My mom would spend a lot of time on the Danforth back in the 90s/2000s, but once the mom n pop places starting closing down things started to change, the demise of places like sun valley, Greek house food market, Labiri shoes etc was the last straw, everything she needs now she gets at seranos, she has her catch ups with her friends at one of the Greek places along pape, unless it's a special event family gathering at one of the restos she doesn't bother with the main drag, my dad is the same hangs out one of those old school social club places on pape, would be lucky to walk the Danforth once a week now. Most of the Greek day time foot traffic is elderly Greeks going to see a Greek doctor or something lol, you still get your oldies packing the tim hortons at Logan and a couple of other spots but theirs just nothing interesting for them on the strip anymore. Also in the last 5 years the greek community/newspapers have actively starting promoting Greek business on pape which was previously an afterthought, Greek world music/DVD store recently moved to pape village which is a sign of the times. So basically Greek life has become a bit more spread out now, still in the same area but doesn't have the same compact vibe from back in the day.
I have no interest in the club scene but most of my younger relatives head in on the weekend evenings to places like fantasia and logo bar, the souvlaki joints benefit from this. It is true Greeks don't really eat at the Greek restaurants anymore, the new one anestis is popular but Greeks have changed and are more into simple dining, souvlaki and frappe is where its at now, cafe life you could say, the restos are outdated and largely benefit from the non Greek crowds who think flaming cheese is something that's common in Greece lol. Basically the Danforth has too many similar Greek restaurants, places like cafe frappe, logo bar etc (more laid back) are what Greeks are more into these days. The reality is you're more likely to find a 3rd generation Greek at some hipster joint along the Danforth as opposed to a Greek resto, greektown once upon a time was a healthy split between Greek food/Greek shops, now its increasingly becoming just Greek food, yes you still have your Greek jewellery shop, greek pharmacies, barbers etc, but it's just not the same.
That's my take on it all from a Greek perspective, fwiw I spend more time along pape now.
I still weep for Labiri! I used to buy all my shoes and bags there. I bought my first outfit at Maxi in 1985. Another one gone. RK, another fave (although it wasn't Greek and was part of a mini-chain.) For my nieces, I would buy at a store (forget the name but it was Greek) next to Sophia's Lingerie, which is thankfully still around. 100 Mile Child will be closing its doors by the way. I believe that building is owned by the owner of Body Blue, another survivor (although not Greek-owned.) I used to be hats and gloves at Felicia's, just west of Logan. I also would have suits made at Sunde, across from Sun Valley and now a Caribbean resto I think.
While I do blame the landlords (and landladies), I can't lay it at their feet completely. The demographics changed. The shopping habits changed. Cheap fast fashion, the penchant for wearing yoga pants everywhere, etc. destroyed the local market.
Sure, the Greeks moved along Pape -- and BTW Geo21 you completely left of McD's at Cosburn, a hotbed of Greek gossipers and political debaters over coffee every evening -- but the local Greeks weren't the main clients at Labiri etc. The Greek shoppers would come in East York and beyond. You just HAD to buy the spangly sexy dress for your cousin's wedding at Maxi's for example. I still have pieces from there, as well as from Studio Labiri, the daughters' effort which was where that second hand bookstore now is next to Pizza Libretto.
Bottom line, from about 1997-2007 Danforth was a FASHION (and wedding gown) destination. (Other survivors: Erietta and Aroo in the Carrot Common, Legs Beautiful, Beckers Bridals, a couple more shoestores, that beautiful leather place which just moved to the north side from the south at the western end of Danforth, etc.) Even most of the wedding gown stores are toast.
I never had to go anywhere else to shop for stuff, except maybe workout shoes and wear. (We needed a Lululemon!)
But the critical mass disappeared as store after store died. Then, I am guessing, it just wasn't worth coming down to the Danforth if you couldn't buy your gown at Maxi and then walk over to Labiri for your shoes and Sophia's (which is still there) or Avec Plaisir (RIP) for something sexy to hold it all in and up.
So the ladies would come in, shop, have lunch, maybe pick up groceries at Sun Valley, drop into (say) IQ Living and keep the strip alive.
