[Claeren]

Calgary is TOO hot/tight of a market - it is not that they do not want to be here, there is simply no space for new companies to affordably enter the market. West Ed had (has?) 2 and 3 of some identical stores, so the fact that they had surplus space to put in new stores/concepts has always been of benefit.

Those new options eventually come here of course though but it takes more time and planning.

When they first look a Canada they see Calgary as a strong entry point but when you access the market capacity v. risk v. the costs v. the alternatives lots of other Canadian Cities look pretty compelling.


The Chinook thing for example has gone back and forth. I am under the impression at this point that they are NOT going in though - due to some sort of squabble between the parties involved but that there IS space available if they can resolve their differences by the time construction on the expansion finished. (In other words once the money-issues have been sorted out). Originally i think they even were in negotiations for the old Caban space in the front central area of the mall.


But regardless, the business analysis is not as simple as "oh look at disposable income in Calgary - lets open 14 stores overnight in all of that empty retail space and staff them with all of that easy to find and retain excess premium staff that is unemployed instead of going into another market..."



Claeren.