[nightstreak]

Union Station is a finite size, Apple Stores are very large. What would you remove to put one in? Just because GCT in NYC has an Apple Store is REALLY not a reason to have one here.

The long unleased space in the Great Hall would replicate the Grand Central Station Apple Store which is in their main hall on a balcony exactly like this in a similarly sized space. Apple does take great care to respect the architecture and setting but I just don’t think there needs to be an Apple Store a couple of blocks from the one at Eaton Centre. A large cafe with seating that would be of use to commuters makes the most sense though I have to admit that an Apple Store would bring life into the Great Hall. It would always be busy.

 

[DSCToronto]

The long unleased space in the Great Hall would replicate the Grand Central Station Apple Store which is in their main hall on a balcony exactly like this in a similarly sized space. Apple does take great care to respect the architecture and setting but I just don’t think there needs to be an Apple Store a couple of blocks from the one at Eaton Centre. A large cafe with seating that would be of use to commuters makes the most sense though I have to admit that an Apple Store would bring life into the Great Hall. It would always be busy.

View attachment 712060

The space behind the temporary wall in Great Hall is NOT large - it used to be 'ticket windows with a corridor at the back for staff use. I doubt it would be nearly large enough for an Apple Store (even if there were another one not far away.) Of course, 'something' DOES need to be done with this space and, last time I asked, it seems that Osminfgtom will do something, after the floor and the lighting in the Great Hall are fixed - and this is supposed to happen in 2026 - the stone for the floor is on order.

 

[WB62]

Union Station is a finite size, Apple Stores are very large. What would you remove to put one in? Just because GCT in NYC has an Apple Store is REALLY not a reason to have one here.

The Bovine Wine Club unit would be a good size and location for an Apple Store, I always thought something like a Shoppers would go well in that spot too

I’m personally not a big fan of the wine club and by extension the restaurant across the hall, both are a bit too specialised for the average station-goer

While were on the topic of retail, the Travel Information Centre in the West Wing has fully closed down, what type of business would be a good replacement? It’s a pretty decent sized unit.

 

[Richard White]

The Bovine Wine Club unit would be a good size and location for an Apple Store, I always thought something like a Shoppers would go well in that spot too

I’m personally not a big fan of the wine club and by extension the restaurant across the hall, both are a bit too specialised for the average station-goer

While were on the topic of retail, the Travel Information Centre in the West Wing has fully closed down, what type of business would be a good replacement? It’s a pretty decent sized unit.

Casino ala Ladbrokes in the UK?

 

[DSCToronto]

The Bovine Wine Club unit would be a good size and location for an Apple Store, I always thought something like a Shoppers would go well in that spot too

I’m personally not a big fan of the wine club and by extension the restaurant across the hall, both are a bit too specialised for the average station-goer

While were on the topic of retail, the Travel Information Centre in the West Wing has fully closed down, what type of business would be a good replacement? It’s a pretty decent sized unit.

I had not realised that the Tourist Information Centre had closed but the City website says "The Toronto Tourist Information Centre is permanently closed as of November 30." This seems odd to me as the Destination Ontario tourist office (it used to be on Dundas St) also seems to have closed. In fact Destination Ontario now only has three physical offices - Pigeon River, Bainsville and Sault Ste Marie. I may be old fashioned but am surprised there is no physical location in Toronto for tourists to get information and last time I was in Montreal I saw that the equivalent there (in Dominion Square) was also closed.

 

[WB62]

I had not realised that the Tourist Information Centre had closed but the City website says "The Toronto Tourist Information Centre is permanently closed as of November 30." This seems odd to me as the Destination Ontario tourist office (it used to be on Dundas St) also seems to have closed. In fact Destination Ontario now only has three physical offices - Pigeon River, Bainsville and Sault Ste Marie. I may be old fashioned but am surprised there is no physical location in Toronto for tourists to get information and last time I was in Montreal I saw that the equivalent there (in Dominion Square) was also closed.

Destination Ontario does regularly have a pop up table in the Bay Concourse, but I agree it was an unfortunate loss, it was in a great spot close to the UP Express station

I remember reading on twitter that the volunteer-ran tourist desk is getting fully removed when they replace the floors, does anyone know if that’s true?

 

[DSCToronto]

Destination Ontario does regularly have a pop up table in the Bay Concourse, but I agree it was an unfortunate loss, it was in a great spot close to the UP Express station

I remember reading on twitter that the volunteer-ran tourist desk is getting fully removed when they replace the floors, does anyone know if that’s true?

View attachment 712065

The desk in the Great Hall is run by the Toronto branch of Travelers Aid International and is their only Canadian branch. I remember using them the first time I visited Toronto in the early 1970s - and being directed to a hotel, maybe the Victoria. They will certainly need to move while the floor is being repaired and I bet they are finding it hard to find volunteers to staff it but it would certainly be a shame if it closed permanently.

 

[nightstreak]

The space behind the temporary wall in Great Hall is NOT large

It's deceptively large because of the space behind where the ticket booths were.

It's almost 8000 square feet when you include the balcony above that it has access to.

 

[WB62]

It's deceptively large because of the space behind where the ticket booths were.

It's almost 8000 square feet when you include the balcony above that it has access to.

Can you post the full blueprint? I haven’t seen this one before

 

[nightstreak]

Can you post the full blueprint? I haven’t seen this one before

I had it on my computer from years ago but only have this floor. I looked up more to find the balcony size to get an estimate of the total space (~8000 sq. ft) and found that the balcony could theoretically connect to the office space in the west (and east) wing to expand the shopping floor substantially if they wanted to turn the Great Hall space into a larger store like the suggested Apple, which on its face is not a bad idea. Whether GO's offices could be accommodated elsewhere and whether Apple would want to open a store so closely to Eaton Centre are an entirely different story .

This city document has a different blueprint if you're looking for one: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-22489.pdf

 

[torontowest91]

wasn't it supposed to be a restaurant one day?

 

[DSCToronto]

wasn't it supposed to be a restaurant one day?

Yes, I am told that that remains the plan but assume Osmington will go for any tenant who pays rent!

 

[JasonParis]

What Union Station needs is an Apple Store.

After all, NYC's Grand Central Terminal has an Apple Store.

I'm not against one here, I'm not sure where it would go though. But to say we should have one because GCT does, is a bit odd. The base of the federal building could work and still be in the vicinity. The Well too, albeit not really in the vicinity.

 

[Richard White]

I'm not against one here, I'm not sure where it would go though. But to say we should have one because GCT does, is a bit odd. The base of the federal building could work and still be in the vicinity. The Well too, albeit not really in the vicinity.

The Well would be swell but only time will tell.

 

[Sauga89]

The long unleased space in the Great Hall would replicate the Grand Central Station Apple Store which is in their main hall on a balcony exactly like this in a similarly sized space. Apple does take great care to respect the architecture and setting but I just don’t think there needs to be an Apple Store a couple of blocks from the one at Eaton Centre. A large cafe with seating that would be of use to commuters makes the most sense though I have to admit that an Apple Store would bring life into the Great Hall. It would always be busy.

View attachment 712060

I would love to see a staircase like that added to the Great Hall. You could also add twin ramps on either side for accessibility. Instead of those stairs leading down you could have escalators tucked away behind the stairs leading up to the east/west wings and down to the moat.

I'd rather put a new concourse up in the wings for legacy VIA services instead of an Apple store. Then you could free up the existing concourse for GO, and put retail in the existing alcoves.