King of Kensington
Senior Member
What are some examples of old ethnic communities where the older generation has moved on, but have been somewhat revitalized (albeit not anywhere near its peak) by younger generations "moving back"?
The best example I can think of is the revitalization of the Jewish community in the Spadina-College-Harbord area in recent decades. For instance, there's a recently established Makom, a downtown Jewish organization that opened its office on College (and currently has the old Yiddish signage from Mendel's Creamery on display https://www.thestar.com/entertainme...mandels-sign-remounted-on-college-street.html). Caplansky's at College and Brunswick. Free Times has been there since the 80s and does a Jewish brunch on Sundays with klezmer music. The Narayever synagogue on Brunswick, rather than move follow the community movement north, held out until around 1980 or so when the old timers gave way to a new generation of downtown academics and professionals. The JCC at Bloor and Spadina underwent big renovations maybe 15 years ago.
What about some other communities where this is occurring? There was a piece in the Star about Little Portugal two years ago (https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20...gals_death_have_been_greatly_exaggerated.html) - which gives the example of a Portuguese restaurant replacing a hipster joint and the continued Portuguese presence in the area, though I think it overlooks the role of Brazilian and Angolan immigration to the area.
Chinatown - with its proximity to U of T - may start to see a revitalization from younger generations. Incidentally you could can see a bit of a "pan-Asian" district around Bay and Dundas, the very old Chinatown.
The best example I can think of is the revitalization of the Jewish community in the Spadina-College-Harbord area in recent decades. For instance, there's a recently established Makom, a downtown Jewish organization that opened its office on College (and currently has the old Yiddish signage from Mendel's Creamery on display https://www.thestar.com/entertainme...mandels-sign-remounted-on-college-street.html). Caplansky's at College and Brunswick. Free Times has been there since the 80s and does a Jewish brunch on Sundays with klezmer music. The Narayever synagogue on Brunswick, rather than move follow the community movement north, held out until around 1980 or so when the old timers gave way to a new generation of downtown academics and professionals. The JCC at Bloor and Spadina underwent big renovations maybe 15 years ago.
What about some other communities where this is occurring? There was a piece in the Star about Little Portugal two years ago (https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20...gals_death_have_been_greatly_exaggerated.html) - which gives the example of a Portuguese restaurant replacing a hipster joint and the continued Portuguese presence in the area, though I think it overlooks the role of Brazilian and Angolan immigration to the area.
Chinatown - with its proximity to U of T - may start to see a revitalization from younger generations. Incidentally you could can see a bit of a "pan-Asian" district around Bay and Dundas, the very old Chinatown.