Toronto Retail and Restaurants Thread

[ACT7]

Article: http://www.postcity.com/Eat-Shop-Do/...dale-location/

Holt Renfrew ups the ante with the announcement of an (almost) new Yorkdale location

By Brianne Hogan

It was only earlier this week when we reported that The Bay was stepping up to Holt Renfrew in the battle to become Toronto’s top department store. Now it seems that Holt’s has seen The Bay’s bid and raised it: the retailer announced a major expansion to its Yorkdale location today.

Apparently, this past year saw record profits for Holt’s, with sales increasing by 10 per cent. (Despite these economically-cautious times, it seems, dedicated Holt’s shoppers are still willing to shell out thousands of dollars on high end designers like Donna Karan and Oscar de la Renta.)

To help celebrate the record year, Yorkdale will be getting an (almost) brand-spanking-new store. The revamped and expanded Holt Renfrew will offer 40 per cent more retail space — from 51,000 to 70,000 square feet — and will anchor the new luxury wing of the mall. It’ll be completely redesigned to feature unique Holt Renfrew in-store events and to offer a broader assortment of customers’ favourite brands and labels, as well as new ones like Rachel Zoe, Tom Ford, and Kate Spade.

The new store will be ready just in time for Christmas shopping in 2012, and customers will continue to be able to shop during the construction phase.

[ACT7]

Article: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/a.../02/c9365.html

PAPYRUS SET TO OPEN TWO STORES IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO
- Stylish Paper Brand a Perfect Fit For Toronto's Financial District -
- Unique Corporate Gift-Giving Offering -



TORONTO, June 2, 2011 /CNW/ - U.S. specialty card store, PAPYRUS, is further expanding into the Canadian market with two store openings in Toronto's downtown financial district. The Scotia Plaza location (40 King St. West) is opening its doors on June 3; and the Brookfield Place location (181 Bay St.) opens July 11.

"PAPYRUS products are designed to inspire genuine personal connections and to both create and celebrate memorable moments in our lives," says Dominique Schurman, CEO, Schurman Retail Group, the brand's parent company. "We provide the spark that enables people to punctuate these priceless moments with unique, stylish greeting cards and gift items that we believe will resonate with the sophisticated Canadian consumer."

A key strategy behind opening two stores in Toronto's financial district is to highlight the outstanding services PAPYRUS provides for corporate clients, targeting a booming corporate gifting market. With over 165 stores in the U.S., the first Canadian PAPYRUS store opened last September, in Calgary.

"We are excited to build on the success of our first store in Canada with our expansion into the Toronto market," adds Schurman. "Our strategy is to roll out PAPYRUS stores in the premium malls and street fronts in the key Canadian markets with a focus on Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal."

PAPYRUS stores specialize in providing an exciting and unique assortment of gift offerings, including engraved gift options for every occasion to further add that personal touch. PAPYRUS offers free design services specializing in stationery, invitations and announcements for their personalized corporate and individual clients. Exciting and creative gift-wrapping options are available-choose from our handmade cards, wrapping paper, ribbons and toppers-and let the consultants on site make it PAPYRUS perfect.

Since the inception of PAPYRUS in 1950-in the family kitchen of Marcel and Margrit Schurman-the brand has become a favorite retail destination for elegant, fun and intimate cards for any occasion. The brand name originates from the earliest form of paper crafted from the papyrus plant.

Says Schurman, "We are thrilled that the PAPYRUS brand has a following in Canada and we look forward to providing a great shopping experience for our Canadian customers."

To celebrate the Toronto openings, PAPYRUS will offer a free greeting card with any purchase, as well as a coupon for 20% off your next gift purchase valid 06.05.11 through 06.30.11


About PAPYRUS
-------------



The word PAPYRUS (pah-pie-rus) comes from the earliest form of paper crafted from the papyrus plant. The company was founded in a family kitchen 60 years ago and was inspired by a love of fine art that was a vision for products of uncompromising quality from which genuine personal connections were made. Today, the company is led by Dominique Schurman, daughter of the founders. The Schurman Retail Group now owns over 440 stores and operates four retail brands: PAPYRUS, Carlton Cards, American Greetings and Paper Thread. Specifically, the PAPYRUS brand operates over 165 stores and offers an ever-expanding array of distinctive and luxurious merchandise including custom printed announcements, products for entertaining, high-end greeting cards, gift wrap, gift bags, stationery, journals, and unique gift items that combine creativity with flair. Visit www.papyrusonline.com for product information and store locations.





