8289 replies to this topic

[Nparker]

...a floating sauna is proposed to be docked in the 700 block of Government Street near the Empress Hotel:...

Two historical geographic names come to mind for this:

• Oversea Gardens
• Capt. Cook Memorial Sauna

[spanky123]

Here are the prices at Bota Bota in Montreal:

 

https://botabota.ca/en/prices/

 

Those are the prices the plebes pay, those who 'support' the team get a free pass!

[spanky123]

I'm not sure where to put this, but a floating sauna is proposed to be docked in the 700 block of Government Street near the Empress Hotel:

 

Interesting. Doesn't the GVHA control moorage at Ship's Point?, Why would the CoV get involved?

[Victoria Watcher]

Interesting. Doesn't the GVHA control moorage at Ship's Point?, Why would the CoV get involved?

 

The document suggests that while there are many many permitted uses in the existing zoning, the proponent seeks to have "sauna" added.

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 March 2022 - 01:13 PM.

[spanky123]

The document suggests that while there are many many permitted uses in the zoning, the proponent seeks to have "sauna" added.

 

That explains it. I would have to think that before the proponent went to all of this work he would have had some feedback from City Hall. Is this yet another desperate move by Helps to salvage some positive outcome from her 8 years as Mayor?

[mdb1983]

Birks Jewelry Store closes on March 24th in Downtown Victoria. i never heard of it tbh but it's been there for 7 decades

 

https://www.saanichn...ss-association/

Edited by mdb1983, 16 March 2022 - 09:13 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

That’s probably not too surprising.

At one time, didn’t Birks have a store at Hillside Mall?

I have to admit I don’t think I’ve walked into a jewellery store in my life.

[Nparker]

Birks Jewelry Store closes on March 24th in Downtown Victoria...

This is rather sad, but I am sure closing Government Street to cars will make it all better.

[spanky123]

“It used to be that downtown Victoria was office workers and tourists … now you’ve got 10,000-plus people living in the core. This is why you’re seeing a change in your retail, food and beverage services. We’re catering to an after 5 p.m. crowd that maybe wasn’t here 15 years ago,” he said.

 

If things are so rosey then why are retailers and restaurants begging for Government handouts claiming that business is down 30+%?!

[Victoria Watcher]

He has to paint a rosy picture, but it’s rubbish.

[LJ]

Birks Jewelry Store closes on March 24th in Downtown Victoria. i never heard of it tbh but it's been there for 7 decades

 

https://www.saanichn...ss-association/

Our wedding presents consisted of nothing but Birks blue boxes. Not a tool or a golf club to be found.

[Barrrister]

Nirks was one of the premium stores in Victoria. I worry that the rumour that Munro Books is planning a move to Oak Bay might be true.  Maybe the city can put in a needle exchange and safe drug center into where Birks was located.

[Nparker]

Nirks was one of the premium stores in Victoria...

When Nike meets Birks. 

[Barrrister]

My bad on the spelling. So which high end stores are left downtown at this point?

Munro Books and the Irish shop come to mind but what else is there? The other jewellers across from Birks.

[Kapten Kapsell]

My bad on the spelling. So which high end stores are left downtown at this point?

Munro Books and the Irish shop come to mind but what else is there? The other jewellers across from Birks.

 

There are several other jewellery shops downtown, including Francis (which may be the exclusive Rolex dealer in this region).

 

Aside from that, there are several higher-end men's stores downtown, including Outlooks for Men, Kane Straith, and DG Bremner's.  There are high-end boutiques on Lower Johnson selling women's wear, shoes (John Fluevog) and other items. There are some high-end furniture stores downtown in the design district including Studio Y.  There are some higher-end specialty stores too, including Cook Culture over on Blanshard.

 

Birk's has significantly reduced its retail footprint in recent years and I wouldn't interpret its closure as a harbinger for the downtown retail scene's future.  

[Victoria Watcher]

Kane Straith is closing isn’t it?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 17 March 2022 - 08:03 AM.

[Mike K.]

Lugaro also sells Rolex, but is that really it? Francis and Lugaro?

[spanky123]

^ I think the point is that retail is changing. Nobody is coming to Victoria to shop at Outlooks or Cook Culture. Not saying that they don't have good stuff but you can buy the same thing in most major cities and probably pay a lot less too (especially in the US). It was the offbeat, quirky, unusual stuff that people come to see and that is disappearing. Now I am sure that most people living downtown could care less about tourists and would be quite happy to have them relegated to long weekends and a few festivals. Not saying that is right or wrong but lets at least be honest with ourselves and make sure that our redevelopment plans align with the vision. 

[Kapten Kapsell]

Kane Straith closed.

I was at the dosa place within the last month and Kane Straith's was still there, but I also had heard that the owner (Kane himself) had been battling health issues so he may have opted to retire...

[Victoria Watcher]

Kane Straith died last summer.