The South Bayview Bulldog

The new Starbucks in what was the TD building at Laird Dr. and Eglinton Ave E  should be taken as a sign of gentrification.  Starbucks stands for nothing if not good coffee and an upwardly mobile neighborhood. The question is whether even Starbucks can help the strip of businesses along the north side of Eglinton between Sutherland and Laird. For years there has been a “for lease” sort of malaise along the strip, despite the arrival of some blue chip players like a Sherwin Williams franchise and Stephenson’s Rentals. These are not boutique dress shops but they are a draw. The recent addition of ServiceOntario would be more helpful if it didn’t seem like a welfare office. Ontario has a way of dispensing long lineups and “service” together. Parking is limited. Compare it to the successful shops in the Dawsco strip mall on Brentcliffe opposite Marshall’s where the parking is plentiful. Much will change when the LRT station is built. We hope for the best for Eglinton between Sutherland and Laird. 

Marion Johnston

An institution in our area, Penrose Fish and Chips, has lost its founding member. And the shop at 600 Mt. Pleasant will be closed this week to mark the passing of Marion Johnston. A look at the company website tells the inspiring family-business story. “In 1950, Roly and Marion Johnston opened Penrose Fish and Chips. Their secret family recipe quickly became a Toronto favourite. Today, their son Dave and his wife Rosey proudly serve the same quality ingredients for the best fish and chips in town. They added the same care to a few more family recipes now on the menu, and proudly carry on this great family tradition”

New home for Longo’s

There’s word tonight by way of a corporate blogger that the Longo’s store in Leaside Village on Laird Drive will open for business on Wednesday, August 22, 2012. That’s five days ahead of the new CIBC branch, which is scheduled to open August 27. As many people will know, the nicest thing about the grocery store’s decision to locate in Leaside is that the supermarket will be housed in the restored locomotive maintenance building of the Canadian Northern Railway Eastern Lines which was built in 1919 by Great Northern. For years local historians have looked at pictures of the forlorn vacant building and wondered what might become of it. That question was answered when First Capital Realty obtained permission to build Leaside Village and Longo’s took a lease on the historic building.  By way of background, the name of the firm is Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc. It is a family-run grocery chain with 24 stores in the Greater Toronto Area. Longo’s was founded by brothers Tommy, Joe, and Gus Longo in 1956, who established their first store at the intersection of Yonge Street and Castlefield Avenue in Toronto. This store was about 2,000 square feet and had eight family members working there. The Longo brothers opened their second store in 1962, on Woodbine Avenue. A 25,000-square-foot flagship store was opened recently in Maple Leaf Square in Downtown Toronto near Air Canada Centre. Post from January 25, 2011

Local resident has a chat with Enbridge workers at Rumsey Rd and Parklea Dr. as they continue to connect the new pipeline with the gas source. These new mains were laid two years ago (well-remembered by merchants on South Bayview) and only now is Enbridge getting around to connecting them up so household service can come from the new plastic main.