Category: Bayview Biz

New menu at Taste of Persia

Eggstatic now has a burger

Tutto Pronto veal sandwich

Cigar store at former men’s wear

Smoke it if you got it

Dope for your cabana

Tutto Pronto

Taste of Persia new item

Floka

1669 Bayview will host a condo preview/sales location

Something going at the former Creeds

Taste of Persia offering

Indian Street Food

New menu

Tutto Pronto

Bomou

Naturepedic mattress

Dance studio goes vitrual

Aytac closing sale

Still vacant

South Bayview Ave. is shaking off the Spring closure blues as new businesses arrive and restaurants re-open with new dishes. Food is available as takeout and/or delivery. There is a new lunch menu at Indian Street Food, new veal sandwiches at Tutto Pronto, new menu items at Taste of Persia and new burgers (Holy Moly) at Eggstatic (along with the regular Eggstatic brunch menu). Hang on, there are two new cannabis stores looking to open and a second cigar store. It appears that a restaurant will go into the former Creeds but there is no information on that just yet.

1643 Bayview Ave. (Source: Bayview Leaside BIA, Facebook)

It’s official. Floka Salon will move to the interesting new upstairs-downstairs commercial premises under renovation at 1643 Bayview Ave. Floka is a long-time tenant at Sunnybrook Plaza but it now appears to be making a permanent new home just north of Fleming Crescent. Sources at the shop said Friday that the firm hopes to move to the new shop sometime in April. Work at the site features a striking wood frame incorporating the first and second floors of the building. A building permit allowing the conversion of the place from mixed-use (i.e. residence and commercial) to single-use commercial was issued earlier in February.

Academy of Culinary Arts closing

Bomou new sign up

Former Rowe Farms leased

Darna in BlogTO top 10

Paper up, tenant a mystery

Former Creeds for lease sign gone

F5 by appt only

Bayview Leaside BIA beautification project moving along

After 49 years, Laurie Oehy, owner of The Academy of Culinary Arts has announced that the store will be closing sometime in April.  In a notice to customers Laurie writes, “The building owner has decided to make major repairs to the property this Spring. Although unexpected, this is a bittersweet announcement for me. It will be very strange to not be here but I am extremely excited to start the next chapter – a “rewiring” if you will.”  Across the street, a new sign has been installed, at the Bomou Artisanal Bakery.  The space that used to house Rowe Farms at 1617 Bayview has a new banner in the window indicating that Toronto General Contracting will be doing some work to renovate for a new tenant.  Recently opened Darna, was featured in BlogTO‘s “The top 10 new restaurant openings in Toronto for December“.  Congrats!  The shop at 1585 Bayview, next to Badali’s Fruit Market is still vacant.  Brown paper covers the windows and we don’t have any news about what could be going on in there.  Let us know if you have any clues!  F5 Computer & Smartphone Repair Shop at 1559 Bayview Ave is for lease. The good news here is that F5 owner, Fahad is still available by appointment for computer and mobile phone repairs.  The “For Lease” sign has been removed from the former Creeds Coffee shop location at 1595 Bayview.  And finally, the construction is progressing at the north-east and north-west corners of Bayview & Millwood.  The Bayview Leaside BIA beautification project has been progressing slowly this winter, but there are signs that they are nearing completion as it appears as though the construction fencing is being removed from the west side today!  See you on Bayview!

The F5 Computer & Smartphone Repair Shop at 1559 Bayview Ave (next to Peaches and Green) has closed and many people are mourning the loss of this convenient business on Facebook. Its owner, Fahad, has gained a reputation as a competent, fair and helpful businessman.  The good news is that Fahad remains in business as a home-service technician and advisor. He now comes to your home. 647-679-2330. Also FB

Marwan Carmi

Inside Darna, 1613 Bayview Ave.

Darna by night

Darna has opened at 1613 Bayview Ave. and congenial owner Marwan Carmi is hoping his eclectic take on Middle Eastern cuisine will appeal to local diners. Marwan brings a wide range of experience to Darna, a name meaning Our Home. It conveys the care and goodness of home cooking says the owner. Marwan was persuaded to leave his home in Jerusalem and move to Toronto after a visit here with his wife Nadine. She is studying child care at the University of Toronto. It was a big decision to quit his position as the financial manager of the Belgian consulate in Israel. His father runs a long-time souvenir business in the Holy City. The menu at Darna is inspired “by authentic flavours across the Middle East” including Lebanon, Isreal and the territories. The restaurant has a beer and liquor license and is open for lunch and evening dining

Sign says “Closed for renovations”

New restaurant

A peek inside Thursday

Rowe Farms, the specialty grocery store at 1617 Bayview Ave., is closed for renovations, according to a sign on the door of the now-closed shop. There is no mention of when it might re-open. September marks slightly more than five years since Rowe Farms opened on Bayview. Next door at 1613, work has begun on changes to accommodate a new restaurant. The premises has been leased and waiting for other work to be done. Earlier this month a gas line was extended (below) from the west side of the street to the 1613 location, apparently to serve the restaurant stove.

