Bloor West Village
Situated between Jane Street and Ellis Park Road on Bloor Street, Bloor West Village in Toronto is a thriving shopping district that offers all the convenience and amenities of downtown Toronto without the hustle and bustle of a major city center. Conveniently located only minutes from downtown and located along the Bloor-Danforth subway line, Bloor West Village is widely known as being the world’s first “business improvement area” (BIA), a self-contained area where the local businesses of the district pay an additional tax to help fund improvements within the district’s boundaries. Since its inception in 1970, Bloor West Village has since gone on to inspire hundreds of BIAs around the world.
Growing steadily throughout the past forty years, Bloor West Village has grown to offer over four hundred unique business for the determined consumer. Many local business, such as eclectic book supplier Book City, got their start in Bloor West Village, while national chains such as Chapters have managed to squeeze in a store or two amidst the myriad of other local businesses and shops. Beyond being merely a shopping district, Bloor West Village offers a variety of services, from dry cleaning to health care, all the amenities you could ask for in downtown living.
Bloor West Village also offers over seventy unique restaurants and coffee shops for the weary traveler to rest their feet and enjoy a uniquely rich and diverse dining experience. From Mediterranean cuisine at 17 Steps Restaurant and Bar (the top voted restaurant in the district on UrbanSpoon.com) to local delicatessens like Anna’s Bakery and Deli and pizza joints like Classico Pizza and Pasta, there’s sure to be something to whet the appetite of even the pickiest eaters. Bloor West Village also boasts a number of unique bakeries, offering local sweets and European-inspired treats to cap off a day of intense shopping.
Not content with just being a repository for some of the best shopping in Toronto, Bloor West Village and the Business Improvement Association is a major patron of the arts, hosting a variety of events throughout the year. Highlights include the 3-day Toronto Ukrainian Festival in September, which invites everyone to experience the largest celebration of Ukrainian history and culture in North America with a variety of food, vendors, and even a midway for the kids. It’s guaranteed fun for the whole family, and just one of the many exciting events that take place in Bloor West Village throughout the year.