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Shoppers Mall parking

Shoppers Mall parking

grandmaB
Joined: This month
Posts: 310

grandmaB
Joined: This month
Posts: 310

Shoppers Mall parking
7/26/2017 at 3:59 PM

What was the mall thinking when they decided to put 3 big restaurants in the parking lot....just where are people going to park when these restaurants are up and running....never mind that Sobeys Extra has also taken more parking....what are they going to do when Christmas shopping comes....just where are we suppose to park then? I for one think this was the worse mistake ever!!!!! One of the restaurants could of gone on the leased land at the Landmark Theatre...they have been trying to lease there forever....
dueindecember
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 724

dueindecember
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 724

i agree
7/26/2017 at 4:04 PM

I agree. They need multi level parkade. not planning for parking was a huge mistake
lovetooshop
Joined: This month
Posts: 175

lovetooshop
Joined: This month
Posts: 175

I also agree
7/26/2017 at 4:19 PM

Was just discussing this issue yesterday. Can't imagine what going there during busy times when these restaurants are up and running.
hello_bdn
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 64

hello_bdn
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 64

Yes
7/26/2017 at 4:43 PM

Christmases will be fun trying to park once those restaurants are up and running.
daisychain
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2898

daisychain
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2898

its so ridiculous
7/26/2017 at 5:01 PM

parking is nuts already, with the beginnings of construction, wait till the large busses start pulling in and taking up spots, or Christmas...Horrible planning. Why didn't they learn from the mess called The Corral Centre. Is this another Shindico project?
Listener
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 37

Listener
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 37

Mall parking
7/26/2017 at 5:30 PM

Why are so many Brandon people so negative. Stop complaining and be greatful that businesses still want to invest in the Brandon economy. Sure it may be a challenge, but I would rather see full parking lots and parking challenges vs businesses closing because a lack of traffic. Business owners understand the value of having people around. I believe they carefully weighed out and planned what they were doing when this step was taken. I say way to go to those who are involved in the strategic planning in Brandon. Let's be positive and support them. Enough of the negative on here and start seeing the good that is happening in and around Brandon.
Winter123
Joined: This month
Posts: 848

Winter123
Joined: This month
Posts: 848

parking
7/26/2017 at 5:43 PM

If you can't park in the parking lot then people will go elsewhere. Business will nit have customers etc. Then people will complain when the store closes because people didn't support it.
zep
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 378

zep
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 378

LOL..
7/26/2017 at 6:41 PM

Just as bad as the Corral Center with not planning for the buses to enter the area but making people climb the hill to the bus stop on 18th..the City never fails to amaze me when it comes planning...
saltnpepper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 497

saltnpepper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 497

Restaurants
7/26/2017 at 6:52 PM

What are the three restaurants that are coming to the Mall?
socialmom

Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 213

socialmom
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 213

Saltnpepper
7/26/2017 at 7:08 PM

Swiss Chalet and East Side Mario's, forget the third one
Blade
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 538

Blade
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 538

Definitely poor planning
7/26/2017 at 7:12 PM

Every year at Christmas the parking lot is packed. So now they have taken at least 25% of the parking stalls out.

However if they get that subdivision going at 18th and Patricia maybe VJB will realize if they plan it properly you might even see Walmart leave the Corral centre. I used to go to Walmart a couple of times a week but now maybe once a month as it is frustrating getting there and worse trying to get out of there. God only knows why they would put the Corral centre where it is when 95% of the population is south of the river.
ultraguy
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1096

ultraguy
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1096

.
7/26/2017 at 7:53 PM

I park near Sportchek, never had a problem findings spots. Any decent mall will have a packed parking lot around Christmas, not sure why people expect the Brandon malls to be different.
Dugr71
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 254

Dugr71
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 254

4 restaurants
7/26/2017 at 8:36 PM

East Side Marios, Fionn MacCools,
Harvey's, and Swiss Chalet
Farmboy74
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 143

Farmboy74
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 143

the solution
7/27/2017 at 12:48 AM

to the parking problems going to be do your Christmas shopping the 1st week of August L.O.L. To Be honest i saw the plans and the comment box for this "Idea".

I declined to put my opinion in it for politeness reasons. This was a crazy idea, but from hearing from a former worker in the mall. the owners aren''t that smart with decisions they make sometimes. It''s all about top $ for the owners. Not customers using the place and the stores needing us to run a business and make money.

The parking lot is a disaster at certain times of the year. Those that don''t see the problem it''s simple 100% of the same people are going to try Christmas shopping. only to find 75% or so of the parking. That means either guys will be driving round more looking for spots. Or go somewhere else to shop. Then cause more of the same problem in the coral center that''s also packed around Christmas. To support a business you need good convenient parking people will start avoiding the place after a while. !.

