June 15, 2024
comments 9

Don’t serve coffee

For the last few weeks, a small corner store/cafe at 42 Dewson Street has been in the news here in Toronto. It has been in the news because, despite the fact that Toronto is actively working to allow more uses like these in residential neighborhoods, it is my understanding that it currently remains a legal non-conforming use. Meaning, it’s allowed to operate only because it’s been there for a long time.

The specific fight right now, though, is around whether this corner store is allowed to serve people coffee. It can sell groceries and stuff, but can it serve coffee? (Also, self-serve coffee is apparently an entirely different thing and acceptable behavior.) The store owner thinks the answer is yes. But then somebody called in an anonymous tip and the city came knocking:

CityNews reached out to the City of Toronto for a response. They said “the building at 42 Dewson St. is in a Residential Zone, and a non-residential/commercial use is not permitted. Any change of use from a Retail Grocery/Variety Store is not permitted; and that includes store staff preparing food or drinks (or coffees) for sale to patrons. A change of use, requires zoning relief from the Committee of Adjustment.”

Okay, so serving coffee to people is potentially problematic. But why? Here are three possible reasons that immediately come to mind:

  • Somebody else in the neighborhood is serving coffee and they’re ruthlessly trying to eliminate all competition.
  • Serving coffee encourages people to linger and lingering people make more noise relative to people who don’t linger.
  • The neighborhood is filled with pedants who like to read zoning by-laws in their spare time and they just can’t stand seeing such a blatant disregard for refreshment rules.

There are, of course, other possible reasons. And according to Twitter/Reddit, the real reason is that the property is owned by a rich developer and the neighborhood is, for a variety of reasons, pissed off at said rich developer. I don’t know that this is true, but maybe it is. Because fighting over served versus self-served coffee seems like an insane thing to argue about.

If you happen to agree, Dan Seljak has a petition you can sign, here.

Photo: CityNews

9 Comments

  1. ncohen226

    I own 2 apartments buildings less than a block from this business. Everyone, including my tenants love this business. The current business owner is respectful and has great coffee and pastries.

    The complainer is tenant across the street and is very well-known by all to be a major complainer about everything. She would prefer that no one even walk on the street. She has had it in for this business since it opened. The previous business was a dump / old variety store. When the property sold a few years ago a well-known, small coffee shop operator bought the building and wanted to add a boutique coffee shop that would sell wine in the evening, like the shop on Broadview. She essentially fought and the owner gave up. The current operator moved in knowing that she would be a problem, eventually.

    What I do not understand is how one person can determine what is and is not acceptable for a neighbourhood. This little coffee shop is loved by all. Every neighbourhood would benefit from this kind of operation. No matter how much support there is for this shop, the complainer has continued to be the only voice heard. Unacceptable.

    I’ve made a donation to help the current owner fight the good battle to be able to make and sell a good cup of java.

    Please sign the petition in support of this small business

    https://www.change.org/p/save-finch-store-martin-cafe-and-protect-to-neighbourhood-retail https://www.change.org/p/save-finch-store-martin-cafe-and-protect-to-neighbourhood-retail

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Myron Nebozuk

    Here’s the thing about pendants (great choice of words by the way!):

    a) as they age, they don’t colour their hair;

    b) they are usually Bruce Cockburn fans. Give them a flute or two of Moët at a social event and they’ll tell you that they “wish they had a rocket launcher”.

    Nasty people: best to avoid.

    Like

  4. AM

    Nimbys are going to nimby.

    Ideally one would ignore them (it’s hard), so a second-strategy is to mock them ruthlessly and shame them for being such party poopers.

    Also, since most of them are boomers: they’re gonna die soon. The long game has potential in this case.

    Like

  5. vreimer2e8e176b62

    It could just be step to ensure that the Ontario Building Code is adhered to. A retail space is not an Assembly Space, but a coffee shop is an Assembly Space and thus has to have (or should have) washrooms for the persons you’ve invited in to your establishment. Hence, different building code issues come into effect, including the washroom requirements and perhaps parking requirements. An Assembly Space also cannot be in a building over two stories, if the building is of combustible construction. These are all life and health safety issues. Rezoning/variances or conditional use agreements and associated building adjustments would normally take care of these issues. One accessible washroom would do the trick IMO in this situation.

    Liked by 1 person

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