Quebec retail is outperforming expectations. Triple-A centres are running near-zero vacancy, rents are stabilizing, and consumers are spending more time in places that feel like destinations, not just shopping stops.

In this episode, Axel Monsaingeon sits down with retail real estate leader Manon Larose to break down what is actually working right now: why retail is no longer "online vs in-store," how the tenant mix is shifting toward food, fitness, beauty, and entertainment, and why mixed-use is becoming the default playbook for major sites like Carrefour Laval and Royalmount.

If you work in commercial real estate, leasing, development, or retail expansion, this is a practical look at what's driving demand and how to plan for 2026.

Topics & Timestamps

🧑‍💼 00:01:03 – Manon Larose's path across retail, leasing, and development

📈 00:02:50 – Why retail is rebounding in Quebec right now

🚆 00:03:45 – How the REM is reshaping foot traffic and retail demand

🏙️ 00:05:18 – Downtown streets vs mega retail destinations

🛍️ 00:07:33 – "High–low" retail and why mixed price points work

✨ 00:09:15 – Experience and personalization as the new retail differentiator

🧠 00:11:40 – Why physical retail and e-commerce now reinforce each other

🔮 00:14:54 – Key retail trends heading into 2026

🌆 00:24:42 – Mixed-use projects as the future of retail real estate

Manon's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manon-larose-mba-2977a81a/

Web: https://larose.ca/

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Cadillac Fairview has been shaping downtown Montreal for decades, but the next chapter is about turning legacy retail land into full neighborhoods. In this episode, Axel Monsaingeon sits down with Jeroen Henrich, Senior Vice President of Development at Cadillac Fairview, to break down the shift from condos to rentals, why underutilized parking fields are now some of the most valuable real estate in Quebec, and how mega-sites like Carrefour Laval get redeveloped without hurting retail performance. They dig into master planning as "3D chess", transit and infrastructure constraints, ESG fundamentals that actually move the needle, and the underwriting discipline required when construction costs and capital markets turn volatile.

Topics & Timestamps

⏱️ 00:01:03 – Cadillac Fairview in Montreal

🏢 00:01:56 – Downtown revival & rentals

📈 00:04:59 – Residential growth strategy

📍 00:06:08 – Why Laval matters

♟️ 00:09:28 – Redevelopment complexity

🏫 00:12:32 – City priorities & tradeoffs

🌿 00:15:46 – ESG fundamentals

📐 00:16:55 – Densification logic

🌙 00:19:46 – 24-hour neighborhoods

🎯 00:21:57 – What great plans need

🌍 00:23:18 – Global inspiration

🧠 00:25:01 – Smarter parking tech

⏳ 00:26:00 – Long-term outcomes

💰 00:27:31 – Capital expectations

📉 00:28:20 – Market reality check

🧮 00:29:21 – Underwriting discipline

✅ 00:31:03 – Closing thoughts

Jeroen's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeroenhenrich/?originalSubdomain=ca

Web: https://www.cadillacfairview.com/

If this conversation brought you value, share the episode with a colleague or friend in real estate who would benefit from Mike's insights. It helps the show reach more people in the Montreal CRE community.

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In this episode of the Espace Montreal Podcast, Axel Monsaingeon sits down with Lloyd Cooper, Executive Vice Chair at Cushman & Wakefield, to unpack the new era of downtown Montreal's office market. With 40 years in the business and over 4,000 transactions under his belt, Lloyd explains why 2025 is a record year for office leasing, why work-from-home and hybrid models are being pushed back, and how a powerful "flight to quality" is reshaping which buildings win or lose. They dig into how law firms and banks are using high-end buildouts and rich amenity packages to attract top talent, why there is a critical shortage of true Triple-A space, and where the best redevelopment and mixed-use opportunities are emerging downtown. Lloyd also shares his take on Montreal's new administration, the importance of density and zoning flexibility, and how regulatory shifts, homelessness, and political uncertainty all play into investment decisions. If you want a clear, on-the-ground read of what's really happening in Montreal's office core—and where the next big towers should rise—this conversation is packed with insight.

Topics & Timestamps

⏱️ 00:01:03 – Lloyd's background & track record

📊 00:01:53 – 2025 deal volume & market activity

🏠 00:03:09 – Post-Covid office comeback & RTO

🧬 00:04:11 – Culture, mentoring & why WFH is slipping

🏢 00:05:27 – Flight to quality in office buildings

🧺 00:06:04 – Amenities as a magnet for talent

🏛️ 00:07:05 – Upgrading "old" Triple-A towers

⚖️ 00:09:29 – Law firms, big TI spend & slick offices

💸 00:14:09 – Triple-A rents, incentives & tenant leverage

📑 00:15:51 – Renewal strategy while waiting for new product

🏙️ 00:18:28 – New city administration & development tone

📐 00:21:16 – Zoning, density & mixed-use requirements

📍 00:26:00 – Key downtown development sites to watch

🧨 00:29:49 – Politics, uncertainty & "wait and see"

🎙️ 00:30:40 – Final takeaways on frustration & opportunity

Lloyd's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtlofficespace/

Web: https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/

If this conversation brought you value, share the episode with a colleague or friend in real estate who would benefit from Mike's insights. It helps the show reach more people in the Montreal CRE community.

Visit https://www.e5pace.com for more resources, market guides, data, and advertising opportunities