[Hamiltonian]

MAKE TORONTO COOL AGAIN 2020.

 

[maestro]

I'm always envious of American downtowns and the dominance of corporate chains. This is only good.

 

[G.L.17]

And here is the sign:

 

[modernizt]

The inside of the Rexall does not have a nice feel to it, it's subpar compared to your standard new Shoppers Drug Mart. That said, the rehabilitation of the facade here really is a stunning change, and the signage is tasteful too. I think they did a very good job with what they had.

It's hard to be an optimist in this city sometimes.

We have a very healthy downtown for retail and restaurant businesses. The idea that every single restaurant can be an special destination/independent/non-chain business is completely unrealistic. We are very lucky in Toronto to have a VAST number of dining options. A lot of people in other large cities would kill to have the selection we have in our city's core, both of chain retailers/restaurants and independents.

 

[junctionist]

There's a reason why you find so many interesting independent businesses in old Victorian buildings. Rent is cheaper for a space that isn't wheelchair accessible, that has old washrooms at the bottom of a narrow staircase, that has just one parking space off a dirty laneway in the back, etc. Smaller businesses tend to have less money to spend on overhead, so they go with old spaces. These retail spaces are housed in new buildings. There's just an old facade tacked onto a new building.

 

[G.L.17]

Looks like a rooftop patio for the future Boston Pizza:

 

[G.L.17]

First three from Friday:

Through dirty Aura windows:

And the rest from Saturday:

 

[G.L.17]

Update from yesterday evening:

 

[Benito]

Today.

 

[alienhenny]

Now if only they could get rid of that horribly ugly building to the right of it...

 

[YDS]

Now if only they could get rid of that horribly ugly building to the right of it...

Before it was "that horribly ugly building.."
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northeast_corner_of_Gerrard_and_Yonge_Streets_Toronto.jpg

 

[stjames2queenwest]

... it was a shack.

 

[alienhenny]

Before it was "that horribly ugly building.."
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northeast_corner_of_Gerrard_and_Yonge_Streets_Toronto.jpg

the curent building is still ugly tho

 

[ToroTO]

The interim stage between the shack and "horribly ugly":

https://tayloronhistory.files.wordp...e_yonge_and_gerrard_streets_1979_toronto1.jpg

 

[Edward Skira]

It was a porno theatre for a while if I recall correctly. Before home video destroyed that business.