Thanks Johnny! I haven't been to Cumberland Terrace in years. At least in the early 2000s it was a little more lively but now it's a shell of its former self. I hope it can be revived but it looks doubtful 😔
Very sad to see the Cumberland Terrace like this. I have many fond memories of my Nana taking me there as a kid way back in the ‘80s. It holds a special place in my heart.
Some History: The Dollarama that you passed in 2 Bloor East was originally a big nightclub called Rock and Roll Heaven back in the early 80s. It's where Q107 radio used to do their final "Homegrown" band competition concert. We videotaped the band Honeymoon Suite there in 1983 as they performed after winning that year.
High cost of renting these units is the reason why all the tenants moved out. The cost the the commercial units is ridiculously expensive. Which says lots because Cumberland Terrace is in a major foot traffic area.
I've worked from home for almost 10 years now, but prior to that, I worked mostly in downtown Toronto for 25 years. Oh the times I walked that Path section from Yonge/Bloor to Bay/Bloor. I loved that food court and specifically the kiosk you stuck your camera in at around 11 minutes. If I had a nickel for every lunch I bought from them, I'd have enough to buy at least one lunch, even at today's prices. Sad to see they are closed. This section has, since I can remember, always been under construction and always had underwhelming customer population. It is a wonder these stores stay in business. OMG, I just noticed, they removed almost all the seats. WOW!!!
Thanks for the great video! I enjoyed watching and felt very sad to see how it has changed so much. It is really heart breaking to see what was once a great place to shop so empty and hollow. I used to go shop and sometimes just to wander around. It is just so sad.
Lovely captured camera work and another spectacular beautiful shooting filming footage compilation walk away tour and thanks again from Montreal QC ! ..
I used to work north of the Bay & Bloor intersection a long time ago - almost 20 years ago. I commented about this on the same visit & video you did last year. So I wont go into details again. But I did used to visit the Cumberland terrace food court for lunch almost every day. It is sad to see it so empty. There used to be way more chairs and tables. They seem to have all gone now.
Cumberland terrace is one of those malls that was decimated by covid and never recovered from the loss of the business crowd. it had already shrunk majorly before that over the years.
I used to like it too, many years ago. But when you travel around, you realise that there are many places out there that are much nicer, AND many are way cheaper. Milano, Wien, Graz, Firenze, Munich, Zagreb, Paris...to name just a few are much "better". Toronto has also gone downhill over the last few years. I went to school there, and worked there for nearly 40 years; Toronto is not what it once was. It's not the same place.
Yes I cling to Hopes you are right-Toronto is Beautiful and easy to Love for all it offers!! Let's hope it's not going in the wrong direction as it has been dealt some awful blows!!!
I remember Cumberland Terrace from the 1970s. It was a very nice mall back then. If you look up at the ceiling near the windows on the main floor, you will see "plugs", such as here at 15:50, in between the sprinklers. They used to anchor the many hanging potted plants that used to hang in the windows. (During that time, hanging plants and macrame plant hangers were popular.) The mall had a good selection of shops. But now, it's basically down to a small handful of shops that don't really attract shoppers. It will be gone in near future, just like the Village Arcade plaza that was across the road. Nice video, thanks.
For many years I went to the De Francesco hair salon until my stylist Katherine moved to Oakville. I also used to patronize Roasty Jack back in the day - they had a curried turkey stew served on rice that was reasonably priced and very tasty...
Winter time is the best time for the PATH. Sadly, not many people take advantage of the PATH. So much potential for other use, like education centres, offices, etc.
Used to walk through that mall from the Yorkville parking garage across the street to the office at Bloor and Church. Was a nice shortcut when the weather was crappy.
I saw your Cumberland Terrace walk last time - and it was good, because I got myself a diecast Concorde model for my collection at that toy store, which is now closed. Thanks for the revisit!
Thank you Johnny. It’s been 30 years since I last saw that mall, but I used to be there every work day to catch the subway. Except for the empty stores, it sure hasn’t changed.
