Malls in Calgary - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Seabass · 10-05-2008, 09:22 AM

If you were to open a retail store in Calgary, which mall would you consider? I would look at both Market Mall and Southcentre. Chinook is a little too crazy, and the lease is probably insane. Any thoughts?

Coach · 10-05-2008, 09:26 AM

I would do market mall. Just personal preference. Plus I think its within the wealthier part of the city

missdpuck · 10-05-2008, 09:28 AM

What will the store be selling? I don't live up there,just curious as to what other people are up to retail-wise in other areas.

OutOfTheCube · 10-05-2008, 09:31 AM

Chinook's crazy, but you want to open at Market Mall? Have you been to Market on a weekend?

Deelow · 10-05-2008, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattyC

I would do market mall. Just personal preference. Plus I think its within the wealthier part of the city

There is alot of $$$ within' 5 minutes of South Centre too...the only thing holding that mall back is that Chinook is a little too close.

Coach · 10-05-2008, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deelow

There is alot of $$$ within' 5 minutes of South Centre too...the only thing holding that mall back is that Chinook is a little too close.

Ya thats true. Im not a big fan of Chinook. Ya the other malls get crazy on the weekends....but Chinook is ALWAYS busy

First Lady · 10-05-2008, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missdpuck

What will the store be selling?

Excellent question.

Also who is your target market?

I have a client whose product failed miserably at Chinook; but they have been very successful at Market. I am sure there are stories of the reverse as well.

You need to figure out who you are trying to reach; contact the malls admin office they will have a ton of info on the "profiles" of their typical customer. Get that and see if it matches your target market.

10-05-2008, 09:47 AM

I work at Southcentre and my company has stores in Chinook and Market. Right now all 3 of us are slow.

Chinook (whose rent is CRAZY!!!) is hurting because there is no parking.

We're slow because they just ripped up our North parking lot and we've got so many stores under construction that there's really not alot of stores to shop at... but people come to our mall because they hate the business of Chinook (our rent is still pretty good, but I'm sure they'll jack the price up in a year or 2 to pay for the renovations) I've seen pictures of the renovations and one section (by Lululemon) they're putting in a "sports zone" with a jumbo-tron-tv that will be playing sports all day with lazy-boys to sit in! I'm not sure how many people are going to come see Crate & Barrel and Restoration Hardware...

Our Market locations rent just went up. They aren't doing anything spectacular, but they aren't hurting either. Weekends are definately their money maker. You would think they would be alot more busier with the construction, but nobody from the south wants to go all the way up there.

If it wasn't in the hood, I would suggest Sunridge. The renos they've done are good and they are starting to get some decent tenants and I'm sure rent is cheap. Just make sure the wall to your back room is re-enforced with something metal so the theives that try to break in through your back wall can't get in.

I still haven't heard much about the Cross Iron Mills Mall in Balzac.... but same company as the one that owns Southcentre...

I think it would depend on what you are selling because each mall does have a particular clientel...
Good Luck!

arsenal · 10-05-2008, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattyC

but Chinook is ALWAYS busy

If you are looking to open retail space inside a mall. I think that is exactly what you want. The more foot traffic, the more people are going to come into your store. The more people that come into your store, the more sales you are going to get.

But even if your store is "different" or offers some specialized, people will drive to get to your store specifically.

But choose your demographic, then figure out which district has the majority of your demographic, and possibly look to set up shop in that area.

Coach · 10-05-2008, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arsenal

If you are looking to open retail space inside a mall. I think that is exactly what you want. The more foot traffic, the more people are going to come into your store. The more people that come into your store, the more sales you are going to get.

But even if your store is "different" or offers some specialized, people will drive to get to your store specifically.

But choose your demographic, then figure out which district has the majority of your demographic, and possibly look to set up shop in that area.

Ya thats true. I'm not really thinking on a business side more of a hate "I hate that place" side lol. But market is getting the newer stores now. They just opened an Apple store in there and its nuts

ken0042 · 10-05-2008, 09:59 AM

As mentioned the demographics are very important. I see Chinook as being very "busy", but how many people in there are buyers? When I go I see a lot of kids; 15-21 year old groups.

So if you are selling something that 15-21's will buy, then awesome. But I know many people my age (30-40) prefer to go to South Centre if possible to avoid the crowds and the parking issues.

Seabass · 10-05-2008, 10:05 AM

Is there anything new going on at Northland Mall? That seems to be a mall that changes all the time. Probably not a good thing. Hmmm. Another idea would be TD Square/ Bankers Hall. I wonder if the leases there are comparible to Chinook.

Coach · 10-05-2008, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seabass

Is there anything new going on at Northland Mall? That seems to be a mall that changes all the time. Probably not a good thing. Hmmm. Another idea would be TD Square/ Bankers Hall. I wonder if the leases there are comparible to Chinook.

Outside of Bestbuy and Futureshop, Northland Mall completely blows. You might as well go to market its about 5 min away

troutman · 10-05-2008, 10:15 AM

Northland is a graveyard - it's where businesses go to die.

Got Miikka? · 10-05-2008, 10:48 AM

Westbrook mall? When I worked at the Safeway there years ago it catered to a more fiscally-challenged crowd, but they put up those Bravo towers and the area seems to be getting a facelift. Probably looking at lower costs as far as setting up an operation, but a busy location and maybe a growingly wealthy local demographic?

NSFL · 10-05-2008, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seabass

Is there anything new going on at Northland Mall? That seems to be a mall that changes all the time. Probably not a good thing. Hmmm. Another idea would be TD Square/ Bankers Hall. I wonder if the leases there are comparible to Chinook.

We're getting a bunch of different restaurants in there. The Walmart, Futureshop, Bestbuy, Designer Depot bring people in. The mall is doing loads better than it was 3 years ago. They're also hoping that Cora's will help business, hoping people will come in to eat, and then do some shopping while they're there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Northland is a graveyard - it's where businesses go to die.

Hey! As I work at Northland, I feel the need to defend it. We've been there for decades and we're not dead yet.

To the OP: You don't seem to have answered the question about what you're selling. Are you selling porn and too ashamed of it? You can be honest now, we won't judge.

Resolute 14 · 10-05-2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NSFL

To the OP: You don't seem to have answered the question about what you're selling. Are you selling porn and too ashamed of it? You can be honest now, we won't judge.

I was going to say to avoid Deerfoot, Northland and Marlborough Malls, but if the product is porn, maybe those are the places to go.

Chinook is where you want to go if you are catering to a younger crowd.

Southcentre and Market Mall to an older one.

Deerfoot if you are running an outlet store. There's no reason to go in there anymore.

Northland if profits aren't your greatest concern.

Marlborough if you are targetting the Hookers and Blow crowd.

Sunridge if it doesn't bother you that its the hardest mall in the province to access. (stupid Ctrain lines)

arsenal · 10-05-2008, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Sunridge if it doesn't bother you that its the hardest mall in the province to access. (stupid Ctrain lines)

Just go in the back way from barlow. No c-train lines

First Lady · 10-05-2008, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Sunridge if it doesn't bother you that its the hardest mall in the province to access. (stupid Ctrain lines)

Depends which "side of the tracks" you live on.....

Claeren · 10-05-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

and North Hill mall is where businesses go after they have died.

What is strange about North Hill Mall is that there always seems to be a steady stream of people there. It seems like it should be dead but I get my hair cut there and no matter what time of day or week I go it is always 'medium busy'.

Since their last round of renovations a couple years back, I have never seen it very busy but I have never seen it empty either.

Claeren.