Coke site on Overlea an attractive big box space

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It is now more than a year since Coca Cola Limited began to talk about its move to downtown Toronto from the property on Overlea Boulevard. It is an enormous property which includes the general offices and bottling companies of the soft drink maker as well as parking for cars and trucks that never seems to stop. The mystery of just what the future holds for  the nicely located space is even greater because it does not appear that Coke has the place listed anywhere. That may happen but can it be that Coke is quietly cycling the property around to those who might have an interest?  Either way, the layperson’s guessing game of just what might work at this location is definitely on. As we know, it sits across the street from the East York Town Centre where each day the new Target  store comes closer to opening. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to see how a Target competitor — Walmart, Costco — might wish to set up across the street. The location might even suit a big box grocer like Metro. One thing is certain, there is more to be heard on this topic.

Spent over limit but Ford unlikely to be removed

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Mayor Ford’s 2010 election campaign spent some $40,000 over the legal limit or about 3 per cent more than he was permitted to spend. In addition, an audit of the mayor’s expenses found  “apparent contraventions” of election law. Experts cautioned that apparent contraventions might not necessarily be found improper even if  Mr. Ford is sent to a non-criminal proceeding to determine such things. The spending legislation has a wide range of possible penalties and it is generally thought that it is very unlikely that the mayor would be removed from office for these violations.

News agent says TTC ignored his inquiries

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The non-tendered contract to sell newspapers and snacks in the TTC subway system is becoming a tricky issue for the commission and its chair Karen Stintz (Toronto Ward 16). The contract was handed to Gateway Newstands as a simple renewal but now other concessionaires have come forward to ask why they were not asked to bid. One of them, New York New Cafe Ltd.  say they inquired about bidding but they were ignored. The matter has become news with the prodding of Mayor Ford who claims the city could have saved as much at $15 million by opening up the bidding. Under criticism, Ms Stintz is calling for a third-party review of the Gateway deal.  CP24 has done some good reporting. 

Lai Wah Heen to close after Valentine’s Day

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Mt. Pleasant and Soudan 2010
South Bayview area residents who fondly remember and very much miss the excellent Lai Toh Heen Restaurant at Mt. Pleasant Rd.  and Soudan Ave will be interested to hear the parent eatery, Lah Wah Heen, in the downtown Metropolitan Hotel, will close right after Valentine’s Day. Whether Lai Wah Heen will re-open seems unknown. This uncertainty arises because the Metropolitan, on Chestnut Street, has been purchased by Bayview Hospitality Group. As the company’s website says, the Metropolitan will now be jointly converted by Hilton Hotels and Bayview into a new DoubeTree Hotel. There is a chance that staff of Lai Wah Heen will be allowed to lease the space and continue to run the restaurant, but it doesn’t seem to be a 100% chance. Lah Toh Heen closed in 20111 when the lease expired because business had declined too much during the recession.  

Kermit and Miss Piggy mark day of love

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All up and down Bayview shops are dressed up in red hearts for Valentine’s Day. This is the window of Bonne Byford Real Estate at 1536 Bayview featuring Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. The signature statement is “Waltz yourself into a new home for Valentine’s.”  This year Valentine’s falls on a Thursday so there’s plenty of time to plan your weekend loving gesture. If your store has a Valentine’s Day window you are proud of, send us a picture at the South Bayview Bulldog at news@bayview-news.com  

“Skull and crossbones” bank robber sought

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Police have released a bank camera picture of man wanted for a robbery at Midland and Kingston road just before Christmas. The photograph seems sure to lead to an identification of the person shown. The man did escape with cash. He is described as 40-50 years old and about five feet, eight inches tall. He was wearing a dark 3/4 length coat and a black toque with skull and crossbones design.Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416−808−7350, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416−222−TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook. Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.  

Prime Minister dines on meatball sandwich

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Stephen Harper continues his just-plain-Steve strategy — a scheme to humanize him (or maybe show the real Harper, as he might say). This time it was a stop at Ottawa’s venerable Prescott restaurant last Friday for one of their famous meatball sandwiches. Harper posed with the Prescott staff and posted the photo on his Twitter account. The Prime Minister has more than 296 thousand followers on his Twitter account. Last Monday, he  tweeted his entire day with photos including having breakfast with the cat. The effort seems to strike a chord with some people. In commenting, one Ottawa man said: “I remember in the late 60s when the Prescott had a men’s side and a ladies and escorts side. They still serve square pizza?  It was the best pizza in town way back then.” Another called the Prescott a landmark and said he was proud to have eaten there. “Congrats to Mr Harper. The waiter on the right in the picture must have more than 35 years service, an indication of the quality of the business and management.” 

Toronto home sales grow during January

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The Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) reports that the first two weeks of January saw 1,469 sales through the Toronto MLS system, a 2.4% increase over the same period last year. It says this continues the trend from 2012 of low-rise strong price growth as competition between buyers remained quite strong. The average selling price is eToornto home prices strong in xpected to grow in 2013.  The average cost of a home during this period was $464,228 in the city of Toronto and $457,181 in the rest of the GTA, with roughly two-thirds of sales occurring in the 905 area.

Best Buy/Future closing 15 big box stores

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Best Buy Canada has announced that it will  close 15 big-box stores and cut about 800 employees. The number is comprised of seven Best Buy and eight Future Shop stores. The electronics retailer is crying the Big Box Store Blues, saying consumers want smaller, more intimate retail experiences. And they might have added fuller and more immediate service. The firm operates under both the Best Buy and Future store brands. There is a Future Shop in the RioCan Leaside Centre at Eglinton Ave. E and Laird Drive and a Best Buy in the SmartCentre on Laird. A spokesperson said :“Right now, what were doing is re-sizing the retail footprint where it makes sense in certain markets and absolutely the plan is to grow a significant number of Future Shop small-store concept and the Best Buy mobile locations are going to continue growing as well.” The stores that are closing are B.C. Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta and Ontario. “It is fairly evenly spread out across Canada.  In Ontario, three Future Shops will close. They are in Ancaster, Barrie South and Erin Mills.  

Pretty little snowfall on South Bayview

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This interlude occurred about 9.30 am. at Bayview Ave. and Millwood Rd.  The day has unfolded with periods of brilliant sunshine between the gusty snow fall. In outlying parts of the city there are snow squalls have brought near zero visibility. The Weather Channel is saying that in the wake of an Arctic cold front that blasted across the regions last night, a strong surge of much colder air arrived and the squalls developed in the strong and gusty westerly flow off of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. But unless you are planning any highway driving today, you won’t see much of that.

New Sport Chek store at Yonge and St.Clements

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Sport Chek has opened a store at 2529 Yonge and St. Clements Ave. It is reviewed here by Francine Kopun  and she calls it a  foray into one of Toronto’s best and most challenging retail environments. We take this to be upscale mid-town Toronto. (on the fringe of South Bayviewland).  She notes the use of some 140 digital Samsung screens “spilling videos of athletes in action, the technical specs of running shoes, the latest NBA scores and community events, including the calendar for the Eglinton lawyers pick-up hockey league.” Francine Kopun. 

Classes cancelled at Grenoble Public School

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All classes at Grenoble Public School at 9 Grenoble Drive near Overlea Blvd. and Don Mills Rd were cancelled Wednesday because of a water main break in the area late Tuesday. Parents were asked to make alternate arrangements for the 700 or so pupils at the JK to Grade Five school. But the school board also arranged for emergency water to be trucked in to supply washrooms and it provided bottled water for kids whose parents were unable to make other arrangements.