New Italian Centre

Too sweet · 18-08-2012, 08:57 AM

Heard that the west end location will be opening in the strip mall beside West Edmonton Mall. In the old Ethan Allen space. Looking forward to it.

halocore · 18-08-2012, 06:42 PM

Very nice, I look forward to that too. I hope their parking setup is a bit better then the 51st ave Italian Centre though.

Too sweet · 20-08-2012, 12:06 AM

I think it will, drive by and have a look to see the construction going on in the parking lot. It will be huge.

ScottieA · 20-08-2012, 10:59 AM

Akerr12 · 20-08-2012, 11:00 AM

The parking situation will be considerably better and will probably be the best parking of all three centers. This is one of the busiest strip malls in West Edmonton and the Italian Center will be a welcomed addition.

ScottieA · 20-08-2012, 11:36 AM

The parking lot of that strip mall is highly underutilized except on those days when people use it for overflow for WEM. The Italian Centre will help remedy that.

armin · 20-08-2012, 07:38 PM

This is great. I wasn't sure what was going in that location. I love the Italian Centre downtown. This just saves me a trip.

Sonic Death Monkey · 20-08-2012, 08:05 PM

I can just predict the born-in-Edmonton retail lifespan now:
- Open more Edmonton locations
- Open 3 or 4 locations in Calgary, maybe 1 each in Lethbridge, Grande Prairie and Fort Crack
- Open 2 locations in Vancouver
- HQ moves to Surrey, Spinellis move to mansion in Kerrisdale
- Western Canadian expansion continues unabated
- exciting new concepts debut in Vancouver, Calgary and Kelowna but not Edmonton
- Get bought out by a grocery gigachain (Safeway, Overwaitea or Loblaws)
- The gigachain closes former Italian Centre shops, leaving empty buildings due to restrictive covenants

Municipal Man of Mystery · 20-08-2012, 08:24 PM

It would be great to get an Italian Centre in the west Downtown / Oliver area, though they'd have to make sure it wouldn't cannibalize the 95 Street location. I always thought the Devonian would be a good space for it (right beside the future Cactus Club).

ScottieA · 21-08-2012, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonic Death Monkey

I can just predict the born-in-Edmonton retail lifespan now:
- Open more Edmonton locations
- Open 3 or 4 locations in Calgary, maybe 1 each in Lethbridge, Grande Prairie and Fort Crack
- Open 2 locations in Vancouver
- HQ moves to Surrey, Spinellis move to mansion in Kerrisdale
- Western Canadian expansion continues unabated
- exciting new concepts debut in Vancouver, Calgary and Kelowna but not Edmonton
- Get bought out by a grocery gigachain (Safeway, Overwaitea or Loblaws)
- The gigachain closes former Italian Centre shops, leaving empty buildings due to restrictive covenants

Not everything goes the way of Telus or Shaw. Look at the Brick. Their HQ is still here, with some operations (A/R for instance) located elsewhere.

Sonic Death Monkey · 21-08-2012, 08:54 AM

Yeah I know, I was in part mocking the well-worn path treaded by Boston Pizza, Earls, Cactus Club, Wok Box, Famoso, etc.

GreenSPACE · 21-08-2012, 09:43 AM

^Italian Centre is local born and breed. I don't think you have anything to fear.

ScottieA · 21-08-2012, 10:22 AM

And not to nit pick, but Cactus Club is from Vancouver originally.

And I didn't know about Famoso moving it's hq to Surrey. That makes me really sad.

Sonic Death Monkey · 21-08-2012, 10:38 AM

I was under the impression that Cactus Club started here as an Earls clone (except with cows instead of parrots), died, and was resurrected as the current concept in Vancouver.

PJC · 21-08-2012, 12:18 PM

^ Nope. Original Cactus Club was on 10th Avenue West in YVR, I believe at the intersection of Alma. Either that or at Broadway and Alma. It was there in the late 80s.

