It was a cold, grey, slushy Sunday. And I expected it to be depressing; I was going out to local businesses to see how they did during the holidays. I have heard the sad stories and woeful economic tales many times. But I had a ton of fun at St. Clair and Dufferin.
I drove east along St. Clair from Lansdowne and saw the usual bars and the closed shops. I kept driving to see if there was something new. When I reached Dufferin, the first place I saw at the busy corner was a tiny shop stacked with tiny shoes. It was a children’s shoe store.
Michael works there and he greeted me enthusiastically. He told me Kiddie Kobbler opened up a year ago and they sell all kinds of shoes for kids from zero to 12. You never know how you’ll be treated at small stores and Michael’s warm smile set the tone for the rest of the journey.
La Tienda around the corner is not a single business. It’s a small marketplace made up mostly of restaurant workers who want to start a business but can’t afford commercial rents on their own. They banded together to share costs.
Maria owns Roma Norte, one of the four or five kiosks. She opened a year ago after working in restaurants for 15 years. She says business is going ok but hopes to have her own independent place one day. You know, sharing with others is not easy, it has its ups and downs. But right now, it’s what making her dream of owning a business possible.
Almost next door on St. Clair is the new Kurdish Buffet. Owner Sinan Delen is going at it alone. He sells freshly baked Kurdish pastries and traditional Kurdish tea. And he’ll be offering Turkish coffee soon. The place is unique but I’m a little afraid for Sinan. I remember Tombik on Eglinton, very unique and very good food, but it closed within a year. It’s hard to make a new idea flourish on this hard economic ground.
Across the street at Shelíss, the new Mexican bakery and café is spacious and chic. There’s plenty of space to sit comfortably and meet with friends and family. And the prices aren’t bad. Sheliss brings a formula for success from Mexico, where the brand has many locations. They are betting on it working here. It was not full but there were people there, so I am hoping it works.
My final stop of the day was the new Vintage Cat Café. It combines vintage furniture with coffee, tea and cats. You can even watch a movie and spend two hours with an exotic Himalayan for $29.95.
As they say, “necessity is the mother of invention,” and these places are nothing if not inventive. Looking at the dirty, slushy, January, Toronto streets, you think you’d be bored going out. But you won’t. Out there is a group of hard-working, creative neighbours banking on making your day the most fun you could never expect.
