Closing Franchise Businesses in the Lower Mainland
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:36 pm
Okay, you know that I'm not the type to open a new topic especially if there's already one that is similar. But in light of the recent discussion about A&B Sound, I thought I would create a new thread exclusively about popular franchise business that used to exist in Greater Vancouver, but have now become extinct or have been limited to just a few locations.
What I mean by a franchise business is a one that has several locations. Or in the case where the franchise headquarters is not located in the Lower Mainland, there used to be several branch locations that have all closed.
It would be interesting to see about the rise and fall about popular business that used to exist but have now closed. I'd say a lot has to do with the rising cost of doing business in the city, be it high rent or just those no longer buy their products anymore. Vancouver had certainly changed in the last 20 years, and it seems like it's sure hard to do business nowadays.
For those franchises that have been closed completely, then tell me about your thoughts if you did business with them and why you think they went out of business.
And for those franchise business that have closed several already, then take that opportunity to visit that business because it will serve as a forewarning that they might because totally extinct by the blink of an eye.
RESTAURANTS
Bino's - there used be over a dozen of them and they opened 24 hours. They only have one location in Kingsway and Joyce.
Mr. Mike's - these steakhouses were plentiful, but all but one of them closed in the 1990's. The only remaining location is in Coquitlam: http://www.mrmikes.ca/
Planet Hollywood - not bad by any means. Disappointed they closed.
Hard Rock Cafe - survived for a quite number of years before succumbing as well.
Rainforest Cafe - at Metropolis, I liked the animated crocodile and the apes inside. Very good surroundings, but it looks like theme-restaurants never make it too long.
Hooters - had two locations, one in Surrey and in Robson Street. I'm sure many guys took an interest in their waitresses, but apparently that by itself was still not enough to run such a business.
Fogg n Suds - in the Sportstalk show in late 80's and early 90's, a lucky caller would receive a $25 gift certificate. Several local locations like the one on Broadway and Cambie, on Kitsilano, and the Lougheed Highway have all closed, leaving only one in Richmond and one in downtown.
And it looks like popular fast food restaurants like Arby's, Wendy's, and Burger King has closed several locations, especially those that were located in a standalone building. Most of them are limited to just shopping mall food courts.
PIZZA
Mother's Pizza - a very popular pizza chain in the 1980's. I wonder why they went out of business.
Pizza 222 - in the 1980's, these pizza delivery outlets exists almost every street corner. The pizza itself wasn't all that good.
ICE CREAM
Baskin Robbins - In many shops, it was so crowded that one had to wait for several minutes to get service. There still a few shops, but several popular locations have closed, such as the one on W. 49th Ave and Oak St, and the one on W. King Edward and Cambie St.
Cows - located on Robson Street, it had a very strong but rather aroma inside. Now, they are only located in PEI. http://www.cows.ca
MUSIC
A&B Sound - already mentioned in that other thread, so I won't go into too much detail.
A&A Records - went bankrupt in 1991. Perhaps lost its competition to A&B.
Sam the Record Man - went bankrupt on October 20, 2001.
DEPARTMENT STORES
Eaton's - Went bankrupt in 1999. Perhaps it was because their prices were too high.
Woodward's - On the contrary, with its low prices like the $1.49 days, maybe they afford their lease anymore with too little revenue and were bought out by the Bay in 1993.
Marks & Spencer - That British retailer felt Canada was no longer a profitable country to do business with and closed their 38 stores in Canada.
What I mean by a franchise business is a one that has several locations. Or in the case where the franchise headquarters is not located in the Lower Mainland, there used to be several branch locations that have all closed.
It would be interesting to see about the rise and fall about popular business that used to exist but have now closed. I'd say a lot has to do with the rising cost of doing business in the city, be it high rent or just those no longer buy their products anymore. Vancouver had certainly changed in the last 20 years, and it seems like it's sure hard to do business nowadays.
For those franchises that have been closed completely, then tell me about your thoughts if you did business with them and why you think they went out of business.
And for those franchise business that have closed several already, then take that opportunity to visit that business because it will serve as a forewarning that they might because totally extinct by the blink of an eye.
RESTAURANTS
Bino's - there used be over a dozen of them and they opened 24 hours. They only have one location in Kingsway and Joyce.
Mr. Mike's - these steakhouses were plentiful, but all but one of them closed in the 1990's. The only remaining location is in Coquitlam: http://www.mrmikes.ca/
Planet Hollywood - not bad by any means. Disappointed they closed.
Hard Rock Cafe - survived for a quite number of years before succumbing as well.
Rainforest Cafe - at Metropolis, I liked the animated crocodile and the apes inside. Very good surroundings, but it looks like theme-restaurants never make it too long.
Hooters - had two locations, one in Surrey and in Robson Street. I'm sure many guys took an interest in their waitresses, but apparently that by itself was still not enough to run such a business.
Fogg n Suds - in the Sportstalk show in late 80's and early 90's, a lucky caller would receive a $25 gift certificate. Several local locations like the one on Broadway and Cambie, on Kitsilano, and the Lougheed Highway have all closed, leaving only one in Richmond and one in downtown.
And it looks like popular fast food restaurants like Arby's, Wendy's, and Burger King has closed several locations, especially those that were located in a standalone building. Most of them are limited to just shopping mall food courts.
PIZZA
Mother's Pizza - a very popular pizza chain in the 1980's. I wonder why they went out of business.
Pizza 222 - in the 1980's, these pizza delivery outlets exists almost every street corner. The pizza itself wasn't all that good.
ICE CREAM
Baskin Robbins - In many shops, it was so crowded that one had to wait for several minutes to get service. There still a few shops, but several popular locations have closed, such as the one on W. 49th Ave and Oak St, and the one on W. King Edward and Cambie St.
Cows - located on Robson Street, it had a very strong but rather aroma inside. Now, they are only located in PEI. http://www.cows.ca
MUSIC
A&B Sound - already mentioned in that other thread, so I won't go into too much detail.
A&A Records - went bankrupt in 1991. Perhaps lost its competition to A&B.
Sam the Record Man - went bankrupt on October 20, 2001.
DEPARTMENT STORES
Eaton's - Went bankrupt in 1999. Perhaps it was because their prices were too high.
Woodward's - On the contrary, with its low prices like the $1.49 days, maybe they afford their lease anymore with too little revenue and were bought out by the Bay in 1993.
Marks & Spencer - That British retailer felt Canada was no longer a profitable country to do business with and closed their 38 stores in Canada.