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Downtown Grocery Store List (current + proposed)

Northern Light said:
If I'm getting this, you're asking about the supermarket space on Peter.

I haven't heard anything new, but I expect its still a go.

They ( Bestco) have only just started fit-out up at Mirvish.

Where their timeline slipped, repeatedly, by several months.

So they're just not a fast mover it would seem.

Beats me..........I wouldn't want to sit on a shell space for which I am paying rent..........but that's me.
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Thanks for the reply. Yeah, that's what I am asking about. This is local to me so it would be nice for it to open soon. Next time I walk by I will try to take photos, but it's on the second floor so it's hard to really see what's going on.
 
Natika33 said:
I'd love a transit hub that had a proper grocery store within the complex. It'd be awesome to be able to pick up groceries on the way home from some outing without having to brave the elements. (I can only think of a few stations where that's possible now - College, North York Centre...any others?)
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Line 2, between Bloor-Yonge and Kennedy has only one station where you would not need to exit to open air, at least briefly, to access a supermarket, and that's Bloor-Yonge, with access to Eataly and City Market in the Manulife Centre.

If you're willing to have a 2 block maximum distance from the station:

Sherbourne - No Frills just west on Bloor, south side.

Broadview: - No Frills just south of Danforth

Chester - Big Carrot is within the same block.

Pape - Foodland (Empire affiliate), 1 block west on Danforth.

Woodbine - Valu Mart

Main - Sobeys - 1 block west on Danforth

Kennedy - No Frills, close but not, in plaza on opposite side of Eglinton.

****

Near-term potential for more/better

Metrolinx TOC development at Pape could be organized to accommodate grocery, if you want that, make sure to submit comments.

Valu-mart at Woodbine will be replaced with a slightly larger and better laid out supermarket, likely under the City Market banner, though that's TBD.

Talisker is contemplating a grocer for Main Square, if they actually build anything..... that won't be connected to the subway, but will be quite close.
 
Northern Light said:
Line 2, between Bloor-Yonge and Kennedy has only one station where you would not need to exit to open air, at least briefly, to access a supermarket, and that's Bloor-Yonge, with access to Eataly and City Market in the Manulife Centre.
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You can also access the Manulife Centre/Eataly from Bay station without going outside. FWIW.

And I really do hope the pending development at Woodbine improves the (No) Valumart!
 
PL1 said:
You can also access the Manulife Centre/Eataly from Bay station without going outside. FWIW.

And I really do hope the pending development at Woodbine improves the (No) Valumart!
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There's no question the store as-is will be demolished, and the new physical space will be better. The only question is which banner goes in there.

The choice will be between City Market and No Frills.

The Valu-Mart brand hasn't been used on a new build Toronto store in years, if ever.

It was the name given to the former Mr. Grocer banner they took over.

I'm pretty sure you'll see it almost entirely phased out in Toronto over the next decade or two.
 
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Northern Light said:
Line 2, between Bloor-Yonge and Kennedy has only one station where you would not need to exit to open air, at least briefly, to access a supermarket, and that's Bloor-Yonge, with access to Eataly and City Market in the Manulife Centre.

If you're willing to have a 2 block maximum distance from the station:

Sherbourne - No Frills just west on Bloor, south side.

Broadview: - No Frills just south of Danforth

Chester - Big Carrot is within the same block.

Pape - Foodland (Empire affiliate), 1 block west on Danforth.

Woodbine - Valu Mart

Main - Sobeys - 1 block west on Danforth

Kennedy - No Frills, close but not, in plaza on opposite side of Eglinton.

****

Near-term potential for more/better

Metrolinx TOC development at Pape could be organized to accommodate grocery, if you want that, make sure to submit comments.

Valu-mart at Woodbine will be replaced with a slightly larger and better laid out supermarket, likely under the City Market banner, though that's TBD.

