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A realist: https://edmontonjournal.com/news/do...wntown-as-provincial-workers-return-to-office

Thousands of Alberta government employees returned to on-location work full-time this week, but some Edmontonians are split on what that means for Downtown.

Chocolatier Brett Roy is skeptical about whether there will be increased foot traffic to his business, Sweet Lollapalooza, located on the first floor of Commerce Place.

“I just don’t think they’re the ones that spend money, the government workers,” Roy said.

He’s been at this location for 18 years and said during the pandemic his sales dropped by around 60 per cent as he went from five employees to just himself.

His bottom line was affected when several major corporate anchor tenants moved out.

“The professional outfits that used to be here, they would spend more money on corporate gifts and whatnot,” Roy said.

So even with the news of a few thousand more workers coming to the core each day, Roy is setting his sights on moving his businesses south of the river.
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Greenspace said:
Great idea, except that when the buildings sell, the revenues will just go into general funds. Rarely does any Council restrict them in this way. I'd love if Downtown money went into Downtown things.
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I know it would go into general funds, but there would be nothing stopping council from making that decision either. It's just a matter of requesting an unfunded service package, and then funding said package. I'm just saying I think we could get a better bang for our buck on downtown revitalization than by getting Edmonton's office staff in the office an additional three days per week.
 
CplKlinger said:
I know it would go into general funds, but there would be nothing stopping council from making that decision either. It's just a matter of requesting an unfunded service package, and then funding said package. I'm just saying I think we could get a better bang for our buck on downtown revitalization than by getting Edmonton's office staff in the office an additional three days per week.
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If it were so simple as throwing money at the problem for the billionth time, it would have happened already.
 
policyenthusiast said:
After all, everyone knows that... government employees don't want chocolate? Is that the claim?
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I would imagine that after 18 years of business, he knows his clientele. If he was making the bulk of his money doing corporate gift packages as opposed to walk-ins, you could understand why he feels that a few extra public servant butts in Commerce Place isn't going to move his bottom line much.

It is a shame, though -- Commerce Place's retail was never really great, but it's pretty much non-existent now.
 
policyenthusiast said:
If it were so simple as throwing money at the problem for the billionth time, it would have happened already.
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But that's what RTO basically is - throwing money at offices in the hopes that workers throw money at businesses. I'm not saying it's as simple as throwing money at the problem, I'm just saying if the city were to spend money, that there are better things to spend it on than office space for city workers.
 
Gus Haynes said:
I would imagine that after 18 years of business, he knows his clientele. If he was making the bulk of his money doing corporate gift packages as opposed to walk-ins, you could understand why he feels that a few extra public servant butts in Commerce Place isn't going to move his bottom line much.

It is a shame, though -- Commerce Place's retail was never really great, but it's pretty much non-existent now.
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Sunterra, Starbucks, Sam Abouhassan, GoodLife Fitness, Icon, LUX Steakhouse, City Centre Dental, Tim Hortons, Subway, Edo, Canton Wok, Lorenzo's, Sushi Ya and Y-Not Indian would like a word with you.
 
Gus Haynes said:
I would imagine that after 18 years of business, he knows his clientele. If he was making the bulk of his money doing corporate gift packages as opposed to walk-ins, you could understand why he feels that a few extra public servant butts in Commerce Place isn't going to move his bottom line much.

It is a shame, though -- Commerce Place's retail was never really great, but it's pretty much non-existent now.
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I would say of all the downtown towers, Commerce Place's retail is probably still amongst the better, they actually have various things on both levels. Although after the construction perhaps National Bank/Manulife may perk up and surprise us.

However, I can understand that a high end chocolate place may find it hard to make a go of it in a building with a bunch of penny pinching public employees. They likely were more effected by CIBC's recent move to ICE District than the return of provincial employees.
 
Gronk! said:
Sunterra, Starbucks, Sam Abouhassan, GoodLife Fitness, Icon, LUX Steakhouse, City Centre Dental, Tim Hortons, Subway, Edo, Canton Wok, Lorenzo's, Sushi Ya and Y-Not Indian would like a word with you.
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Canton Wok lines absolutely exploded when Chicken For Lunch closed. Sunterra also makes quite a killing.
 
Days Inn is becoming a Best Western:

10035 - 106 STREET NW Plan NB Blk 5 Lots 57-59 - Sign Development Permit​

External ID
644842771-002
Job Type
Sign Development Permit
Description
To install (3) Fascia Sign(s) limited to On-premises Advertising (Best Western)
Applicant
PRIORITY PERMITS LTD
Status
In Development Review
Class of Permit
Permitted Development
Create Date
January 26, 2026
Approval Date

Location
10035 - 106 STREET NW Plan NB Blk 5 Lots 57-59
Neighbourhood
DOWNTOWN
 
Greenspace said:
Days Inn is becoming a Best Western:

10035 - 106 STREET NW Plan NB Blk 5 Lots 57-59 - Sign Development Permit​

External ID
644842771-002
Job Type
Sign Development Permit
Description
To install (3) Fascia Sign(s) limited to On-premises Advertising (Best Western)
Applicant
PRIORITY PERMITS LTD
Status
In Development Review
Class of Permit
Permitted Development
Create Date
January 26, 2026
Approval Date

Location
10035 - 106 STREET NW Plan NB Blk 5 Lots 57-59
Neighbourhood
DOWNTOWN
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While it's not a new hotel, I would bet this will be followed by some nice remodeling. Great news.
 
CplKlinger said:
But that's what RTO basically is - throwing money at offices in the hopes that workers throw money at businesses. I'm not saying it's as simple as throwing money at the problem, I'm just saying if the city were to spend money, that there are better things to spend it on than office space for city workers.
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You’re not really throwing anything at offices with RTO. If you have enough office space to work the one or two or three days a week when everyone isn’t WFH, you have enough office space for five days a week. You also have better cyber security and easier IT and phone systems maintenance etc. than you have with WFH.
 
kcantor said:
You’re not really throwing anything at offices with RTO. If you have enough office space to work the one or two or three days a week when everyone isn’t WFH, you have enough office space for five days a week. You also have better cyber security and easier IT and phone systems maintenance etc. than you have with WFH.
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I suppose with two or three days you could still do some desk or office sharing, but IMO that is not great. It is better for employees to have a specific dedicated space.

So if you have all the infrastructure in place as mentioned then it makes sense RTO will end up being primarily in office, hopefully with some flexibility still for those who need it.
 
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