Maybe the restaurant type crowds will run out of money when the carbon taxes come in, plus other tax raises and job losses people will suffer, and this will be another mall screw up to.

Edited by Farmboy74, 2017-07-27 00:57:54
plus zero
Joined: This month
Posts: 1236

plus zero
Joined: This month
Posts: 1236

poor planning
7/27/2017 at 4:28 AM

I do not know if it is a poor planning or will a success we will see. What I know is when a store has a line up at a till I leave and shop somewhere else when a parking lot is almost full I go somewhere else.
I thought few months there were a discussion about online shopping some were against it for having less jobs to people well that is one reason I do shop online alot. No service or slow service I shop other places.
RantsFromAfar
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 283

RantsFromAfar
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 283

-====-
7/27/2017 at 10:10 AM

The parking situation will be just fine, and the mall has made the most sound business decision.

Fact is, for 11 months of the year the spots that the new restaurants will occupy have no vehicles pared there for 95% of the day. The amount of money that Shoppers Mall will receive per month in rent from CARA for those 3 restaurants is going to be huge. (My understanding is that Harvey's/Swiss Chalet will be a 2-in-1 location, so 3 places total).

If I'm management, I'm taking the rent cheque over empty spots any day of the week. If parking becomes an issue, thees plenty of space around the theatre not paved yet.

It was the proper business decision.
Amber O
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 31

Amber O
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 31

Lots of Parking
7/27/2017 at 10:30 AM

I love the fact that we are getting Harveys and Swiss Chalet ..... the other 2 I have never had the pleasure of trying but am looking forward to the opportunity. At the mall there is plenty of parking down by the theater that is never used. It will require that people walk farther then they are used to. Hopefully they will create more handicapped and expecting mother spots closer to the doors to accommodate those who cannot walk the distance. Winnipeg malls have been successful with models such as this, I am sure that Brandon can do it too.
wheatcitygirl
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 230

wheatcitygirl
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 230

Parking
7/27/2017 at 10:33 AM

I was hoping that some announcements of stores would be the next annoucement fromt the mall. I try to support local business but truly there isn't a lot of "local" businesses in the mall. Most are some kind of chain. Seriously...my Christmas shopping will be done online or elsewhere, I admit probably Winnipeg. Not because of parking (although this too is an incentive to go elsewhere) but because of selection. I don't want clothes for a teenager, I don't want a phone, shoes or jewlery. There isn't much else in Brandon mall.
Mall/city planners need to figure out how to get some selection in town. I don't know what the answer is. Sears and the Bay have both failed in Brandon but it is because they had garbage stores. Target was a Canadian bust...Zeller's another company bust not a Brandon bust. Walmart...well it is Walmart. Not sure what else is out there or what the solution is. I believe that there is a demand for something like a Sears or Bay...selection, brand names, good value when they have sales. Maybe I am wrong. I am tired of the mall. I seldom go in and seldom buy anything that isn't a sale/clearance item because most of the time i can find better selection and prices other ways.
As for the restaurants coming my votes are still out. I went to a Swiss Chalet in Winnipeg and it isn't something I will run back to. Not sure about the other ones but will try them. I still think we have enough restaurants in town without adding more of the same thing (burgers and Italian). But again...just my thoughts...might be the best thing to ever come to town.
Jcoats
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 79

Jcoats
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 79

Cool story
7/27/2017 at 11:01 AM

The parking is awful already. I've switched to good life and it's been a struggle to find a decent parking spot. Come Christmas I may just get fat...

As for the poster above we're not interested in where you want to shop. This is a post about parking.

Edited by Jcoats, 2017-07-27 11:02:13
wheatcitygirl
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 230

wheatcitygirl
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 230

Thanks
7/27/2017 at 11:25 AM

Parking at mall = conversation about mall = conversation about shopping. I notice that you didn't jump on anyone mentioning the restaurants opening. Sorry if I offended your senses.

Brenda..
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 9544

Brenda..

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 9544

parking spot

7/27/2017 at 12:21 PM

Jcoats said "The parking is awful already. I've switched to good life and it's been a struggle to find a decent parking spot. Come Christmas I may just get fat...

As for the poster above we're not interested in where you want to shop. This is a post about parking.

Edited by Jcoats, 2017-07-27 11:02:13"

what is decent? Close to Goodlife? You are going to a gym, so why would a little extra walk not be good to loosen up on your way to the gym.

So far, I never have a problem finding a parking spot, but I don't care how far away it is from the door either. I am sure it will get worse near Christmas for a week or two, but go early if you can and if not, go at 8:00 in the evening, you can shoot a cannon through there.

michelle
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2611

michelle
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2611

Mall Parking
7/27/2017 at 8:41 PM

The administration at the Brandon Shopper's Mall falls under the headship of Morguard Corporation out of Toronto. These are collaborative business decisions locally and regionally and through local/head offices whether we like them or not. These restaurants and stores do their studies with population and demographics.

