'We're going to make it'

Wedding superstore gives Portage Avenue new hope

  By KATHLEEN MARTENS, BUSINESS REPORTER

Two Vietnamese refugees hope their wedding superstore gives back to the city that embraced them.

Vu Luong and Yen Dao, who arrived in Canada in 1980, are moving their formal wear centre across from the MTS Centre to contribute to downtown's comeback.

"We're going to make it," a smiling Luong said. "We're going to bring a lot of people in."

The hard-working husband and wife team make the move to 325 Portage Ave. from 389 Graham Ave. this weekend, with the help of landlord and Dayton Building owner Bernie Cheater. Their L.A. Collection store opens May 1.

Cheater is spending more than $100,000 preparing display windows and an 8,000 square-foot lower level space for the new tenant. The business sells wedding and formal attire, and is expanding to offer related services like invitations, flowers, cakes, marriage licences and photo packages.

The couple signed a five-year lease after finding the exposure and larger space on Portage Avenue was just what they were looking for. Their inventory of beautiful wedding and graduation gowns are crammed on racks in their present location.

Luong promises to reimburse parking charges for customers who park in nearby lots.

Cheater said L.A. Collection is one of several new tenants interested in moving to his three-storey building at the corner of Hargrave Street and Portage Avenue . He has already spent $200,000 on improvements to the property he bought a year ago.

"When we're finished here, it's going to be a showpiece," he said, adding he soon intends to put his name on the building.

Cheater is so bullish on downtown he bought two Graham Avenue commercial buildings as well.

"I feel that downtown is going to improve in six months or a year, what with the

( Manitoba ) Hydro building opening," he said. "I can feel it."

The new Hydro headquarters, under construction at Portage and Carlton Street , will bring approximately 2,000 employees to the city centre.

'MOMENTUM'

Dave Angus, president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, said new retail is what Portage needs. And hopefully it will spur other business owners to follow suit, he added.

"Downtown took decades to get in the situation it's in and its going to take a lot of years to turn it around, but we're starting to see some momentum. We knew it wouldn't happen overnight," Angus said.

Luong agreed, noting the empty storefronts on the city's main thoroughfare are an embarrassment.

"We will have a classy place," he said of his outlet that will triple its current display, storage and changeroom space. "I've had only a few hours sleep each night I'm so excited."