The colossal new retail and housing development dubs itself a “global shopping destination.” Ads often mention it’s just 15 minutes from Vancouver airport, where signs point travellers toward it.
Article content
The free, opening-day champagne is no longer being poured at Oakridge Park’s grand, luxury mall, but a fair amount of sparkle and fizz is still in the air.
Article content
Vancouver’s new high-end shopping centre — first phase of “the largest project under construction in North America” — was alive with lookie-loos and shoppers two weeks after its tall glass doors opened. Some visitors dressed as if at a cocktail party.
Article content
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
The advertising for Oakridge Park’s massive retail and housing development, which was first conceived 15 years ago, dubs it a “global shopping destination.”
Article content
FP West: Energy Insider
Article content
Marketing often refers to how it is just 15 minutes from Vancouver International Airport, where co-owners Quadreal Property Group and Westbank Corp. have wall-sized ads telling jet travellers to head to their “world-class” development.
Article content
The slogans for Oakridge Park, which is served by the Oakridge-41st SkyTrain Station and destined to become home to 6,000 residents, are over the top. “Live A Life Extraordinary,” says its website. “Be a part of an urban experience that turns every day into an inspiring experience.”
Article content
At least two black grand pianos dot the mall interior, in addition to scores of live orchids. The volume of visitors is respectable, but does not constitute a crowd. There were, however, small lineups to enter the Chanel beauty store, as well as outside Korean-owned Mello Artisan Donuts.
Article content
It turned out I wasn’t the only one who felt the glistening, high-ceilinged, bass-music-thumping shopping complex evoked the aura of a deluxe duty-free shopping zone at a huge international airport.
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
“It feels like being inside the airports at Singapore and Hong Kong,” said Tom Long, an international student studying business at Simon Fraser University. The Vietnamese national and his girlfriend had hopped on the bus from Burnaby to check out the buzz.
Article content
Read More
-
“It’s a nightmare out there,’ say seniors living near massive Oakridge development
-
Why Metro Vancouver is getting uglier
-
Advertisement 1
Story continues below
Article content
“It’s pretty modern. It’s pretty clean. The aesthetics are nice. But it’s also pretty snobby. It’s not my preference,” said Long, who pointed out a plastic bottle of water was selling for $4.45 in the busy upscale food court, operated by Time Out Market.
Article content
The list of luxury outlets is long at Oakridge Park, which opened its shopping centre (one year behind schedule) before it will welcome residents into more than 10 surrounding highrises, one of which is 52 storeys, that are still under construction. Condos in the towers have long been marketed during pre-sales around the world, particularly in East Asia.
Article content
Oakridge Park’s list of 50 retailers includes almost a dozen spacious jewelry and watch stores, some of which sport sofas. They include Rolex, Tiffany and Co., Bulgari, Chow Tai Fook, Chaumet, Birks (opening soon), Jacob and Co., TAG Heuer and the Swarovski Store.
