Over the past handful of years, we’ve seen more and more American companies infiltrate the Canadian market. We’ve seen in it retail, and we’ve seen it with many fast-food and restaurant chains as well.
Notable eateries like The Cheesecake Factory, Cauldron Ice Cream, and Chin Chin have crossed the border. In the upcoming years, Toronto will also see a Nobu open their doors. But one of the most talked about openings has easily been fast-food chain Chick-Fil-A.
Chick-Fil-A recently announced the address of its first Toronto location.
Located at 1 Bloor St. East, Chick-fil-A joins McEwan Foods and Nordstrom Rack at the newly developed First Capital Realty-owned property.
Back in July 2018, the American restaurant chain announced that it has plans to open more than a dozen restaurants in Canada over the next five years. The Bloor and Yonge Chick-fil-A location will be the restaurant’s second location in Canada, with the first located at the Calgary International Airport.
In addition to the Yonge and Bloor location, according to Narcity, Chick-Fil-A has plans to open restaurants in North York, and all throughout the city and one Southwestern Ontario. No word yet on if the Southwestern Ontario location could be in Hamilton or the Niagara regions.
The restaurant chain is making it fairly easy for Canadians to get in on the franchise business, with the entry for ownership set at just $15,000. To put that into perspective, many other Canadian franchises request between $100,000 and $300,000 in order to become an operator.
Instagram/@cfa_eastbroad
However, Chick-fil-A’s Canadian expansion doesn’t come without its fair share of controversy.
Chick-fil-A made headlines back in 2012 when the company’s president Dan T. Cathy went public with his thoughts about same-sex marriage and support of “traditional” marriages. On top of its chicken sandwiches, the fast-food chain is also known for its conservative political views.
Considering the company’s past, the intersection at Bloor and Yonge is an interesting choice for the restaurant, as The Village — the hub for Canada’s largest LGBTQ+ community — is just a few blocks away.
When news originally broke of the chain’s entry into Canada, social media had mixed reactions. Some people praised Chick-fil-A’s food and service, while others felt quite differently, and even proclaimed an early boycott of the restaurant.
Instagram/@brunchtillimbroke
The opening date for Chick-fil-A’s first Toronto location is still under wraps.
Even though there’s no word yet on an opening date, according to Narcity, the company did say that this location will open within the year and when it does, it will employ 75 people.
Despite controversies, Chick-fil-A is thriving in the United States. It is currently on track to become the third most successful fast-food chain, surpassing Burger King, Subway, and Wendy’s.
Whether the restaurant will see the same success in Canada is a whole other story, and only time will tell if Canadians will be as accepting of the chain.
Featured image: Instagram/@chickfila7thandfig
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Home to all things upscale, Yonge and Bloor will be getting a brand new gourmet grocery store within the upcoming weeks.
Celebrity chef Mark McEwan — the man behind notable restaurants like Fabbrica, ONE, and Bymark — will be opening a third location of his gourmet grocery store in the 1 Bloor Street East retail podium.
Set to open January 2019, McEwan’s Yonge and Bloor will span over 17,000-square-feet.
The massive gourmet grocery store will take up the entire concourse level and act as the anchor of the intersection. For those who have never been to a McEwan’s before, which has locations at Shops at Don Mills and in the Financial District’s PATH, the grocery store merges grocery shopping with restaurant dining.
The grocerant, as the McEwan Group calls it, will feature top-class products and elevated prepared meals, making it a high-end shopping and food destination for those who work, play, and live in the area.
Moncur Design Associates Inc.
McEwan’s Yonge and Bloor will host a number of exciting new features.
In addition to the gourmet grocery store’s regular features, shoppers can expect a number of new features, too. Features expected to accompany the Yonge and Bloor location include McEwan’s Cafe, Fabbrica Pizza, a carving station and rotisserie (offering prime rib, porchetta, brisket, and more), a sushi bar, a hot and cold table, a salad and sandwich station, and a dry ageing room.
Visitors will also be able to shop McEwan’s diverse cheese and deli program, daily deliveries of seafood, and market-fresh produce.
Courtesy of The McEwan Group
The new gourmet grocery store will be a welcome addition to Toronto’s busiest intersection.
With ample parking and plenty of seating, there’s no doubt that the grocery store will be a hit.
Bloor and Yonge is set to see many changes over the next few years. The area is rumoured to soon be home to a 20,000-square-foot Apple store, and will soon also welcome a new Over The Rainbow, an updated Birks, and Canada’s first Eataly.
Featured Image: McEwan’s TD via Instagram/@mcewanfoods