This is so sad, I was through there last week. I had sunner jobs in the area back when it was new. It was the place to shop. Had my first drink in a bar at the Pilot.😊
Thanks Johnny, I like your video walking tours of Toronto, it's interesting, you add a lots of information, and it makes me learn more about Toronto. Have a good week!
It was exciting as heck in my younger years to ride the subway to Bloor Station and get off to walk Southward on Yonge St towards the lake. There was so much to see and do along the strip. Arcades, live music, restaurants and great shops. Ok, a lot of peep shows too LOL! Those days were truly magical. Today all you will see down there are a lot of empty storefronts, weed dispensaries and ghosts from the 70's.
So I remember going through this mall any years ago when it first opened it was great in the winter winds were blowing. Times and things are changing, and most of the times it's not for the better .
I used to work at The Source at both Cumberland Terrace and at Hudson Bay Centre. Plenty of memories. Even then (in 2006) Cumberland Terrace was very dead. The upper level was quite dead in the 90s as well. I remember years ago the subway entrance area was terribly smoky from some dingy looking restaurant/bar in the passageway to Holt Renfrew. Not sure what it was called, but I always gagged when I went by it. I think it closed sometime around 2000.
There used to be a deep stairway connection under Cumberland St. Tk the village arcade across the street. they closed off sometime prob 2014 or so. Used to also link into the parking lot. Do you remember the pub/bar across the street? They always used to advertise the wing specials.
4:30 - Dollarama - Location of a former Famous Players cinema called The Plaza 1 & 2, which closed in April 2001. (It was also previously a Fabricland store after the cinema closed).
Thanks for the video -you cover a lot of ground and when I got watching it only re-inforced how much Toronto has so much to offer-everything looked clean and orderly-I wish I had more time and money to be able to come back on the weekends at least!-but as a commuter I just don't have the time, energy, or money!!!
The Cumberland Mall used to be thriving until prices got outrageously high, the other thing that killed it was the closer of the Famous Players Movie Theater.
That Dollarama used to be an underground performance venue for rock bands. If you walk around the Dollarma and you footfalls go from sounding like you are walking on concrete to wood, you are walking over the remnants of the mosh pit. Saw voivod there in 91 (I think). I worked in both the Bay and the Cantire at 839 Younge. Wild times.
I had no idea the Cumberland terrace mall is basically empty! I remember the days when it was full of activity. This city is dying a painful slow death.
Don't take how empty Cumberland Terrace as a sign for how downtown is like. I've been living downtown since the late 2000s and the mall has always been empty. It hasn't been updated since it was built in the 70s, so it's no surprise it's losing tenants. I've always just used it as a go-between Manulife Centre and Bloor-Yonge station. The area surrounding it is very much alive.
Those were the days. In the early 1980s, the 2 Bloor West shopping mall had massive, clean, and spacious restroom facilities I had very oily skin then, and I used to wash my face and refresh my makeup comfortably inside. When I returned to Toronto in 1991, the area had been converted into shops selling handbags, luggage, flowers, etc. From a civilized shopping mall to hot commercial space shortages to a totally different scenario today!
Sadly, there are many areas in this city that have that odour permanently. Some of them are outdoors in public, some are indoors. Most of them shock you just how Johnny was shocked. What's worse is the shock of the scent is equal to the shock of the fact that it exists in that space in the first place. For example, last year I walked over the train tracks via a structure that was built for just that purpose that consisted of stairs, walkways, and elevators. It's fairly new and in a busy area near Liberty Village (fact check me, I don't know how old it is but Id bet it's less than 10 years old). I was kind of enthused to use the structure for the first time, having just stumbled upon it en route to my destination. However, the fact it smelled like it did in that area with that much foot traffic and that type of foot traffic left me with such a negative feeling thinking about what was and what is.
The Salon/Hairdresser outlived the Anti Aging Shop in that dead area of Cumberland. I used to walk here often many years ago. My parents used to buy groceries at Mr Grocer which then changed Valu-Mart. It looks like it change again now to Loblaw City Market.