Gord Lacey · 21-08-2012, 01:22 PM

ScottieA - they share office space with the Wok Box people. They moved a few years ago.

edmonton daily photo · 21-08-2012, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonic Death Monkey

I can just predict the born-in-Edmonton retail lifespan now:
- Open more Edmonton locations
- Open 3 or 4 locations in Calgary, maybe 1 each in Lethbridge, Grande Prairie and Fort Crack
- Open 2 locations in Vancouver
- HQ moves to Surrey, Spinellis move to mansion in Kerrisdale
- Western Canadian expansion continues unabated
- exciting new concepts debut in Vancouver, Calgary and Kelowna but not Edmonton
- Get bought out by a grocery gigachain (Safeway, Overwaitea or Loblaws)
- The gigachain closes former Italian Centre shops, leaving empty buildings due to restrictive covenants

The Italian Center is more than simply a grocery store... they are also targeting the commercial client a la GFS and Sysco

edmonton daily photo · 21-08-2012, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottieA

And not to nit pick, but Cactus Club is from Vancouver originally.

And I didn't know about Famoso moving it's hq to Surrey. That makes me really sad.

Um.. you know that Alberta is one of the hardest provinces to HQ a franchise in...

Try listing franchises HQ'd in Alberta... it will be a small list for sure!

ScottieA · 22-08-2012, 08:47 AM

If you read my comment carefully I said that it was sad that we lost another local business' HQ, I didn't go on some sort of "how dare they move away" rant.

Alex.L · 22-08-2012, 08:37 PM

So the question becomes, "what the hell makes Surrey so special?"

Sonic Death Monkey · 12-11-2012, 11:03 PM

Italian Centre to open third outlet in west Edmonton

Quote:

EDMONTON - For a second time, Teresa Spinelli is transplanting a bit of Little Italy to suburban Edmonton.

Spinelli, owner of specialty food retailer Italian Centre Shop, is opening a third store in west Edmonton, at 170th Street and 90th Avenue, in the former Ethan Allan location.

Quote:

Spinelli isn’t stopping there. The company is planning a fourth store, likely to open as early as next year in Calgary, where the company is exploring prospective sites.

She is also adding a restaurant to the southside store with a cook and three chefs coming from Italy this month.

Hah...see? Told ya a Calgary location is next! The Spinellis are slowly writing their ticket to Surrey! The Edmonton food industry is sooo predictable!

Sonic Death Monkey · 12-11-2012, 11:17 PM

The overall tone and implications I get from the article disheartens me.
* People don't want to come to Little Italy to shop at the Italian Centre, or don't want to know about it because it's not in a suburban location.
* You HAVE TO open a place in the west-end in order to succeed in Edmonton

I also worry about the Little Italy location getting cannibalized by these new suburban locations.

GreenSPACE · 12-11-2012, 11:26 PM

^Ya it's a worry, but the downtown location has a very local customer base. It will be fine imo.

IanO · 13-11-2012, 07:59 AM

That it does, but destination stores are important to central Edmonton.

Granted, it is great to see a local business doing so well and variety is good.

Edmcowboy11 · 13-11-2012, 08:02 AM

I think the city is big enough to support the 3 locations.

240GLT · 13-11-2012, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenSPACE

^Ya it's a worry, but the downtown location has a very local customer base. It will be fine imo.

The original Italian Centre is in McCauley, not downtown.

I love shopping at the McCauley Italian Centre, and judging by how busy it always is, a lot of other people do too. I think opening the other location will only increase the number of patrons for the stores... I doubt it will have any effect on the McCauley location

IanO · 13-11-2012, 09:12 AM

^indeed.

I think the larger concern here is that people likely made it a morning or day trip to come down, perhaps hit downtown or 118ave or the like while here before heading back. Now they may have one less reason to do that.

ajs · 13-11-2012, 09:57 AM

Thankfully both 118 ave and McCauley now have more destinations in their own right built, in large part, on the strength of the Italian Center. Perhaps the weekend customer is now shopping at Zocalo and picking up a few things at the Italian Center while they're in the neighbourhood.

240GLT · 13-11-2012, 12:34 PM

^ I think that's what'll keep the original Italian Centre viable and prosperous... people are already coming to those areas because of the neat independent shops. I think we also need to appreciate the amount of local traffic that supports businesses in McCauley and 118th. Just speaking formyself, for instance, I try to buy the majority of my groceries from either the bakeries on 118th, latin foods (which I cook a lot of) from the Paraiso Tropical, and most other things from the IC. I get meats from Smokin' Iron Farms on 112th and 50th. I can get 80% of what I eat from these four great places.. all of which are in my immediate area!

