The Mercury Block | 21.7m | 6s

Not that it would necessarily fit in any of the remaining spaces in this building, but I would love to see a small corner hardware store in Wîhkwêntôwin for the car-free residents who don't want to trek all the way to the Woodcroft Home Depot or the Prince Rupert Canadian Tire.
 
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A Hardware Store that specialized in supplying apartment needs would work well in the combined spaces C700 and C800, using the outdoor patio space to focus on patio and balcony living. In keeping with the existing tenants and upscale lifestyle choices I believe it could do quite well in this location, again with a strong website/internet presence and, perhaps, patio cooking demonstrations. A little alternative thinking here would lead to success -- differentiating from what is a normal "hardware store". Patio heaters could make it a year-round concern.
 
I have been in there quite a few times, and the place was never more than 20% full. Never understood it...maybe there was only enough market for either them or Original Joe's, and the clientele was loyal to OJs?

Hopefully a new hospitality offering can take the head start of the space being already fitted out and do a concept that thrives there
 
IanO said:
That is best left for a lower rent, slightly larger space older, warehouse a block off in my humble opinion.
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Or, even more likely, into one of the larger Brewery District spaces. A Rona would fit well in the current Staples store (even has space on the side for drive through material pickup), and both brands are conveniently owned by the same private equity firm.
 
strata said:
I have been in there quite a few times, and the place was never more than 20% full. Never understood it...maybe there was only enough market for either them or Original Joe's, and the clientele was loyal to OJs?

Hopefully a new hospitality offering can take the head start of the space being already fitted out and do a concept that thrives there
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OJs has easy peasy FREE parking.
 
As much as I hate to say it, the retail and restaurant market is so tough these days that the few lost customers from not having free parking can be killer to good businesses, especially in Edmonton where 90%+ of the city is car centric. 124th is on its way but there still aren't enough locals to support much more business which is why I still think between Mercury block 1 and 2 the amount of retail space is over ambitious.
 
Lets not forget we have had in recent years the addition of a lot of retail and restaurant space in the Brewery District and Manchester Square not too far away with easy parking and now some in the Mercury Block nearby.

So while this was a nice spot (although with limited parking), there is also a lot of other fairly new places nearby.
 
A very celebrated local restaurant is also relocating to the NW corner of the 102/124 intersection.


There is a flurry of new office tenants moving this year into buildings along 124th Street between 102nd & SPR.

I agree the market size for food & beverage does have a cap, but between the daytime lunch / happy hour crowd and the new residents from MB and other nearby residential projects, it is as strong of a location as anywhere if a bar/restaurant have a strong concept and good execution.
 
strata said:
A very celebrated local restaurant is also relocating to the NW corner of the 102/124 intersection.


There is a flurry of new office tenants moving this year into buildings along 124th Street between 102nd & SPR.

I agree the market size for food & beverage does have a cap, but between the daytime lunch / happy hour crowd and the new residents from MB and other nearby residential projects, it is as strong of a location as anywhere if a bar/restaurant have a strong concept and good execution.
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Good point, the addition of nearby office tenants could give quite a boost for businesses nearby.
 
David A said:
Can someone write a nice article about Edmonton without going on about it being cold in the very first sentence?

We are not the coldest city in western Canada and we are not Inuvik. Enough!
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I suppose any article posted between June and September should fix that.
 
Which is exactly what this article does. It speaks about embracing winter. The article is not in any way negative but simply states a reality that Edmonton is a winter city. Pretending it’s not is also not productive. It’s a city where in my life time, there has been snow at some point in every month of the year. Pretty hard for the weather not to be brought into any conversation about the city. Edmontons June weather is considered winter weather in many parts of the world lol
 
MattPT said:
Which is exactly what this article does. It speaks about embracing winter. The article is not in any way negative but simply states a reality that Edmonton is a winter city. Pretending it’s not is also not productive. It’s a city where in my life time, there has been snow at some point in every month of the year. Pretty hard for the weather not to be brought into any conversation about the city. Edmontons June weather is considered winter weather in many parts of the world lol
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I don't feel it is about embracing winter. I have lived here many, many years and have not seen snow in every month of the year, so I want to fact check that statement.

I realize we are a city with four seasons and for someone coming from a tropical climate it probably seems cold, but by Canadian standards we are average, if that. Similar to Ottawa and Quebec City

The constant emphasis on how cold it is here creates a negative perception and discourages people from coming here. At least in the city to the south of us they have been smart enough not keep stereotyping their city based on a cold climate.
 
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