T&T coming to Brentwood Mall Redevelopment?

The rumours have been relatively numerous lately.  When I recently heard rumours that Menchies is getting into the Brentwood Mall Redevelopment (BMR), it felt like significant information due to the lack of any information regarding possible new commercial tenants there.  Now I am hearing from multiple sources that T&T Supermarket is looking at a new location in the BMR.  A niche store like T&T would definitely be a welcome addition to Brentwood.

Currently, the nearest T&T Supermarket locations are at Renfrew and 1st Ave and at Metrotown.

Development rumours in the air

Unlike news media outlets that are held to a strict, higher standard of reporting sources, bloggers tend to have more leeway in keeping sources to themselves.  Bloggers also tend to be more imperfect in their reporting as a result.  In my last post, I mentioned that rumours of Menchies opening in the Brentwood Mall Redevelopment (BMR).  My not mentioning the sources of such rumours is meant to both protect them from potential criticism due to their position that allows them to garner such rumours and to prevent the flow of the rumours from drying up at the source. Furthermore, my sources may neither be aware that they are sources nor aware that I am blogging about the Brentwood area.  Therefore, I must always reiterate the fact that it is a rumour with the idea that there may be a fire where there's smoke.

For a major project like the BMR, it seems unusual that the developer is not promoting it's development by mentioning new commercial tenants as selling points as they did when promoting Highstreet in Abbotsford.  Even current store owners in the mall are being kept guessing on timelines and details.

Carter Dealerships

Word of another major piece of land becoming available for redevelopment is surfacing. It's being mentioned that the Carter Dealerships are looking at cashing out of their Lougheed Hwy properties that house the GM and Dodge dealerships between Willingdon Ave and both sides of Alpha Avenue. Both vacated lots south of Brentwood Station would make it a potentially larger development than the BMR north of the station.

Destination Dealerships

Meanwhile, the new Destination Toyota dealership being built at the Still Creek Auto Mall is 3 months behind schedule and continues to operate at Lougheed and Madison.  Rumours are going around that Destination Honda on Hastings will  move into the vacated site on Lougheed until it also eventually moves into the Still Creek Auto Mall.

Menchies Brentwood

A rumour is swirling around the neighbourhood that frozen yogurt chain, Menchies will be opening in the new Brentwood Mall.  Another option for dessert?  Sounds good to me!

Whole Foods bustling on opening day

I had a chance to check out Whole Foods at Solo District on opening day today.  The place was busy as was the smiling staff who must have been just as excited as the customers there.  Finding my favourite organic tomato soup made my day.

A new restaurant will also be opening at Solo district.  We already know that Ricky's Diner is coming soon and Uncle Fatih's Pizza will offer a faster food alternative.  Pho D'lite will add to the food options in the area.

Whole Foods opening tomorrow

With the awaited arrival of Whole Foods upon us with its grand opening in Solo District, I wonder if it will be a good idea to check it out on its first day.  I will have to make a "gameday" decision tomorrow.

Burnaby Now article below

There’s a new competitor in town: Whole Foods set to open in Burnaby

Jeremy Deutsch / Burnaby Now

January 26, 2016 03:52 PM

The grocery store landscape in Burnaby is about to add a new player to the game in an already competitive market.   

This week, the popular American-based grocery chain Whole Foods Market will be opening its latest store in the Lower Mainland, in the Solo District development in the Brentwood neighbourhood.

The NOW was given a chance to take a tour of the new location ahead of Thursday’s grand opening.

The 41,000-square-foot store will offer similar products and shopping experience Whole Foods devotees are accustomed to – and then some, according to Grant Daisley, a marketing coordinator for the company in B.C.

He noted the company tries to model each store to fit the community, offering unique features that won’t be found at other locations.

Specifically, Daisley noted in Burnaby there is a crow theme throughout the store in a nod to the large number of crows that flock to the Still Creek area.

He also said the store is trying to bring in an assortment of international vegetables not carried in other stores to complement the diversity of the people living in the community.

The new store will also feature a mod bar espresso and coffee system. A mod bar essentially has all the major hardware under the counter.

If you’re not familiar, Whole Foods markets itself as “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” offering organic and natural foods.

Daisley explained Whole Foods chose Burnaby as the fifth location in B.C. and just second outside Vancouver because of the number of requests for a store in the city.     

But the company has also come under a number of criticisms, mainly that its products are overpriced. In the summer, Whole Foods became the butt of jokes when it was discovered that a store in California was selling water with three asparagus stalks for $6.

Daisley said the Burnaby location will offer a number of items at prices customers will want, also encouraging people to come and check out the store’s experience.    

“As people are learning and asking more questions about their food … you can come into a Whole Foods market and know we’ve done the work to ensure you’re getting the best food you can get,” he told the NOW, arguing the company’s quality standards are unmatched.

The company announced it would be opening a Burnaby store back in 2012.

It’s not exactly the easiest time to open up major grocery store, with the cost of fruit and vegetables climbing sky high and the Canadian dollar in a free fall.

Those will just be some of the challenges the new store will face, according to Lindsay Meredith, a marketing professor with Simon Fraser University.

He said the store is appealing to urban millennials and Generation-Xers with the healthy and organic labels but noted it comes with a higher price point.

