551 replies to this topic

[AllseeingEye]

/\.....first, it was waiting in line for lights and lasers Cassidy - not TP. Got it? Lasers, duuuude...."lasers". There is nothing remotely cooler than having dueling lasers on the front lawn at Christmas. They also double as a very useful tool to annoy that one neighbor you can't stand; that alone makes waiting worthwhile....

 

Second, Mrs ASE wasn't with me and there was this very nice blonde woman from my gym in line behind me who just insisted on conversing the whole time. Who was I to pass on that line and say no? And finally it was Christmas man...the season of joy and good cheer and fellowship. So to sum up - lasers, Christmas and a knockout blonde, some of my favorite things, so yeah it was 45 minutes well spent

[G-Man]

I think Fairways will be fine. I am not sure too many people actually do their full grocery shop at Walmart.

On the parking I agree, was at Hillside yesterday and the entire southern and eastern parking lot was full and the northern one was pretty full too. I am hoping that there is some sort of plan to fix this.

All in all though I think this is a good thing. Hillside retailers must be ecstatic.

[DustMagnet]

 I'm sure Canadian Tire and Thrifty's are going to love it.

 

Judging by Thrifty's pricing model, I don't think it's competing for the Walmart customer.

[jonny]

On the parking I agree, was at Hillside yesterday and the entire southern and eastern parking lot was full and the northern one was pretty full too. I am hoping that there is some sort of plan to fix this.

 

Yeah, the lots right next to the former Sears space are very small. Hard to imagine they will incorporate any sort of new parking structure in time for a late 2019 opening, though. 

[Mike K.]

The Langford Walmart has approximately 600 stalls, with many going unfilled on a daily basis.

 

The northeast section of Hillside's lot has 400 stalls, and it's the least used of them all. Adding up the remainder of the northern parking perimeter and you've got another 250-300 stalls, so in terms of capacity it's just right.

[m3m]

There's also about 150 rooftop parking spots at hillside that used to give access to the second floor of Sears which were always empty. 

[Mike K.]

Oh yeah, that's right! There are over 200 stalls up there.

[Nparker]

There's also about 150 rooftop parking spots at hillside that used to give access to the second floor of Sears which were always empty. 

I would imagine this parking area will be very popular for future Walmart customers. The entrance at this level may need some modification to better accommodate typical Walmart purchases, as I seem to recall it being kind of small.

[Rob Randall]

As The Keg discussion illustrates, there are two kinds of Victorian parking: the preferred space which a resident will circle for half an hour trying to obtain, and the slightly less convenient lot, which we refuse to acknowledge even exists.

[jonny]

As The Keg discussion illustrates, there are two kinds of Victorian parking: the preferred space which a resident will circle for half an hour trying to obtain, and the slightly less convenient lot, which we refuse to acknowledge even exists.

 

Victorians sort of figured it out at Uptown. Took a few years, though. 

[Matt R.]

Saanich News reporting that the Hillside Walmart deal is just a rumour.

https://www.saanichn...t-and-hillside/

Matt.

[Mike K.]

"We do not respond to Internet rumours" - Hillside Centre, when approached regarding the shopping centre expansion.

 

"We have no plans to sell Dockside Green," - VanCity, prior to acknowledging sale of Dockside Green.

 

"We cannot confirm Winners is the upcoming tenant," - Bay Centre, when Winners was identified as the new retailer.

 

...and so on.

[Mike K.]

Did we know about this? That's a serious facility.

 

SURREY, BC, July 26, 2018 /CNW/ - Walmart Canada has announced plans to invest more than $175 million to build a new 300,000 square foot, high-tech, state-of-the-art fresh, frozen grocery facility in Surrey, BC, creating between 150 to 200 new, long-term jobs. In addition, 300 skilled construction and engineering roles to support the 14- to 18-month build period will be required once construction begins in early 2021. Building designers will focus on sustainability, including plans for it to be a zero-waste facility when it opens in early 2022. - https://www.newswire...-689221811.html

[tjv]

I will see the drawings for the Wal Mart when it comes out for bidding/budgets, I will let you know if anything comes of it.

[Mike K.]

Very good!

[spanky123]

I think Fairways will be fine. I am not sure too many people actually do their full grocery shop at Walmart.

On the parking I agree, was at Hillside yesterday and the entire southern and eastern parking lot was full and the northern one was pretty full too. I am hoping that there is some sort of plan to fix this.

All in all though I think this is a good thing. Hillside retailers must be ecstatic.

 

I think that in general the Sears location would require a lot of changes in order to support Walmart and even then it would be a smaller footprint than the typical store these days. I don't think that any retailer is happy to see a Walmart open next to them. People go to Walmart to shop at Walmart, it is a destination. Look at Uptown and its constant churn of stores as an example. Arguably the only store left that competes at all with Walmart is Shoppers and there are more employees than customers there 90% of the time. 

[sdwright.vic]

^Petsmart an Michael's are pretty darn busy everytime I am up there.

[Mike K.]

Any retail space requires major upgrades, especially one that hasn’t been renovated for several decades.

The Hillside Walmart is perfect in size at 150k sq ft. It’s also got a garden section and they could operate an automotive shop from Hillside, too. Makes you wonder if the decision to remove the shop that used to be at North Dairy and Shelbourne was too hasty of a decision.

[RFS]

^Petsmart an Michael's are pretty darn busy everytime I am up there.

 

I was in Whole Foods on the weekend and it was packed.

[Nparker]

Any retail space requires major upgrades, especially one that hasn’t been renovated for several decades...

I doubt at the time Tillicum Centre was built anyone ever envisioned the Eaton's space becoming a hardware/home improvement store. I think the basic structure and footprint of Sears would accommodate Walmart quite well.