A Greek fast-casual brand that has built a devoted following across Athens, Cyprus, and Lebanon is making Toronto its first North American address, opening at 357 Bremner Blvd. on June 12. 6ixRetail spotted the Coming Soon wraps at the corner of Bremner and Spadina back in April.
Mailo’s The Pasta Project was founded in 2019 by Nikos Moutsouroufis, who set out to do something the pasta category had largely ignored: treat it like street food. Fresh pasta, bold sauces, served fast in a signature red to-go cup. The format caught on quickly. The brand now operates more than 50 locations internationally, and Toronto is where it tests whether that momentum travels to a new continent.
The menu is built around choice and speed. Guests pick a pasta shape — rigatoni, casarecce, or campanelle — then pair it with one of 13 sauces, from a classic carbonara to a Greek-inspired pastitsio. The red to-go cup has become as recognizable as the food itself in the markets where Mailo’s already operates.
Moutsouroufis was direct about why Toronto came first. “Toronto is our strategic launchpad — a multicultural, trend-driven city that will help shape our future growth across North America,” he said. “Our first store is designed to be more than just a point of sale; it’s a destination where we can build awareness, foster community, and introduce guests to the Mailo’s experience.”
That framing will sound familiar to anyone watching Toronto’s retail and hospitality market closely right now. International brands are increasingly treating this city not as a Canadian market entry, but as a North American one. Flying Tiger Copenhagen chose CF Toronto Eaton Centre for its continental debut, opening late June as part of a broader GTA rollout. Playa Bowls, the New Jersey-based acai bowl chain, picked The Well for its first Canadian location, also opening this month. AIRE Ancient Baths, the Spanish thermal spa brand, opened its first Canadian location on Front Street West in late 2025. OCHE, the international gastro-gaming concept, chose Toronto for its first Canadian address as well.
The pattern is consistent: Toronto’s density, cultural diversity, and consumer appetite for new concepts make it the most logical first bet for brands arriving from outside North America or expanding into Canada for the first time. Mailo’s fits that profile almost exactly.
The CityPlace location puts the brand at Bremner and Spadina, surrounded by thousands of condo residents and steps from Rogers Centre. With baseball season in full swing come opening day, the foot traffic argument writes itself. Whether CityPlace’s residential base can sustain a brand with international ambitions beyond the novelty window is the real question — and the answer will likely determine how quickly Mailo’s moves to its second Canadian address.
6ixRetail will update this article following the June 12 opening.
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 roles with industry giants such as The Walt Disney Company, The Hockey Hall of Fame, The Canadian Opera Company, Starbucks Canada and Blockbuster.
Recognized as a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert in 2024, 2025 and 2026, Dustin delivers insider perspectives on Toronto’s evolving retail landscape, from emerging brands to established players reshaping the city’s commercial districts.