For further information: Media Contacts: Jennifer Knox, jenniferkknox@yahoo.ca, 416-882-1432; Jacqueline Salcedo, Jacqueline@topdrawercreative.com, 416-462-1570 x253

[Professor X]

Originally Posted by ACT7

The former Levis at Yonge and Dundas has a work permit on it too (old news, I know) but that might be a good location for a relocated Puma.

You're right, that may be a small space for Dior so the old LV may be a new Dior. Is it confirmed that Links of London is taking the old Mac spot too, or was that a rumour?

Lots changing...

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

Excellent find, Fil. Bloor St is just the wrong match for Puma. Way too high end a street. Would be far better at Yonge and Dundas, where people who wear those shoes shop. Ditto for Nike.

How about having NEITHER big chain retail behemoth there, and instead, having a local business there, like, say, oh I don't know...the Silver Snail? Or maybe a new video arcade?

[Travis007]

As much as we all like to support local independent businesses, it's a known fact that both Yorkville and Yonge/Dundas have sold their souls to corporate giants decades ago. Even if independent stores want to open up here, they simply may not be able to afford the high rents. It's the gradual transition and evolution of neighbourhoods in downtown, which isn't necessarily a bad thing (Many former gritty east/west end areas are now desirable residential neighbourhoods). New hipster hotspots are growing in areas along the fringe of downtown such as Queen (west of Spadina), Kensington, Ossington, Bloor West (where Silver Snail is relocating to), Harbord, Dundas West, Parkdale, Cabbagetown, Queen East, etc. There's also countless of retail strips around outer Toronto where local retailers still thrive.

[Taller, Better]

I hear a lot of tourists from heavily populated regions of Britain commenting on the number of independent corner shops (ie convenience stores) that we have here. In many urban parts of cities like London they have been dissapearing.

[Travis007]

http://business.financialpost.com/20...ore-in-august/

J. Crew to open Yorkdale store in August

Christine Dobby Jun 24, 2011 – 9:00 AM ET | Last Updated: Jun 24, 2011 9:02 AM ET

J. Crew Group Inc. is coming to Toronto in August.

The U.S. retailer announced Friday it will open its first store north of the border at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Mall.

The 5,000 square foot store will be the company’s first location outside of the United States. The company has 251 retail stores including 10 of Crewcuts children’s stores and 22 outlets of its sister brand Madewell. The U.S. retailer was previously only available online in Canada.

[Taller, Better]

One article referred to their clothing as "high end fashion"!?!!??! I've seem pictures and it looks more like American Apparel than anything else. Horrid looking stuff.

Originally Posted by Professor X

How about having NEITHER big chain retail behemoth there, and instead, having a local business there, like, say, oh I don't know...the Silver Snail? Or maybe a new video arcade?

How about "not"? There are a billion appropriate places in our downtown area for a new video arcade, or a Silver Snail. Yonge and Dundas is not one of them any more, any more than pretending Yorkville is still a swell place for hippies to live. Sort of silly to try and pretend it is still 1973, when clearly it is 2011. Areas morph in healthy cities; we are not a dusty museum town like some others.


Of course we support local businesses, but as one of the countries of the world that relies most on trade, Canada cannot afford to put up trade barriers to keep out competition. I grew up in the era of being forced to buy Canadian made shoes (or wind up paying horrifically high artificially imposed duties to buy anything imported). We all wore gawdawful, ugly shoes produced by an industry that was very sweetly protected as a monopoly by the Federal Government. They didn't give a care about being stylish, or competitive; they didn't have to.
Canada sets up shop in foreign countries; as a trading nation we have to accept that others will be doing the same in our back yard. Trade is not a one way street.

[davieb55]

I wouldn't compare J Crew to American Apparel. Nothing alike in my opinion. I'd say it's more like Banana Republic....but you're right...while it's not cheap, it certainly isn't high end.