Johnny I've never been to Cumberland Terrace. I've only been to 2 malls this year Albion Mall and Sheridan Mall. Would love you to do a walk through The Shops at Don Mills again. I've never been there since they revamped it. I enjoyed your walk at Jane and Finch Mall and Yorkgate Mall.
So sad to see so much closed. I liked some of the independant stores there. I worked at a Tibetan gift shop on the ground floor about 20 years ago. It was pretty busy back then and really safe.
It’s crazy how such a busy intersection can’t sustain shopping malls. I remember this area in the late 70s and early 80s, my dad would take me to see movies in the plaza at 2 Bloor east. There was a two screen movie theatre in the sub basement under the mall. I wonder what’s down there now? Is it just mothballed? We would shop at the Bay above the mall before the movie. In the mid 80s I would hang out in this mall as a teen. I remember it was still vibrant going into the 1990s at least. I don’t know when they closed the theatres. It’s sad to see the Bay gone now too. I still love the Manulife Centre, it has everything you need, movies, gym, groceries, shopping, dining. My brother and sister worked at a restaurant in the Manulife Centre in the early 80s also.
Longo's used to have a nice salad bar. Dunno if they still have it. Would get my lunch there sometimes. 3:28 on the right, there used to be a good Italian-lady owned take-out food bar. Her spaggetti and meat balls were awesome, and cheap.
I remember going to that Indigo to line up for Jamie Oliver's book signing. The line stretched all inside and out through the underground complex to past where those escalators were. I wasn't even close enough to catch a peak. But one thing I did notice was that I was the only guy in line. Everyone in front were middle-aged women, everyone behind me was middle-aged women. I felt a little out of place.
Was Cumberland Terrace empty like this before the pandemic? It breaks my heart. When I first started working in Toronto I was at Bay and Bloor. It was our go-to at lunch, and hopping with life! Thanks for the walkthrough, Johnny.
I don’t think the mall was very healthy even before the pandemic. Some of that expensive, downtown retail space was being used by tenants for storage even then. And I didn’t know (or maybe I just forgot) that the mall had a second floor, and I used to go there regularly. What shops could survive up there? The main reason I would ever go to this mall would be for the food court, but there aren’t enough office workers to support a food court any more.
Yes it was kinda dead before the pandemic. Not as dead but lacking any direction and the shops were all like one offs. There was a cafe there also on the main level with chairs.
I moved downtown in the late 2000s and it's never been too busy, and it's gotten even less busy in recent years. I mostly use it to walk between Manulife Centre and Bloor-Yonge. The only other reason I went there was to eat at the Roasty Jacks in the food court but they closed down years ago. I'm surprised the sign is still up, tbh.
used to be busy years ago with traffic. and the Bay. perhaps work at home reduced workers in that area. also online shopping. sad in a way. used to enjoy the bustle walking thru. thanks.
You should visit Woodbine Mall next, it’s another partially dead mall with an amusement park. In fact, Tshods did a video exploring this mall along with other “failing” malls.
Memories Memories Memories... I had just turned 21 (back in 1980), and started my premier as a resident DJ in one of the Yorkville nightclubs back when this area was thriving. Alas, what retailer (or business of ANY sort could or) would want pay rent in this dead area today. Tastes and needs have changed...
Wow. I haven’t been through these areas in about 10 years. My memory is that this was bustling. Wall-to-wall people, not an empty retailer insight. Now it’s a ghost town. What has happened to Yonge and Bloor?? It’s gone!
I was there at Cumberland Terrace last week, its dead, its been dead for a long time. I was there when it was newer in the 80’s and it was livelier. There is something planned for that space but its taking for ever to develop.
In the food court (downstairs at Cumberland Terrace), there are basically two take-out places that remain in operation. The others are closed. And, at 10:55, you will see a wall at the back behind the tables. That blocks off what used to be an underground tunnel to the former Village Arcade plaza (now demolished, with a new tower being built.) I wonder if they will re-open the tunnel once the new building there and the towers on the Cumberland site will be completed.