Perhaps we have been somewhat spoiled in the plentiful parking we've enjoyed in the past with huge spaces?

The mall has had it's challenging times when Zellers and then Target left with empty parking lots.

Give this change an opportunity to thrive and be the 'South End' that people living here want and enjoy. It gives people a wonderful option in this area of the City.

It may not be the acres of parking we once enjoyed, but with development comes change.

If handed a hypothetical choice, I would choose a full parking lot over a deserted one.

I have reservations as to whether the parking lot will be cramped, but willing to give it a chance as it is growth for the City of Brandon and may prove that we have the chops for more shopping options.
garden123
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 137

garden123
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 137

approval process
7/27/2017 at 11:19 PM

There were no o:bjections by the public in the final approval process of these sites (I attended the planning meeting where Morguard got the green light from the city) and the mall still meets the required parking spaces for its square footage... when they count the theatre in. May have to walk further to get in but the required spots are there. If I were Morguard, I would pack every inch of my real estate that was allowed. That's business. If you have concerns about city planning get involved, go to the planning meetings and be ahead of the situation/o:bject to it. Bright side is that we'll all get more exercise walking from the theatre!
Trevor B

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8881

Trevor B
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8881

So parking
7/27/2017 at 11:42 PM

will be a premium for a month maybe a month and a half. The rest of the year, parking will not be an issue.
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Parking
7/28/2017 at 8:59 PM

I see Q has picked this story up at the link below, though no comment from the mall at the time the article was published.
http://www.qcountryfm.ca/news-weather/news-sports-details/newsarticle/shoppers-frusterated-by-mall-parking-options/

I guess the main thing I'd say the jury's out on is just how much parking Sobeys will need on an average day once the dust settles with the initial grand opening excitement. Its a nice store and we'll definitely be doing our share of shopping there, but am not convinced that it'll be quite as crazy as Superstore or Walmart get at peak times.

Of course the other variable to consider is that by the time renos are done there's room for a few more tenants including one more pretty good-sized one with its own frontage and entrance just South of Sobeys. What kind of traffic/parking requirements will we see with that eventual tenant?
HankTank
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 48

HankTank
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 48

Walk
7/28/2017 at 9:24 PM

Good grief people can't you walk a few steps? This is part of growing our city and the offerings in it. If you don't like walking then don't go. No one should feel sorry for you if you make that decision. The mall is not building a parkade to satisfy a few people who are too lazy to use their feet. Get over it.
rogercsr2007
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 261

rogercsr2007
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 261

wow
7/28/2017 at 9:28 PM

U guys actually think that much space is going to be used for the restaurants lol... The reason why it looks congested is that they have safety barriers for obvious reasons, c'mon common sense goes a long way... Also walk a bit
grandmaB
Joined: This month
Posts: 310

grandmaB
Joined: This month
Posts: 310

Really omg
7/28/2017 at 9:40 PM

My concern is mostly on the way people park their cars....I usually park far from the store and yes I DO WALK! There have been times when I see people use up 2 parking stalls or better yet park crooked so you can't park in the stall next to the person that doesn't know how to park...and then there are times when people do park close to you and you have to slowly get into your own car without hitting the car that is too close to your car....so yes I have a big concern with the congested parking lot at the mall!!!!!
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Mall
7/28/2017 at 10:22 PM

If one's main contribution to the thread is "walk", I think they're missing the point of the discussion. The mall is adding square footage to tenants and reducing parking space. I see the question as being whether with the new tenant mix there will be enough spots on the property to go around (no matter what your tolerance for walking I doubt the Keystone Centre would appreciate people parking there and making the haul over under a worst case scenario).

Maybe others have observed differently but to me there have been very few days in the year post-Walmart where the lot has been jam packed, maybe during the nitty gritty of Christmas shopping or on Boxing Day. If that is the case then on an average day with previous tenants mixes there's been space to go around. By the time all renos are done and new additions are made will that still be the case... being mindful of the fact that the answer could be different depending on time of the year, time of the week or even time of day? One I'll be most interested in is Saturday afternoons where perhaps there'll be overlap between the restaurant lunch crowd and grocery folks?

In all of this, can't lose sight of the fact that we're fortunate in this day and age to have a mall that we can even have this kind of discussion about. A lot of respect for what management has been able to do with the property when there's no shortage of news stories questioning the future of malls and retail in an increasingly Amazon world!
Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5038

Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5038

Christmas parking
7/29/2017 at 8:59 AM

People still go the mall for Christmas shopping? Geez, I thought we did it all online these days. I do 90% of it online anyway.

And I'm being serious. The only thing that really attracts me to the mall would be... well, restaurants.