Toronto Manulife Centre Podium and Streetscape Renewal | 9.75m | 2s | Manulife Real Estate | MdeAS Architects

Eataly, I think, has MO that is more similar to MarchÉ MÖvenpick than Pusateri's, since a lot of square footage goes to sit-downs rather than retail, but again there is definitely some overlap in market targets..
 
Given the location and exposure along Bloor, Eataly should do alright here. It'll definitely take away clientele from Pusateri's and McEwan's though, especially the lunch scene.
Do alright here? It'll kill!

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Given the location and exposure along Bloor, Eataly should do alright here. It'll definitely take away clientele from Pusateri's and McEwan's though, especially the lunch scene.
I’ve stated this before, but I think Bloor Street Market will be hit the hardest. I think they depend a lot on their ready-to-go lunch/dinner office worker crowds, and why bother going all the way to the back-basement when you can enter Eataly right off the street, and presumably get a better quality.
 
Main bar update as of 10/21
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Eataly press release.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ciao, Canada! Eataly Toronto opens at Manulife Centre this November
The authentic Italian marketplace opens its first Canadian location with over 10,000 products, seven food counters, four restaurants and an in-house brewery.

TORONTO, October 22, 2019: Italian brand, Eataly, announced today that its first Canadian location in Toronto will officially open its doors on Wednesday, November 13 at 5 PM. The expansive Italian culinary destination will be located at Bay and Bloor streets, an iconic Canadian shopping destination, and will span 50,000 sq. ft. in Toronto’s newly renovated Manulife Centre.

“Toronto has an incredibly strong food culture and is home to the fourth-largest Italian population outside of Italy, making the city a natural fit for a store location,” says Nicola Farinetti, CEO of Eataly North America. “We’re not a food hall or only a market or a restaurant. Eataly is an experience that encourages guests to Eat, Shop and Learn authentic Italian food. We invite Canadians to taste our delicious dishes in our restaurants, learn about Italian cuisine, and shop local Canadian and Italian products – at the best value and highest quality – and to recreate the authentic Italian recipes at home. At Eataly Toronto, we will also feature a curated selection of ready-made dishes to take away.”

Over three floors, guests can explore the many flavours of Italy’s 20 diverse regions at Eataly Toronto. The brand’s immersive approach celebrates Italian culture through its one-of-a-kind in-store elements, which all connect to Eataly’s guiding pillars of Eat, Shop, Learn. Eataly was originally founded on the foundation of the Slow Food Movement of good, clean & fair food. This philosophy is still carried out today in all that Eataly does. At Eataly we’re in love with high-quality food and drink. We cherish the stories of the people who produce it and the places it comes from. The idea of Eataly has always been simple: to gather high- quality food at sustainable and reasonable prices for all, as well as celebrate Italian biodiversity, under one roof. The selection fits any wallet and offers something for everyone. From $2.20 Focaccia Genovese to vintage Barolo and white truffles, Eataly is sure to satisfy every palate and mood.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Wittington as we expand to Canada. The local retail experience, resources and people Wittington bring to the partnership has already proven to be invaluable in the initial store development phase and will be vital as we continue through to the grand opening and forward,” added Farinetti.
Eataly will open its doors in Toronto’s historic Yorkville neighbourhood, a lively area in the heart of the city and home to a diverse mix of shops, residences, offices, hotels and cultural institutions.

"Positioning Eataly Toronto at Bay and Bloor presents a flagship opportunity to develop and refine store concepts that are truly targeted to the Toronto consumer. Achieving this positioning was a focus for Eataly's exceptionally talented team from the beginning," says Tony Grossi, President of Wittington Properties.

To bring Eataly to this new market, the company has partnered with Toronto-based Selfridges Group, through its parent company Wittington Investments.

EAT DRINK
IL GRAN CAFFÈ
Il Gran Caffè, an upscale, full-service Italian bar from Italian coffee roaster illy. Influenced by Italy’s cafés, this high-end, yet approachable bar will change its offerings throughout the day to cater to Torontonians every need. From early breakfast, to a quick lunch, typical Italian happy hour aperitivo and late-night bites, Il Gran Caffè will be a reliable stop within Eataly for any meal or occasion.
BIRROTECA
Birroteca, an in-house brewery, beer shop and tasting room, is the latest addition to Toronto’s growing craft beer scene. Found on the concourse level of Eataly Toronto, Birroteca is a special partnership with pioneering small brewer Indie Ale House and will feature an exclusive refreshing Italian Pilsner as well as custom rotating beers inspired by the fresh ingredients for the Mercato. Owner Jason Fisher shares the same dedication as Eataly to sourcing high quality ingredients, resulting in unique brews with remarkable taste.

Eataly Toronto will have four sit-down restaurants, each with its own innovative dining experience; La Pizza & La Pasta (Italian Staples), La Pescheria (seafood-centric, fish sourced from beloved local Diana’s seafood), La Piazza (Italian Street Food) and a fourth regional inspired restaurant to open in Winter 2020 called Trattoria Milano. In addition, options from several quick service counters serving prepared items - such as authentic pizzas, pastas, and gelato – will allow guests enjoy their meal in one of the many seating areas in the store.

