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Starbucks Coming Soon to Parkdale

By Ron Nurwisah, Boy Reporter

2005_9_30starbucks.jpgIt’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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Comments

  • liffe the sleeper

    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.

  • http://www.eye.net Caro

    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.

  • http://electronsean.blogspot.com electronsean

    I wouldn’t say that queen/dovercourt is parkdale at all. It’s on the right side of the tracks.

  • Misha Glouberman

    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.

  • http://www.boyreporter.ca Ron Nurwisah, Boy Reporter

    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.

  • http://www.glarkware.com Glark

    There’s an empty corner property being spruced up at Dovercourt and College (across from the YMCA) that just screams Starbucks location.

  • rocco

    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?

  • http://www.hissyfit.com Wing Chun

    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?!

  • http://www.torontoist.com sarah

    The beaver has the best coffee. You order a regular coffee and you automatically get a delicious allongé.

  • Michael

    Technically, South of Queen is Liberty and North of Queen is Beaconsfeild.
    Check this map: http://www.toronto.ca/torontomaps/pdf/hoods2004.pdf

  • liffe the sleeper

    I’d take grimy sports bars over drake-esque establishments anyday. Enjoy your Starbucks.

  • rocco

    i got yer ‘grimy’ right here, pal

  • Liffe the Sleeper

    Was that an e-threat?

  • http://brokenengine.blogspot.com brokenengine

    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…

  • rocco

    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.

  • Gayla

    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.

  • http://torontoist.com viva la bloom

    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

  • hector

    you commie anti-everything pinkos are so wrong

  • stupenegl

    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.
    .

  • Oooookay

    Hey Viva, you left your beret and patchouli oil on the table.