Ring Road To Nowhere

[marsplasticeraser]

I just drove out past Canada Olympic Park (Winsport) this weekend. I've been missing it as I've been taking the SE ring road and going out through Springbank.

My oh my, the new building they are building below COP is about the ugliest building I've seen. Truly hideous, I can't believe somebody approved this.

Here's what I'm talking about:

https://goo.gl/maps/PgLft8hFwYng47xz8

[you&me]

Seems like they're trying to maintain an aesthetic consistent with the nearby art installations.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

It is ugly. I think a MEC store is going in there, although there are a few retail buildings in and around that spot.

[Calgary14]

yeah that's ugly

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by marsplasticeraser

I just drove out past Canada Olympic Park (Winsport) this weekend. I've been missing it as I've been taking the SE ring road and going out through Springbank.

My oh my, the new building they are building below COP is about the ugliest building I've seen. Truly hideous, I can't believe somebody approved this.

Here's what I'm talking about:

https://goo.gl/maps/PgLft8hFwYng47xz8

Its also placed awkwardly close to the highway. Such a strange project all around.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

What happened to the offramp at Macleod NB turning off to Stoney EB? When does that re-open?

The signs originally said closed until Aug 30, but were changed this morning to Sept 10.

[sleepingmoose]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

It is ugly. I think a MEC store is going in there, although there are a few retail buildings in and around that spot.

The MEC was moving in there before they went bankrupt - I think that plan has been kiboshed.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by sleepingmoose

The MEC was moving in there before they went bankrupt - I think that plan has been kiboshed.

They closed the one in Seton shortly after opening, can't see them opening a new store this soon.

Shame really, that store in Seton was very nice.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

They closed the one in Seton shortly after opening, can't see them opening a new store this soon.

Shame really, that store in Seton was very nice.

I didn't even know it ever opened, never a single car in the parking lot

[Krovikan]

Originally Posted by btimbit

I didn't even know it ever opened, never a single car in the parking lot

It was nice good stock, lots of room, good deals. Surprised you didn't see cars out front in 2019, it had quite steady traffic.

We need another bike shop in the way closest is Pure and Pedal head, which is quite the drive.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Krovikan

It was nice good stock, lots of room, good deals. Surprised you didn't see cars out front in 2019, it had quite steady traffic.

We need another bike shop in the way closest is Pure and Pedal head, which is quite the drive.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

I thought it was terrible. It was a glorified clothing store, and a weird setup. While the downtown location was kind of annoying to get to and from, it was still much better than whatever that was supposed to be in Seton.

[Krovikan]

Originally Posted by Slava

I thought it was terrible. It was a glorified clothing store, and a weird setup. While the downtown location was kind of annoying to get to and from, it was still much better than whatever that was supposed to be in Seton.

It's all subjective; however, I thought the DT location was terrible (haven't been there since 2019 though). They shoved all the bike gear into a corner, and they were always out of the parts I needed and lost most sales to their competitors.

The Seton one always had the parts I needed; however, yes MEC is/was going towards a clothing store. They were attracted to the high-value margins of the overpriced sports clothing industry and started pushing that. Letting their competitors take them on, and lost them a lot of customers.

Sports clothing is a good addition to average customers spend; however, it isn't a good primary one and any business lured to make it their primary by the margin in my opinion is doomed to fail.

Side note: I think this is a failing of the coop model, you get people running it who "think" they know what they are doing, and lose track of the member, First Calgary (Connect First now) is doing a similar thing in my opinion. But worse, there last board election was a farce mean to protect the board from deserved member wrath.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

They closed the one in Seton shortly after opening, can't see them opening a new store this soon.

Shame really, that store in Seton was very nice.

That location is actually turning into a gym called Evolve Strength. They have a location in Sunridge currently, and looks like the company is doing major expansions since they've got 4 locations in Edmonton, and now going to have 2 in Vancouver next year.

EDIT:

Originally Posted by Krovikan

It's all subjective; however, I thought the DT location was terrible (haven't been there since 2019 though). They shoved all the bike gear into a corner, and they were always out of the parts I needed and lost most sales to their competitors.

Is it confirmed the Trinity Hills location isn't going to be MEC still? The website still list it as a location in the shopping centre unless it hasn't been updated.

Wonder if they do open up the Trinity location, if they'll leave their downtown location then?

[Cecil Terwilliger]

nm

[marsplasticeraser]

I had the exact opposite experience, but I used mec for ski and backpacking gear. Everything I needed was always at the downtown store and I left seton empty handed. So stopped going there.

I do agree that clothing should be a support product line for MEC, not their main focus . Downtown still has a good selection of gear.

MEC were great for their own branded clothing, which was a reasonable price. But MEC gear has been garbage for a long time and just doesn’t seem to get any better.

Ultimately, operating a physical store is a tough business, especially if it’s the same brands as competitors but without any of the sales. When they killed off their app my MEC purchasing went way down.

Originally Posted by Krovikan

It's all subjective; however, I thought the DT location was terrible (haven't been there since 2019 though). They shoved all the bike gear into a corner, and they were always out of the parts I needed and lost most sales to their competitors.

The Seton one always had the parts I needed; however, yes MEC is/was going towards a clothing store. They were attracted to the high-value margins of the overpriced sports clothing industry and started pushing that. Letting their competitors take them on, and lost them a lot of customers.

Sports clothing is a good addition to average customers spend; however, it isn't a good primary one and any business lured to make it their primary by the margin in my opinion is doomed to fail.

Side note: I think this is a failing of the coop model, you get people running it who "think" they know what they are doing, and lose track of the member, First Calgary (Connect First now) is doing a similar thing in my opinion. But worse, there last board election was a farce mean to protect the board from deserved member wrath.

[Joborule]

Nm

[powderjunkie]

It's been funny and sad to see the MBAs drive MEC into the ground. The west location should still make a lot of sense, especially if they open early on weekends.

[MacDaddy77]

Back to RR and connectors. Looks like they/ve pulled the equipment off Spruce Meadows way. any chance it's open before Sept 15? Traffic report shows it open but I was by there this morning and it wasn't yet.

Anyone with first hand knowledge?

[Calgary14]

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

Back to RR and connectors. Looks like they/ve pulled the equipment off Spruce Meadows way. any chance it's open before Sept 15? Traffic report shows it open but I was by there this morning and it wasn't yet.

Anyone with first hand knowledge?

I am by there regularly and it doesn't look near done yet, I would guess Sep 15 at the earliest

[Calgary14]

Spruce Meadows Way still closed (was scheduled to open today)