The Financial District in Toronto is starting to show signs of life
Toronto's Financial District is finally showing signs of life as people head back into offices to work and popular businesses start to open back up.
The area has been a ghost town for the last few months as people worked from home, with major cafes and restaurants closed and the PATH grinding to a halt.
Drake One Fifty is re-opening September 14!
— Toronto Financial District BIA (@MyTOFD) September 10, 2020
The classic menu plus new tasty dishes. Take out lunch boxes available to go, and they'll also be available on Uber Eats, Ritual, DoorDash, and more! pic.twitter.com/VorRwlb03k
One of the Drake's major properties, Drake 150, is reopening on Sept. 14, artsy interior design and all.
@DineenCoffee has reopened in Commerce Court! pic.twitter.com/4s2hOYLBEY
— Toronto Financial District BIA (@MyTOFD) September 8, 2020
You can also now grab a flat white at popular high-end spot Dineen Coffee Co. again.
Patio, pastry chef. What else do you need? @richmondstn pic.twitter.com/frUYIlzN3N
— Toronto Financial District BIA (@MyTOFD) September 5, 2020
Richmond Station, one of the most well-reputed restaurants not only in the city but the neighbourhood, has reopened, but with the caveat that hospitality is now included in prices.
While Drake 150 is just reopening now, Financial District staple and upscale food court Assembly Chef's Hall has been open with their sprawling patio since June, saving a little piece of summer for the neighbourhood.
As a cyclist who works in Toronto's financial district, I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that there's now a bike lane on University Ave! #BikeTO 🚴♂️🚴🏙️
— 🙅♂️🧱 💁♀️🥫 🚓 🚔💥👮🌃🔥💥 🟧 🙆♂️ 🇺🇸💥 (@bp384r1) August 29, 2020
Prior to this, I avoided riding up/down University like the plague.
Now? No problem. https://t.co/RuUrYax4yF
More than two kilometres of new bike lanes between Adelaide Street West and Bloor Street West that extend up Avenue before ending at Davenport also now make it easier for cyclists to commute to the Financial District.
I would die for the toronto financial district BIA account. the financial district has no actual neighborhood culture (or culture of any kind) so they're out here promoting cactus club cafe and booster juice with total earnestness. it genuinely brightens my day
— fangmeli (@pangmeli) September 10, 2020
While some argue that the neighbourhood didn't have much of a life or personality to revive, none can deny that it's easy to miss the normalcy of bustling crowds weaving among skyscrapers and big chain businesses, and it's kinda nice to see a little of that returning.
Jesse Milns
