Toronto non-mall retail (Odds & Ends)

[crooked soul]

Wow, that would make for an epic beer hall/event/art space.

This being Toronto though, I'm sure it'll be a Rexall.

or a Shoppers Drug Mart.. or a Starbucks- and some hipster healthy vegan take out lunch shop.. that is scattering our city...

agree- would make a great event space...

 

[ardwold1]

Sorel is opening a location on King at the TIFF Bell Lightbox

 

[androiduk]

Rexall, in the Manulife Centre beside ValuMart is moving to the Holt Renfrew Centre beside Zara. No doubt displaced by the incoming Eataly.

 

[Benito]

Rexall, in the Manulife Centre beside ValuMart is moving to the Holt Renfrew Centre beside Zara. No doubt displaced by the incoming Eataly.

Hopefully the LCBO will expand into that space vacated by the Rexall. It is supposed to be a flagship store and isn’t quite large enough.

 

[Northern Light]

Hopefully the LCBO will expand into that space vacated by the Rexall. It is supposed to be a flagship store and isn’t quite large enough.

Entirely possible, however, if the current Premier delivers on his promise of broadened beer/wine sales, I can all but guarantee they will show up in both Eataly (which often has a great selection of Italian Wines and Probably Bloor St. Market, if they end up w/more sq ft.

That might leave the LCBO better off focusing on repurposing some space away from beer and 'general list' wines in favour what the other stores will not carry.

(no inside info on this one, just a thought)

I'd add I would expect to see other area grocers, particularly Whole Foods adding wine as well. If my area is any indication (where more than one supermarket added wine and beer, it tends to take about 25% of the LCBO's weekly sales)

 

[Bayer]

Rexall, in the Manulife Centre beside ValuMart is moving to the Holt Renfrew Centre beside Zara. No doubt displaced by the incoming Eataly.

Eataly will be located elsewhere, in the north part of the complex. There was also an optometrist office behind the Rexall that moved upstairs a few months ago.

Rexall isn't moving very far - if you are able-bodied. It will be a problem for the many residents of Manulife with limited mobility.

The LCBO could use more space, but it rarely has the overwhelming traffic that can be seen, for example, at the Atrium. My wish would be for the Bloor St. Market to expand, though it would require an extensive reconfiguration. It might allow them to add a pharmacy.

 

[innsertnamehere]

The Starbucks at Church and Shuter closed suddenly today. I had a coffee there yesterday with no signs it was about to close:

 

[JasonParis]

That's an odd one indeed. It always appeared very busy too.

 

[ShonTron]

The Starbucks at Church and Shuter closed suddenly today. I had a coffee there yesterday with no signs it was about to close:

View attachment 156742

I was there on Saturday morning as well on my way to the subway. It's really close to me and I'll miss it. The Good Earth coffee shop at Dundas and Jarvis (at the bottom of Pace) is awful. POP Coffee Works to the south of it, on Jarvis, is good, but isn't always open when I want it, and isn't on my way.

While I do like a good independent coffee shop, sometimes I just want the no-nonsense of a brewed coffee, and that Starbucks was really convenient.

 

[innsertnamehere]

Mast Coffee is just across the street from it - but I can't speak too much to how good it is. It does have brewed coffee at certain hours I believe.

 

[Skeezix]

I was there on Saturday morning as well on my way to the subway. It's really close to me and I'll miss it. The Good Earth coffee shop at Dundas and Jarvis (at the bottom of Pace) is awful. POP Coffee Works to the south of it, on Jarvis, is good, but isn't always open when I want it, and isn't on my way.

While I do like a good independent coffee shop, sometimes I just want the no-nonsense of a brewed coffee, and that Starbucks was really convenient.

What about Mast Coffee at Shuter and Dalhousie. Have you tried it? I haven't been in yet, but have wondered when passing it by. Presumably the closure of the Starbucks will be a boon to nearby Mast.

 

[Towered]

Mast is solid. Let's reduce our dependence on chains.

 

[Northern Light]

I've got three things to say about Starbucks/chains.

1) I can't stand their coffee. If one isn't overly artisanal or fussy, most of the time, you would say coffee is simple enough it can't be screwed up. Starbucks manages that.

2)Their treats/baked goods aren't that good and they are over priced for what they are.

3)I don't know why we even allow endlessly large chains, if one is a free market capitalist, never mind an appeciator of variety in life, allowing any one chain to dominate, as Starbucks does, does not serve society's best interest.
Whether we cap market share, or set a saturation limit (no more than 'x' stores per 100km2) I'm for more variety. Especially so if Starbucks is what we are diversifying from.

 

[Skeezix]

I've got three things to say about Starbucks/chains.

1) I can't stand their coffee. If one isn't overly artisanal or fussy, most of the time, you would say coffee is simple enough it can't be screwed up. Starbucks manages that.

2)Their treats/baked goods aren't that good and they are over priced for what they are.

3)I don't know why we even allow endlessly large chains, if one is a free market capitalist, never mind an appeciator of variety in life, allowing any one chain to dominate, as Starbucks does, does not serve society's best interest.
Whether we cap market share, or set a saturation limit (no more than 'x' stores per 100km2) I'm for more variety. Especially so if Starbucks is what we are diversifying from.

(1) I agree with this in respect of espresso-based drinks. But Starbucks does brewed coffee fine. I actually prefer Starbucks brew to some independents. But Starbucks latte - yuck.

(2) Yes, yes, yes. And, oddly, their baked goods (and sandwiches) used to be better.

(3) Never going to happen. But keep in mind, giants are meant to fall.

 

[gabe]

I've got three things to say about Starbucks/chains.

1) I can't stand their coffee. If one isn't overly artisanal or fussy, most of the time, you would say coffee is simple enough it can't be screwed up. Starbucks manages that.

2)Their treats/baked goods aren't that good and they are over priced for what they are.

3)I don't know why we even allow endlessly large chains, if one is a free market capitalist, never mind an appeciator of variety in life, allowing any one chain to dominate, as Starbucks does, does not serve society's best interest.
Whether we cap market share, or set a saturation limit (no more than 'x' stores per 100km2) I'm for more variety. Especially so if Starbucks is what we are diversifying from.

1) Yep. I find some of their blends way too acidic. I think it's the Cafe Verona blend i like the best. I don't mind the coffee fraps. I only order those during the summer months.

2) Yes awful. The baked good are usually stale, i think they have them in the display case just for show! I got a turkey sandwich last year, the bread was so dry i had to throw it out. It was like eating croutons.


Oh boy do i hate the slow moving line ups at some Starbucks! Starbucks needs two separate lines, a line for people that want coffee, and a line for people that order the most complicated thing on earth. ( Can i get a venti, half-whole milk, one quarter 1%, one quarter non-fat, extra hot, split quad shots (1 1/2 shots decaf, 2 1/2 shots regular), no foam latte, with whip, 2 packets of splenda, 1 sugar in the raw, a touch of vanilla syrup and 3 short sprinkles of cinnamon)