Not just any other Friday on the Danforth
For those that have experienced the Danforth in Toronto, you know the amazing multicultural nature of the area. It’s not just Greece that’s well represented, though of course Greek Town is the stuff of legends and an absolute awesome place, but when you work your way East of Greenwood, you find world class Thai food, Ethiopian fair, Italian cafés, Irish pubs, health food stores, organic markets, specialty clothing stores… the list goes on. It’s spectacular. And of course, with this great combination of different backgrounds and offerings comes an energy and a vibrance that needs to be lived to understand: there’s a feeling of pride of ownership from each of the locations and a sense of community from the patrons.
For some time, through lockdowns tied to the pandemic, the Danforth has been a little quieter than normal. Businesses have been forced to shutter or operate through click-and-collect. That sense of “togetherness” was tougher to attain in the socially distant lockdown world. BUT, this past Friday showed signs of inching back to normal, with Ontario moving to “Step 1”, allowing for limited retail - 15% capacity for non-essential retail - and for patrons to enjoy food/drink on patios. I’m not sure anyone who’s experienced the area pre-pandemic would have called Friday’s volume “busy”, though it was amazing to see folks on patios and enjoying their local shops, in ways they haven’t been able to since late 2020. Most local businesses need more than 15% capacity to make a go of it, but it’s a heck of a lot better than 0! It felt like the crack of dawn, with the first signs of light on the horizon - there’s more to come.
Friday on the Danforth was extra special for Northern Helm, as Chris, Peter, and Jonathan opened the very first Northern Helm location at 1338 Danforth! The location, which is now open for in-person shopping and click-and-collect, was selected partially because it was so close to where Chris lives, fulfilling his goal of serving his community and allowing for his deep involvement in day-to-day store operations. The three are originally from Lebanon and have worked in several countries, including Italy, Spain, and the UAE, before spending a number of years working in Toronto. This combination of backgrounds and experiences ensures they add to the wealth of culture on the Danforth! They’ve built a fantastic team that is ready to serve and their integration into the community will grow as the lockdown restrictions continue to loosen back to normal.
We hope to see you there soon!