However, the SFU professor suggested the company has picked the right location, pointing out Brentwood is a relatively high-income area with a lot of single-family high rises dotting the landscape. 

“What you’re looking for is the ability to purchase right off the bat,” he said.

While Meredith said the store is catering to a niche market, he expects the Safeways of the world to keep their market share.

Paul Holden, the president and CEO of the Burnaby Board of Trade, welcomes the new store and believes the company has done the research as it enters the local market. 

“I think they’re coming in here with the ambition to be very successful,” he said.

Holden also sees the location of Whole Foods, which is a member of BBOT, becoming a destination for people who want the Whole Foods experience, providing spin-off benefits to the local economy.

The new Whole Foods officially opens its doors on Jan. 28, but will mark the opening with a “breaking bread” event at 8:30 a.m. at 4420 Lougheed Highway.

© 2016 Burnaby Now

- See more at: http://www.burnabynow.com/news/there-s-a-new-competitor-in-town-whole-foods-set-to-open-in-burnaby-1.2159306#sthash.pYVmWpgw.dpuf

Vancitybuzz provides some vague details on Amazing Brentwood

Although it has nearly sold out the first 3 towers of its redevelopment of Brentwood Mall, Shape Properties has yet to provide any concrete details about new retail or restaurant tenants in the commercial part of the massive transformation at the corner of Lougheed Hwy and Willingdon Ave.

As 2016 progresses, we will hopefully begin to see which stores and restaurants have made the same commitment the condo buyers have made.

Albeit still without concrete details with company names, the vancitybuzz.com article below has been able to get a bit more information than previously made public by Shape Properties.

Brentwood Town Centre to become 'The Amazing Brentwood'

By Helen Siwak

5:07 PM PST, WED JANUARY 20, 2016

Brentwood Town Centre is undergoing a spectacular overhaul that, when completed in the fall of 2018, will make it one of the largest urban destinations in North America. According to Retail-Insider, the first phase of development of the new centre will feature a modern luxury retail zone, fashion anchor stores, new upscale restaurants and a cinema, all in a indoor-outdoor configuration located directly on and around the SkyTrain station.

Currently under construction,The Amazing Brentwood will become one of BC’s largest shopping centres with an excess of 250 stores and restaurants. The property’s master-plan features community gathering places, office space, and 11 residential towers housing 6,000 homes on the 28-acre site.

The existing 500,000 square foot centre will be transformed into a mixed-use super regional shopping centre featuring in excess of 1.1 million square feet of retail space. As many as three large stores may anchor the centre, and landlord Shape Properties confirms that they have been in discussions with four upscale fashion department stores. Discussions continue with a variety of smaller retailers, including a number of luxury brands that are interested in locating in the centre’s new ‘modern luxury zone’.

Not all retail will be luxury focused and the developer is looking to add various lifestyle, aspirational and approachably-priced retailers in the centre, including a number of sports and athleisure focused brands.

The centre will feature four distinct retail areas; ‘Brentwood Interior’, ‘Brentwood Boulevard’, ‘West Mews/Grand Lobby’, and ‘The Plaza’. Each is described below.

Brentwood Interior, the centre’s indoor component, will feature about 100 retailers in over 500,000 square feet of space as well as more than 25 restaurants in 36,000 square feet of space. The mall’s anchor retailers will also be housed in this part of Brentwood Town Centre.

Brentwood Boulevard, an outdoor retail street, will feature 22 retailers in 70,000 square feet of space, as well as two restaurants occupying approximately 10,000 square feet, plus some 4,000 square feet of restaurant patio space. Brentwood Boulevard’s design is inspired by some of the world’s most iconic high streets.

West Mews and Grand Lobby will feature 17,000 square feet of retail space, as well as a further 4,000 square feet for at least six restaurants, excluding approximately 1,500 square feet of patio space. The area will offer one-of-a-kind brands, designer stores, and unique restaurants.

The Plaza will be a one-acre open-air social hub featuring fashion brands mixed with patios, pubs and casual dining. It will feature 15 stores as well as six restaurants spanning over 30,000 square feet, plus 7,100 square feet of patio space and 4,000 square feet of garden rooftops. Also, three of the restaurants at The Plaza will be multi-level, according to plans.

According to Shape Properties’ Executive Vice President, Darren Kwiatkowski, Brentwood will feature considerably more space devoted to restaurants than is typically found in shopping centres in Canada. This addresses the fact that malls are increasingly becoming social and entertainment destinations, as opposed to being pure retail centres. Brentwood will feature a variety of diverse food options with chef-driven concepts (and some chains) to be included to elevate the food experience.

The Brentwood SkyTrain Station will become an integral component of the centre, and Mr. Kwiatkowski explained that transit ridership is expected to grow substantially as the Lower Mainland continues to densify. Brentwood is also easily accessible by car and its central location means that this development will be able to pull in shoppers from Burnaby as well as Vancouver, Coquitlam, New Westminster, and even North Vancouver via the Second Narrows Bridge.

Whole Foods readying to open January 28

With 14 days to go for the opening of Whole Foods, the activity around Solo District will begin to increase.  I particularly can't wait for the Ricky's Diner to open.  BREAKFAST!!!!!