As Cumbrae’s continue their transformation of 1589-1591 Bayview Avenue into a big new butcher shop, workers can be seen chipping away at the façade of what was once a TD Bank branch (back in the 1990’s). Cumbrae’s is a veteran of the street with its busy store located at 1636 Bayview. The dynamic high-end meat and specialty food retailer will convert the new larger space to the complex environment needed for a sophisticated butcher shop. We are looking forward to when the new store is finally revealed. Previous
The window treatment at 1589-1591 Bayview is fairly straightforward for the new home of Cumbrae’s, the butcher shop. Work continues inside to convert the space which was a TD Bank in the 1990s and still carries the look of that business. It has been a number other things including The Trend Shoppe, a Sleep Country as well as the phony Jefferson Homeless Shelter “awareness” scam.
It has been confirmed by The Bulldog that Cumbrae’s butcher shop has taken a lease on the large space at 1591 Bayview Ave and will move its South Bayview store to that location in the months to come. At present, Cumbrae’s is a veteran of the street with its busy store located at 1636 Bayview. Senior staff say they have been told that over a period of several months, the dynamic high-end meat and specialty food retailer will convert the large space, which was once a TD Bank branch, to the complex environment needed for a sophisticated butcher shop. Immediate speculation has centred on the use of space and such things as a loading dock, the placement of generators and storage facilities for perishable meat.
Cumbrae’s is owned by an area resident, Stephen Alexander, a butcher by trade as was his father. Alexander is Australian by birth and started his first store on Church Street. Now there are four locations including the original on Church as well as 714 Queen Street West and 26 King Street West in Dundas, a location that trades with affluent families in Ancaster. Mr. Alexander (inset above) has been called a “dashing figure” by the Globe and Mail for his style and enterprise.
The decision by Cumbrae’s to expand on Bayview will be an important boost for the street as a destination for local shoppers and those from further afield. Next door to 1591 is Badali’s Fruit Market, the longest standing business on the street. The owner, Sal Badali is delighted with the idea of a Cumbrae’s next door He laughed that it would have been good 20 years ago. The name Cumbrae is Scottish in origin but it is not known how that applies to the store name. Two islands off the western coast in the Firth of Clyde are known as The Cumbraes.
Here are scenes from outside COBs and Cumbraes where traditional Christmas Eve lineups appeared Thursday morning. Seldom do shoppers stand in such lovely weather for their bread, cakes and turkeys. Other places seemed busy too. The nearly daily mid-morning lineup outside Bagel House was longer than usual today.
GRILLTIME SPOTTING
Over at Andy Elder’s meat store at 62 Laird Dr. things were busy and Linda DeBono with daughter Claire were spotted picking up the festive turkey. They are mom and sister to Sarah, of Sarah’s Food Drive. Merry Christmas all.
Bayview Ave. was jumping this Christmas Eve morning and the action never looked better. Mind you, that 20-minute wait outside at Cumbrae’s for the pre-ordered turkey may have put off some customers. One man muttered about having paid in more than one way for his bird. The top three shots here show the lineup around the corner and up to nearly the lane way on Manor Rd. But spirits were generally high with wonderful Gateau St. Honore (cakes) specially ordered emerging from Rahier and all the shops very busy. There was a lineup at COBS (bottom picture). Lady carrying the flowers has just come out of Passion Fruit. Merry Christmas everyone.
