While walking along Dundas St W. in the Junction it would be difficult not to notice that most of the storefronts are occupied with running businesses or premises in the process of renovations to open.
Talk is about of two pubs, one a brew pub being constructed and a new specialist eyeglass retailer as well as new sushi restaurant.
It has been a long time probably the the early 80’s that the Junction strip was this full of retailers, which causes the question to asked why? Is the buildup of business types reached a critical level and the number of businesses can draw the need customer traffic? Has the level of income in the Junction increased thus drawing the retailers.?
8 Comments
No, its a population boom. People are being driven out of downtown due to rising prices and, up until a short while ago, this area was an affordable place to snag a deal on property.
As always, good businesses succeed, poor businesses fail. The Junction has seen its fair share of both and seems to being going through another cycle.
Two pubs? Has anyone heard anything about the Troubadour? Last I heard it was shutting down temporarily and was supposed to reopen in a new location, but that was a while ago…
We came to the Junction because we wanted to buy a building and we knew we were a destination store, so being a bit off the beaten track wasn't a huge negative. Plus the main streets downtown just didn't feel right. We really took a shine to the neighborhood, especially knowing that we wanted to live where we worked as well. I have talked to numerous business owners in the area and I'd say at least 50% are local.
Another BIG factor is that older businesses have been holding on to their storefronts for way too long, without updating their business model so that modern shoppers will go there, or else just sitting on the space without actually offering any goods or services (many in the Junction!). In the last year or so, they are finally retiring, allowing the next generation of small business owners a chance at a livelihood. It's an exciting time for the downtown as a whole! Reclaiming main street from the banality of big box shopping malls.
I think that it is key for businesses to be both attractive to the local community AND as destination shops, and the Junction is super lucky to have that combination in spades. We can only hope that everyone keeps supporting the strip, and that the folks who automatically head south to Bloor West will discover that The Junction is a place worth venturing to.
Ps. I don't think the Troubadore is coming back 🙁 but yay to the new brewpub!
The condos. As Richard said, a population boom, plus the results of a push towards gentrification thats been in the works for years, right?
I have heard of the brew pub just west of Keele on the North side of Dundas, but what about a second pub? I haven't heard about that yet, although it would be great.
Sometimes I look at these businesses and wonder how they plan to survive? Sad to say, but a lot of them look empty most of the time.
There's not a whole lot of foot traffic – Dundas used to be the de facto mainstreet for Western Toronto, but there's a whole lot of other options these days.
It seems like the only people who frequent the local shops are locals…. I think there will need to be more residential development, or it's always going to be a bit sleepy up here.
Lots of neighbourhood business all over Toronto turnover. Its how it goes, not unique to Dundas. There is room for another street with shops.
Also there are a lot of new people moving in. Condos tend to attract younger people and there friends – who will inevitably be strolling on the "high street" Its the way it goes. They aren't even full yet, and there are two smaller condos being finished on Annette.
"Another BIG factor is that older businesses have been holding on to their storefronts for way too long, without updating their business model so that modern shoppers will go there, or else just sitting on the space without actually offering any goods or services"
Amen! Can't even count the number of businesses that would be better off to close and move on in our neighbourhood, rather then sit open with sun-stained window displays and outdated merchandise
The investments in the area like burying the overhead wires, cleaning up public spaces, and the work of the BIA have helped too. There has a general renewal of interest in pre-automobile age commercial/residential districts like the Junction, which was nurtured by the likes of the Miller administration, championing the pedestrian and transit improvements that make areas like this one viable.