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

[David A]

I realize this is off topic, but this is where I have zero sympathy for what is left of the mainstream media, they are badly self sabotaging what is left of their business model.

For instance, they constantly complain about declining reader/viewership but then they continue to cut local coverage, which is probably the thing of most interest to the over a million people in Edmonton.

 

[NicolBolas]

Maybe, the coffee shack does give a certain vibe to Manulife. Although I'm not sure it is the upscale cachet they are looking for, but perhaps that is long gone.

At this point I feel the landlord is sort of being taken advantage of or strung along if they are not yet paying for the bigger permanent space they were supposed to take.

I think luxury retail downtown is dead. It now resides in West Edmonton Mall, which realistically makes more sense.

I really don't know what would be a good fit in terms of retail downtown anymore. It just seems like other then WEM and maybe Southgate most malls are now terminal and downtown retail has been on life support for almost a decade now.

 

[archited]

^Henry Singers avec Bar Henry, the Helm men's wear with an online virtual shopping experience, and now Lauren Kyle's new Sports club Atelier that promises to also support an upscale bar and a lifestyle boutique all beg to differ with you. The downtown transition is not instantaneous but it is beginning to flourish and it is the start of something big, fresh, and new that over time will expand and grab Edmonton by its sensibility vectors -- Edmonton is already beginning to experience a new foodie scene that brings people to the centre; the momentum is just at the front end of a notable swell. The new retail is smart and it has three elements that make it sustainable -- upper end quality that is uniquely personable connected to an entertainment aspect that is also soaked in an "only here" atmosphere connected to a well thought-out online presence and global business endeavor. I expect you will see much more of this in years to come.

 

[Barnaby]

The highest end menswear is definitely downtown.

 

[Airboy]

High end retail product is at WEM but clothing has to be downtown. That said Harry Rosen at the Mall is my go to. I never found what I liked at Henries. and by the time these new ones showed up, I didn't need my high end Italian fashions or experience.

And for jewelry it is still Vandenberg's.

 

[Kosy123]

I keep banging on this drum but retail downtown probably has to tap into a younger/student population to grow on top of regular retail offerings, so things like Foosh or smaller consignment stores that can be found at Whyte Ave.

I still think we might get some luxury retail to pop up just because of the Ice District. We won’t see any in City Centre Mall but even City Centre has been slowly reducing its vacant retail spots bit by bit.

 

[archited]

Lauren Kyle will definitely bring high-end women's wear and high-end chic appointments for homestyle to the downtown area (with a place to sip a few -- like Bar Henry). In close proximity to the Westin Hotel, Hotel Macdonald, and the new boutique hotel/office on Jasper, I think there is a formula inherent in the location for success and that will begin to attract others -- shoe stores and clothing accessories, par exemple. The "New Retail" promises to be very exciting and will put a demand on commercial space at street level in the Edmonton downtown that is in "batter up" position.

 

[archited]

City Centre Mall's owners have to have their eyes on the completion of LRT along 102nd Avenue -- they have to execute a plan to open up the street front to pedestrian shopping -- the City should be eyeing possibilities for infrastructure possibilities that activate that street along its entire length from 97th Street to 107th Street -- a cool name for that section of potential pedestrianization (Cree or otherwise -- mâmawihitowin -- a "gathering of people", for example) would put an emphasis on the place in an attempt to give it a soul. Putting the bicycle lane adjacent to the the LRT lane would be a good place to start and then expanding the sidewalk so that it is wide enough to place some kiosk-type retail along the pathway would sure help as well.

The City could put its Planners to work showing how this could then work to tie into 104thStreet and the City Market, 103rd Street and the pathway to the ICE District, the opening up of the onetime Bay store to both 102nd Avenue and 103rd street, the 105th Street connection to MacEwan University, and the connector to Rice Howard Way -- all potential pedestrian infrastructure locales and a downtown street map that ties together the cultural enclave between 97th and 99th streets, the public library, Churchill Square and via 100th street the Hotels, the new Canada Permanent venture by Lauren Kyle and -- eventually -- whatever gets planned for the old Zellers/BoM site. I could see 106th street becoming a wheel-centric enclave attached to the new Warehouse Park and the bike-lane prospects for 102nd Avenue with retail in support of that sensibility along 106th street. It would sure be nice to see Edmonton get ahead of the curve on the possibilities for "new retail"!

 

[David A]

Lauren Kyle will definitely bring high-end women's wear and high-end chic appointments for homestyle to the downtown area (with a place to sip a few -- like Bar Henry). In close proximity to the Westin Hotel, Hotel Macdonald, and the new boutique hotel/office on Jasper, I think there is a formula inherent in the location for success and that will begin to attract others -- shoe stores and clothing accessories, par exemple. The "New Retail" promises to be very exciting and will put a demand on commercial space at street level in the Edmonton downtown that is in "batter up" position.

I agree, there are well off people who live in, work or visit downtown although maybe not as many as there should be for a city our size which is a big part of the problem. But the last thing a well off person who lives downtown wants to do, is to have to drive half an hour to a suburban mall, circle around for parking and then walk across the mall to some supposed luxury store that is really targeted at middle class suburban people.

 

[buildings]

Hmm, never thought of Tiffany's, Gucci, Balanciaga, etc to be "supposed luxury". but that's just me. I shop at Mark's workwear house.

 

[David A]

As I understand it, there are people who have money and look for labels or names to show off, but who are not always as well off as they try to appear.

Then there are people who are well off, not looking to show off and are looking more for quality not names.

 

[Markyeg]

I think the ship has sailed on luxury retail downtown, or at least luxury brands opening their own stores downtown. Why would Burberry, Versace or Prada open a store downtown when they could join the luxury cluster at WEM?

 

[kcantor]

As I understand it, there are people who have money and look for labels or names to show off, but who are not always as well off as they try to appear.

Then there are people who are well off, not looking to show off and are looking more for quality not names.

Agreed. People who have real money avoid labels and names and don’t “show off”…

 

[Whatup]

Agreed. People who have real money avoid labels and names and don’t “show off”…

So the super rich old money types drive a camry?

 

[Barnaby]

The negative associations that go along with Gucci, LV, YSL, Burberry (with few exceptions), Lacoste, and virtually anything that isn't modest, are all strong.

And yes, alot of very rich people drive Toyota family/Honda family vehicles.