David A
Senior Member
Downtown Edmonton isn't suburban Tsawwassen, but it would be nice to see more entertainment and other attractions here.
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- Thread starter Daveography
- Start date
Gronk!
Senior Member
You mean this Chinese billionaire?
Ruby Liu’s Bold Plans for a New Department Store Chain
Ruby Liu is launching a bold new department store chain across Canada, with insights from retail expert Carl Boutet on her experiential retail strategy.
retail-insider.com
Kosy123
Senior Member
I would 100% trust Ruby Liu or any other Chinese or Asian billionaire to turn City Centre Mall into a success. We'd straight up be better off with that rather than REITs or pension funds if you want to kickstart vibrancy and redevelopment. Ruby seems wacky from a North American perspective but that wackiness works in Asia.
I'm not joking at all because malls in Asia aren't retail destinations solely but also entertainment, community spaces, etc and the owners are more than willing to shovel capital into it for non-financial reasons too.
I'm not joking at all because malls in Asia aren't retail destinations solely but also entertainment, community spaces, etc and the owners are more than willing to shovel capital into it for non-financial reasons too.
Markyeg
Active Member
Now 23 out of the 25 landlords of the leases she wanted to take over are trying to reject her bid to take over the old Bay spaces 
. So I guess we’ll end up with just 5 of these new concepts now instead of 28 (2 from the landlords who are cooperating, plus the 3 in the malls she already owns). Curious to see exactly what she has planned though.
. So I guess we’ll end up with just 5 of these new concepts now instead of 28 (2 from the landlords who are cooperating, plus the 3 in the malls she already owns). Curious to see exactly what she has planned though.David A
Senior Member
I agree. I feel she has a good sense from her own experience about how to make malls and retail successful. It seems to also be something she is passionate and cares about.
For the large eastern based REIT's we are for the most part an afterthought and they have little understanding of the unique challenges here and are probably not that interested in them.
I believe their main interest is collecting the rent and maintaining the place. It is mostly an institutional mindset and I don't think there is much vision or insight beyond that.
Kosy123
Senior Member
Exactly! I've read some people online be sceptical of her plans in general and think it'll fail, but I'd rather have that mindset here in downtown Edmonton where we practically have nowhere to go but up for brick and mortar retail.
Better off with billionaire risk than institutional stasis.
Offworld
Active Member
Why do I feel her vision is not much different than that failed condo asian-themed retail complex out near Crossiron Mills? With so little known about this person, it's no wonder that all those landlords are saying no f'n way.
YEG imagineer
Active Member
^actually the New Horizon Mall is almost fully leased and much busier than when it first opened. Biggest difference is the majority of stores seem to be small retail businesses instead of big chains.
Agard
New Member
Wow really?? I'm surprised given how much of a disaster it was after it opened
IanO
Superstar
I noticed that City forces were planting all of the large planters around ECC this morning; it begs the question(s), why would these not be for ECC to do and why were they left looking awful during the playoff run and not planted until the end of June? Odd.
IanO
Superstar
They do look great now I must say.
ADob
Active Member
Photo please?
crisp
Active Member
I was actually in Bangkok this past April and hit up Emsphere twice. It was quite the experience and it blows any mall in Canada out of the water. The food court was a key standout for me. There are so many amazing options, and none feel like just a typical franchise; you even have Michelin-recommended spots.You mean this Chinese billionaire?
Ruby Liu’s Bold Plans for a New Department Store Chain
Ruby Liu is launching a bold new department store chain across Canada, with insights from retail expert Carl Boutet on her experiential retail strategy.
With that being said, bringing this back to Edmonton CC discussion, I'm very skeptical anything like that would work here. We're talking about an 11 million inhabited massive tourist 24 hour city, vs Edmonton. And the food court, that's a cultural thing and pushing that here may be tough. I would totally be for it but would the masses? Would the capitalist-make-profit-quick mentality here bring something unique, or would we just get more a&w and NY fries and famous woks??
I would start off such a concept slowly, 1 store only, not 25 at once. And first in Vancouver/Toronto to test out the market and build up a hype.
itom987
Active Member
Edmonton has a reputation for being the test market in Canada for foreign businesses looking to set up shop in Canada.
IanO
Superstar
The newly improved beds on 102/103 look good, but I guess the ones along 103st didn't make the cut?!??!
