Attention Parkdale Shoppers
I can't speak for all Parkdalians, but I've been wondering about the old Thrift Town lot for a while (located at 1473 Queen St. W., near Jameson). It's taken forever for the empty space to be transformed into something substantial. And now, with the appearance of cheery face photos in the store's windows, it's become pretty evident what the space is going to be: a brand new Shoppers Drug Mart.
Big, established drug stores aren't exactly easy to find on this strip of the city, so no surprise SDM is planting a stake. But the anti-gentrification crowd isn't pleased. Several people I spoke with fear rents will go up. Or local businesses will be forced out. Or the chain store will permanently alter the rough beauty of the 'hood.
Sure, all those things can (and probably will) happen. But does change always have to be such a bad thing?
When this argument comes up I always think about Roncesvalles. That strip has been gentrifying for years and while many of the older places have changed hands or closed up, many have not. And many of the new stores that have opened in the area are convenient, small, independent businesses themselves. No, Roncey is an eclectic mix of young families and traditional Polish cliques.
The same thing could happen to Parkdale. And I don't necessarily see that as a bad thing. There goes the neighbourhood, or great for the neighbourhood? We'll just have to wait and see.
Comments (31)
angry @ shoppers??
there's a pizza pizza, blockbuster, and a dollarama like a block east of there... out of those 4 companies i'd much rather have a shoppers, above the others.
Not sure why the neighbourhood would be upset - the Guardian drugstore at Queen & MacDonnell was a Shopper's Drug Mart for years until they lost the franchise and became a Guardian about 10 years ago.
One could argue that with the Guardian and a Rexall on the next block the area doesn't need another chain drugstore, but given that Shoppers was here years ago, I don't see how they could be concieved as ruining anything.
NO! Why did you mention that?
That was our way of weeding out the dirty hipsters from the Parkdale OG's. Hmnnn I wonder what that says about the author then...
LOL a "post" about a franchise coming into a neighbourhood to ruin it, when it really is making a comeback.
The issue is not in there being a Shoppers Drug Mart, but the issue is in 3 Drug stores in 3 blocks on Drug Queen Street.
If you want to be angry at Shoppers, be angry that they built a 1-floor store on Danforth between Broadview and Chester when the subway access should have mandated a multi-level structure. Shoppers, LCBO, Beer Store - they all think they are in a small town rather than a dense urban area.
Shoppers Drugmart is sooo ugly. The Guardian Drugs at Queen & Landsdown is kind of ugly too but not as insanely bright white. And Guardian has more weird gifts, junk, and the cosmetics that time forgot.
I'm not here to defend hipsterism, but I will say that Shoppers is a poor excuse for a pharmacy. Compare them to well-known chains like Walgreens and Rite-Aid in the USA, and you will see that their selection and prices are far inferior. In fact, if you compare (as I have) prices for household goods at the 7-11 vs. Shoppers on Bloor/Spadina, you find that 7-11 beats them by 5-20%. Conclusion -- Shoppers is a SCAM.
Why compare SDM to a US company? Is there a Rite-Aid going in down the street in Parkdale to compare it to? No. I'd say in terms of convenience and walking distance, SDM wins hands down.
Add to this the Shoppers Optimum program, which through strategic buying and maximizing redemptions has netted me a Nintendo Wii and two DS's for my kids in the past two years alone.
The prices are comparable to local grocery chains - in fact on some common items they beat them hands down (cases of soft drinks being a good example). In terms of Pharmacy, I've never had an issue with them, they always have efficient, respectful staff on hand who know what they're doing. I really hope this one gets a Post Office in it so I don't have to schlep up to Solarski's. This one will be five minutes from my house.
Handfed, why would you go to 7-11 OR SDM when there's a Metro right across the street that will beat both of them.
The Guardian already has a Canada Post office so it seems unlikely that the SDM would as well....
The Guardian already has a Canada Post office so it seems unlikely that the SDM would as well....
You know, there are 3 commercial properties considered to have a positive affect on property value: starbucks, shopper's drug mart, and a grocery chain.
I'm feeling woozy from the shots I'm taking every time I read the word "hipster".
