Retail

Every city has that one street, a street filled with pedestrians, shopping and of course very high rents. Montreal has rue Sainte-Catherine, NYC has Fifth Avenue (among others) and we in Vancouver have Robson Street. Love it or hate it, it’s the street most people outside the city associate with Vancouver. It is our most famous street and in the coming year Robson Street will see a revival of sorts, as new, highly coveted, retailers set to open up shop. In the new year retailers such as J. Crew, Apple, Forever 21 will be adding to the retail mix, plus a few other surprises. 

Today is the last day for Empire Theatres in Oakridge Mall. The closure of the cinema will make way for Crate & Barrel, the very first in Vancouver (Crate & Barrels, sibling CB2 is opening up this winter/spring on Robson Street). This is all part of the redevelopment of Oakridge Centre, which will add more stores to the mall along with more residential and office towers.

Vancouver based Dorinha Jeans has a Christmas sale going on that is quite big! The jeans are manufactured in Brazil from Brazilian cotton, and feature “The Original One Inch Zipper.”

It’s no secret to those in the retail industry that Apple has long been looking for an ideal location to open up a Vancouver flagship store. Since HMV’s demise on Robson on Burrard those rumours have picked up steam. However, that is not where the Apple flagship store will be located, according to Business in Vancouver, the long rumoured Apple flagship will be opening up shop somewhere between Burrard and Thurlow (On the Aldo side of the street). If true, this also debunks the rumoured Robson and Granville location.  Both superior locations in my mind.

For men, there is nothing better than getting a custom tailored suit. However, that comes at a hefty price only few can afford. Enter Indochino, the world’s leading online custom clothing company. Now they’re revolutionizing the retail experience with their first-ever pop-up store in Vancouver. Check it out and get custom fitted for way less.

Get your shopping bags ready as the Gastown Shop Hop is back! Tomorrow evening (between 5pm – 9pm) many Gastown  boutiques will be opening their doors for you to check out their merchandise and have a party at the same time. There will be music, free drinks, and of lots of great deals.