Neighbourhood Watch: The Annex

  • Posted by Kevin
  • Filed in City
  • January 7, 2007

Brunswick and Bloor, Looking WestThe Annex is a familiar deck of playing cards to me. Though it gets shuffled occasionally, the game remains the same. I've walked the beat here for a few years and have come to feel that it's a place to call home.

Amidst the sushi restaurants, organic markets, and used-CD shops, lies a truly liveable neighbourhood. The streets are well-connected for pedestrian, transit, and automobile. Jaywalking here is never a problem. The strip of Bloor between Bathurst and Spadina is as close to a 24-hour street as you can get, without the gross club district feel. I hardly ever leave the Annex to get something, and even if I do there's 2 streetcars and several subway stations to whisk me away.

Aside from foundations like the ill-reputed Brunswick House, hipster-haven the Green Room, grungy (but great) Lee's Palace, and the cavernous Sonic Boom... there are quiet winds of change blowing along Bloor. Smaller businesses play musical chairs, as fortunes can be made or lost on these bustling sidewalks every day of the week.

Cobs & Asia RepublikIn a bizarre chain reaction, BC-based Cobs Bakery (370 Bloor W) invaded Los Incas Crafts' old spot, while L.I.C. appears to be reincarnated as Inca Crafts in Alter Ego's old haunt above Midoco (555 Bloor W). Cobs is doing well so far, thanks to their delicious bread and friendly service. Just next door to Cobs, Goldfish got flushed and has since been usurped by Asia Republik (372 Bloor W).

Fresh moved from their cramped location into their spacious new environs east of Spadina (326 Bloor W). It's bigger, cleaner, and noisier than ever! The spot they left behind at 521 Bloor W is being renovated into a new restaurant called Ginger Esquire, or so a little bird told me at City Hall.

Two new/renovated restaurants are also slated to appear at Tre Fontaine's (486 Bloor W) and ZiZi Trattoria's (456 Bloor W) old locations, the latter of which is going to be a Chinese dim sum restaurant.

The New, New GenQuite Phoenix-like, New Generation (493 Bloor W) burned down about a year ago and was updated with a more up-to-date interior and better seating arrangements (more booths). Still my favourite cheapie sushi joint ever.

Probably the weirdest event of the past year involved a lamp post and the stranded racoon outside Via Oliveto (376 Bloor W). That lamp post has since been removed, possibly to avoid any future wild animal drama.

BMV!In the blockbuster of the year, BMV opened its doors at the site of the abandoned dance hall near the Brunny. If the bright blue paint scheme isn't enough to send you into shock, perhaps the brightly-lit minimalist interior will. But seriously, where else was I going to find the used DVD for Richard Simmons' SuperSweatin' Party Off the Pounds???

Two new watering holes opened up in 2006. The Pump annexed the old delicatessen at 410 Bloor W, and The Beer Station took over the old Korean BBQ's location next to Pauper's. I haven't been to either, but I think the Pump's renovation job was decidedly superior.

...and the ugliest building goes toJJ Albany's closed up for good, ending a horrible run of restaurants that started with JJ Mugs. This corner location (500 Bloor W) is the ugliest building on this whole stretch, but also the largest retail/restaurant space available. I was fooled by that Aroma Espresso Bar signage at first, but it's clear now that the space is still for lease.

Bloor SuperFreshBloor Superfresh (384 Bloor W) replaced Bloor Supersave, which was Toronto's first 24-hour supermarket. Sad to see Supersave close its doors after such a long run, but everyone has to retire at some point. Superfresh seems to be more organized and thorough, with neatly-arranged fruits lining the sidewalk.

Hot Spot (362 Bloor W) seemed to be doing better than its predecessors at the troubled corner of Walmer and Bloor, but on last check the place was gutted and under renovation AGAIN. Is this location cursed like Albany and Bloor?

Clic Klak fashion studio's new Annex outpost (533 Bloor W) adds a bit of trendiness to the neighbourhood, albeit at the cost of the excellent Flash 'n Crash used-CD shop.

Whew, so much has happened on this little stretch, I haven't even gotten to my favourite pick of the neighbourhood... here goes:

Best Schnitzels in townI absolutely love Country Style Hungarian Restaurant (450 Bloor W). I love the family restaurant feel with the checkered tableclothes and dinnertime din. The food is amazing and sensibly-priced. For $14.95 (all prices tax included) I usually get a freshly-pounded Chicken Schnitzel about the size of my head. It comes with the choice of home-fries, mashed potatoes, bread dumplings, or rice. There's also a small salad (beets, coleslaw, lettuce, or cucumber) that comes before the main. A steaming plate of perogies, heaped with fried onions and sour cream, goes for $8.95 with a slice of sausage. It's a real challenge to save room for dessert here, but we do what we can because the Hungarian-style crepe with apricot jam and crushed nuts is worth going from 'full' to 'bursting at the seams'.

Annex Mura by Atilla SzanyiAs an end-note: Just around the corner, at the side of the Futon Store (442 Bloor W), there's this great mural done by Atilla Szanyi circa 2005. While I've never seen the sidewalks crammed quite like that, he's successfully captured everything there is to love about the Annex. If you're interested in his work, it's available through the Apostolis Gallery.

Reader Reviews and Comments

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I am always making plans to get down to College or even Queen, but for some reason I cannot seem to move away from the Annex. Something always pulls me back here.

Great post.

Posted by: Steven at January 7, 2007 10:53 AM

You've captured the ever changing face of the annex well.

