Manulife Place Renovations | 145.99m | 36s | AIMCo | MdeAS

What do you think of this project?

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I'd rather be the majority of a Manulife podium over that space/mall... but yes, another option for sure.
 
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I read awhile ago that Simons has been disappointed with their sales at their downtown Calgary location. If that's true I can't picture them wanting to open a store in downtown Edmonton.
 
IanO said:
'but the donuts are good'

You sir have not lived.
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Westendyeg said:
I read awhile ago that Simons has been disappointed with their sales at their downtown Calgary location. If that's true I can't picture them wanting to open a store in downtown Edmonton.
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Simons would be the only store of its size and offering in Downtown Edmonton. If I am not mistaken there is a Bay, Nordstrom (full department stores) and a flailing Simons in Downtown Calgary. I would think Simons would do well in Downtown Edmonton.
 
If Simons set up shop in the old Bay they might be nicely situated in a good spot between the Helm and Henry Singer. Not the same market necessarily although surely some crossover. Could turn into a nice little stretch of retail along 103rd.
 
IanO said:
A bit of a perfect storm, but yes, what a fall from grace, but (literally) 'follow the money'.

What an opportunity for Manulife (and Commerce for that matter) to reinvent themselves... but please, not a food hall.

Somehow, someway Manulife should lure Simons there with a new Downtown flagship + a new hip restaurant to pair with it.
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What is Simons going to do that HS couldn't there? for those that have been fortunate enough to have travelled to cities where high end products are sold, how many of locations do you see with so many transients lounging around like they do at Manulife/Commerce? At one point in my life, I remembered Manulife/Commerce were purposely avoided by transients for they feared admonishments, so they would shy away from such places. Times have changed...
 
In their defense, I have never seen any transients by Manulife's main entrances, although sometimes around Commerce place on the north side by the Jasper Ave bus stop and Tim Hortons.

I also think a Simons there in the old Holt's space would be wonderful, but think the exterior renovation of Manulife needs to go ahead for that to happen. It doesn't have to be a huge store, that size space might actually be better and maybe Henry Singer's leaving will provide the opportunity or incentive for this to all happen. If so that would be great.

However, I think Simons in the old Bay space would also be great if they needed or wanted a bigger space. Lots of opportunities right now.
 
I would LOVE a Simons downtown but I feel that is unlikely. We are the only city outside of Quebec with 2 stores already. WEM is 180,000 sq. ft. while Londonderry is 90,000 sq. ft., the latter closer to what most of their other suburban stores are.

Manulife's podium would be too small unless they went with something very small. Holt's was 47,000 sq. ft. Not sure about ECC renovations The Bay was around 145,000 sq. ft. there's definitely room. Again would love a full size or boutique Simons but how likely is it that we would get 3 in Edmonton? Maybe they'd do it cause Downtown is underserved imo perhaps.
 
One of the reasons I think a smaller Simons downtown could make sense is because they have the two other locations here now. Also, unlike Calgary, there is no Nordstrom's or Holt's downtown here. so that could help them too.

It might not be the typical or obvious approach, but it could work.
 
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David A said:
One of the reasons I think a smaller Simons downtown could make sense is because they have the two other locations here now. Also, unlike Calgary, there is no Nordstrom's or Holt's downtown here. so that could help them too.

It might not be the typical or obvious approach, but it could work.
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There is no Nordstrom in downtown Calgary. It's at Chinook Centre.
 
Provide a more complete offering that the Bay and Holt could not.

This isn't about 'high end', but rather an offering that appeals to both young professionals and established respectively.
 
WEM has a non-compete clause as part of their lease with Simons, which is mainly why they chose Londonderry for their 2nd store as opposed to Southgate, Kingsway and SEC. Not sure if CCM or Manulife would be included this, but if so then there's another roadblock for them setting up shop downtown
 
If the Londonderry location permanently shuts down due to a lease dispute and the WEM location still exists with the non-compete clause in place, what are the chances of Simons opening a downtown location at ECC or Manulife?
 
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Here's hoping for Downtown Edmonton has nowhere to go but up and the least impressive offering of any city over 100,000.

Downtown Lethbridge had more offerings.

It's embarrassing.
 
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