[allurban]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

I hear a lot of tourists from heavily populated regions of Britain commenting on the number of independent corner shops (ie convenience stores) that we have here. In many urban parts of cities like London they have been dissapearing.

yeah, they are being replaced with ASDA, Marks Food and Tesco Metro and variations on that theme.

Lots of chain restaurants also appearing in London - but horror of horrors, many people are happier with the chains because they have consistency and quality (as opposed to what you find here)

Cheers, m

[Taller, Better]

Well, it is not always easy finding consistency and quality in restaurants over there...

[allurban]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

Well, it is not always easy finding consistency and quality in restaurants over there...

exactly that.

We stayed with my cousin's uncle who lives in Zone 3, and he basically said "come back for dinner every evening"

We didn't want to ask why, but we were curious.

The message we got from him was that it would not be worth it to try the restaurants at random, and we should eat at home and save our money for the really good ones.

Cheers, m

[Travis007]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2088777/

China House dining room closed by condo build


KIM MACKRAEL
Globe and Mail Update
Published Wednesday, Jul. 06, 2011 4:08PM EDT

A popular Chinese restaurant known for its weekly jazz shows and vintage decor will shutter its dining room doors later this month to prepare for the construction of a new condo development.

Mr. Wise said he worked out a deal with the developers, BSAR Group of Companies, that will allow him to keep using the kitchen at the back of the building while a condo showroom is built in the dining area. But he doesn't know how long he'll be able to keep serving from his current location, since that will depend on the developers' timelines.

While Mr. Petroff said the restaurant will be missed, he added that most businesses nearby are looking forward to the influx of new customers that a condominium is likely to bring.

BSAR has not yet submitted a formal development application to the city, and the company said it can’t discuss details of the new building until its application is in. Councillor Joe Mihevc said the new building will likely be about nine stories tall and cover the area occupied by the restaurant and the public parking lot beside it. Underground public parking is also planned.

Councillor Mihevc said some residents have expressed concerns about the new condo building, and he’ll hold a community meeting once an application comes in from BSAR. But since the plans he saw don’t appear to contravene zoning rules, he said it’s likely the development will go ahead.

[Professor X]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

I hear a lot of tourists from heavily populated regions of Britain commenting on the number of independent corner shops (ie convenience stores) that we have here. In many urban parts of cities like London they have been dissapearing.

Oh, about that... a certain group of Brits have been getting somewhat busy trying to rectify that by arresting the invasion of chain stores into most towns and cities by setting up an organization dedicated to addressing the issue: Clone Town Britain (I will quote a bit of their 2010 report)

Clone Town Britain 2010: High street diversity still on endangered list

15 September 2010[/B]

41 per cent of UK towns are clone towns and a further 23 per cent are on the verge of becoming clone towns, according to the widest ever Clone Town survey results released today by leading independent think-tank NEF (New Economics Foundation).

Only 36 per cent of the high streets surveyed retain their distinctive character with more than two thirds of their shops being independents.

The nef report, Re-imagining the High Street: Escape from Clone Town Britain, also brands the multiple chain outlets as “fair weather friends” who have either abandoned the high streets entirely or given up so-called secondary locations.

The report says that overall trend towards “Clone Town Britain”, continues, despite widespread publicity about the loss of local identity following the 2005 Clone Town report.

41 per cent of the towns surveyed were “clone towns” (more than half the stores were chains); 23 per cent are on the verge of becoming clone towns (border towns); and 36 per cent were “home towns” (more than 2/3rds of shops are independents).
Cambridge is the UK’s most cloned town, managing only 11.6 on the diversity scale (out of a possible 100). Only nine varieties of shops are found on the main high street.
Richmond has the most cloned high street of London’s “villages”, with only five independent shops found down its length.
Whitstable, Kent is the best performing “home town”, according to the survey, scoring an impressive 92.1. on the diversity scale.
Nine of the 13 west London village high streets surveyed registered as “clone towns”.

Kind of sounds like what's going on here in Toronto.

