other chains, like Subway, copying Shake Shack and relying heavily on their own app. SKIP, which just let go 350 employees, knows this all too well. This e-commerce platform, as well as UBER EATS, Doordash, and others who offer meal delivery from partner restaurants, are seeing their turnover affected by competitors that recognize the potential of a virtual market. Even grocers are improving their service and relying on online shopping, and they are getting better at it. Before the pandemic, the food service sector had almost a monopoly on delivery and counter service. This is no longer the case.

Of course, some of the major headwinds affecting the sector include inflation and labour issues. With inflation, as prices on the menus increase, the number of choices are decreasing. Less waste, less cost. It is possible that we’ll see more and more restaurants with service that offers only one or two dishes on any given day, because this provides more predictability for the back-of-house staff. Several European restaurants are already doing this. The demand becomes more manageable, and so do the costs.

Regarding labour issues, Restaurants Canada estimates that the sector has had between 150,000 and 170,000 vacant positions for some time. The sector currently employs 271,000 fewer people than in 2019, before the pandemic hit. The difference is enormous. Several establishments will close earlier or will open less often. Operators will rely more and more on robotics, which we are already seeing in several businesses, both in the kitchen and in the dining room.

The sector is clearly redefining itself, but the bleeding continues. As it emerges from a tumultuous period with a firm desire to adapt to a market that is difficult to predict, many establishments won’t survive. Interestingly, the report notes a few trends to watch for, including  increased demand for local food, comfort food, and globally inspired foods and flavours. Talk about paradoxes.

Walmart Announces 1st-Ever Fulfillment Centre in Quebec with $100m Investment [Interview]

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Image: Walmart Canada

Retail giant Walmart Canada is building its first-ever fulfillment centre in Quebec which is a $100-million delivery hub for Quebec and Atlantic Canada customers and part of the retailer’s plans to invest $1 billion in infrastructure this year.

That includes about $330 million in a record number of store renovations this year.

“This important investment is the latest example of Walmart’s commitment to Quebec,” said Cyrille Ballereau, Walmart Canada Regional Vice President for Quebec, in a statement. “We are investing for growth in Quebec and creating jobs for Quebecers to better serve our customers. Quebecers will see refreshed stores, quicker service and more options available in-store and online. When Quebecers choose Walmart, they are choosing to support a retailer that supports Quebecers.”

The new high-tech sortable fulfillment centre near Montreal in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec is expected to open in 2024 and will offer better product availability and quicker service for customers choosing to shop in-store or online at Walmart.ca, said the retailer.

The Quebec fulfillment centre will be about 457,000 square feet and it will be powered by cutting-edge logistics technology to achieve productivity with less physical effort by using innovative technology.

Photo: Walmart Canada

“This platform will speed up order fulfillment through an advanced operating system that will help associates store, pick and sort items by using smart and flexible storage abilities to manage a large and wide variety of inventory,” said Walmart, adding that the facility will be capable of shipping 20 million items annually to local customers and capable of storing 500,000 items to fulfill direct to home and in-store pickup orders.

The facility, which is designed  to optimize packaging, minimize waste and reduce transportation costs, will create about 225 new jobs in Quebec, plus construction and engineering jobs.

“We are thrilled to partner with a brand and business as strong and reputable as Walmart,” said Tyler and Chris Harden, Co-CEOs of Harden, in a statement. “This state-of-the-art fulfillment centre is a true testament to their vision for the future of retailing and a long-term commitment to Vaudreuil and the province of Quebec, as a growing hub. We are proud to be executing the construction of this project on behalf of Walmart, with our in-house construction team, and to add this asset to our portfolio.”

Walmart said this year’s $1 billion investment also includes plans to update and remodel a record number of stores in a year with store changes including modernizing and upgrading physical spaces with a focus on improving the customer experience both in-store and online.

Photo: Walmart Canada

More than 80 stores from Port Alberni, B.C., to Carbonear, N.L., will be revamped and refreshed, providing more than 2,500 trade and construction jobs. 

