Spanish empanada brand Las Muns has opened its fourth Canadian location at 1250 Bay Street, taking over the former Freshii space in the Bay/Bloor corridor and marking the brand’s most significant format shift since launching its first North American location at Brookfield Place in early 2025.
For Nawal Khokhar, who operates the Canadian business alongside her husband Mohammad Ibrahim, the new location was not something they were looking for. It found them.
“This one came as a complete surprise,” Khokhar said. “Six months ago we were touring the area and we loved it, but nothing we saw was the right fit. Then this space came up and everything clicked. It was the fastest lease we have ever signed.”
The unit at 1250 Bay Street offers full street-front exposure at one of Toronto’s busiest pedestrian intersections, steps from Bay Station. It is a deliberate departure from the weekday office crowds that drive Brookfield Place and Stackt Market, and the suburban mall traffic that underpins Square One. Each location Las Muns has opened has introduced the brand to an entirely different customer, and that range is by design.
The store layout was built around visibility. Khokhar made a late decision during the buildout to reposition the display case so that customers can see the full product offering through the window before stepping inside.
“The display does half the selling for us,” she said. “People walk by and they see different colours, different flavours, different options. With 15 flavours plus our cookies and brownies, there is a lot to discover before you even open the door.”
That visibility also serves a broader education mission. Las Muns is still a relatively new concept in the Canadian market, and Khokhar is deliberate about how she wants customers to think about what they are buying.
“This is a real lunchtime option,” she said. “You do not have to settle for the same bowl or wrap you always get. You can choose four different flavours, take a bite of each, and have a completely different experience every time you come in.”
The opening also marks the debut of a new partnership not previously announced. Las Muns has teamed up with Muskoka Sauces, a small-batch producer based in Huntsville in Ontario’s cottage country, to introduce five exclusive sauce pairings across its locations. “We fell in love with their sauces and knew we had to bring them in,” Khokhar said. “Five flavours, matched to our empanadas. It opens up a whole new way to enjoy the product.”
The brand has also continued refining its menu specifically for the Canadian market, developing two flavours that do not exist anywhere in the European lineup. A poutine empanada has been among the strongest performers since its launch. A new Cajun shrimp reflects what the team has learned about local taste preferences.
“The flavours that perform well in Europe tend to be mild, more vegetable forward,” Khokhar said. “That is not what we are seeing here. Canadians want bold flavours and real protein. We are building the menu around that.”
The team behind the locations is something Khokhar returns to often. “We would not be where we are without the people running our stores every day,” she said. “Some of our staff have been with us since Brookfield. When customers come back because of how someone made them feel, that is the business. We are not just selling empanadas. We are selling an experience.”
The pace of the Canadian rollout has drawn attention from the European parent, which operates more than 50 locations across Spain, Portugal, Italy and beyond. “They did not anticipate the response we have seen here,” Khokhar said. “In other markets, expansion has been measured and slow. We are moving differently, because the market is telling us to. Our goal is to be the brand people think of when they think empanada. Full stop.”
The Bay/Bloor corridor is undergoing one of the more significant tenant transitions in recent memory. Freshii has given way to Las Muns. Paramount Fine Foods has given way to Hello Nori, the Vancouver-based hand roll bar that is opening next door. Pusateri’s has given way to Stock TC, set to open in 2027. Hazukido, the Japanese crepe concept, has also closed its location in the area. On the retail side, Tiffany and Co. is set to open a flagship at Bay and Bloor, reinforcing a corridor that is clearly moving toward a higher-end, destination-focused tenant mix. Las Muns arrives at the right moment, as a high-frequency food concept built for the foot traffic that will only grow as the neighbourhood evolves.
Tenant representation for Las Muns was handled by Ali Baker, Calvin Holland, and Caitlyn Micuda of Avison Young, who have represented the brand across its Canadian portfolio. The property is listed by Arlin Markowitz, Alex Edmison, Jackson Turner, and Emily Everett of CBRE.
A fifth location in Liberty Village is already in the works, with a late August or September opening targeted. Suburban expansion remains on the table following strong results at Square One, with the team actively evaluating markets beyond the Toronto core.
“We want to grow, and we will,” Khokhar said. “But every location has to feel like Las Muns. That is what we are protecting as we expand.”
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.