Originally Posted by allurban

Lots of chain restaurants also appearing in London - but horror of horrors, many people are happier with the chains because they have consistency and quality (as opposed to what you find here)

Oh, they have that, all right, and a lot more- mediocrity, mostly; crappy food made with the same condiments and ingredients found at the supermarket, and tasting like what's served at every other chain resto worldwide. Definitely something worth coming to a big city to eat rather than something different and original-not. :

[allurban]

Originally Posted by Professor X

Oh, they have that, all right, and a lot more- mediocrity, mostly; crappy food made with the same condiments and ingredients found at the supermarket, and tasting like what's served at every other chain resto worldwide. Definitely something worth coming to a big city to eat rather than something different and original-not. :

Considering what has been said about British food in the past (and not so recent past), mediocrity is probably a step up

Cheers, m

[Taller, Better]

I love traditional British foods when they are cooked properly. Often in the UK, the problem is not the food or the recipes, but the careless or completely unskilled preparation.

[Travis007]

http://www.blogto.com/fashion_style/...chasse_gardee/

This Week in Fashion: Joe Fresh store openings, Urban Contemporary Africana, Caitlin Power comes to Toronto, hot dogs and heels at Chasse Gardee


Posted by Paul Aguirre / JULY 13, 2011

Joe Fresh announces more store openings with first one next week

Build it, and they will come. I'm guessing that's the motto employed by Joe Fresh mastermind Joe Mimran and his team. The (almost) H&M-killing clothing line, once known as "oh yeah, that Loblaws brand" is taking a giant leap forward with the announcement of three new store openings in the GTA throughout the rest of 2011. There's already an outpost in Vancouver (pictured) and another one set to open in Quebec in September, not to mention the much-hyped plans for a store on New York City's Fifth Avenue. The first ribbon cutting goes down next week at the 9,500-square-foot Golden Mile (1880 Eglinton Avenue East). A smaller store is slated to open this fall at Carlton & Church in The Gardens and another big one at Queen W. & Portland, both, I assume, within earshot of new Loblaws locations. As a bonus, each new store will also offer a 20 per cent off all purchases on opening day.

[ACT7]

The Louis Vuitton signage has gone up at 150 Bloor - opening summer 2012. The other tenant(s) remain a mystery.

[Taller, Better]

Thx, Act!

[current]

The Grid article:


_Fri Jul 29, 2011_Food and Drink
Gourmet hot dogs coming to clubland
Fusion-food guru Dinah Koo is set to unveil Fusia Dog on Duncan Street in the Entertainment District.



BY: Jacob Rutka

Famous for its hot dog stands, the Entertainment District will soon have a new resto hoping to capitalize on Toronto’s love for glorious street meat.

Opening next month in the former Quick Pita site at 65 Duncan Street (between Queen and Richmond), Fusia Dog will be selling “multi-cultural hot dogs, wraps & more.” The brainchild of uptown fusion-food guru Dinah Koo, the wiener purveyor has dreamed up inventive concoctions like the Boston Dog, with baked beans and cheddar, and a Mediterranean frank with grilled vegetables, feta and black olives. “Nowadays you have a lot of places doing gourmet burgers with multicultural toppings,” Koo says. “We’re trying to take the hot dog to new highs.”

Using all-beef, kosher, gluten-free franks, the hot dogs are quite simply unlike anything you’ve ever tasted. Last weekend at the T & T Waterfront Nightmarket, I had a chance to try the Asian-inspired dog, which paired the frank with kimchi, carrot and daikon salad, coriander and wasabi mayo, and wrapped it in an Indian-style paratha bread. Fans of Koo’s previous endeavours will be happy to know she is bringing some of her old favourites (like the legendary Peking duck quesadilla) to the new menu.

Hoping to open in a few weeks, Fusia Dog appears to be continuing the trend of Toronto restaurants that do one thing really, really well (WVRST, Porchetta & Co., etc). If done properly, this might revolutionize the way we eat hot dogs, and as long as it appeals to the drunk-and-hungry crowd, Koo may have a winning wiener

http://www.thegridto.com/life/food-d...g-to-clubland/

[Taller, Better]

multi-cultural hot dogs? I'm not sure I like the sound of them, actually...