“We know these are challenging times for our customers. That’s why we are proud to be making significant investments in Canada to deliver the very best shopping experience,” said JP Suarez, Executive Vice President, Chief Administration Office and Regional CEO for Walmart International, who is also leading Walmart Canada on an interim basis, in a news release. “We are building a better Walmart Canada to help more Canadians save money and live better. As the cost of living rises, Canadians can trust Walmart to be that convenient, one-stop shop for everyday low prices.”

Some of the enhancements include:

  • Expanding product assortment and offering an upgraded look and feel;
  • Integrating more dedicated omnichannel spaces for more online orders;
  • Refreshing interiors and exteriors, including fresh paint and new signage;
  • Adding LED lighting to key departments to enhance the interior experience;
  • Updating associate lounge areas, including new couches and other upgrades;
  • Renovating washroom areas, including new tiling and sustainability features; and
  • Replacing and upgrading legacy systems with new technology and applications.

Walmart Canada said these projects are part of its multi-year $3.5 billion investment in the Canadian market.

The company operates more than 400 stores across Canada with 1.5 million customers each day.

Couple to Open French Bakery Concept ‘Au Pain Doré’ in Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market Area as Part of Expansion [Interview]

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Future Au Pain Doré in Downtown Toronto (Image: Dustin Fuhs)

Jeff Morgan and his wife Ardita Karaj have a background in the IT sector but their passion these days is for French bakeries.

The couple, who own a Brioche Dorée franchise, a Parisian bakery cafe at the TD Centre in downtown Toronto, are also planning to open in the near future an Au Pain Doré franchise location in the St. Lawrence Market area of the city.

They opened their Brioche Dorée location last November. That French brand is located around the world in about 40 countries with a small presence in North America.

“The store is a French bakery. It is famous for bringing that fast food concept in the French world,” said Karaj. “It is French food with a high quality, fresh-baked daily but it’s in a fast-serving environment.”

Image: Au Pain Doré

“It’s kind of a grab-and-go. Although we have seating there, because of its location and everything else, it’s not a place that people tend to linger. We service a lot of the office buildings in the area,” added Morgan.

Morgan said the new Au Pain Doré brand that the couple is opening, started in Montreal as a family-owned bakery since the 1950s. 

Morgan said the brand carries all the French pastries, the breads, desserts, salads and soups, and very good coffee.

“It’s considered more of like a neighbourhood place where people will linger around,” he said. 

Morgan said the new Toronto location for Au Pain Doré is currently under construction with opening now scheduled for either late September or early October. 

“It’s going to be the flagship Au Pain Doré in Ontario. It’s a large location. We’re really making it a nice, nice store. With nice furnishings. A great experience. This is a showcase of this brand in Ontario,” said Morgan, adding that the brand will likely continue to expand in Ontario and beyond with additional franchises.

The location will be just under 1,900 square feet.

Image: Au Pain Doré

According to the company’s website, In 1951, Roland and Odette Étienne settled in the Rosemont neighbourhood of Montreal. Five years later, with support from Montreal’s Basque community, the Étiennes purchased a bakery with two Mignolet ovens on Marquette Street.

“In its early days, the bakery’s golden-crusted baguettes and French breads attracted restaurant owners. It was only in 1983 that the first Au Pain Doré bakery opened in a converted former garage, finally giving local residents the opportunity to also enjoy the quality of genuine French bread.

The Marquette Street bakery was such a success that it wasn’t long before Au Pain Doré’s quality began to spread across the city. A location opened on St-Denis Street in 1991, followed by Peel Street downtown and Laurier Street in 1992. Three more addresses joined the family in 1995: McGill Street, Mont-Royal Avenue and Côte-des-Neiges. The growing demand for breads, pastries, sandwiches, desserts and other delicacies also meant a growing challenge with regard to production and multiple daily deliveries,” says the corporate website.

“To overcome the challenge, the Atelier Boulanger rue de Rouen was opened in 1997. Here, bread is handmade under ideal conditions and continuously fine-tuned by a desire to blend expertise and technology. Proud of its success, the thriving family-owned company continued its expansion by opening six more locations in Montreal and Laval.