Blueline · 13-11-2012, 12:47 PM

kind of surprised that she didn't go to the currents next to "That Jar Store"

18-08-2012, 08:57 AM	#1
Too sweet First One is Always Free Join Date: Aug 2012	New Italian Centre Heard that the west end location will be opening in the strip mall beside West Edmonton Mall. In the old Ethan Allen space. Looking forward to it.

20-08-2012, 10:59 AM	#4
ScottieA Addicted to C2E Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Edmonton	__________________ Formerly known as Megatron

20-08-2012, 11:00 AM	#5
Akerr12 First One is Always Free Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Edmonton	The parking situation will be considerably better and will probably be the best parking of all three centers. This is one of the busiest strip malls in West Edmonton and the Italian Center will be a welcomed addition. Last edited by Akerr12; 20-08-2012 at 11:42 AM..

20-08-2012, 11:36 AM	#6
ScottieA Addicted to C2E Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Edmonton	The parking lot of that strip mall is highly underutilized except on those days when people use it for overflow for WEM. The Italian Centre will help remedy that. __________________ Formerly known as Megatron

20-08-2012, 08:05 PM	#8
Sonic Death Monkey Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Downtown	I can just predict the born-in-Edmonton retail lifespan now: - Open more Edmonton locations - Open 3 or 4 locations in Calgary, maybe 1 each in Lethbridge, Grande Prairie and Fort Crack - Open 2 locations in Vancouver - HQ moves to Surrey, Spinellis move to mansion in Kerrisdale - Western Canadian expansion continues unabated - exciting new concepts debut in Vancouver, Calgary and Kelowna but not Edmonton - Get bought out by a grocery gigachain (Safeway, Overwaitea or Loblaws) - The gigachain closes former Italian Centre shops, leaving empty buildings due to restrictive covenants __________________ “You have to dream big. If we want to be a little city, we dream small. If we want to be a big city, we dream big, and this is a big idea.” - Mayor Stephen Mandel, 02/22/2012

18-08-2012, 06:42 PM	#2
halocore Partially Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Edmonton	Very nice, I look forward to that too. I hope their parking setup is a bit better then the 51st ave Italian Centre though.

20-08-2012, 12:06 AM	#3
Too sweet First One is Always Free Join Date: Aug 2012	I think it will, drive by and have a look to see the construction going on in the parking lot. It will be huge.

20-08-2012, 07:38 PM	#7
armin Addicted to C2E Join Date: Oct 2008	This is great. I wasn't sure what was going in that location. I love the Italian Centre downtown. This just saves me a trip.

20-08-2012, 08:24 PM	#9
Municipal Man of Mystery Partially Addicted to C2E Join Date: May 2012 Location: Downtown	It would be great to get an Italian Centre in the west Downtown / Oliver area, though they'd have to make sure it wouldn't cannibalize the 95 Street location. I always thought the Devonian would be a good space for it (right beside the future Cactus Club).

21-08-2012, 08:54 AM	#11
Sonic Death Monkey Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Downtown	Yeah I know, I was in part mocking the well-worn path treaded by Boston Pizza, Earls, Cactus Club, Wok Box, Famoso, etc. __________________ “You have to dream big. If we want to be a little city, we dream small. If we want to be a big city, we dream big, and this is a big idea.” - Mayor Stephen Mandel, 02/22/2012

21-08-2012, 09:43 AM	#12
GreenSPACE Addicted to C2E Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Downtown	^Italian Centre is local born and breed. I don't think you have anything to fear. __________________ www.decl.org

21-08-2012, 10:22 AM	#13
ScottieA Addicted to C2E Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Edmonton	And not to nit pick, but Cactus Club is from Vancouver originally. And I didn't know about Famoso moving it's hq to Surrey. That makes me really sad. __________________ Formerly known as Megatron Last edited by ScottieA; 21-08-2012 at 10:37 AM..

