am29
Active Member
What is happening to retail on Yonge? The city can protect heritage buildings but something needs to be done in encouraging the existing types of retail to remain at Yonge after a development.
- Thread starter devjohnson
- Start date
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
Considering it was a nondescript restaurant prior to the reno, it really wasn't a loss to have it replaced by a Rexall - especially given the number of relatively new eateries opened up along the same strech.
AoD
Waterloo_Guy
Active Member
If we look at the section from College to Bloor just north of this, most of the existing retail is either corporate, or trash like payday loan shops. As this area gets busier we will need drug stores and banks. Ask someone who lives here if he wants a drugstore. I would.
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
Though I am not sure if we need say, in the case of RBC - one on Yonge/Gerrard, one on Yonge/Grosvenor, one on Yonge/St. Joesph and finally one on Yonge/Bloor - and that's not counting on at Church/Wellesley and a smattering in the Bay/Dundas area.
AoD
Ramako
Moderator
The cost of rehabilitating this heritage building probably means that the Landlord isn't going to settle for cheap rents from a weak covenant like some independent shop. Effectively, Rexall being here helps to pay for this restoration. You can't have your cake and eat it too.
ProjectEnd
Superstar
It's also worth noting that the unit to the south accesses a separate unit on the second floor so Rexall won't be able to take the entire building frontage.
stjames2queenwest
Senior Member
I have no issue with a Rexall. Better than a bank or a coffee shop. I am a fan of their colour branding.
Irishmonk
Senior Member
Such a shame the people don't buy books or records anymore. That was Yonge Street's bread and butter.
Or go to bars, strip joints, porn theatres etc. THAT was Yonge Street's bread and butter!
Tulse
Senior Member
Yeah, I really don't mourn the terrible retail and cheesy strip joints that used to litter Yonge. It was long a commonplace to note that the main street in Canada's largest city was pretty much a cesspool for many decades. Gentrification isn't always good, and a street needs local character, but if we're trading out T-shirt stores, seedy used book stores, strip clubs, and head shops for nice restaurants and more upscale retail, I think that's appropriate for our most famous and central street.
ShonTron
Moderator
Nice restaurants like Starbucks and Subway, and upscale retail like Royal Bank and Rexall?
Tulse
Senior Member
It's a matter of taste, I suppose, but personally, I would prefer Starbucks to a head shop, and Royal Bank to strip club. I'm not saying those current kind of stores don't have a place somewhere in the city, but I think it is really weird that what is arguably the main street of Canada was populated by strip-mall-level shops.
tripwire
Active Member
I miss the arcades that littered the Yonge/North of Dundas area though. Or more accurately, I'm nostalgic of my high school years when I spent too much time there. 
maestro
Senior Member
Strip malls at least offer unique experiences with better deals than another crappy Starbucks or mortgage centre ever could. Don't be dissing an overpriced dive bar full of naked employees. They have their place.
maestro
Senior Member
I miss the arcades that littered the Yonge/North of Dundas area though. Or more accurately, I'm nostalgic of my high school years when I spent too much time there.
Your not the only one. That's why arcade themed pubs are pretty damn popular now. Be perfect for this space.