As Toronto’s retail landscape evolves, we’re launching a new format to capture the changes through photo reports. While not a daily feature, these visual updates on 6ixRetail.com will highlight significant retail developments, openings, closures, and community stories across our journeys.
This walk was going to be centred around a rare trip to the Royal Ontario Museum, which we found out is closed on Mondays. So instead of turning back, we decided to continue and explore a stretch of Bloor that’s continuing to rebound from being hit hard during the pandemic – The Annex & Koreatown.
The Bloor Street West corridor at Christie Street has emerged as a focal point of retail regeneration, with multiple new businesses establishing presences in previously vacant storefronts. This western edge of Koreatown has demonstrated particular resilience, with independent operators leading the neighborhood’s commercial revitalization following pandemic-related disruptions.
The area’s recovery reflects broader trends in Toronto’s secondary retail corridors, where culturally-specific food and service businesses continue driving foot traffic despite ongoing market challenges. As warmer weather approaches, this stretch of Bloor West is positioned to capitalize on increased pedestrian activity, with its distinctive mix of Korean, Japanese and pan-Asian concepts maintaining the district’s reputation as a destination dining corridor.
Mapo Pocha Korean Soju Bar has established itself at the Christie Street intersection, expanding Toronto’s authentic Korean dining options within the city’s vibrant Koreatown district. The concept combines traditional Korean drinking food with a contemporary soju bar experience, filling a previously vacant retail space on a corner that has witnessed significant turnover in recent years.
Construction activity continues at the expansive Mirvish Village redevelopment site, with visible progress on the mixed-use project that spans the former Honest Ed’s property and surrounding blocks. The multi-building development, which occupies nearly an entire city block at Bloor and Bathurst Streets, represents one of the area’s most significant urban renewal initiatives.
The project, which will incorporate retail at street level beneath residential towers, has been advancing steadily following extended planning and demolition phases. While construction timelines have been adjusted since the project’s initial announcement, the development remains on track to deliver a substantial commercial component that will fundamentally reshape the retail landscape of this section of The Annex neighborhood. Additional reporting on leasing activity and confirmed retail tenants will follow as the project approaches completion.
Kinka Izakaya has permanently closed its Bloor Street location in the Annex, consolidating the restaurant group’s Toronto footprint to three remaining venues. The Kinka Family brand continues operating its original Church Street restaurant alongside North York and Harbourfront establishments.
The closure aligns with the company’s recent strategic shift toward premium offerings through its Kinka Sushi Bar concepts, which feature expanded sushi selections. This repositioning responds to increasing specialization across Toronto’s Japanese restaurant market, leaving a notable vacancy in the Annex’s diverse dining corridor.
Penguin Pickup’s Annex location at 529 Bloor Street West will cease operations on March 21, 2025, with the facility no longer accepting new package deliveries after March 7th. The parcel collection point, strategically positioned between Sushi on Bloor and Lee’s Palace, represents another service-based retail closure in a corridor that has experienced significant turnover.
The pickup point’s departure creates a potential opportunity in a high-visibility section of Bloor Street that maintains strong pedestrian traffic from both local residents and University of Toronto students. Penguin Pickup, which expanded rapidly across Toronto during the e-commerce boom, has been adjusting its physical footprint as competition from alternative delivery solutions and changing consumer behaviors reshape the last-mile delivery sector.
Two retail units adjacent to the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema at 506 Bloor Street West now sit vacant, creating a notable gap in the Annex’s retail corridor despite the cinema’s continued operations. The spaces, which previously complemented the cultural venue, have joined several other vacancies along this stretch of Bloor Street.
The cinema property, originally the Bloor Cinema before its 2011 acquisition by Blue Ice Film and subsequent partnership with Hot Docs, maintains its position as a cultural anchor in the neighborhood. However, the empty storefronts reflect ongoing challenges in maintaining complementary retail alongside entertainment venues in Toronto’s secondary shopping districts. The property owner has not announced replacement tenants for these high-visibility spaces situated in a prime section of the Annex.
New Generation Sushi has closed its 486 Bloor Street West location after 26 years in the Annex. The Japanese restaurant, which had operated since 1999, ceased operations on January 31 with furniture now cleared from the interior while its distinctive signage remains in place.
