The construction hoarding surrounding The Brown Group’s new mid-rise development has been removed, revealing the commercial space on the main floor of the luxury, residential rental building. Looks like the wall of windows will create a bright, open space for future shops or restaurants. Known previously as simply 730 Hillsdale, the building has been renamed “The Stack”. More
The Brown Group residential and commercial mid-rise on Bayview Ave has been branded as The Stack. The news comes in an article in Urban Toronto without an explanation of just what the name might mean. The development took on the name 730 Hillsdale last summer but that may have been too much like a street address. Anyway, good luck to The Stack. Is that like in “Stack ’em up boys” and other stack sayings? You know, blowing one’s stack, does that stack up and so on.
We love it when old store names reappear from behind decades of other business signs. So here’s the almost-forgotten sign for Broadloom Consultants at 1727 Bayview Ave. The sign has been revealed as Mobility for Life moved out. Note that the phone, 483-2425, needed no area code. The new tenant will be a business called Relevé. It’s “Elevated Active and Lounge Wear”. releveclothing.com
This popular and historic street has seen “leased” signs go up at 1727 in the north block and 1581 in the south block. For those who can remember back a decade, 1581 once housed the Mad Italian. As you can see in the photo, Craig’s Cookies will be opening soon!
The grand opening of Egg Bird is underway at 1595 Bayview today. Chef Hemant Bhagwani is behind the new brunch spot. It features globally-inspired fried chicken, egg burgers, and hand-cut Belgian fries, and is available for takeout or delivery direct from the restaurant or through Uber Eats. Also today, Darna (1613 Bayview) has unveiled their new patio space! Bon appétit!
Businesses are slowly re-opening this week across South Bayview. On Bayview Ave. Thursday there was a variety of cautionary requirements in place. At Ron White Shoes you must ring the bell to be allowed in. Many shops are supplying mandatory masks. At Rahier they say it is still unclear when the pretty patio will re-open but it is now possible to enter the shop. Eggstatic is opening its patio Friday. The only lineup consisted of two people outside Starbucks. On a busy day, that will probably change. It’s nice to see so many doors open again.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