21-08-2012, 10:38 AM	#14
Sonic Death Monkey Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Downtown	I was under the impression that Cactus Club started here as an Earls clone (except with cows instead of parrots), died, and was resurrected as the current concept in Vancouver. __________________ “You have to dream big. If we want to be a little city, we dream small. If we want to be a big city, we dream big, and this is a big idea.” - Mayor Stephen Mandel, 02/22/2012

21-08-2012, 12:18 PM	#15
PJC Addicted to C2E Join Date: Jul 2008	^ Nope. Original Cactus Club was on 10th Avenue West in YVR, I believe at the intersection of Alma. Either that or at Broadway and Alma. It was there in the late 80s.

21-08-2012, 01:22 PM	#16
Gord Lacey Addicted to C2E Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Strathcona - Mill Creek	ScottieA - they share office space with the Wok Box people. They moved a few years ago.

22-08-2012, 08:47 AM	#19
ScottieA Addicted to C2E Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Edmonton	If you read my comment carefully I said that it was sad that we lost another local business' HQ, I didn't go on some sort of "how dare they move away" rant. __________________ Formerly known as Megatron Last edited by ScottieA; 23-08-2012 at 12:05 PM..

22-08-2012, 08:37 PM	#20
Alex.L Addicted to C2E Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Edmonton	So the question becomes, "what the hell makes Surrey so special?" __________________ Y.E.S.S. Fundraiser - http://tinyurl.com/yessdonate Maker of Something Edmonton - http://tinyurl.com/YEGFRAME

12-11-2012, 11:17 PM	#22
Sonic Death Monkey Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Downtown	The overall tone and implications I get from the article disheartens me. * People don't want to come to Little Italy to shop at the Italian Centre, or don't want to know about it because it's not in a suburban location. * You HAVE TO open a place in the west-end in order to succeed in Edmonton I also worry about the Little Italy location getting cannibalized by these new suburban locations. __________________ “You have to dream big. If we want to be a little city, we dream small. If we want to be a big city, we dream big, and this is a big idea.” - Mayor Stephen Mandel, 02/22/2012 Last edited by Sonic Death Monkey; 12-11-2012 at 11:26 PM..

12-11-2012, 11:26 PM	#23
GreenSPACE Addicted to C2E Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Downtown	^Ya it's a worry, but the downtown location has a very local customer base. It will be fine imo. __________________ www.decl.org

13-11-2012, 07:59 AM	#24
IanO Addicted to C2E Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edmonton	That it does, but destination stores are important to central Edmonton. Granted, it is great to see a local business doing so well and variety is good. __________________ inspiration or mediocrity www.decl.org Ottawa-Edmonton-Vancouver-Edmonton Last edited by IanO; 13-11-2012 at 08:02 AM..

13-11-2012, 08:02 AM	#25
Edmcowboy11 Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Edmonton, Alberta	I think the city is big enough to support the 3 locations. __________________ LRT is our future, time to push forward.

13-11-2012, 09:12 AM	#27
IanO Addicted to C2E Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edmonton	^indeed. I think the larger concern here is that people likely made it a morning or day trip to come down, perhaps hit downtown or 118ave or the like while here before heading back. Now they may have one less reason to do that. __________________ inspiration or mediocrity www.decl.org Ottawa-Edmonton-Vancouver-Edmonton

13-11-2012, 09:57 AM	#28
ajs Addicted to C2E Join Date: Nov 2009	Thankfully both 118 ave and McCauley now have more destinations in their own right built, in large part, on the strength of the Italian Center. Perhaps the weekend customer is now shopping at Zocalo and picking up a few things at the Italian Center while they're in the neighbourhood.

13-11-2012, 12:34 PM	#29
240GLT Addicted to C2E Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North central	^ I think that's what'll keep the original Italian Centre viable and prosperous... people are already coming to those areas because of the neat independent shops. I think we also need to appreciate the amount of local traffic that supports businesses in McCauley and 118th. Just speaking formyself, for instance, I try to buy the majority of my groceries from either the bakeries on 118th, latin foods (which I cook a lot of) from the Paraiso Tropical, and most other things from the IC. I get meats from Smokin' Iron Farms on 112th and 50th. I can get 80% of what I eat from these four great places.. all of which are in my immediate area! __________________ Parkdale

13-11-2012, 12:47 PM	#30
Blueline Addicted to C2E Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Edmonton	kind of surprised that she didn't go to the currents next to "That Jar Store" __________________ Still waiting for the Arlington site to be reborn .......