I used to work at the intersection where you were standing at the start of the video more than 20 years ago. So much has changed since then. So sad to see it has changed for the worse.
I wandered in here thanks to Google Maps looking for A&W and wound up in the abandoned food court and very confused and like I'd gone back in time, such a strange place to exist. Can't believe some of those businesses sre still going.
I love Toronto. I'm 70 years old and I want to continue my retirement in this wonderful city. I hope I can find an affordable place to live and fulfill my dream.
The “mall” in general has been dying for years now. All over North America, it’s the same. Retail is circling the drain. Sign of the times…you want someone to blame? Internet.
Toronto of the recent past was so much more vibrant -more money around-more bustling - as things became more expensive and then throw in the pandemic which ripped the heart out of many cities it was like one of the final blows/now ultra expensive to live in Toronto-not as much dispoable income average people have today 2 throw around!! So if your well healed well no problems! It feels horrible to say I don't think it's as safe as it once was and of course the developers just keep building and adding congestion so when Toronto has 8-10 million people and 10-12 buildings that are over 1000 feet tall it'll be more like Manhattan/Chicago-I'm not saying that's a bad thing but somehow I yearn for the times when Toronto was not such a victim of it's success!!!
I can't believe the cheap discount stores that are in that space 1974 The Bay opened at that location and I worked in The Bay in the scarf department. I had cosmetic experience but I applied too late to be hired in the cosmetic department. This mall was the place to be seen and shop.. There were always a lot of classy people with money walking around the mall, dining and buying clothes, cosmetics cosmetics, jewelry etc.. On the second floor was a huge disco. People would line up an hour to get inside. These were extremely fun times and prosperous times in that location! I'm so sad to see it get rundown with these cheap shops!😢
The city and retail real estate developers will have to incorporate more residential into these vacant commercial spaces. Online shopping and big box stores have changed the retail landscape forever.
I used to shop there on my lunch hour when I worked for IBM in the TD Tower..back in the day that mall was Bustling...high end boutiques...SILK blouses were plentiful...we are in a completely different era....RETAIL cannot survive down there now...high earning office employees work from home so they shop in Yorkdale or the Eaton Center
I have a feeling that if that mall were in Japan, it wouldn't be as dead. There's so many niche things in Japan that the outer stores of a mall would attract people and lure them inside. People would continue to venture deeper into the mall and wander around for hours because the inner stores of the mall offer something unique and interesting from each other. The store spaces in this mall are hidden away from the public eye, so they would default wouldn't get much foot traffic unless by accident or people already know about it. There should be conscious planning on how to arrange the stores relative to each other so that people would be lured in from the outside more consistently.
Lots of for lease signs. Many of those businesses are closed because the rent is probably too high. The ones that are closed for the day, it’s because they close when the offices around them close after 5 or 6.
There isn't much traffic in this area once the offices are closed and the workers go home. They need to get more things for people to do in the area, to attract more people after office hours. Even the stores (and food court) close in the Hudson Bay center by 6pm because of this.
Sad to see all the shops close down. But something better should come in the mall. I walk thrsough the mall to get to the subway every other day. Maybe some nice cafe's should come. Something interesting to hang around.
It’s happening worldwide! Crime up, rent up, all costs up. So many stores can not operate with only 3 customers a day. Great tribulation has come we are in end times.
![PASULOL รามเกียรติ์ ตอนที่ 4 นนทกพบรัก [Ramakien Ep.4: Nonthok in love]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tMUQgmZzf_A/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks Johnny! I haven't been to Cumberland Terrace in years. At least in the early 2000s it was a little more lively but now it's a shell of its former self. I hope it can be revived but it looks doubtful 😔
Let's hope and thanks for the support!!!
❤
Thank you for producing these videos. My late wife and I lived in T.O from 1977 to 2014. These videos bring back many fond memories.
You're very welcome and thanks for watching!