“In 2008 Au Pain Doré attracted the attention of Le Duff Group, also experts in high-quality bakery and owners and operators of several international brands throughout the world. Au Pain Doré became part of the Group, which shares the same ambition as the three generations of the Étienne family who had been part of the business through the years: to strive for excellence, and to pride itself on being the reference for traditional French bread in Montreal.”

Image: Au Pain Doré

Le Duff Group also owns the Brioche Dorée brand.

Karaj said the couple is typical of the target customer. They love French food and a French bakery. But they couldn’t find anything in downtown Toronto for their tastes. There was nothing within walking distance for them.

“We opened Brioche Dorée to fill an empty spot that we had for ourselves. What we’re aiming for is customers either commercial or individuals who enjoy good French food that is homemade and is not like packaged and delivered. It is homemade daily,” she said. “It is done with simple and original ingredients. 

“Toronto is a foodie city. There are so many people here that are so diverse in food tastes and we’re making the French food more accessible and not at a high price in a comfortable environment in a neighbourhood that fits with the whole Au Pain Doré community.”

“You walk in and we’ve put the ovens out front so people can actually see them,” explained Morgan. “At our new store people are going to be able to see the people prepping the food. The oven is there. You’re going to have the heavenly smell when you open the door.”

Toronto’s Yonge and St Clair Area Seeing Major Developments with New Retail Being Added [Interviews]

By
Shelby Hautala
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Yonge + St. Clair (Image: Dustin Fuhs)

The Yonge and St. Clair area in Toronto is in the middle of a makeover as the BIA (Business Improvement Area) is looking to improve the neighbourhood to be a place where people can live, work, and play. A landlord is also playing a key role.

The BIA was founded in 2018 at Yonge and St. Clair and are working on bringing new retail spaces to the area while continuing to support and improve local businesses, the BIA represents over 450 businesses in the area and covers 22 acres. 

“We are going through a wave of new developments happening in the neighbourhood, so we are really excited to see how it develops into a great neighbourhood,” says Louroz Mercader, the Executive Director of the Yonge and St. Clair BIA. 

A developer is also integral to the area, given its extensive ownership.

“The area is surrounded by tons of residential, so we saw an opportunity to reposition the four corners of Yonge and St. Clair to really improve upon the existing amenities and reposition some of the retail so we can make it more of a place to live, work, and play,” says Lindsay Stiles, Chief Operating Officer of Slate Asset Management. 

Current Development Plans 

One Delisle (Image: Slate Asset Management)

One of the developments of Slate Asset Management and Studio Gang that has recently broken ground two months ago is One Delisle, a residential complex in the Yonge and St. Clair Area.  The One Delisle will be 47 stories with 371 condominium apartment units. As there is an immediate connection to the subway, Stiles said it will make it a great place to be and easily accessible. This will be Studio Gang’s first development in Canada. 

The BIA and Slate Asset Management are currently working on bringing in a mix of services, here are some examples of what is in place:

  • Cucina Buca, a formal sit down for nice dinners and corporate lunches but is also appropriate for families
  • Playa Cabana, a Mexican restaurant which also includes an outdoor patio
  • Prairie Boy Bakery, where residents can find its well-known custom cakes along with breads which people can grab to go and take home 
  • F45 is a fitness retailer designed for people who want a full body workout

Slate’s portfolio also includes 10 other properties in the area and includes all four corners of the intersection where One Delisle will be. 

Mercader said the development of St. Clair Place has also recently been announced and will be a new four tower development complex which will be located across from the One Delisle. Mercader said the BIA is also looking at improving public realm with a master streetscape plan that will hopefully be completed in five to eight years. This will include new courtyards, sidewalks, benches, lighting, and investing a lot in art and culture to further enhance the neighbourhood. 

Louroz Mercader

“We are looking at new beautiful public spaces which really helps build the feel and character of the neighbourhood. At Yonge and St. Clair, we have developed a streetscape master plan. We are covering 22 acres, but our core focus is working with the intersection right now and then from there we are going to expand where we will have a uniformed design, look, and feel that is going to be in the neighbourhood. It is exciting we are starting to put piece by piece together to make this happen. Obviously, we would love to make this happen as soon as possible, but we are also working on the timelines of the new developments that are happening, so I think within the next five to eight years we will implement most of the streetscape master plan,” says Mercader. 