I've always wanted to live in the annex since I moved back to Toronto 7 years ago. But I've never found the right place. I'm patiently waiting for the perfect annex apartment and then maybe I'll move in.... and never move out!

Posted by: Carl at January 7, 2007 11:15 AM

Also, a Ten Thousand Villages opened in the Annex in mid-November.

Posted by: Eva at January 7, 2007 12:41 PM

I used to visit the Annex in the 80s and work at the Bloor Cinema in the early 90s and I can say that the changes you are documenting here are just the latest in the constant sea of change.

I remember when Sonic Boom was still a Wolworth's with a lunch counter, when the Bloor still had a full lobby rather than the truncated one it has today and when there was a Sneaky Dee's across the road from Honest Ed's (heck I remember way back when there was a porn theatre right across the road from Honest Ed's).

I love the Annex. It's good to see that it continues to change and yet still appear to stay the same.

Posted by: Steve at January 7, 2007 6:06 PM

I got a good chuckle from a sign posted in the front window of The Beer Station. If you drink every beer they offer, which are MANY, before a certain date (I think it was in August) you win a jacket.

Posted by: Jerrold at January 7, 2007 6:46 PM

huh, so the aroma espresso bar isn't going in there after all? had they been planning on it? i'm wondering why the signs are there.

and did you read the little paper posters in the windows at the former hot spot? it looks like a standard eviction notice, but it's actually something far more amusing. so it's hard to know what's up there.

Posted by: bunnyhero [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 7, 2007 9:54 PM

@Steve: thanks for sharing those memories. I had no idea that there was a Woolworth's at Sonic Boom, or that Sneaky Dee's was up here for a while!

@bunnyhero: I think the aroma espresso bar signage is just a ruse to keep posters off the wooden boards. If you look closely in the picture above the word "aroma," there is a sign that says retail space for lease 1,700 sq. ft., so i can only assume that means the place is still up for grabs. As for hotspot, your guess is as good as mine--but those eviction posters were definitely amusing.

Posted by: Kevin at January 7, 2007 10:38 PM

I just remembered, right as I was posting my previous comment, that the little bird I spoke to at City Hall told me that 500 Bloor W has no active building permits... so no, there is no official work being done there right now at the old JJ Albany's.

Posted by: Kevin at January 7, 2007 10:43 PM

for the record, beer market is the worst place ive had to sit in ever. full of scum playing pool. crazy men trying to pick a fight talking to either your group of friends or the strongman competition on one of the billion tv's. yucky.

Posted by: michael k at January 8, 2007 2:26 AM

michael k: ya, I made some assumptions just by looking in the window. The place looks doesn't look inviting to me.

Posted by: Jerrold at January 8, 2007 7:09 AM

Good overview and update of the Annex streetscape, I lived in the neighbourhood for 7 yrs and still always come back to my old local Paupers Pub and also would like to mention the Annex landmark, the By the Way Cafe which has been there since the 70s.

Posted by: dyee276750 at January 8, 2007 8:11 AM

ZiZi Trattoria is closed!?
I loved that place...

Posted by: Amanda at January 8, 2007 9:33 AM

@Amanda: sorry, it's all boarded up now and there are posters on the front door saying that a Chinese dim sum restaurant is coming soon.

Posted by: Kevin at January 8, 2007 10:03 AM

Other food highlights for me:

Future Bakery's Cake.

Insomnia's Chicken and Avacado sandwich, and their mussels.

Fresh's sweet potato fries with miso gravy.

And almost everything at Ghazale and By the Way Cafe is delicious.

Posted by: Jerrold at January 8, 2007 10:07 AM

i was unaware that there was more to be known about the annex.. clearly one of the highest quality stretches of road in the city. But now i have a few more places to go to when the mood strikes.

KUDOS!!!

Posted by: Luke Wilson at January 8, 2007 11:11 PM

Same. I'm rarely west of Spadina, and this stretch looks and sounds great. It's definitely slated for further exploration. Thanks, guys.

Posted by: Gloria at January 9, 2007 7:45 AM

In terms of struggling business name changing, "JJ Albany's" ranks high. As if no one going to notice it wasn't a JJ Muggs anymore.

Posted by: Tanja at January 9, 2007 3:04 PM

My favourite instant giggle lives in the Annex. Weiner's Hardware.

Posted by: lee at January 9, 2007 7:13 PM

Great story...the Annex rocks.
Re: Steve's comments...I totally remember when Sneaky Dee's was across from Honest Ed's. :)

Back in the early 80's I remember my mom and I splitting a plate of french fries and gravy at the old Woolworth's luncheon counter, when Mr.T made a guest appearnce at Honest Ed's and caused a near riot at Bloor & Bathurst... and then years later there used to be an old video rental place near Robert St. where they always has a copy of Super Mario Bros. 3 to rent (I was determined to kick Bowser's ass what can I say?) Oh and who can forget "Cafe Orgasmo" now Tim Hortons?

Yay Annex!


Posted by: Bridget at February 5, 2007 12:00 AM

Just wait until Aroma espresso bar is open

Posted by: David at February 23, 2007 10:00 PM

aha! it looks like aroma espresso bar may be moving in after all!

i saw this "now hiring" sign tonight:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnyhero/461065069/

Posted by: bunnyhero [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 16, 2007 1:18 AM

i don't know if anyone is reading the comments to this old post any more, but i just wanted to let you know that i am posting this from the aroma espresso bar right now :) they offer free wifi for customers, too (name/password for access is on your receipt).

it's quite hopping at the moment. they have a kitchen, too.

Posted by: bunnyhero [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2007 5:05 PM

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