Born & raised in Toronto (Scarborough) this brings back some good memories. Great video my friend!! 🇨🇦
Very sad to see the Cumberland Terrace like this. I have many fond memories of my Nana taking me there as a kid way back in the ‘80s. It holds a special place in my heart.
Same here.
Some History: The Dollarama that you passed in 2 Bloor East was originally a big nightclub called Rock and Roll Heaven back in the early 80s. It's where Q107 radio used to do their final "Homegrown" band competition concert. We videotaped the band Honeymoon Suite there in 1983 as they performed after winning that year.
@ETRdotTV wow! I remember that bar! Fun!
Yup. Memories!
Q107 should have kept station there instead of moving too far North Went to Rock and Roll Heaven many times
Money was everywhere. The women were beautiful and into the topless music videos in the mid to late 80s. Feminism killed the club and the money left.
@@davedsilva exactly now we have these billionaires funding this woke DEI top surgery nonsense welcome to 2024
High cost of renting these units is the reason why all the tenants moved out. The cost the the commercial units is ridiculously expensive. Which says lots because Cumberland Terrace is in a major foot traffic area.
I've worked from home for almost 10 years now, but prior to that, I worked mostly in downtown Toronto for 25 years. Oh the times I walked that Path section from Yonge/Bloor to Bay/Bloor. I loved that food court and specifically the kiosk you stuck your camera in at around 11 minutes. If I had a nickel for every lunch I bought from them, I'd have enough to buy at least one lunch, even at today's prices. Sad to see they are closed. This section has, since I can remember, always been under construction and always had underwhelming customer population. It is a wonder these stores stay in business. OMG, I just noticed, they removed almost all the seats. WOW!!!
Thanks for the great video! I enjoyed watching and felt very sad to see how it has changed so much. It is really heart breaking to see what was once a great place to shop so empty and hollow. I used to go shop and sometimes just to wander around. It is just so sad.
So sad. I used to love that place when I lived in Toronto
Lovely captured camera work and another spectacular beautiful shooting filming footage compilation walk away tour and thanks again from Montreal QC ! ..
Use to work for WSIB in 1976-82 on the 11th floor of the Bay building (2 Bloor St E) Thanks for the tour. Hardly recognized it.
I used to work north of the Bay & Bloor intersection a long time ago - almost 20 years ago. I commented about this on the same visit & video you did last year. So I wont go into details again. But I did used to visit the Cumberland terrace food court for lunch almost every day. It is sad to see it so empty. There used to be way more chairs and tables. They seem to have all gone now.
Cumberland terrace is one of those malls that was decimated by covid and never recovered from the loss of the business crowd. it had already shrunk majorly before that over the years.
Same!
Thanks for this. I live in Barrie don't really have a reason to come to Toronto these days, but it's fun to keep updated on how it's changing.
I'll tell you its not changing for the better 😂
Our Berrie became Brampton :(
I love Cumberland terrace and the vintage mid 70’s look still remember when there was a Timothy’s cafe years ago 🥰
"Museum to the 70s", that's a really good way that you've described it.
I used to work around there until 2020.. Can’t believe what’s happening… Thanks for sharing ❤
I worked for a number of years at 77 Blood St West late 80’s snd 90’s and used to walk in that underground. I am surprised it’s so empty!
Beautiful city. I love my Toronto
I used to like it too, many years ago.
But when you travel around, you realise that there are many places out there that are much nicer, AND many are way cheaper.
Milano, Wien, Graz, Firenze, Munich, Zagreb, Paris...to name just a few are much "better".
Toronto has also gone downhill over the last few years.
I went to school there, and worked there for nearly 40 years; Toronto is not what it once was.
It's not the same place.
Yes I cling to Hopes you are right-Toronto is Beautiful and easy to Love for all it offers!! Let's hope it's not going in the wrong direction as it has been dealt some awful blows!!!
It's been destroyed by foreigners.
@@bubbasanches4591 The locals have done plenty, too. Don’t let them off the hook.