Before Covid-19, Mercader said they had 15,000 office workers in the neighbourhood, and they are gradually working back up to that number as about 30 percent of workers are back in office.

“We are hoping that more people return to work to help support the businesses that are in the area which really helps the vibrancy of the neighbourhood. Then obviously the goal here is to attract tenants, and especially new restaurants and places to eat, so after work you would be able to join with your family and friends and really enjoy the neighbourhood that is coming in here. We do want a healthy mix of retailers coming in here, I think the investment and the new developments that are happening now will really help public realm and bring new energy into the neighbourhood,” says Mercader. 

Collaborating with Existing Local Businesses 

Salon Scavo (Image: Dustin Fuhs)

The BIA is not just looking to bring in new retail, it is also looking to support local business owners and improve retail stores. This can include potentially accommodating retail stores to a new location where there is more signage and traffic exposure or helping with renovating a retail store’s location so they can provide more to their customers. A good example of this would be the BIA’s work on  Salon Scavo. 

“They’ve been on the Yonge and St. Clair neighbourhood for a long time, they were a tenant there before we inquired the properties in the neighbourhood and so we worked with them, and they renovated their salon as part of our redevelopment. And they continued to do incredibly well, and they are very well known in the neighbourhood, so we are happy we were able to keep them and to work with them to renovate their salon so it could continue to serve them going forward,” says Stiles. 

In addition to helping local stores, the BIA also helps with maintaining the environment around them such as street and sidewalk maintenance, employment, hosting neighbourhood festivals, removing graffiti from retail stores where it is visible, and providing safety. 

“A Place Where People Want to Come and Stay” 

Prairie Boy at Yonge + St. Clair (Image: Dustin Fuhs)

The BIA is making sure the neighbourhood is accessible for everyone and wants to make it a one stop shop where residents can access everything they need. 

“The BIA wants to work together to make sure the Yonge and St. Clair area is known as a place where people want to come and stay. Whether that is to live, work, play, or potentially just making it easier for people working in the area to use the amenities that are local instead of hopping onto the subway.”

Stiles said they want to make sure the neighbourhood provides what the residents and visitors need, such as hair salons, shopping, restaurants, or going to their doctor as they are trying to get everything you need in one place. As of right now, the BIA is representing over 450 businesses, around 90 property owners, and the rest of the St. Clair and Yonge Community. 

“The developments will drive more people to the area and certainly assist with generating this new vibrancy we have been working towards. We are hopeful everyone will appreciate what we have done to date, and I think it has been very well received by the pubic and our partners by the local community, triggering additional development by other landlords in the area. What we would like to see ideally is a combination of residential, office, and retail because that will really allow a great mix, again the opportunity to mix live, work, and play in the area.” 

The BIA will be working on a lot of activations this week as they will be the major hub for the 2023 Design TO Festival in January. Mercader said they are looking forward to that and will be activating their public spaces, office lobbies, and attract public art to encourage everybody to visit. 

“Yonge and St. Clair is being transformed into a new great place to live, work, and play. So we will be looking at continually to attract more modern tenants into the neighbourhood, enhancing the pedestrian experience, and really becoming Toronto’s next great neighbourhood,” says Mercader. 

Related Retail Insider Articles

Video Interview: Feeding The Spirit Of Indigenous Business Across The Nation

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Video Interview: Feeding The Spirit Of Indigenous Business Across The Nation

Geena Jackson, Creator/Executive Producer/Judge, Bears’ Lair TV Series on APTN, discusses the television program that’s helping Indigenous businesses.

Jackson talks about the concept for the show and why it came about, the importance of having a show like this, how it’s helping Indigenous entrepreneurs, the challenges Indigenous business owners face and her background.

Youtube video

The Video Interview Series by Retail Insider is available on YouTube.

Connect with Mario Toneguzzi, a veteran of the media industry for more than 40 years and named in 2021 a Top Ten Business Journalist in the world and the only Canadian – to learn how you can tell your story, share your message and amplify it to a wide audience. He is Senior News Editor with Retail Insider and owner of Mario Toneguzzi Communications Inc. and can be reached at mdtoneguzzi@gmail.com.