The closure reportedly stems from the owner’s retirement, creating another vacancy in this section of Bloor West. The restaurant had been known for its affordable sushi combos, bento boxes and Japanese staples in a high-traffic location that will likely attract interest from potential replacement tenants.
New signage for Simit-Chi has appeared at 501 Bloor Street West, though we have yet to find the business online for confirmation to what the restaurant will be offering. The prominent Annex location, which previously housed Chipotle Mexican Grill and was once home to Book City, is preparing for its next retail incarnation.
The space sits at a high-traffic section in the heart of the Annex neighborhood, maintaining its appeal despite significant turnover in the surrounding retail landscape. This location’s transition continues to reflect the evolving commercial mix along the Bloor Street corridor.
Blanco Cantina has opened its first Ontario location at 384 Bloor Street West, marking the Alberta-based Tex-Mex chain’s expansion eastward. The restaurant occupies the former Superfresh Asian food hall space in the Annex neighborhood.
The Toronto establishment becomes Blanco Cantina’s seventh Canadian location, joining existing restaurants across Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Regina and Saskatoon. Since opening in early 2025, the concept has focused on its signature dual happy hours featuring $7 margaritas and $3 tacos, differentiating itself in the corridor’s competitive dining landscape.
This won’t be the last trip to this stretch, so there will be more in the near future as the weather gets better for walking.
The Bloor Street West corridor between Bathurst and Christie Streets continues to experience significant retail transformation, with several notable closures and new entrants reshaping the commercial landscape. This initial documentation captures key developments within the neighborhood, with more comprehensive coverage planned for the spring season.
Further exploration of the area will provide additional insights into leasing activity surrounding the Mirvish Village development, ongoing tenant transitions, and emerging retail trends within this historically significant shopping district. The area’s evolution reflects broader market dynamics affecting Toronto’s secondary retail corridors, where food service concepts increasingly dominate available storefronts.
Construction is in full force at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) as the institution advances its ambitious “OpenROM” transformation project, which will dramatically reimagine its Bloor Street entrance and interior spaces. The $50 million initiative, funded entirely through private philanthropy, began in February 2024 and is scheduled for completion in 2027.
The extensive renovation, designed by Canadian architectural firm Hariri Pontarini Architects, includes the creation of a four-story atrium, expansion of gallery space, and a complete redesign of the Bloor Street plaza and Michael Lee-Chin Crystal entrance. The reimagined main floor will feature 6,000 additional square feet of exhibition space and the Hennick Commons, a central gathering area that will host year-round free programming and performances. While construction continues, the Bloor Street entrance remains closed, with visitors directed to the Weston Entrance on Queen’s Park. The museum maintains regular operations throughout the three-year construction period, though visitors should note the facility is closed on Mondays.
The next few photos are from the Bloor Yorkville coridor, including high profile intersections that will be discussed in the near future.
The former Peloton Bloor storefront at 151 Bloor Street West has hit the leasing market, adding another high-visibility opportunity along Toronto’s luxury shopping corridor. The 2,751-square-foot storefront steps from the corner of Bloor and Avenue Road is being marketed by CBRE as immediately available.
While luxury space has become available in another part of Bloor Street, at 157 Bloor Street West, fast-fashion retailer Urban Planet shuttered it’s pop-up and we are awaiting the next retailer to take on the iconic space.
The prominent intersection of Bay and Bloor Streets in Toronto’s Yorkville district continues to showcase the area’s evolving retail landscape, with attention focused eastward toward The One development at Yonge Street. The 85-story mixed-use tower remains without an anchor retail tenant after Apple’s withdrawal from the project.
The One’s retail component represents a significant addition to Toronto’s luxury corridor, though its completion timeline and tenant mix remain uncertain. Market observers continue to monitor the high-profile development, with active discussions regarding potential replacement tenants taking place on urban development forums including Urban Toronto.
Scotiabank’s Bloor Street branch is preparing for its imminent relocation to the One Bloor development, with a mid-March opening date set for the financial institution’s new location. The move represents one of the final components in First Capital’s mixed-use project at Yonge and Bloor, which has methodically filled its retail podium with national and international brands.
