8289 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Are you able to give us an industry for this retailer?

[lanforod]

I guess pot shops 

[gstc84]

I guess pot shops

Haha, thankfully not. I don’t want to say too much yet but it’s much more wholesome than that.

[aastra]

 

I’ve heard that a local retailer will be consolidating its existing locations and moving into the former Staples store on Fort St,

 

No way in heck would multiple Walmart stores fit inside there.

[Victoria Watcher]

which retailer.

[Kapten Kapsell]

I could see Monk Office consolidating their downtown locations here...

[jonny]

Buddy is a supervisor for the remodel of the Uptown Walmart. While he was not able to confirm the location of, there will be another Walmart in Victoria.

 

I don't go into Walmart all that often, but I'm always blown away at how busy it is at Uptown. I went in there late on Friday night to pick up a couple of things and the place was bustling. 

[Mike K.]

Love's Olde Towne Gallery, a long-time downtown Victoria wall art and printing business, will be closing its 500-block of Yates Street retail space at the end of June.

 

Love's has been in operation since the 1990's, and transitioned to its current ownership group in 2000. The business eventually moved from its Wharf Street location to the 500-block of Yates Street.

[gstc84]

Love's Olde Towne Gallery, a long-time downtown Victoria wall art and printing business, will be closing its 500-block of Yates Street retail space at the end of June.

 

 

Aww. I noticed the For Lease sign on the weekend. I've bought a lot of prints there over the years as gifts, plus brought other art and maps I've purchased in to have Love's frame them for me. They're the loveliest people. I was hoping they were just moving, but I assume this means they've just decided to retire.

[Mike K.]

Gail, the mom of the owner, is a lovely lady, is she not?

 

They'll be transitioning their efforts to the print shop they run which supplies businesses all throughout the Island. Gail will be helping out with that work in lieu of manning the store.

[Belleprincess]

BC Shaver and Hobbies closes today and will reopen at Hillside Centre in a couple of weeks.

They’re re-opening? I didn’t hear that. I thought the owner was liquidating so he could retire?

[Mike K.]

Someone bought the rights to the store but will be relocating out of downtown Victoria.

[Dinya]

 

 

which retailer. 

 

<cough> Russell Books </cough>

[aastra]

 

They're the loveliest people.

 

 

...the mom of the owner, is a lovely lady...

 

My turn: everybody loves going there.

[Citified.ca]

Thanks to gts and dinya, we were able to confirm the move.

 

FYI, Staples closed in 2014.

 

Russell Books to consolidate stores, re-locate to former Staples space in Fort Street office tower

https://victoria.cit...t-office-tower/

[mbjj]

Oh I love Russell Books. Buy a lot of gifts there and often a second-hand book or two.

[grantpalin]

Good on Russell Books for grabbing that space. They must be doing well if they can use and afford that much space.

[Kapten Kapsell]

Good on Russell Books for grabbing that space. They must be doing well if they can use and afford that much space.

Gross margins on used books are huge as they typically buy a book for a few dollars and resell it for about $10. Margins are also huge on remaindered books...

[amor de cosmos]

we'll have our own powell's!

[Dinya]

 

 

Good on Russell Books for grabbing that space. They must be doing well if they can use and afford that much space.

 

Or they got a good deal on it.  The space has been empty for so long maybe the building owners were desperate to get it leased.

 

Also, allegedly, their buildings now on Fort Street have been sold.  New owner may have other plans.  

 

Curious to know what will happen to those spaces!