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Canadian Retail News From Around The Web For September 16th, 2022

By
Retail Insider
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Canadian Retail News From Around The Web

News at a Glance

Retail Insider is streamlining its Canadian retail news from around the web to include a handful of top news stories that can be viewed quickly during the day. Here are the top stories from the past 24 hours.

We will be limiting our activities on Monday due to travel commitments and will be back on Tuesday.

Please note that next week due to travel, there may be limited retail news from around the web — Publisher Craig Patterson will be at Salesforce Dreamforce conference in San Francisco and Editor-in-Chief Dustin Fuhs is in Florida until Wednesday.

Cloverdale Mall in Toronto to See Redevelopment in QuadReal/Mattamy Homes Partnership [Renderings]

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Rendering: QuadReal

QuadReal Property Group is partnering with Mattamy Homes for the first phase of the Cloverdale redevelopment project in Ontario.

Mattamy will develop a signature condo project on the standalone 2.3-acre “Triangle Site” located at 2 & 10 The East Mall Crescent, kickstarting the transformation of the 32-acre shopping centre site into what officials are describing as “a vibrant, sustainable, and innovative mixed-use urban community.”

It will include a 32-storey tower and an eight-storey mid-rise with more than 500 condos and 2,400 square feet of retail. 

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Mattamy Homes on this project as we were very impressed with their executional ability, vision for the site, cultural alignment and fit with our strategic corporate objectives,” said Toby Wu, Executive Vice President, Development, QuadReal Property Group, in a statement.

Click image for interactive Google Map
Image: QuadReal

“Additionally, we are excited to embark on this transformational project that fits with our corporate goal of creating dynamic mixed-use, retail-anchored and transit-oriented community hubs in growing suburban centres.”

Proposed plans for the larger 32-acre Cloverdale Mall site, located at the intersection of Highway 427 and Dundas Street West in Central Etobicoke, include a re-envisioned retail offering in keeping with 21st century community-based needs; a mix of residential units including for-sale condo and rental apartment housing; parkland and green space; a new streets and blocks network; community amenities; and, below grade parking, said QuadReal in a news release.

“We are reimagining the future of the 32-acre Cloverdale Mall site,” said Wu. “After extensive and close consultation with the community, the ask was a vibrant, sustainable and innovative mixed-use urban community – one that includes a re-envisioned retail offering; a mix of residential units including both condo and purpose-built rental housing; dedicated parkland and green space; new streets and blocks network; community amenities; below grade parking; and, a vibrant public realm for people to congregate.”

First phase, Image: QuadReal

When asked why the project is going ahead now, Wu said, “The time is right.  The property sits at the nexus of a node that’s preparing for significant growth and intensification.  There is also currently an undersupply in the Toronto market of new condos and purpose-built rental.  Notwithstanding, people are desperately seeking a viable ‘downtown’ alternative.”

“At the end of the day, our goal is to be a model for future high-designed mixed-use redevelopments globally.  To that end, we are focused on offering a diverse mix of housing options; creating pedestrian-friendly environments; improving connectivity; ensuring robust transit integration; leading the way when it comes to sustainability; planning our projects in close collaboration with the community; and, curating a 21stcentury community-based retail offering.”

David Stewart, GTA Urban Division President, Mattamy Homes Canada, said, “We are proud to partner with QuadReal on the first phase of this world-class development. With an unparalleled dedication to connectivity, community building and place making; Cloverdale represents an exceptional canvas for reimagining the future of urban living. As we accelerate growth of our urban portfolio over the next decade and beyond, we look forward to continuing this trusted partnership”.

Cloverdale was built in 1956 as an open plaza with an open central pedestrian promenade in a Modernist architectural style. It was expanded and converted to an enclosed mall in the 1980s and underwent major renos in 2006. Currently it is anchored by Home Hardware, Rexall Drugstore, Winners, Kitchen Stuff Plus and Metro. 

“QuadReal is a key partner in our delivery of 13,000 condo sales within the next five years. Their track record of excellence is undeniable and we are thrilled to collaborate on this world-class development,” said David Stewart, President, Mattamy Homes GTA Urban Division, in a statement.

