Leslieville, once a little known east end suburb of Toronto, is now one of the most sought after stretches of east Toronto to live in. In the past 8 or so years, Leslieville has seen dramatic changes in its retail business, the type of homeowners and residents its attracting and its popularity.
Why? Not only is the area close to Toronto Beaches (Ashbridges Bay, Kew Beach, Woodbine Park) it is very close to the downtown core and all the major highways to/from the City - the Gardiner Expwy, The DVP and the Lakeshore. Every week a new and exciting shop seems to open up on this ecectic strip of Queen St. East between Pape and Greenwood Avenues.
In just a few years, stores like Lowe's Farms Organic Foods, the Leslieville Cheese Shoppe, Nathalie Roze & Co. (clothing), The Curzon (bar), The Roy(pub), The Purple Purl (wool shop), Any Direct Flight (clothing), The Red Rocket (coffee bar), & The Film Buff (movie rentals) have sprung up - just to name a few. Not to mention numerous small and successful restaurants, butchers, vintage shops and baby supply stores. There's even a website devoted to residents of the 'hood called The Leslieviller.
The community's recent protest against a Walmart in the area shows the people of Toronto and this small community that local goods and independent shopkeepers are making a comeback.
The only 'corporatization' of Leslieville is one Starbucks at the corner of Logan/Queen St. Despite that, it hasn't seemed to take any business from the smaller, successful coffee parlours in the neighbourhood like The Mercury Bar or Tango Palace. There is something for everyone is Leslieville.
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