Gas line extended to 1613 Bayview September 3

Tutto Pronto and Maurya East Indian Roti

Both the food spots preparing to open on Bayview Ave opposite Belsize Dr. are off-shoots of established businesses. Tutto Pronto is an Italian cuisine sit-down and takeout restaurant operating on Avenue Rd. Maurya Indian Roti has places on the Lake Shore and in Liberty Village. It seems to have an emphasis on takeout. Tutto Pronto, in the former jewellery location north of Scotiabank, has been slow to get open. Maurya has taken over from a tenant who tried but did not get open. Work was hurriedly going on there Thursday. It is in the former Rosie’s space where 2 Bros Cuisine tried but failed to make a go of it. It is a challenging business. The economy is okay but one has to know what the customer wants. Good luck to all.

Netflix debut

Savoury Thymes and Passion Fruits

Scenes in a new Netflix drama are being shot Tuesday and Wednesday at the Chen family store Savoury Thymes and Passion Fruits on Bayview Ave. The store will reopen Thursday.

Noble friend painted by Stephanie Arn

Yours To Discover

DPS kids enjoy pool

Hudson Drive

Handmaids in uniform (@friendlygarbagelady / Instagram)

Sandra Creighton is showing off this lovely painting of Winston (upper left) done by Leaside artist Stephanie Arn. Very distinguished. To the right, another Yours To Discover lost number plate. The finder says you can PM her if it is yours. Below that, two happy swimmers at the temporary Davisville Public School on Vaughan Rd. The swimming pool is a big added plus for kids while they wait for construction of their new school on Millwood Rd. The old DPS had no such amenity. Thanks to the always busy @115DavisvillePS Twitter account. Centre left, roofers clamber over the gables at a fine new home being built on Hudson Drive in Moore Park. At right, those nostalgic for a return of the women of Handmaid’s Tale were treated to the sight of many of them in costume at City Hall this week. Shooting for the new Hulu season continues down there. No action so far at Garden Court. Finally below, John C Bassett reports that auto-toy store MiniGrid is moving from its long-time location at 608 Mt. Pleasant. Everything is on sale.

Everything at least 30% off at MiniGrid, 608 Mt. Pleasant

Need for toy speed

Love these historic playthings

1673 Bayview Ave – Opening Soon – 180° Smoke, Vape Store

1661 Bayview Ave – Opening Soon – MakerKids Leaside

1693B Bayview Ave – Opening Soon – Blo Blow Dry Bar

1727 Bayview Ave – Opening Soon – Mobility For Life

Businesses set to open soon on Bayview Ave. north of Fleming Cres are a reflection of our social and technical changing times. An outlet of the 180° Smoke Vape Store chain is set to do business at 1673 Bayview. 180° Smoke has 15 stores in the GTA. Quite different is the MakerKids enterprise opening soon at 1661 Bayview. MakerKids is a mixed concept of school and educational camping in which children learn coding, robotics and the Lego-style game Minecraft. It says online MakerKids has “award-winning programs for kids from grade 1 to 8. Kids learn technical skills, interpersonal skills and 21st century skills to prepare them for the future ahead.” MakerKids indicates plans for a huge expansion in Ontario naming 30 communities in which it intends to open. At 1693B is the Blo Blow Dry Bar. Up the street at 1727 is the soon to open Mobility for Life location. Welcome all.

Verdi Trattoria

MacFab Home

Glambar and Smokin’ Cigar

Way to go out

Nail Studio

Bonnie Byford Real Estate

Stores are open Monday for you to catch a last-minute touch or taste needed to mark the 2019 countdown. Happy New Year All.

What better way to get into the festivities than with Santa and Christmas Carollers? Photo Bayview Leaside BIA

Hot chocolate, taffy

Saturday will be partly sunny and clear for the Bayview Ave. Holiday Sale. It starts at 11 a.m. with carolling, hot chocolate, taffy and fun. Check the poster.