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 particular walk is part of a series with local real estate brokers, exploring an area’s past, present, and future—an approach 6ixRetail is excited to incorporate into our next phase of reporting.
Richmond University Vision Care has relocated one block away to Downtown Vision at 130 Adelaide Street West, consolidating optical services in the downtown core. The established eye care provider, previously situated on University Avenue, now offers its services alongside Downtown Vision in this Adelaide Street location, maintaining its presence in the Financial District while adapting to changing retail dynamics.
Meanwhile, the entire retail podium at 200 University Avenue has fallen vacant, creating a noticeable void in the busy downtown corridor. Green Box, formerly a tenant in this complex, has moved operations to 180 Queen Street West, taking over the space previously occupied by Starbucks. This migration of businesses reflects the ongoing reconfiguration of Toronto’s downtown retail landscape as businesses seek optimal locations in the post-pandemic environment.
Vero Sandwich Co. is preparing to open its doors at 477 Queen Street West this March, bringing authentic Italian sandwiches to one of Toronto’s premier shopping and dining districts. The sandwich shop will occupy the space previously held by imPerfect Fresh Eats, adding to the area’s diverse food offerings.
The new eatery will focus on freshly made Italian sandwiches, contributing to Queen Street West’s reputation as a destination for quality food experiences. According to signage at the location, Vero Sandwich Co. is slated to launch in March 2025, marking another transition in this stretch of Queen West that has seen numerous food service changes in recent years. The property at 477 Queen Street West maintains its food service designation but shifts from imPerfect’s health-focused menu to Vero’s Italian sandwich specialization.
After operating for less than 18 months at 311A Queen Street West, Backdoor has shuttered its downtown Toronto location while securing a new, larger space at 491 Queen Street West. The sneaker and streetwear reseller, which began as an Instagram page in 2016 before establishing its first physical store in Vaughan, announced via social media they’re “going bigger” with what they describe as their largest Toronto location to date. Known for attracting music industry celebrities and offering substantial discounts on luxury brands including Yeezy and Versace, Backdoor continues its expansion despite its brief tenure at the original Queen West address.
The new Backdoor location at 491 Queen Street West previously housed DUER, the Vancouver-based performance denim retailer that relocated to 44 Ossington Avenue in May 2023. DUER’s move was influenced by several factors, including the upcoming Ontario Line subway construction at Queen and Spadina. The former DUER space at 491 Queen West now provides Backdoor with a more prominent retail footprint in one of Toronto’s prime shopping districts.
Shawarma Royale is set to open its newest Toronto location at 565 Queen Street West, bringing its Middle Eastern cuisine to a space that previously housed The Healthy Butcher and subsequently Rowe Farms before shuttering in 2024.
The arrival of Shawarma Royale represents the third food retailer to occupy this Queen West storefront since 2022. Founded by Mohammed Roumia in Waterloo in 2017, Shawarma Royale has expanded rapidly across Ontario, now operating 21 locations throughout the Greater Toronto Area. The Queen West location joins the company’s growing downtown Toronto presence, which includes outposts on Yonge Street, The Queensway, Danforth Avenue, and Eglinton Avenue East.
Westbank’s distinctive King Toronto development at 483 King Street West is continuing to transform the King and Spadina area with its mountain-like architectural design featuring four peaks surrounding a 21,000-square-foot central courtyard. The 16-story complex includes significant retail space at street level, with the public plaza divided into two distinct zones — a landscaped mini-forest with evergreen trees adjacent to an urban hardscaped court with seating areas providing direct access to ground-floor retail establishments.
The retail component extends through several restored heritage buildings along King Street West, offering boutique spaces that connect to both the street and the inner courtyard. This creates multiple frontages for future retailers, with visibility from both King Street and the development’s internal public spaces. The specific retail tenants for this architecturally significant development remain unannounced, with the neighbourhood watching closely to see what businesses will occupy this unique mixed-use project.
The former N’awlins Jazz Bar location at 299 King Street West is showing signs of new life, with a “Leased” sign now visible on the historic property in Toronto’s Entertainment District. The multi-level space, which sits directly across from TIFF Bell Lightbox, has secured a new tenant after being marketed by Cubecom Commercial Realty.
While specific details about the incoming business have not yet been announced, the prime location benefits from exceptional exposure with nearly 19,000 daily pedestrians passing by, according to Cubecom’s marketing materials. The property offers approximately 3,210 square feet across three floors plus a basement, and includes an existing patio space. Located in one of downtown Toronto’s most dynamic retail corridors with a perfect 100/100 walk and transit score, this space continues the ongoing revitalization of King Street West’s food and beverage landscape.
Construction is now visibly progressing at CF Toronto Eaton Centre where several high-profile tenants will soon occupy significant portions of the downtown shopping center. The development area currently features construction hoarding marking the future locations of Eataly’s first Toronto food hall, Quebec-based department store Simons, and an expanded Nike flagship store, all part of Cadillac Fairview’s ongoing investment in the property.
Thanks for joining our February 21st photo walk through downtown Toronto! The route provided a comprehensive view of retail evolution across multiple districts, beginning at The Well development on Front Street, continuing along King Street West’s restaurant row, through Queen Street West’s changing retail landscape, and concluding with documentation of the Eaton Centre construction progress. This retail documentation series continues to track Toronto’s commercial property transitions, offering insights on leasing trends and neighborhood development patterns across the downtown core.
Our next photo update will be highlights from a 10km+ walk from Yonge & Lawrence to Yonge & Dundas.
Dustin Fuhs is the Editor-in-Chief of 6ix Retail. He is the former Editor-in-Chief of Retail Insider, Canada’s most-read retail trade publication. He has over 20 years of experience in the retail, marketing, entertainment and hospitality industries, including with The Walt Disney Company, The Hockey Hall of Fame, Starbucks and Blockbuster.
Dustin was named as a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert in 2024 and 2025.