In collaboration with QuadReal, Mattamy will acquire a partial interest in the site and will be the execution partner for development, construction, and sales & marketing on the Triangle Site. QuadReal will continue to maintain overall strategic direction of the district master plan along with maintaining long-term ownership of the retail and purpose-built rental components, it said.

QuadReal Property Group, a global real estate investment, operating and development company headquartered in Vancouver, has assets under management of $67.1 billion. 

Mattamy Homes is the largest privately-owned homebuilder in North America, and is Canada’s largest new home construction and development firm, delivering more than 8,000 homes annually. 

Huntsville Ontario seeing ongoing retail expansion with updated downtown and new mall [Interviews]

By
Shelby Hautala
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Image: Town of Huntsville

Downtown Huntsville is known for its vibrant cottage country living and is currently booming with new residential and commercial developmental projects to keep up with the continuous growth Huntsville is experiencing. 

“We have a vibrant downtown now, we are probably about 95 percent full capacity downtown and we only have a couple of vacancies. We are the fastest growing town in Muskoka, and we have a lot going on,” says Karin Terziano, the Mayor of Huntsville who has been serving for twelve years. 

New Developments 

Image: Town of Huntsville
Karin Terziano

Improving the downtown core, the Town of Huntsville has recently completed its streetscape program, for residents and tourists making it a more accessible and enjoyable environment. The project took two years and has recently been completed. 

“We just did a two-year full streetscape project, so we have a brand-new downtown. It runs the full length of our downtown core, and it was necessitated because infrastructure such as water pipes needed replacements so we kind of piggybacked on that and did a full street improvement project. So, we have all new sidewalks, accessible entrances to retail stores, new trees, new park benches, and more. Our downtown is looking sparkling, “says Terziano.  

Huntsville Place Mall will also be undergoing major renovations said Terziano. After renovations customers can expect the mall to be updated inside and out. Two of the main renovations will be to add outside entrances to each of the bigger stores, and to move in Giant Tiger. The Giant Tiger will be located beside Winners, have its own entrance, and will be opening in June of 2023. Terziano said the renovations of the mall should be completed by the end of the year. 

Image: Huntsville Place Mall

Huntsville will also be adding a second mall outside of the downtown core which has already started construction and should be open to the public in two years. The mall is going to include a grocery store, restaurants, and retail stores. Terziano said there has been no news yet of which retail stores residents should be expecting. 

Next, will be to fill in the five percent remaining for retail spaces, including a corner lot that is available. 

“We have a large corner lot where we had a fire numerous years ago and the building burnt down and the property is under new ownership and we expect a new build going on there which will have a commercial first floor retail space in it, not sure how quickly that is going to happen but that is on the horizon,” says Terziano. 

Localized Retail Shops 

Image: Town of Huntsville
Image: Town of Huntsville

Downtown Huntsville retail contains mostly localized stores which is geared for the cottage lifestyle such as Wolfe Co Apparel, Reflections of Muskoka, Algonquin Outfitters, Muskoka Bear Wear, an around the year Christmas store Christmas Tyme, the Nutty Chocolatier, Artisans of Muskoka, and more. 

We were able to speak to the owner of Artisans of Muskoka, a store representing artists from all over Canada. 

Opening in 1993, the store sells products made in Canada and currently represents over 150 artists and is growing. 

“We began the store in 1993 and we are going on 29 years and when we first started the store,” says Brigitte Grima, the owner of Artisans of Muskoka. “I represent artists from right across Canada, not just Muskoka and probably 95% of what I sell is made right here in Canada. It is a lot of work, but it is very gratifying, and I find local people and my customers in general are great and friendly. I am also very well supported by locals, and I couldn’t survive without them.” 

Image: Artisans of Muskoka

Customers can find a variety of products including clothing, tableware, and decorations – but everything is mostly geared towards cottage living. 

With very few vacancies left in the downtown core of Huntsville, Terziano said everything is looking good and is excited to see the future developments. 

