Leaside Village is partly open, partly closed

by  • 

Leaside Village is partly open and partly closed. It’s possible to drive into the shopping centre via the Esander Drive entrance and tour the property in front of the Longo’s and the Linen Chest, which is beside Longo’s. Large areas of parking have been fenced off from the rest of the mall, which remains under construction. It appears that when Longo’s opens next Wednesday there will be an exit to Laird through fenced off construction. There is also an exit south onto Esander past Waste Management. 

Millwood mall awaits successor to Anna’s Spa

by  • 

It’s not Leaside Village or the SmartCentre but the little strip mall at Sutherland Drive and Millwood Road has the loyalty of many Leasiders. In recent times this seemingly unchangeable place has seen a few alterations. ServiceOntario moved out when its unit was purchased by the owner of Sleuth of Baker Street. That well-known shop is now installed there. But mostly it’s been home to neighborhood fixtures such as Fix It Again Sam and Nick’s Barber Shop (even though Nick has retired). That’s why the papered-over window of what was Anna’s Day Spa has drawn the curiosity of so many people.  What’s going on, they want to know. According to sources, the unit has been sold to the interests that own Everest Roofing, which also owns the Chiropractic office at the west end. Something is going into Anna’s, but there’s no word yet on just what. Everest Roofing vehicles may be seen parked behind the mall.  

Bayview ticket case yields $70,737 legal bill

by  • 

A physician practising at Sunnybroook Health Sciences Centre  has been told she will have to pay $70,537 in municipal legal fees for fighting a parking ticket she received on South Bayview in November. 2007. Dr. Anna Marie Arenson, whose husband is a lawyer, has fought a five-year battle to have her concerns treated as a class action lawsuit. The action would have permitted other motorists who felt that Bayview’s Pay and Display meters were simply not working during a storm that encrusted them with ice and snow to join the action. Dr. Arenson, a radiologist at Sunnybrook,  said she tried a number of meters on the day in question. None of them produced a ticket that she could display. She went to lunch and came back to a $31 ticket on her windshield.   Full story.

Macpherson Avenue corner store robbery

by  • 

Toronto Police Service: A 50 year old female employee of Macpherson Convenience, 212 Macpherson Avenue, reports that on August 9, 2012 at approximately 1648 hours, a male suspect entered the premises and approached the counter. The suspect produced a handgun and made a demand for cash. The victim complied. The suspect then fled the scene eastbound on Macpherson Avenue. No injuries were sustained by the victim. Police are requesting the assistance of the public in identifying the following described person in connection with this offence. Description of Suspect: Male, black, 20 to 25 years, 6’0”, thin build, black eyes.

Can Starbucks help Eglinton East of Sutherland

by  • 

For lease signs pepper the street
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 mourned by friends, family

by  • 

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”

Cinderella soccer squad brings home bronze

by  • 

Diana Matheson

Canada’s Cinderella women’s soccer team has won the bronze medal at the London Olympics after beating the tough French team 1-0. The Canadian women had to come back from what they felt was unfair refereeing in a game against the U.S. and a French squad that had outscored the Canadians 6-0 in two previous games. The winning goal was scored by Diana Matheson of Oakville in extra time. Her long shot past the opposing goalkeeper gobsmacked a French team that had been peppering Canada’s net through the whole game.  CBC.ca

Longo’s to open Wednesday, August 22, 2012

by  • 

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