The development has already welcomed several high-profile tenants, with Nike and Spanish fashion retailer Mango both operational in their respective spaces. Complementing these retail offerings, entertainment concept Ballroom Bowl and quick-service restaurant Chick-fil-A have established their presence in the complex. Following Scotiabank’s March opening, fitness operator Altea Active will complete the tenant roster, finalizing the project’s commercial mix at this strategic downtown intersection.
Hockridge China’s Yonge Street location remains closed following fire damage, with a website notification indicating the specialty retailer plans to resume operations once repairs are completed. The longtime tableware and giftware merchant has been a fixture in Toronto’s downtown retail landscape for generations.
The closure represents one of several temporary business interruptions affecting the Yonge Street corridor, though in this case the shutdown stems from specific property damage rather than broader market conditions. Hockridge continues to maintain its storefront presence and branding during the repair process, signaling its commitment to eventually reopening at this location despite the setback. No specific timeline for completion of repairs has been publicly announced.
Construction progresses steadily at Concord Sky, the 95-story residential tower development at Yonge and Gerrard Streets in downtown Toronto. The project, which will become one of Canada’s tallest residential structures upon completion, includes significant retail space integrated into its lower levels.
The development represents a major addition to Toronto’s evolving retail landscape, with its commercial component positioned to serve both the building’s residents and the surrounding high-density neighborhood. Developer Concord Adex has not yet announced confirmed retail tenants for the spaces, though the prime Yonge Street frontage is expected to attract significant interest from national and international brands seeking presence in Toronto’s downtown core.
The former Aerie space at CF Toronto Eaton Centre has closed for refurbishment, as American Eagle Outfitters implements a strategic retail reconfiguration within the downtown shopping complex.
American Eagle has completed renovations to create a refreshed American Eagle storefront alongside a dedicated Offline by Aerie activation. This transformation maintains the company’s activewear offering while discontinuing the separate traditional Aerie location elsewhere in the mall. Cadillac Fairview continues working to address tenant transitions throughout the high-traffic shopping centre.
Bready has opened at The Exchange Tower in Toronto’s Financial District, taking over the former Tim Hortons Innovation Cafe space at 130 King Street West. The bakery concept marks the latest retail transition in an area still navigating post-pandemic office worker patterns.
The prime retail location had previously housed Tim Hortons’ upscale concept cafe, which opened in summer 2019 but closed in spring 2021 amid downtown office vacancies. That experimental location had featured elevated offerings including Dream Donuts, draft lattes, and pourover coffees unavailable at standard Tim Hortons outlets. Bready’s arrival signals continuing retailer confidence in the Financial District’s recovery, though the area’s foot traffic remains below pre-pandemic levels as hybrid work arrangements persist among many downtown employers.
Thanks for joining our March 3rd coverage of Toronto’s Annex and Bloor-Yorkville corridors! Our exploration documented significant transitions including Blanco Cantina’s arrival in the former Superfresh location, New Generation Sushi’s closure after 26 years, Mapo Pocha Korean Soju Bar’s opening, and the remaining fire damage at Hockridge China. The walk also captured luxury retail shifts around Bloor and Avenue Road, with significant leasing opportunities emerging at 151 Bloor West and ongoing construction at The One development. This documentation series continues to track Toronto’s evolving retail landscape, offering insights on leasing trends and neighborhood development patterns across key shopping districts.
We’re still working through the photos from our Yonge & Lawrence trip, but with 10kms+ – there are complications to setting it up to be readable.
Dustin Fuhs is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of 6ix Retail, Toronto’s premier source for retail and hospitality industry news. As the former Editor-in-Chief of Retail Insider, Canada’s most-read retail trade publication, Dustin brings over two decades of expertise spanning retail, marketing, entertainment and hospitality sectors. His experience includes leadership roles with industry giants such as The Walt Disney Company, The Hockey Hall of Fame, Starbucks and Blockbuster.
Recognized as a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert in 2024 and 2025, Dustin delivers insider perspectives on Toronto’s evolving retail landscape, from emerging brands to established players reshaping the city’s commercial districts.