Talisker is contemplating a grocer for Main Square, if they actually build anything..... that won't be connected to the subway, but will be quite close.
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Thank you Northern Light for your exhaustive list! I will indeed go submit comments to the Pape Metrolinx TOC. As for the development at Main, I'm still holding out hope for a tunnel from the station to the Main Square development, but perhaps I should revive my even more pie-in-the-sky suggestion to make a mini PATH complete with grocery store. 🤔
 
Natika33 said:
Thank you Northern Light for your exhaustive list! I will indeed go submit comments to the Pape Metrolinx TOC. As for the development at Main, I'm still holding out hope for a tunnel from the station to the Main Square development, but perhaps I should revive my even more pie-in-the-sky suggestion to make a mini PATH complete with grocery store. 🤔
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There isn't a proposal for the funeral home block............yet

That will be your moment for proposing all sorts of interesting things.

Also note, Main Station requires a second exit at some point.

The instinct of TTC will be to do this on the west side of Main next to the Church.

While I'm not opposed, and I understand why; I would go to the east side of Barriington first.

Regardless, watch for that opportunity in ....hmmmm, maybe 3-4 years..........
 
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afransen said:
I laughed at her lack of filter. Not your typical CEO!
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She is a bit excitable.

Very bright though, don't let the extroversion fool ya!

Still, though she didn't seem to recall this, it is bigger than College Street by 4,000ft2

Not a huge amount, but in this case its an extra ~15%

Given the clouds around HBC's future..........they may not have considered this.......but anyone paying attention knew Pusateri's was going to be out in Sak's basement..........

T&T could have (in theory) snagged the entire floor across Sak's and 'The Bay'.

That should be the better part of 100,000ft2, I thought of that, noting that the Weston's plonked a new mini-Eataly into the former Nordstrom Box. Where in combination w/the other non-Simons and empty spaces they could have strung together a much larger T&T as well.

There certainly is the market space for a destination-scale T&T downtown. T&T's outpost in Bellvue, Wa is 76,000ft2, their flagship in Richmond, and their store in Montreal are only slightly smaller.
 
Towered said:
A logical choice. They overextended themselves, and apparently the poor performance of their Bayview location had begun to wreak havoc on their flagship location in the Junction, so it's wise to prioritize that store.
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The Sweet Potato is a great store but it is very much a niche like the Big Carrot on the Danforth.

They fit the Junction well given the demographic but Leaside is more of a Whole Foods sort of location. There is a reason stores like the Big Carrot only have one location.

Edit: I stand corrected. The Big Carrot has two locations.
 
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Richard White said:
The Sweet Potato is a great store but it is very much a niche like the Big Carrot on the Danforth.

They fit the Junction well given the demographic but Leaside is more of a Whole Foods sort of location. There is a reason stores like the Big Carrot only have one location.

Edit: I stand corrected. The Big Carrot has two locations.
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I concur w/that assessment.

Stores such as these, with a focus on local, organic etc offer some wonderful niche and quality product, and that product set can work well in an affluent neighbourhood. It needn't be Whole Foods either, in Leaside, think of Cumbrae's.

However, there is a vibe question, and the way you present yourself.

Sweet Potato/Big Carrot have a certain hipster/activist, I wish I was vegetarian, I grow my own stuff, I brought my own bag before I had to.....energy.

That's not Leaside. That's not the energy at Cumbrae, which is more best-of-the-world, see the awesomeness money can buy. No problem w/that btw, Cumbrae does some great stuff.

But the thing to note is understanding your customer and appeal; either you cater to your neighbourhood, or already fit it.

Sweet Potato could grow, but when I think of its demo, I think Parkdale, Kensington, and Queen West among others.

Leaside was just not the right fit.

Additionally, competition is key, and here, for the drivers, Leaside's options are nearly unlimited, with Longos and Farm Boy (nee Sobeys) over at Laird, Loblaws down at Moore Avenue, Metro at Eglinton and Whole Foods to its north.

While for the walkers you have Cumbrae and Rahier etc.

Tough market to crack.
 
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What ever happened to the Farmboy inside MetroCentre (King St?) that was planned?

I think this would be a good fit inside the old Saks food hall.
 
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