What to say about the Loblaws-and therefore Joe Fresh, former Club Monaco-head Joe Mimran’s eponymous fast fashion clothing line-that may occupy the space at Queen and Portland? Something, perhaps, about the preservation of one of the city’s most eclectic throughfares and the increasing homogenization of the city’s character?
A 45-000 square foot Loblaws (and a 29,000 square foot Winners) complex makes more sense, I suppose, as the Home Depot project since scrapped. But how much change it’ll effect, undesirable or otherwise, is negligible.
A Loblaws to service the neighbourhood may irk some as there are smaller, limited grocers that might be pushed off by the Weston giant.
But a supermarket nearby is welcome news to the neighbourhood residents who won’t have to trek as far or to as many places.
A(nother) Winners is confusing, considering there’s one so close by, on Spadina. (The store’s PR department tells me there are, as far she knows, no plans to close the latter. But also that 2011 is a long ways away and she couldn’t see that far.)
As far as Mimran’s wares are hocked, Queen West has long been a bastion of fashion, fast or otherwise. Another ubiquitous retailer on the street, sadly, isn’t anything to get excited or riled up about.[rssbreak]
