AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
Whatever happened to department stores having affordable cafeterias?
Unless you go high end, it won't be a draw like it used to? Besides, food service does require a lot of staff for dubious bang for the buck.
AoD
Whatever happened to department stores having affordable cafeterias?
Thanks for that info. The pad for that restaurant (just west of where The Keg went in) did not get built on when everything else in that area went in.It was reported in the front page article that PF Changs is in the works, but it was confirmed that Cactus Club Cafe will be opening in 2017. http://www.cactusclubcafe.com/2015/11/second-cactus-club-cafe-in-toronto-coming-in-2017/
PF Changs's Canadian locations filed for bankruptcy protection earlier in 2015 with their Don Mills location closed already, so I don't think PF Changs will be opening anymore. http://business.financialpost.com/n...eatery-loses-way-in-ethnically-diverse-canada
These days the affordable cafeteria is the McDs in the Walmart. Food-wise at Saks, the question will be how many eat-in options will there be at the Pusateri's food hall, and what will they run you? (I didn't take a peek at the Beaumont Kitchen menu by the way, I was too pressed for time, but I assume those are $40 to 50 dinners per person…)Whatever happened to department stores having affordable cafeterias?
Speaking of cafeterias, are there any these days other than at IKEA?
Great exterior shots, thanks.
Is the façade that had the arches the side that's split with the SportChek?
Yes, where the arches used to be—the east wall—will be pretty much two thirds Saks, with the Sport Check to the north of it. There was a parking garage there for a quite a long time, and then it was taken down a few years ago, and has now been replaced obviously.
None of the the three entrances to Saks highlights Pusateri's. We'll see if they make changes once Pusateri's opens, but at the moment, while the entrance with the stairs down to the men's floor/food hall floor has a food hall sign, it displays only menswear.
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It was actually reasonably busy when I was there, early afternoon on a weekday. I specifically wait for times when there are few people in the shot to click the shutter, because typically I want to show you what the store looks like without too many people getting in the way!I wonder how successful saks will be here it looks like a ghost town in the pictures. I also went into the one at the Bay/ eaton Centre and it was mostly empty too just a few poel walk through it and the staff
Yes. The food hall is the east half of the lower level, the menswear being the west half. Where the escalators are (still the same spot from when this was Sears and Eaton's before that) is the dividing line between the two sections.Thanks.
I saw the Saks Food Hall Pusateri's sign and figured that Pusateri's wanted some "direct" access from the mall (rather than just the central store escalators). It would make sense for them to display some foodstuffs in that area once the Food Hall opens.
I gather that there is direct access from the parking lot/garage to the Food Hall floor? That may provide some convenience.
Unless you go high end, it won't be a draw like it used to? Besides, food service does require a lot of staff for dubious bang for the buck.
AoD
I wonder how successful saks will be here it looks like a ghost town in the pictures. I also went into the one at the Bay/ eaton Centre and it was mostly empty too just a few poel walk through it and the staff
They're not looking to attract downtowners- the market for that is covered by the Saks flagship.I wonder too. Holt's was never that busy at Sherway. Now the mall is going to have two high-end department stores. I can't see downtowners venturing out to Sherway when the Eaton Centre has those stores.
I think Saks would do better at Yokdale.