The Annex
Bordering and enveloping Toronto's most prestigious university, The Annex is a student-friendly neighbourhood sporting easy-on-the-wallet pizza joints, sushi restaurants, pubs and cafes. Bloor Street is the main drag with institutions like Honest Ed's, The Bloor Cinema and Sonic Boom anchored conveniently near the Bathurst subway stop. Further south on Harbord, new-ish restos like Tati and the Harbord Room bring in the 30 plus crowd to a stretch that is quickly becoming a dining destination.
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Toronto's Best In This 'HoodComments (31)
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
@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.
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.
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.
michael k: ya, I made some assumptions just by looking in the window. The place looks doesn't look inviting to me.
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.
@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.
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.
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!!!
Same. I'm rarely west of Spadina, and this stretch looks and sounds great. It's definitely slated for further exploration. Thanks, guys.
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.
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!
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/
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.
aroma is incredibly busy all the time!
i dont understand how there can be 3 coffee shops all across the street from each other, each doing great business.
i live just on albany and im always at ghazale for late night delicious sauce-y shawarmas and i end up doing most of my grocery shopping at organics on bloor. i used to shop at noah's, but i neeeed fresh vegetables that are actually fresh.
The Annex...God Bless it. I could never seem to move away from the Annex either. I did time on Lowther and Vermont Ave...and I worked at SWAK (the one closest to Spadina. Met my best friend on the patio at Futures and met my wife one drunken night at the Dance Cave.
I stomped on the terra all over the Annex.
I don't live in Toronto now but think about it everyday.
My favorite place is Vintage Video in Mirvish village. John is real nice and knowledgeable about videos. The store only sells vintage films. No renting. Check it out for the nice interior. His selection isn't as large as Bay St. Video, but it's got lots of character and a nice place to shop for classic videos of all kinds. I just moved to Winnipeg and dearly miss that store.
Are there any grocery stores near the Dupont Station? I may move to the area but not familiar with Toronto. Thanks!
Hello Everyone!
I just moved to The Annex with my roomie and I'm super excited! I love it here! Does anyone have any suggestions for "must do's" or "must eat's" here I would love to know.
Thanks!
Lynds :)
If your looking for fantastic prices on organic products, Organics on Bloor has really fresh produce and a great variety of organic grocery items !!
It's something you must check out.
Can anyone tell me what ever happened to a smaller clothing company called "PLAY DEAD" that was in this area? I think it was around the Dundas & Bathurst intersection.
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