Fancy new Toronto Porsche dealership to feature a cafe and patio for some reason

A new flagship Porsche dealership in Toronto's revitalized Port Lands will feature its own street-front cafe and patio.

Plans filed with the City in May seek to redevelop a 9,700 square-metre site at the corner of Cherry Street and Polson Street, near Rebel nightclub, with a brand-new dealership to replace the existing Porsche Centre Downtown.

The current Porsche Centre Downtown at 259 Lake Shore Boulevard East is planned to be redeveloped in the near future, forcing the luxury auto brand to seek new digs nearby.

A proposed three-storey, 6,000 square-metre building at the replacement site of 190 Cherry Street would feature a sleek design from architects BDP Quadrangle, and house an automotive dealership, service shop, and an attached cafe featuring a street-fronting patio.

Planning documents explain how the cafe "will be integrated within the automotive dealership providing a casual seating area and encouraging additional pedestrian activity on Cherry Street."

Among the tidbits mentioned in plans, the cafe and an associated retail area will sell Porsche-branded merchandise.

While car dealerships aren't exactly known for their contributions to streetscapes, the project team promises the cafe and outdoor patio area " will be beneficial in enhancing pedestrian activity along Cherry Street."

The move isn't without precedent, as Porsche currently operates cafes, bars, and restaurants elsewhere in the world like its Porsche Museum in Germany. Earlier this year, the auto brand opened a new cafe in a Singapore dealership that appears similar to the forthcoming Toronto concept.