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

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Calgary: Few details are known on what will happen to the upper levels of the flagship Calgary Bay store once it is downsized to three levels — the company says for now that they may be used for e-commerce fulfillment. Each of the floor plates in the 448,834 square foot downtown store span about 58,000 square feet which means the three level store would span about 175,000 square feet of retail space. As a comparison, the CF Chinook Centre Bay store spans about 206,500 square feet and the CF Market Mall Bay store is about 200,000 square feet according to landlord Cadillac Fairview.

Several years ago the sixth floor of the downtown Calgary Bay store became an event space operated by Toronto-based Oliver & Bonacini, and part of the main floor of the store was segregated for a 5,000 square foot restaurant called The Guild. The downtown Calgary Bay store lacks the luxury brands found in the Vancouver and Toronto stores with the CF Chinook location having the most robust selection of higher-end brands of any Bay store in Calgary.
 
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Calgary: Few details are known on what will happen to the upper levels of the flagship Calgary Bay store once it is downsized to three levels — the company says for now that they may be used for e-commerce fulfillment. Each of the floor plates in the 448,834 square foot downtown store span about 58,000 square feet which means the three level store would span about 175,000 square feet of retail space. As a comparison, the CF Chinook Centre Bay store spans about 206,500 square feet and the CF Market Mall Bay store is about 200,000 square feet according to landlord Cadillac Fairview.

Several years ago the sixth floor of the downtown Calgary Bay store became an event space operated by Toronto-based Oliver & Bonacini, and part of the main floor of the store was segregated for a 5,000 square foot restaurant called The Guild. The downtown Calgary Bay store lacks the luxury brands found in the Vancouver and Toronto stores with the CF Chinook location having the most robust selection of higher-end brands of any Bay store in Calgary.
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I went to the Calgary downtown Bay store some years ago and it was looking a bit shabby and frayed even then. While it has so far avoided the fate of Edmonton's (and other cities) downtown Bay stores, I have a feeling it is headed that way eventually.

I do like the Bay, but it seems it is turning into a high priced boutique for things you can buy elsewhere for a better price or with better service. Like Eatons' I suspect it will hang on a while a while longer in the more affluent markets that tolerate that strategy better, such as Chinook Centre in Calgary and Southgate here.

I feel they have given up trying to be price competitive and that usually means volumes go down, that causes prices to go even higher and it can become a self destructive cycle, but I could be wrong. I haven't gone there much since the downtown Edmonton location closed. Their other locations here are just not as convenient for me. There are a couple Winners nearby, so I sometime go there - great prices, but can be hit and miss on quality and selection.
 
What was once Holt Renfrew (pedway level)

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Gronk! said:
What was once Holt Renfrew (pedway level)

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One more odd thing about commercial landlords I'll never understand - they always seem to spend money to completely gut the space and then it sits empty forever.

Isn't that just wasting good money or do they somehow just pass the cost on to their other tenants? As a commercial space tenant, I don't find a totally gutted space more attractive.
 
^There continues to be concern from property owners along 102 Avenue about when the LRT will open, and general dt safety. Hopefully this doesn't continue to stall investment.
 
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Maybe the people in Toronto finally woke up with having several long term upscale tenants leave over the last few years, or maybe their replacements are more proactive.
 
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Greenspace said:
^There continues to be concern from property owners along 102 Avenue about when the LRT will open, and general dt safety. Hopefully this doesn't continue to stall investment.
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Its all kind of related isn't it? 102 Ave right now is fairly inactive, just the sort of vacuum that can lead to all kinds of problems. Having the LRT open would draw more people into the area and make it safer and busier. Having more people would then perhaps lead to filling some of the empty store front spaces, which could bring in more people.

Instead of a downward cycle, it can become a more positive cycle. Unfortunately, this LRT debacle/delay only makes resolving downtown problems more difficult. Another example of how our city is working at cross purposes with itself, although I realize that is not their intention.
 
IanO said:
Ok Manulife, what's the plan Stan?

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I think it is do nothing and hope that tenants will some how magically come back, but I think Holts and Birks are gone, gone, gone.

It remains a good building in a good location, however the podium is 40 years old, so now quite dated and much of the street facing space is dark, drab or empty.

The old Holt space could be enticing to potential tenants, but not so much if the owners don't make the effort.
 
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