Canada’s largest family-owned organic grocery chain is making a major play for midtown Toronto. Healthy Planet has secured the long-vacant former Sport Chek space at 2529 Yonge Street, just north of Eglinton Avenue, and plans to transform it into a 12,817-square-foot, two-level health food destination. The store represents the company’s most ambitious Toronto expansion yet and signals growing confidence in multi-story urban retail formats as the independent grocer races toward its goal of 100 locations across Ontario.
The announcement comes as the Yonge and Eglinton area continues its transformation with the Eglinton Crosstown LRT finally approaching completion, new healthy food concepts like Mandy Salads and Impact Kitchen opening nearby, and significant residential density under construction. The timing positions Healthy Planet to capture a customer base already primed for its organic and wellness-focused offering.
“Real estate in Canada presents significant challenges for independent grocers like us, particularly family-owned operations without private equity backing,” says Ashish Khera, Chief Marketing Officer at Healthy Planet. “Finding the right real estate at the right size for communities has always been our goal. The Yonge and Eglinton location represents exactly what we’ve been looking for—the perfect combination of location, space, and community fit.”
The 12,000-square-foot location is the result of careful experimentation that began with Healthy Planet’s Yonge and Dundas store, which opened in 2023. That location served as a proving ground for whether the company could succeed with multi-story formats in high-rent downtown environments where shopping patterns differ dramatically from suburban locations.
“The Yonge and Dundas store was our testing ground for multi-level urban formats,” Khera explains. “We needed to understand whether the economics could work with higher lease costs and different customer behaviors. Urban shoppers are daily visitors who walk or take transit, so they’re looking for lighter, more frequent shopping trips compared to suburban customers who drive in and fill larger carts. The success at Yonge and Dundas gave us the confidence to pursue an even larger opportunity at Eglinton.”
Founded in 1995 from a small kiosk on Danforth Avenue, Healthy Planet has evolved from a supplement-focused health food store into a full-service organic grocer. What started as a destination for bodybuilders and supplement enthusiasts has become a one-stop shop for health-conscious families, offering organic produce, Healthy Planet Kitchen prepared foods, supplements, and natural beauty products.
“Our evolution from a supplement seller to a comprehensive organic grocer reflects what our customers were asking for,” Khera says. “A decade ago, we were known primarily for sports nutrition and supplements. But as the organic movement grew and customers became more conscious about where their food comes from, we recognized an opportunity to be their complete wellness destination.”
This focus on customer experience represents Healthy Planet’s key differentiator against conventional grocery giants. The company staffs its stores with holistic nutritionists, naturopathic doctors, and dietitians who guide customers through unfamiliar product categories.
“We don’t just sell products—we build relationships,” Khera explains. “When you walk into a typical grocery store, staff are restocking shelves or focused on operational tasks. At Healthy Planet, we take a pause. Our team members have conversations. Sometimes customers are talking about kids or life, and then naturally the conversation turns to health goals or concerns. That’s when our trained nutritionists and health experts can really make a difference.”
When the Yonge and Eglinton location opens in the first half of 2026, it will showcase nearly the complete Healthy Planet assortment across two levels. The store will feature a Healthy Planet Kitchen section producing grab-and-go meals, salads, and prepared foods made with organic produce and high-welfare meats. The company already operates a smaller location at Leaside in the area, and customer feedback from that store helped inform the decision to pursue a much larger format.
“We get customers walking into our Leaside location regularly asking when they’ll get a bigger store with our full selection,” Khera notes. “The Yonge and Eglinton location will offer the complete Healthy Planet experience that this community has been asking for.”
The site selection process took years, with Healthy Planet’s leasing team circling back on the property multiple times before the deal came together. The patience reflects the company’s commitment to finding the right opportunities rather than forcing expansion into suboptimal locations.
“Opening new locations takes time because we’re meticulous about getting it right,” Khera says. “We need to understand the neighborhood demographics, the competitive landscape, the foot traffic patterns, the transit accessibility. Rushing into the wrong location would be worse than waiting for the right opportunity.”
Sustainability has become an increasingly important part of Healthy Planet’s mission, reflected in initiatives like the company’s partnership with Too Good to Go, a platform that allows retailers to sell food nearing its expiration date at reduced prices to prevent waste. The program focuses on items from Healthy Planet Kitchen and produce sections, serving a dual purpose of reducing food waste while introducing new customers to organic products they might not otherwise try at full price.
“When someone gets organic strawberries through Too Good to Go at a reduced price, they’re not just preventing food waste,” Khera says. “They’re experiencing for the first time how different organic produce tastes compared to conventional. That taste experience often converts skeptics into regular organic shoppers who understand why quality ingredients matter.”
The Yonge and Eglinton announcement is part of Healthy Planet’s broader expansion strategy. The company will have 42 stores by the end of 2025. A new Markham store at 8555 Woodbine Avenue, Markham, at Woodbine Avenue and Highway 7 is set to open in December 2025, and a North Etobicoke location near Highway 401 is also in development.
“We can fill and merchandise a store in under four weeks once construction is complete, but we never rush the customer experience elements,” Khera says. “Training staff, ensuring our nutritionists are prepared, getting the product mix right for each neighborhood—those things take the time they take.”
Healthy Planet aims to continue its expansion pace as it accelerates toward its goal of reaching 100 stores. The expansion spans the Greater Toronto Area and extends into markets like Ottawa, Niagara Falls, Belleville, London, Kitchener, and Guelph.
For residents and workers in the Yonge and Eglinton area who have been tracking the long-vacant Sport Chek space, the Healthy Planet announcement represents a significant amenity addition to the neighborhood. Combined with the eventual opening of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and the arrival of other health-focused food concepts, the area is rapidly evolving into one of Toronto’s most walkable, transit-connected, and wellness-oriented neighborhoods.
Eli Vladimirsky of Value Insight Realty represented Healthy Planet in the transaction, while Savills represented the landlord.
Related Articles
- Shake Shack Opens Yonge & Eglinton Location in High-Traffic Transit Corridor
- Mandy’s Announces Multi-City Expansion, Adding Yonge & Eglinton and Canary District to Toronto Portfolio
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.