MLSE Seeks Injunction Over Ryerson Plan for Maple Leaf Gardens

[allurban]

Originally Posted by rbt

I've often wondered what Air Canada Centre will be referred to when Air Canada gets tired of paying for the naming rights. Will people continue to call it the ACC?

I always loved "The Hangar" as a name for the building, as opposed to "ACC". I guess "Hanger" comes with Air Canada though - just like GM place used to be "The Garage".

Maybe if ACC decides not to renew the naming rights, will they seek an injunction to stop people from calling it "the Hanger"

Cheers, m

[Innsertnamehere]

It will be called the acc, just like a specific tower in Chicago is still called by it's former corporate name.

[current]

Went by today and they did a good job, the place was packed with people - Toronto Star article:

Customers Lined Up as Loblaw Opens Upscale Gardens Store

Dana Flavelle
Business Reporter
Published On Wed Nov 30 2011

They were lined up 300 deep before the store opened at 8 a.m.

Fans of Maple Leaf Gardens and Loblaws came to see how Canada’s most famous hockey arena looked now that it’s home to the supermarket chain’s newest urban grocery store.

They came from outside the city, from places like Malton, or from Toronto neighbourhoods, like Forest Hill and Riverdale. Ordinary citizens, hockey players and local politicians were among the first customers.

They weren’t disappointed.

The store, with its soaring ceilings, blonde wood, grey concrete and black tiles, forms a hip urban backdrop to a smorgasbord of fresh and prepared food the company hopes will cement its reputation as a leader in food retailing.

“The Loblaw store you’re about to shop, in our judgment, re-imagines a large urban supermarket at once recognizing the diversity of the neighbourhood that surrounds it and the national significance of the site,” Loblaw executive chairman Galen G. Weston said just prior to the opening.

The store pays homage to its past as Canada’s best known hockey arena, from the original lights, exposed brick and Maple Leaf-shaped wall sculpture in the atrium made from arena seats to the red dot on the floor in aisle 25 that marks centre ice.

But it’s also Loblaw’s biggest bet on its future since Weston took over from his father, W. Galen Weston, five years ago.

The store is the first full-service conventional grocery store the company has built in 12 years, Weston told reporters. It follows an ill-fated expansion into superstores that carried both food and general merchandise.

By all accounts, the company has a hit on its hands.

Paula Firmino and Reg McLean, who live in Toronto’s Riverdale neighbourhood, stopped to congratulate Weston on the store and get their picture taken with him.

“After all the hype I wanted to see what it was really like. I love it. What they’ve done here is make it an experience to shop,” Firmino said.

“There was such a shortage of grocery stores downtown for many years. Now, with all the condos being built, it’s nice to have a place to walk to and shop, other than those tiny little places everywhere where everything is very expensive and you don’t get much of a selection,” McLean added.

Former city councilor Kyle Rae, who represented the area, said he was delighted with how the store had turned out. “The attention to detail is remarkable. For the community, it’s a real win, a great grocery store. For the rest of the city it’s going to be a destination to come and see what’s been done here.”....



....Some of the store’s features, such as its in-house executive chef and kitchen, will be unique to the Gardens location, said Jane Marshall, executive vice-president of Loblaw Properties division.

The kitchen serves the “Canteen,” which serves “prêt-a-manger” style fresh ready made sandwiches and salads.

The store features a sushi bar run by its subsidiary T&T Supermarkets, an Asian food chain.

“The layout endeavours to understand that today’s hurried urban shopper visits a store at different times with different needs. Sometimes looking to get in and out quickly with a delicious hot meal. At other times to complete the full monthly pantry load at great value,” Weston said.

The store serves a potential market of about 100,000 people, who live in the area, and another 25,000 to 30,000 workers in the surrounding office towers and retail outlets, Marshall said.

One of the biggest challenges of the renovation was digging under the building to add 154 underground parking spaces, she said.

At 82,000 square feet, the store is considered large by inner city standards though Loblaw operates bigger stores in suburban markets.


Read More: http://www.thestar.com/business/arti...ens-store?bn=1

[Taller, Better]

I'm just thrilled to have another choice than boring, bland old Metro. Can't WAIT to see it!
I'm assuming it is 24 hours....

[koolio]

This turned out better than expected. Props to Loblaws and Ryerson for coming together with a sustainable solution to preserve the heritage of the building while also getting maximum utility out of the it. Brilliant.

[allurban]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

I'm just thrilled to have another choice than boring, bland old Metro. Can't WAIT to see it!
I'm assuming it is 24 hours....

Can't wait to see your pictures - hopefully Loblaw's won't give you any problems

Cheers, m

[Taller, Better]

Yeah... I've been mulling that over in my mind. Wonder if they allow photos? Something tells me they will not....

[iliamo]

Does anyone know when the Ryerson component will be completed and open?

[icemachine]

Originally Posted by iliamo

Does anyone know when the Ryerson component will be completed and open?

Supposed to be in March according to various news articles

[Mollywood]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

Yeah... I've been mulling that over in my mind. Wonder if they allow photos? Something tells me they will not....

I was filming in the new Loblaws and surprisingly, nobody said a word to me. I'm used to having these guys come up and ask me to stop filming but I filmed right in front of everyone and nobody seemed to mind. I noticed a lot of people taking pics and filming.