Oh wait, I haven't actually played that drinking game yet, just conceived it.
Hoolahoops need a place to buy their Manic Panic hair dye.
Down with Shopper's Drug Mart! NIMBY!
(It's not actually MBY, I'm addicted to Optimum Points and I'm always glad when I see a Shopper's Drug Mart.)
I live three blocks from here and i WELCOME this SDM. The Guardian down the street is very ugly and should retire. Besides, Shoppers is not tHat much more expensive. I shop at the one on Queensway and they have sales on there weekly!
Geographic-wise, it's in a perfect spot. Just the right distance from the semi-descent Guardian on Roncees.
*One question, where did that Thrift town go? I liked their second-hand selection there.
I welcome SDM to the 'hood. I just moved into Parkdale Village because I run a business on Queen at Roncey. Now I can walk to Shoppers, which is a chain, and not a franchise.
Rexall and Guardian are part the same company, Drug Trading Company Ltd., which is not a chain or a franchise, but more of a co-op for independently owned pharmacies. It provides independently owned phramacies with the opportunity to offer better products and information that they wouldn't otherwise be able to offer at competitive rates. Without IDA, Guardian or Rexall (all part of DTCL), these businesses would be reduced to the level of old-school apothecary.
Parkdale is gentrifying. In five years it will be a completely different neighbourhood, one more geared towards artists and hipsters, with (hopefully) a cleaner sheen to it.
I welcome SDM to the 'hood. I just moved into Parkdale Village because I run a business on Queen at Roncey. Now I can walk to Shoppers, which is a chain, and not a franchise.
Rexall and Guardian are part the same company, Drug Trading Company Ltd., which is not a chain or a franchise, but more of a co-op for independently owned pharmacies. It provides independently owned phramacies with the opportunity to offer better products and information that they wouldn't otherwise be able to offer at competitive rates. Without IDA, Guardian or Rexall (all part of DTCL), these businesses would be reduced to the level of old-school apothecary.
Parkdale is gentrifying. In five years it will be a completely different neighbourhood, one more geared towards artists and hipsters, with (hopefully) a cleaner sheen to it.
SDM is the best thing to happen to Parkdale since well...1901.
I lived and work in the hood and this place is indeed a hood. Hookers turn tricks in alleyways, crack-heads are peddling rock like it was 1980, crack whore's are always asking for "smokes" or a "blow job" and fights always erupt on average once a week. Also there's the local drunks that use bus shelters as their day-time patios. God forbid an establishment comes in a "gentrifies" Parkdale. That would be the worst fucking thing imaginable.
Yeah so let's raise the rents so we can push all those people out and its just like the problem disappeared!
Right, because the better solution is to leave things as they are and let the addicts and hookers keep their street corners, as if this should be the accepted norm?
(I guess you think the giant CAMH re-development site just down the street is a big waste of money and space?)
Sorry, I didn't get that. One more time?
And it's been said before, THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN a Shoppers Drug Mart in the "'Hood" (did I hipster that correctly?).
Don't question it's come back. Shoppers Drug Mart's been here for years.
it's good to put some lights on in otherwise streetfront retail. So I can't say a store opening by SDM is any better or worse than anyother store.
I will say that I find SDM to be the most expensive Canadian drug mart chain. Without getting into names I find most of my generic drug needs at costs of 20 - 30 percent less at other drug stores. If you really want to, check do it for yourself. SDM is a fine chain but costly.
Johnny's comment says everything about how elite and self revolved we are about our little bubbles.
It's like the video of the hipster who perceives a force field and can't bring himself to go north of Dundas.
Sounds like a plan to me!
If you want to live in a neighborhood where it's impossible to sleep because of police sirens and where your kids can't play in the local park for fear of falling on a hypodermic needle, then I'm quite sure Rexdale has some vacancies.
what's wrong with shoppers? I just moved tothe area and i am pretty glad there's a pharamacy. I have been tothe other 2 drugstores and they are nothingto speak of. Come on, I'd rather have a shoppers than another art gallery nobody will visit! this is practical. And makes jobs!
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