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It's a sure sign of a neighbourhood's up and coming status, the green glow of a Starbucks outlet. Torontoist was down in Parkdale investigating the rash of cafes sprouting up in the neighbourhood, two more have opened up in the now very caffeinated couple of blocks between Shaw and Dufferin, when he got wind of Starbucks' planned expansion.
It doesn't look like much now but come November the empty corner storefront on Queen and Dovercourt (home to a former art gallery) will be turned into another outpost of the Seattle coffee empire.
The business owners that Torontoist chatted with were pretty non-chalant, a few didn't necessarily like it but grudgingly admitted it might bring more people into the neighbourhood. Even other cafe owners were confident that they'd be able to weather the storm. One plucky waiter at the Beaver Cafe put it best, it'll take more than a Starbucks to change Parkdale. Torontoist hopes she's right.
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A Starbucks on that strip seems a given. Is this really a surprise to anyone? I imagine most locals are thrilled to finally have grossly overpriced lattes just outside their door.
We at eye Weekly have discussed this and come to the conclusion that Parkdale doesn't start until the bridge, so the Gladstone isn't even in Parkdale, nevermind Dovercourt. A Starbucks at Queen and Dovercourt really ain't that disturbing.
I wouldn't say that queen/dovercourt is parkdale at all. It's on the right side of the tracks.
Ditto on Dovercourts-not-Parkdale. There's a historical basis for this claim, too: Parkdale was once an incorporated village, and, as such, had well defined boundaries, stoppping at Dufferin at its east edge. See:
http://www.lostrivers.ca/points/parkdale.htm.
And, as for Starbucks being "Up And Coming": Starbucks is actual more down-market than a most of the notable businesses that have opened nearby in the past year or two. Compared to the Drake, the Beaconsfield, etc, a franchise coffee shop is downright folksy.
I'm impressed by the number of comments that have come back on my error in civic geography. I apologize for the error. But what should I call this neighbourhood then? Queen West? West Queen West? Parkdale East? I'd love to find out.
There's an empty corner property being spruced up at Dovercourt and College (across from the YMCA) that just screams Starbucks location.
definitely not Parkdale, it's so heavily Portugese that one could possibly include it in Little Portugal, but don't people call it Beaconsfield Village? As a homeowner in the area I'm fine with it, I just don't want to see the proposed Shopper's DrugMart materialize. Now, can they do something about the sports bars on Dundas?
I've heard that area called "West Queen West," which is...so dumb. Oh, real estate agents.
Anyway: College and Dovercourt would be such a bad-ass Starbucks location. Why won't anyone listen?!
The beaver has the best coffee. You order a regular coffee and you automatically get a delicious allongé.
Technically, South of Queen is Liberty and North of Queen is Beaconsfeild.
Check this map: http://www.toronto.ca/torontomaps/pdf/hoods2004.pdf
I'd take grimy sports bars over drake-esque establishments anyday. Enjoy your Starbucks.
i got yer 'grimy' right here, pal
Was that an e-threat?
I hate Starbucks. Not because of any anti-corp sentiment, but basically, I don't like their coffee. And they seem to have patented a special type of water with an extra hydrogen molecule that makes the coffee stay flesh searingly hot for hours.
Give me The 2nd Cup anyday...
meet me at Sports Do Brasil and i'll tell you. no, seriously, i'm all about love, it was more of an e-xclamation of my disdain of cruddy bars -- Dundas is one of the dodgiest streets in the city (Gerrard? Jarvis?) and I'm tired of the skeevs who degrade this neighborhood is all.
Back in the day I had my own name for the area between Gladstone and Shaw, "Appliance Store Land". Now it has signs up calling it "The Art & Design District" and I have also heard "West Queen West". Whatever it is it ain't Parkdale.
The Starbucks isn't a big shocker considering the rapid-fire changes that have taken place around here. I agree with Misha.
starbucks rhyme$ with $UCK$$ asss shit, been..
it's noteven, bean, what a tall dark/light-half-calf-freakinsoyslime-latte all bad designdepression in the bottom of a socialarmpit... grosse! i hate starbucks here there and anywhere, tim horton's RULE$$$
jetfuel IS NUMBER one
and bad psdeudo-global-alla-bodyshoppe-safariin -canKOON with a twist of jetskI-yikes!!!
so rivolting, so rude, so ugly, now called suicidal design-dramakorner in my shutmyeyes to stop the design depression from getting in..
i guess i have to move into MIES... bymark AGOGO!
fuck wqw, or qwq, or just le bbybye-culture! plus toujours on avait des BONAVENTURES sIGH-A-BORONTO-a STARBUCKs, can you actually drink a place if it's onthewall called MAYA
ohyayayayayayaaaohjveille.. je suis vielle..
savetoronto for the next rainyday... bygones,
be byebye--gones... if the lower east side is now a tourist hotspot invegas, it's no wonder it's now toronto, land of the stober...
ON A POSITIVE NOTE...
CAN WE drive an ECO-business- tax/thang for new businesses, that forces STARBu/F/Uckers to
at least use solar power, or not damage the environment further, tax em to do da right thing if they're moving in... or force them to lead the green movement, hybrid franchise, lower eco-damage to toronto, pioneer a wave of good meets bad business practises... sure people die to deliver daily, but at least here on planet toronto all business will pay attention to energy, water, time/ waste.. MAXIMUM GREENOLOGY!?!?
is this a fare compromise/ culture for safety?
current- sampling of how to ???
one of 3 kids has asthma now, omissions...
can starbucks cards be purchased as airmiles and streetcar passes???
do the first 5--- get m etro passes for lifwe?
please, just clean up the scene..
talk to bruce mau about his studio, switching over
efficiency
sustainability
longterm-eco/time-energy-possibility
profitability
ability
fragility
humility
civility
LEt's learn to grow awith our corporate giants, get them to invest in the research if they're going to take over our hoods
theri is a contribution that needs making with deeppocket fuel, longterm will be more cost and life efficient.. spend to make money
it's called good design
i live for a design high,
function + art = science, scienc + art = magic...
g.r.ow.
r/e'volution
instintution
[[prosititution]
contribution
abolution
solution
constitution
resolution
ecolution
gogogogo
you commie anti-everything pinkos are so wrong
as a former starving artist now home owner in parkdale, I am very happy about this recent development.
Even though the property taxes may end up a little higher so does my property value!
Starbucks ain't all that bad, besides, it brings more people into the neighborhood to buy your art.
.
Hey Viva, you left your beret and patchouli oil on the table.