Regarding this topic, does anyone notice the section of Bloor east of Lansdowne, till about the park, has avoided any form of gentrification !
I just find it strange this stretch in between has been fairly untouched ... quite a few vacancies / pawn shops / money lenders / used appliance stores ... I believe it resembles the Junction from many many years back (and parts of Queen W, from even more years back).
Its a good location, so I find odd !
I find this post a bit baffling. I live in Bloordale, and the changes on Bloor have been happening quickly, especially the last couple of years. It's not chain stores and there is not Starbucks, but there have been many new stores, restaurants, and bars opening up between Lansdowne and Dufferin (and also further east). Still a number of pawn shops and appliance stores left, for sure.
Off the top of my head, recent changes on Bloor, between Lansdowne and Dufferin:
- Nuthouse (bulk store and health foods...great quality and definitely geared towards recent gentrification)
- the cafe next to the Nuthouse (can't recall the name, just opened up)
- Dmart and the coffee place next to that
- Karelia Kitchen (getting raves from Toronto Life, Now Magazine, etc.)
- Bar Neon
- extensive renovations to Broadway Cycle and Sweet Petes
- new subway exits on Russett Avenue at Bloor
- renovations to New Horizons retirement home at Dufferin
- Three Speed (one of the pioneers in terms of gentrification)
- Intergalactic Space Authority (cafe and space for the kids arts and writing programs)
- Towne (fancy cards and gifts)
- reno at Duffy's, with new diner in the adjoining storefront
- Lansdowne Cone, just south of Bloor
- Ortolan (very tasty food, not cheap though, popular with foodies all over Toronto)
- Emerson restaurant (one of my faves, also getting raves in the press)
- Bloordale Pantry (now replaced by Whipoorwill)
- Cafe Stella (revamped existing bar, great music scene now)
- Fenigo (litterless lunch supplies - how gentrified is that !)
I'm sure that I've missed some. I've lived here for 13 years, so maybe that skews my perception, but everyone I talk to in the 'hood is remarking how quickly things are changing here. We have mixed feelings, because we don't want this strip of Bloor to become like Bloor West Village with too many chain stores, but at the same time, some of the changes have been very welcome.