gabe
Senior Member
Whatever troll...
Toronto Union Station Revitalization | ?m | ?s | City of Toronto | NORR
Whatever troll...
Willybru21
Active Member
The Market was supposed to be a mix of retail and food, so far all the food places have lasted but the retail places have all been in and out in a few months. When the area was being designed the Market was supposed to be 100% food, obviously these designations have changed a LOT though:
Renderings of the area have always been a mixed bag, some show the area looking exactly like your typical mall with more retail than restaurants, others show a literal market area with tubs of watermelons and charcuterie on tables in the walkways, both of which never happened:
This was in the video tour of the retail level, the first image would be the foodie aisle on the left, and the main market walkway down the middle:
When the Market was originally supposed to open in 2018 it looked like this, very similar to the York West Promenade and West Wing near the tourist store, but this was apparently completely destroyed by a flood before it opened, so that’s why it looks entirely different today. If it stayed in this condition retail might have had a greater presence in the area, as it wouldn’t have redesigned to look more like a food hall:
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Ratazana
New Member
The Market was definitely intended for a Eataly/Pusateri (RIP)/McEwan. Unfortunately Eataly chose Eaton Centre and the later two are dead or was near death. My guess is that Eataly avoided it because there are already two large scale markets in the area (Longo’s and Nature’s Emporium). Plus EC gives them huge presence (not being stuck in a basement…).
Another specialty market/grocery like T&T would have made sense…but it ended up being the small Kibo…
If they could figure out how to put a high end fresh produce place in the Market as an anchor, the space would feel a lot more coherent.
Jonny5
Senior Member
Those market renderings are hilarious.
As if there would be a fresh fish counter in Union Station and an old-school butcher shop. It's so farcically twee. A little wine shop in the middle of the corridor with the wine bottles there for anyone to grab? LOL
Northern Light
Superstar
I'm not aware of the above grocers having had any discussions w/Osmington about space at Union, but that doesn't mean they didn't.
I am aware of two others.
evandyk
Senior Member
I think a Longo's or Ollie Frescos type small grocery market would do well in Union Station. The other ones they have in the Path all seem pretty busy. But maybe they feel it's saturated already. Maybe Marche Leo's if their other new stores downtown do well?
Woodbridge_Heights
Senior Member
It never dawned on me but there's nearly 100 leasable locations shown in Wily's image above. I don't think I can think of 100 retailers that would be suitable in the Union station environment. Once you get your standard fast food locations and other "in every mall" retailer in there. There really isn't much left to fill the remaining locations.
I can see a SDM there and it could fill some of the supermarket demand, and the fine dining restaurant that was planned for the great hall (unit 390).
What do major train stations in cities like NY, London, etc have that Union is missing?
I can see a SDM there and it could fill some of the supermarket demand, and the fine dining restaurant that was planned for the great hall (unit 390).
What do major train stations in cities like NY, London, etc have that Union is missing?
rdaner
Senior Member
Interesting that Olive’s grocery store (Jewish/Med.) is beginning to expand.
Northern Light
Superstar
There's a full sized Longo's in Maple Leaf Square right beside Union Station; and the miniature one in Brookfield Place on the other side.
There will not be a further one in Union.
Northern Light
Superstar
Grand Central in NYC has a Banana Republic, an Apple Store, Lululemon, Swatch, multiple gift and stationary stores and food retail.
St. Pancras in London, features Chanel, Calvin Klein, Boots (drug store), a Mani-Pedi place, several other fashion retailers (Gant, Fatface, Levis, Reiss, Whistles) Hatchards (book store), Kate Spade, a health supplement spot, and Samson luggage.
Hmmm,
Waterloo station in London has a Lush.
There's a fitness centre/gym in London - Liverpool
King's Cross - London has a Harry Potter store.
Gare de l'Est in Paris has a Mango and a Swarowski
There that should get ya started.
urbancog
Active Member
For stations in England & Scotland managed by Network Rail, this station retail directory page provides details: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/station-retail-directory/
London Bridge has a count of 51,
London Victoria has a count of 32.
London Bridge has a count of 51,
London Victoria has a count of 32.
evandyk
Senior Member
And don't even get started on train stations in Japan 
How many places are there in Canada that have more people pass through in a day than Union Station? Once it matures as a retail spot, it should be able to support a lot more retail.
How many places are there in Canada that have more people pass through in a day than Union Station? Once it matures as a retail spot, it should be able to support a lot more retail.
nfitz
Superstar
I was complimenting Kibo as about the only thing that wasn't just a food court down there. Though I didn't wander through the old east-west hallway near the VIA arrivals, which seems to have more retail than last time I walked through. And looking online, I think I must have missed that Desi had a shop section in addition to their fast food counter.
Who here are you ascribing these racial overtones to?
Ah interesting! And it's those more market type stuff I was expecting more of.
Why not - about a 15-minute walk away the St. Lawrence market has 5 or 6 butchers, a couple of fish stores, and at least 4 greengrocers. Along with cheese stores and delicatessens. So there's demand - but maybe subterranean tunnels isn't the location.
St. Pancras Station (which is attached to Kings Cross Station) has incredible retail. In addition to the Hatchards, the ubiquitous WHSmith is larger than most station locations (actually there's two locations - it's the northern one that's a bit larger), and almost counts as a bookstore as well. And I was surprised to see a Hamleys (toy store) there. In addition to the ubiquitous M&S Food, there's a bigger Marks and Spencers as well - I got underwear there once! Lots of other stuff - https://stpancras.com/. In the attached Kings Cross there's the more typical railway station stuff - but also the unique Harry Potter store. I'm curious to see what ends up in the otherwise disappointing Euston, once the big expansions for HS2 are complete.
St. Pancras is definitely the best station I've seen. Charing Cross in comparison is quite disappointing. You are better to go out onto The Strand to get something quick to eat other than a sandwich. I hadn't realized there was much retail now at London Bridge! I must have not been paying attention.
evandyk
Senior Member
Roma Termini has a vast selection of retail, a grocery store, a terrazzo with various eating options (yes, I think McDonalds is one...) and a great "food hall" (for those of us here who love those). There are both butchers and fishmongers in the food hall.
treasurerome.com
What to Eat at Mercato Centrale in Rome's Termini Station
Mercato Centrale, in Rome's Termini station, is the perfect place to taste Italian cuisine on the go. Here's what we love to eat there.
treasurerome.com
11th
Senior Member
Japan has a lot of private railway operators. Building up their stations as retail/commercial paradise means more income through rents and sales (some of them own department stores).And don't even get started on train stations in Japan
How many places are there in Canada that have more people pass through in a day than Union Station? Once it matures as a retail spot, it should be able to support a lot more retail.