When Toronto-based Basil Box closed its Queen & Spadina location in October 2024, the next tenant didn’t waste any time in getting their feet wet.
Basil Box opened at 441 Queen St W in late 2016 after a short lived concept called “Quantum Burger” closed a year after debut. The previous tenant list over the last two decades included Hero Certified Burgers and Lettieri.
Tim Hortons opened its new storefront on December 28th, bringing a sense of stability to an area that’s undergoing major construction with the future Ontario Line Spadina subway station.
The southwest and northeast corners of the intersection, which will have direct access to the subway, have seen their tenants relocated and buildings converted into active construction sites.
TD Bank moved to the former Flightcentre HQ at King/Spadina, while CIBC relocated to 364 Queen West in the former ASICS storefront. The Japanese footwear brand shuttered its only full-priced Canadian storefront back in 2022, but still has a prominent outlet business in the country.
The Northwest corner is home to an infamous McDonalds, a historically rough location has the potential to update the store design to take advantage of a to-go or mobile pickup strategy, which other QSR restaurants in the core have adapted with success, including Starbucks and Tim Hortons. The McDonalds has more than high walkthrough traffic, as it’s also constantly packed with delivery bikes, which frequent the neighbouring businesses like Popeyes Chicken and Bahn Mi Boys.
The future Spadina Ontario Line station will open in an unknown decade, but if the Eglinton Crosstown construction provides a foreshadowing timeframe – the community is getting set for 7-10 years of uncertainty.
As Tim Hortons opens, the rest of the Queen/Spadina intersection will continue to develop with two timelines, short term (aka during construction) and long term (aka post subway opening).
Brands that can cater to the construction zone, like recently opened UK-based quick service (and first Canadian location) I Am Doner and a soon-to-open Poulet Rouge, which is opening in the former Nobis at 360 Queen Street West.
We’ll be looking at much more in the neighbourhood coming soon, such as Atlas Paws Club opening its next location in the former DROP Boxing & Athletic space at 161 Spadina Ave. This is the second dog-focused business opening in the area, which recently saw Hound House TO open its first dog-friendly co-working space at 501 Queen Street W late last year.
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.