Quebec lighting brand Luminaire Authentik is expanding its Toronto presence with a second location at 170 King St. E, taking over a space most recently occupied by Italian furniture brand Calligaris, which relocated its Toronto showroom to the Castlefield Design District last year.
The move is a significant upgrade for the brand in this city. Luminaire Authentik has operated a 700-square-foot boutique at 1027 Queen St. E in Leslieville since late 2020, but the new 2,260-square-foot King East address, puts the brand in much heavier design trade territory.
The space sits on the northeast corner of King and George Street within King George Square, directly across from the St. James Campus of George Brown Polytechnic and about a block north of St. Lawrence Market. Neighbouring design destinations along the strip include EQ3, Design Within Reach, Trianon Design, Mohawk Group Showroom, and the Keilhauer Showroom, which opened in April 2023. Cosentino opened a new flagship City Centre showroom just two blocks away on Front Street and Frederick St. in October 2025.
Founded in 2015 by Maude Rondeau, Luminaire Authentik designs and manufactures all of its fixtures in-house at its Cowansville, Quebec workshop, sourcing materials from within 30 kilometres of the factory. The brand offers extensive customization across pendant lights, wall mounts and ceiling fixtures for residential, hospitality and commercial projects, with prices starting around $345. Beyond its three Quebec and Toronto locations, the brand also has a presence at the Atelier Jacob showroom in Georgetown, Washington D.C.
The King East stretch itself is in the middle of a quiet but steady transformation. Velvet Lane Cakes and Cafe at 173 King East and the recently opened MAST Coffee at 61 Jarvis St. are adding to the neighbourhood’s day-to-day foot traffic and dwell time. Directly across the street from the new Luminaire Authentik location, Lift Salon has recently relocated and opened a new storefront at 241 King St E, beside Ardo restaurant, previously occupied by David Mitchell for over a decade. The Patrician Grill, a longstanding neighbourhood fixture just around the corner, has announced it will close on May 9, 2026 after the owner’s retirement.
Development pressure on the block is also building. Directly across the street at 185 King East, Gupta Group has a proposed 46-storey mixed-use condominium designed by Arcadis in preconstruction, incorporating heritage facade retention on the southeast corner of King and George Street. Around the corner at 65 George St., a 17-storey mixed-use condo designed by Core Architects for 10 Block Studio is also in proposal stage. Both projects, if they proceed, would bring hundreds of new residents to a block that is already well-served by transit and walking distance to one of the city’s busiest intersections.
For Luminaire Authentik, the timing and location make sense. The King East Design District is consolidating as a genuine destination for design trade professionals and retail consumers alike, and 170 King East puts the brand at the centre of it.
Arlin Markowitz, Alex Edmison, Jackson Turner and Emily Everett of CBRE’s Urban Retail Team represented the landlord.
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.