Effective October 1st, Gilles Levesque has joined the Think Retail team, bringing over 40 years of experience in the retail real estate business. His career has spanned some of the industry’s larger organizations, including Morguard, Westcliff, Sandalwood, Cambridge, giving him a remarkable depth of industry knowledge on the evolution of Canadian retail and the retail real estate landscape. (Think Retail – www.thinkretyail.ca)…………
Jollibee is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Canada with a ten-week promotional campaign combining customer rewards and community support. As part of its ‘Buckets of Wishes’ initiative, the chain will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish Canada for every ten-piece Jolly Crispy Chicken Bucket sold at Canadian locations from Oct. 11 to Nov. 15, 2026. Since opening its first Canadian restaurant in Winnipeg in December 2016, Jollibee has grown to 28 locations across five provinces. Building on its corporate-owned network, the global restaurant chain is accelerating Canadian expansion through franchising, targeting dozens of new neighbourhoods over the next five years. (Jollibee Canada – www.jollibeecanada.com)……….
Mona Khandan has joined Salthill Capital as Director, Leasing, working closely with Salthill’s leasing, asset management, and property team, with one of her core focuses being Central City Shopping Centre in Surrey. Ms Khandan brings extensive leasing expertise and a strong understanding of retail real estate having previously held senior leasing positions at BGO and CBRE. (Salthill Capital – www.salthillcapital.com)………
I found some interesting comments on social media recently regarding the noticeable decline in retailers attending the ICSC Toronto this year, and in recent past events. Interestingly enough, in most cases the comments were from real estate brokers, those same people who have taken on the roll of the ‘Retailers’ Real Estate Department’.
As I’ve heard from retailers so many times in the past, “No, I won’t be there. But my broker will be there.”
It might be time to go back to the old Idea Exchange concept. Have a great week……..