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It wasn't even that long ago that The Bay was actually still somewhat busy at this time of the year. I did much of my holiday shopping there from 2005-2017 and recall it being quieter than saw WEM or Kingsway, but still respectable and it made holiday shopping kinda fun with folks around there and Manu.
 
I used to go there regularly too and it generally seemed steady although not really busy during the day. I do wonder what happened to all of former customers since.

I for one go to the KIngsway or Southgate ones, but only very occasionally as it is not as convenient, maybe 25% as much as I went to the downtown location or less.

I have gone to Winners a number of times, about all that's left for me that is convenient to walk to downtown.
 
Given a lot of the Bay customers were a bit older, I don't see most becoming big on line shoppers. I suppose if you are retired, it is not too hard to drive or take the LRT to say Kingsway, if you have time.

IDK, maybe the Bay there is busier now, but I was never that impressed by that location. It really wasn't one of the better ones before. Maybe that has changed somewhat.
 
Simons exists which has generally eliminated any need or desire to visit The Bay. The Bay shopping experience isn't competitive, at least at any locations I've been to.
 
Sure, but The Bay was ideal for many of us living Downtown for appliances, sheets, towels, shoes, misc. kitchen items and even quick gifts for kids birthdays.

It is/was a significant loss for Downtown and eroded the value proposition of living centrally.
 
The Bay was breaking even pre-pandemic, even with Valley Line construction and significant shoplifting. They might still be here in some form if it wasn't for that.
 
I went to the Kingsway Bay a few days ago and it was actually quite nice for clothing and home goods.

Kingsway will always be the direct competitor for CCM and it might take another generation before enough people live downtown to make the economics work out for CCM. In an alternate universe, if Kingsway didn't exist, it would make CCM much more possible to attract and retain the top tier retailers (H&M, Lululemon, Bay).
 
I still look back at the H&M loss whereby it was going to do a two-storey store on the NWC of 101st/102ave, but when their corporate guy came to town, he asked why when Kingsway 'is Downtown'... which killed the opportunity.
 
^Right around the time Kingsway lost Zellers and Oxford was like, 'why go to ECC when we can do a larger store at Kingsway?' :(
 
Fortunately, City Centre is not still owned by the previous owner who did 60% of what it took to drive it into the ground. COVID did the rest.

Another example of a bad corporate citizen. Interestingly a company founded here that totally forgot its roots. There should be a corporate hall of shame for them.
 
Oxford tried, but I am not sure Edmonton responded very well in most regards and their business plan shifted to primary/A type markets as it grew and evolved. It wasn't just Edmonton that they divested, but multiple other 'smaller markets' and it's bene very clear from recent postings, that they are finding success in the Vancouver's, Toronto's, NYC's, London's and Singapore's of the world.
 
Yes, I realize they are more focused on larger markets now I don't think it was just Edmonton that fell off their radar.

I don't question their "success", I do question their values.
 
David A said:
Yes, I realize they are more focused on larger markets now I don't think it was just Edmonton that fell off their radar.

I don't question their "success", I do question their values.
Click to expand...
They value money (like all landlords) and went where they can find the most of it. Nothing wrong with that.
 
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