DavidJamesTO
Active Member
Square One's mistake was putting in wall to wall carpet. There was no way that was going to hold up to the foot traffic those parts of the mall get.
I found this on the city's agenda for December 2nd. Excuse the size of the image.
View attachment 20611
http://www7.mississauga.ca/documents/agendas/committees/pdc/12_02_2013_-_PDC_AGENDA.pdf - The report starts on page 39.
Not as ghetto with Simons on Board.
Looks like it will be taking the Sears spot open for 2016
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1627120
Simons is the newest retailer added to Square One's $380 million renovation and expansion project. Phase One, an $84 million overhaul of the interior, was completed in November 2013, and construction on Phase Two began in September 2013. Simons joins other flagship stores including a 120,000-square-foot Holt Renfrew that is also set to open at Square One in spring 2016.
Oxford's Simons announcement also confirms Holt Renfrew for 2016 as well.
Retail Insider says that Square One's Sears is about 145,000 sq ft. We now know that 113,000 sq ft of that will be Simons.
http://www.retail-insider.com/2013/06/la-maison-simons-in-talks-to-open-two.html
Back in June 2013, in the above article Retail Insider suggested that Wal-Mart may leave Square One. That would really change its status - having Holt's, Hudson's Bay, Simons and a Wal-Mart replacement - could that be Nordstrom? (doubt it would be Saks 5th Ave.)
There's also a rumour on the Vancouver SSP forum that Hudson's Bay may bring Lord & Taylor to Vancouver's Oakridge - so is that a possibility?
This talk of Walmart leaving Square One needs to end. If it were in Walmart's interest to leave, then they might. But I don't think it is. Sears was dead. It's no surprise they're leaving. But Walmart is crazy busy. Why on earth would Walmart leave?
Yes, Square One is moving more upscale. I don't think that necessarily excludes Walmart. The market is clearly there.
Frankly, there's a market for just about anything in a mall like Square One, that doesn't justify having a store there. Wal-Mart could easily open a store in the nearby vicinity that would be better organized and have more parking than what's currently available. Plus, image is everything in the retail business and I suspect major concessions were made regarding Wallymart prior to Holt's and Simons agreeing to lease there. Fact is the space belongs to Square one (actually Oxford) and they can do as they see fit with it, be damned what the tenant thinks.