Big money and small business mesh well in Rosedale, where trendy shopping takes on a relaxed vibe.
Home design, decorating and furnishing stores dominate the main shopping strip along Yonge Street, no surprise given the high home values in the area, yet a variety of different business still thrive, supported by strong local support.
Andrew Dymecki owns Belle Epoque Furnishings (1066 Yonge St.) and opened his store 16 years ago when Rosedale was less upscale and not as well-known as a shopping destination.
“The area wasn’t so trendy back then. There were all kinds of shops and a different mix of retail. Now there’s a lot of home design stores and it’s become a really trendy strip. We’re a central location,” Dymecki said.
While the preponderance of home-related stores like Dymecki’s make for stiff competition, Dymecki says the clientele is relatively easy to sell to because most people come to the area with a good idea of what they want.
“There’s a lot of competition and you have to be on your game, but people here are well-travelled and they recognize what’s good and not good,” Dymecki said.
Stephen Dixon opened home furnishings store Boo Boo & Lefty Fine Living (1198 Yonge St.) and says the area holds promise.
Dixon opened less than a year ago after waiting six years for a retail space to open up because despite plenty of competing stores, he feels the area still has plenty of room for people like him.
“It’s the only area we wanted to open because of the strength of the retail community. I like the dynamic of what’s available here and we felt we had something to bring to the area. To me this is the heart of the city, it’s what Toronto means to me,” Dixon said.
While home stores are king in Rosedale, the area also features some excellent food spots frequented by a strongly local and strongly loyal population. While you might think the area could be too rich to be cool, you’d be wrong — local joints teem with unpretentious charm and friendly faces.
At the Rosedale Diner (1164 Yonge St.), opened in 1978, head waiter Cory Sweeney says despite the upscale stores in the area the overall customer vibe in the area is very laid-back, not at all what people might expect of a high-income neighbourhood. He estimates more than 70 per cent of the daily clientele are locals and regulars, proof that day-trippers aren’t the only ones shopping the strip.
“A lot of people might think everyone here is snooty, but it’s quite the opposite. We get all shapes and colours here and there’s a very diverse vibe,” Sweeney said.
Melissa Curcumelli-Rodostamo owns neighbourhood pub The Monk’s Table (1276 Yonge St.) and agrees that the vibe among customers is relaxed and down-to-earth.
“It’s a very family oriented place here, very local and there’s a strong sense of community here. People are friendly and there’s a fantastic atmosphere — it’s not uptight at all,” Curcumelli-Rodostamo said.