SHOP
Steps away from Bloor Street is Eataly Toronto’s
MERCATO
Eataly’s Mercato will offer a variety of fresh local produce and an assortment of imported items from Italy, making it the perfect destination for every day and special occasion shopping. The arrival of Eataly Toronto will introduce Torontonians to 100 new Italian brands (from $1.90 dry pasta to $291 Balsamic Reggio- Emilia) and will also proudly offer high-quality items from over 50 Canadian producers. This vibrant marketplace will also boast authentic fresh counters, including La Macelleria (butcher counter), Salumi e Formaggi (cured meats and cheeses), La Pescheria (fishmonger), La Panetteria (bakery), and La Pasta Fresca (fresh pasta counter). The high-quality, yet affordable, ingredients from the Mercato are used in each of Eataly Toronto’s restaurants. At Eataly, we cook what we sell and sell what we cook. We believe that if you Eat Better, you Live Better.
PRONTO
An answer to the city’s fast-paced lifestyle, Eataly Toronto will have the brand’s largest selection of takeaway offerings in its Pronto section. With ready-to-eat options such as grazing trays, salads, savoury paninis, decadent desserts and more, Pronto offers many choices for Torontonians to eat in-store or take home to enjoy.

LEARN
LA SCUOLA DI EATALY
La Scuola di Eataly is Eataly Toronto’s in-house cooking school and will offer a variety of hands-on cooking classes and educational events. At-home chefs of all levels can discover a variety of unique culinary experiences that celebrate Eataly’s Eat, Shop, Learn, philosophy.

Eataly Toronto will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The four restaurants will be open from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. The Birroteca is open from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. For more information visit www.eataly.com.

### Twitter/Instagram/Facebook: @EatalyToronto
Hashtag: #EatalyToronto ABOUT EATALY TORONTO
Visit us at: www.eataly.com
Focused on providing high quality, sustainable products for all, Eataly is the largest Italian retail and dining experience in the world, transforming the way consumers experience food, beverage and retail. At Eataly, guests have the unique opportunity to experience both Italian culture and top global offerings through markets, counters, caffès, restaurants and educational experiences. These various sections provide guests with an opportunity to explore Italy’s 20 regions all in one space. Since Oscar Farinetti first opened Eataly Torino in 2007, his philosophy has spread to 41 stores across the world. In North America these include the US flagship - NYC Flatiron (2010), Chicago (2013), NYC Downtown (2016), Boston (2016), L.A. (2017), Las Vegas (2018) and Dallas (opening in 2020). Eataly Toronto, the authentic Italian marketplace, opening in November 2019 is a 50,000 sq. ft. culinary destination, located in the heart of the Yorkville neighbourhood. It will feature 7 unique food counters, 4 restaurants, 2 cafés, an in-house brewery and a market that all offer traditional Italian food in a vibrant atmosphere. To learn more about Eataly please
visit www.Eataly.com.
ABOUT THE WITTINGTON GROUP OF COMPANIES
Wittington Investments Limited is a private family Canadian company which holds a variety of investments, including a controlling interest in George Weston Limited, the Selfridges Group, and Wittington Properties Limited. It also supports the philanthropic activities of The W Garfield Weston Foundation.
 
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I've fixed the formatting issues in that, so it reads without problem now.

So, all of it except for one of the restaurants will be ready to open on November 13?! They have a lot of work ahead over the next two weeks.

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That's...an aggressive timeline. My sense is the entire project is quite far behind schedule, it's not uncommon to see (more like hear) full crews starting before seven in the morning, finishing later than six (I think some guys are coming in overnight also), and work being done on Saturdays and Sundays in staggered shifts starting at least at 06:00.

*Rant*: still miss Bloor Street Diner. I will avoid this place for about a month as it will be a zoo.
 
I've fixed the formatting issues in that, so it reads without problem now.

So, all of it except for one of the restaurants will be ready to open on November 13?! They have a lot of work ahead over the next two weeks.

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Sorry about that Craig, I didn’t look at the post after posting it.

Today, the Balmuto side.
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*Rant*: still miss Bloor Street Diner. I will avoid this place for about a month as it will be a zoo.
You know, it didn’t really occur to me that one of the hardest hit is likely to be Scaccia. Two Italian food places in a building with what, 30 tenants? Eataly’s gonna devour their lunchtime crowd.
In other news, Bloor Street Market is trying to appear relevant in a pond that just gained a really big fish:
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I think that market will be fine. I'm not sensing a traffic drop-off when I shop there and the sticker shock of Eataly's prices will deter the young couples/U of T students/fixed income seniors from shopping there very often. I myself will probably only buy certain ingredients for my cooking and try the odd meal there. The bar(s), sure, I'll check them out but again, not the same as having pints at the old Diner where I was a regular. As for Scaccia, time will tell, the analogy I'm thinking of is that the Pilot Roasters attract their fans, the Starbucks theirs, and I think the local pie is big enough to support both.
 
My five cents as someone who used to live in New York about a block from Eately. I would never buy packaged goods there; Bloor Street market will be fine. At least in New York they also didn't do a lot of prepared / to go foods either (especially when compared to Whole Foods). I would go there for:
1. Raw ingredients, their butcher was amazing and not that much more expensive than elsewhere.
2. Cheeses when preparing a cheese plate.
3. Sit down meal at times when it wasn't deathly crowded with tourists.

There is some overlap with McEwan's in terms of raw ingredients, but not in terms of prepared foods. The real killer, IMO, as someone identified is in sit-down lunch and dinner.
 
I think that market will be fine. I'm not sensing a traffic drop-off when I shop there and the sticker shock of Eataly's prices will deter the young couples/U of T students/fixed income seniors from shopping there very often. I myself will probably only buy certain ingredients for my cooking and try the odd meal there. The bar(s), sure, I'll check them out but again, not the same as having pints at the old Diner where I was a regular. As for Scaccia, time will tell, the analogy I'm thinking of is that the Pilot Roasters attract their fans, the Starbucks theirs, and I think the local pie is big enough to support both.

Agreed; the market carries a lot of merchandise that you won't find at Eataly - or Wheataly as I call it as a celiac. Italian food is very diverse, but it seems all they have showcased so far is the wheat-based stuff. I am hoping for fresh fish and meat, two categories that have definitely deteriorated with the market's renovation.
 

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