10 Manitou | Tri-Cities MEC | U/C

[plam]

Adventure Guide is already there, and I don't think it's MEC's style to do aggressive predatory store placement.

Manitou is more central to the region, has decent highway access, and has that "on the LRT" claim... even if it's 800/1000m from stations.

Yes, I forgot about Adventure Guide.  The fantasy location for me would have been Downtown, which could support a destination retailer of that sort, imho, but I can understand why they'd not want to take the risk (or the expense).

I'm often disappointed with MEC for their store placements. In this case MEC will be a semi-hostile 20 minute walk from the LRT station, I think. It is still far better than the Adventure Guide placement. I tried to bike to The Boardwalk once and it was a terrible experience. I was bummed out a few years ago when Adventure Guide announced their move from their central location to the Boardwalk.

I understand why these gear stores like to put their stores in the suburbs: historically probably most purchases originate from the suburbs. But it is sort of against MEC's stated values.

Montreal has their first and second MEC store in the suburbs and a 3rd boutique which sells clothing only in a central location.

Quebec City's MEC store is moving to the suburbs from downtown.

As far as I know, the only central MEC stores are in Toronto and Calgary. I don't know where Vancouver's is.