The new Loblaws on Queen West looks quite similar to the MLG store, with the same colour scheme. It was quite packed last night. I think both the new concept stores will add a lot to downtown living and help animate their neighbourhoods.

[Mollywood]

Originally Posted by allurban

Can't wait to see your pictures - hopefully Loblaw's won't give you any problems

Cheers, m

I wish it was a 24 hour store but both of the new Loblaws stores close at 11pm. The one on Queen's Quay is open 24 hours now, so maybe they will change the MLG store, if there is a demand for that.

[Taller, Better]

I'm kind of stunned that I am the first to post interior shots; I asked permission of the security staff to take photos, and they are so friendly and open about allowing it that I immediately felt welcome. I got the impression that everyone from A-Z in the store is proud of this stunning new food emporium. I have to say I was completely bowled over by the experience (I adore shopping for food but despise shopping for clothes), and spent the first 10 minutes gawking with my mouth open in rapture and awe. This supermarket is simply beyond belief... ... a kind of cross between Whole Foods, Kensington Market, Urban Food, and St Lawrence Market with bits of Harrod's Food Hall thrown in for good measure. The aisles are wide and spacious; the floor is that same rubber material that they use at IKEA and is so easy to wheel the cart around. The selection and displaces are jawdropping, and the Wall of Cheese is simply a religious experience. Metro must be quaking in their boots, because Loblaw's just blew them out of the water. I went in around 10pm, not knowing they were only open till 11pm, so many of the food displays (like bread, etc....) were being put away in preparation for store closing.





the first thing you notice when you walk in from the Church/Carleton corner is the
deliberately unfinished wall that is a loving homage to the old Gardens. They have created a huge blue Maple Leaf out of the old hard blue seats:





I don't normally like orange as an interior colour (too 60's) but it works here:



The sushi bar is run by T&T, which I believe is now owned by the Weston's, too:





Japanese groceries:



It is reassuring that now when you get that late night craving for a litre of sweat,
there is a place to run and pick it up:



(yeah, I know it is a Japanese Sports Drink..hehe.. but the name is so off-putting I refrained from grabbing a jug). It is hard to know which way to turn, as the place is so
big and so full of interesting spots:













this is one serious deli:



just look at the selection of prosciutto hams:

[Taller, Better]

okay.... we are starting to enter the cheese zone. Fasten your seatbelts:



mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... Stilton! Nice glass of port, and you are in Heaven:



but here is the Holy Grail of the store; one of only one hundred 100 lb Blue
Stilton wheels in the world. Look at it and drool







If you haven't been blown away yet, this will just push you right over the edge.
The famous Wall of Cheese. It is a classic OH. MY. GOD. moment when you round the corner:



I took the picture with shaking knees and trembling hands:





Cheese from everywhere. Ontario, Quebec and all over the world:

[Taller, Better]

I'll have to come here earlier in the day to see more of the bread:





puts the pale doughy stuff at "that other supermarket with the bland new
name" to shame:





Tea time?



take your pick:



cashier/check-out area:





Note how luxuriously spacious the aisles are:







The frozen food section looked like old mies came back from the grave
and designed it:



























And Roseanne thinks she has impressive nuts:









impressive selection of organic produce:





it is all so beautifully displayed!!



we are truly spoiled to get vegetables like this in December:









Closing time has come and gone, so I am rushing to get a few last snaps:









Pastries, chocolates, cake, etc....





Do you have any idea how hard it is to find these Bond Street sweets in Canada?







Lot's of respectful reminders of where you are:





one last longing look, and it is off home for me:



To quote Arnie Schwarzenegger.... "I'll be back".

[Marcanadian]

It really is an amazing store. I went yesterday afternoon and it was pretty spectacular. They had quite a bit of seating throughout the store too, so it's not just a place to shop.

[vid]

Sure looks dark inside, even for a more upscale market style grocery store.

[Marcanadian]

It might be TB's camera settings. I didn't find it dark, but then again I was there in the day time.

[Taller, Better]

It certainly isn't even remotely as brightly lit as a normal supermarket. NO hideous fluorescent lighting whatsover (Praise the Lord)... just spot lighting. It isn't dark though... just pleasant warm lighting, and the warm reflection from the orange floor is very flattering to everyone. I had not tripod, so these were all just handheld snaps. This was the biggest retail comestibles store thrill I have had since The Temple of Booze opened up in the old Summerhill CPR station.
No schmalzy Muzak, either... I can't even remember the music, actually. Think it was R&B/pop, but I am not sure.
Next time I go up I'll hit the new LCBO and Joe Fresh on the second level.

[vid]

Loblaws has a pretty decent soundtrack. I've heard songs from bands like Metric, Faded Paper Figures and Matt Good playing at our Superstore, instead of muzak. Definitely better than Walmart. :P They don't seem to have commercials either. A lot of times I actually get annoyed that it isn't loud enough to actually listen to. Honestly, the background music at Superstore has a better playlist than the radio station I listen to.

[Travis007]

The Maple Leaf Gardens/Loblaws is buzzing. Definitely the new hotspot, place to be. The selections and design is amazing. Overall very impressed with the revitalization project. This will definitely increase pedestrian traffic in this area, which has been a dead zone since the Leafs moved to the ACC.