Three years ago it thrilled many South Bayview residents to hear that the lead tenant at the 1860 Bayview retail and commercial complex would be Whole Foods. Some really wanted to shop at Whole Foods but many were just glad that a big-name tenant had signed on. The centre was not a very popular project. Whole Foods occupancy meant that at least 1860 Bayview would not become local white elephant. Shoppers Drug Mart and TD Bank signed on as well. Were they persuaded by the allure of Whole Foods? Well, the completion date came and went (Spring 2016 as the signs said). Nothing was offered by way of explanation from the developer Trinity Corp., nor by the owners, RioCan, the successful REIT that owns Sunnybrook Plaza, Leaside Centre at Eglinton and Laird and has its headquarters at Yonge and Eglinton. The one thing curious people can count on is that none of the principals care to talk about what’s happening behind the scenes. Such information as we have has been gained by chance or guileless chatting. An employee at an area Whole Foods makes an inquiry of superiors on behalf of a curious customer. When will the store open at 1860 Bayview? Maybe April 2017, comes back the answer this time. Maybe, maybe not. Some WF employees suspect there is a “landlord-tenant” disagreement. Who knows?