“We are booming right now. We have more going than ever before and we can barely keep up with the building permits and the developments that are going on right now. Everything that is happening downtown Huntsville right now is all good and with our complete redevelopment of downtown and the fact that we have very few vacancies, I am hoping to see the corner lot in Huntsville get developed and we also have a development that is going on just outside of our downtown as well.” 

Related Retail Insider Articles

Shipping Carrier Sendle Launches in Canada Targeting Small Ecommerce Businesses [Interview]

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Image: Sendle

Sendle, the first shipping carrier specifically designed to serve the needs of small ecommerce businesses, has launched in Canada, promising the end of the era of expensive parcel delivery in the country.

The company says it is bringing shipping rates that are 88 per cent cheaper than Canada Post.

“After two-and-half hard years through the pandemic and now record-high inflation, small businesses in Canada are frustrated with how unfair Canadian shipping rates are and why the Canadian industry is not supporting them,” said Lauren Helstab, Sendle’s country manager for Canada. “Small businesses can’t afford to have 65 per cent of customers abandoning their shopping carts at checkout because of high shipping costs. 

“Plus, small businesses can’t compete with big retailers without fair rates. More than ever, independent businesses need more choice in their shipping options in Canada and they deserve a solution like Sendle that is built for them and offers rates that finally make sense.

Image: Sendle

“Sendle’s headquarters are in Toronto and we are effectively a digital courier built for small business in ecommerce.” 

The concept began in 2014 in Australia and expanded into the US in 2019. 

“Really what we’re doing is we are trying to solve the problem of exorbitant shipping rates in Canada,” said Helstab. 

“Small businesses need better rates. They are screaming for it . . . It’s crazy in Canada right now . . .  We’re a national shipping service. We deliver to 100 per cent of Canadian postal codes.

“One of the things we think is really important is to help small businesses thrive. Right now there’s not a lot of choice or competition in the Canadian shipping industry for national carriers so we’re really excited to bring a more affordable option.”

Image: Sendle

Right now it also picks up from the majority, about 80 per cent, of postal codes in Canada – BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Quebec with Atlantic Canada and northern Canada coming soon.

“Small businesses in Canada are long overdue for a parcel delivery option designed for them – one that helps them to serve rising customer expectations in the age of ecommerce. At a time when inflation is high and costs are rising, Sendle’s entry into the Canadian market puts an end to what’s largely been a monopoly in shipping with a solution that’s more affordable, reliable, and more flexible to suit the needs of small businesses in Canada,” said James Chin Moody, CEO and co-founder of Sendle, in a statement. 

“We have also been 100 per cent carbon neutral since the day we launched in Australia in late 2014. To date, Sendle has offset the impact of 34 billion kilometres of parcel delivery. We are not only bringing Canadians a 100 per cent carbon neutral way to ship at no extra cost, we are also putting pressure on the Canadian shipping industry to do better on this front, too.”

Sendle said it offers free pickups with no hidden fees, subscriptions, or minimums required. 

Image: Sendle

The company cited a recent Leger survey showing consumer frustration with Canadian courier services. Sendle said:

  • Ecommerce has rapidly grown and evolved in Canada, with over 27 million Canadians embracing ecommerce in 2022. Yet 71 per cent of Canadians say they are frustrated with courier services in Canada;
  • Shipping costs rank as the leading frustration (42 per cent) for Canadians, followed by lack of reliability (26 per cent), poor customer service (24 per cent), and having the parcel shipped to a different location than their door (21 per cent);  
  • 30 per cent are shopping online less this year because of the cost of shipping;
  • 64 per cent of consumers who have shopped online in the past year feel that the cost of shipping for online purchases has risen since pre-pandemic times;
  • 57 per cent are shopping less, in general, because of inflation, with 11 per cent shopping less online, specifically;
  • 66 per cent of Canadians have been shocked by the high cost of shipping once they reach the checkout page for an online purchase;
  • 65 per cent of Canadian consumers have abandoned their shopping carts because of the shipping costs;
  • 39 per cent are more likely to purchase from an online retailer that provides a “green” shipping option such as carbon neutral shipping. An even greater share of younger shoppers (45 per cent of those under 35 years old) say they’ll do the same.

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