I'm probably much older so my comment is past tense ..... "Was a beautiful city. I used to love Toronto." 😔
Happy 50th anniversary Cumberland Terrace! The nicest way from Bloor to Bay!
I remember Cumberland Terrace from the 1970s. It was a very nice mall back then. If you look up at the ceiling near the windows on the main floor, you will see "plugs", such as here at 15:50, in between the sprinklers. They used to anchor the many hanging potted plants that used to hang in the windows. (During that time, hanging plants and macrame plant hangers were popular.) The mall had a good selection of shops. But now, it's basically down to a small handful of shops that don't really attract shoppers. It will be gone in near future, just like the Village Arcade plaza that was across the road. Nice video, thanks.
anyone remember compucentre ? I worked there in the 90s 😅 thanks for walking by there, brings back memories
In the 1970’s and early 1980’s I had see to go to that mall. I understand now why it was not busy as parking was complex.
For many years I went to the De Francesco hair salon until my stylist Katherine moved to Oakville. I also used to patronize Roasty Jack back in the day - they had a curried turkey stew served on rice that was reasonably priced and very tasty...
Winter time is the best time for the PATH. Sadly, not many people take advantage of the PATH. So much potential for other use, like education centres, offices, etc.
Used to walk through that mall from the Yorkville parking garage across the street to the office at Bloor and Church.
Was a nice shortcut when the weather was crappy.
I saw your Cumberland Terrace walk last time - and it was good, because I got myself a diecast Concorde model for my collection at that toy store, which is now closed. Thanks for the revisit!
Thank you Johnny. It’s been 30 years since I last saw that mall, but I used to be there every work day to catch the subway. Except for the empty stores, it sure hasn’t changed.
For me, it's been about 12 years!
This is so sad, I was through there last week. I had sunner jobs in the area back when it was new. It was the place to shop. Had my first drink in a bar at the Pilot.😊
I love the Pilot!
Thanks Johnny, I like your video walking tours of Toronto, it's interesting, you add a lots of information, and it makes me learn more about Toronto. Have a good week!
Thank you!
I recognized Cumberland Terrace immediately just from the video thumbnail! Last time I was there, about 18 yrs ago, it was already dead.
It was exciting as heck in my younger years to ride the subway to Bloor Station and get off to walk Southward on Yonge St towards the lake. There was so much to see and do along the strip. Arcades, live music, restaurants and great shops. Ok, a lot of peep shows too LOL! Those days were truly magical. Today all you will see down there are a lot of empty storefronts, weed dispensaries and ghosts from the 70's.
i frequent that area daily. and you're correct, its basically a ghost mall now. so sad to see.
Great memories I went to school right there
Awesome ❤!
So I remember going through this mall any years ago when it first opened it was great in the winter winds were blowing. Times and things are changing, and most of the times it's not for the better .
I used to work at The Source at both Cumberland Terrace and at Hudson Bay Centre. Plenty of memories.
Even then (in 2006) Cumberland Terrace was very dead. The upper level was quite dead in the 90s as well.
I remember years ago the subway entrance area was terribly smoky from some dingy looking restaurant/bar in the passageway to Holt Renfrew. Not sure what it was called, but I always gagged when I went by it. I think it closed sometime around 2000.
There used to be a deep stairway connection under Cumberland St. Tk the village arcade across the street. they closed off sometime prob 2014 or so. Used to also link into the parking lot. Do you remember the pub/bar across the street? They always used to advertise the wing specials.
@@at1212b yes I remember that passageway, and it had really steep steps.
I think it was the Pilot or something -in fact it might still be today
I used to roam around that place during lunch time 30 years ago.
4:30 - Dollarama - Location of a former Famous Players cinema called The Plaza 1 & 2, which closed in April 2001. (It was also previously a Fabricland store after the cinema closed).
Neat info!
Thanks for the video -you cover a lot of ground and when I got watching it only re-inforced how much Toronto has so much to offer-everything looked clean and orderly-I wish I had more time and money to be able to come back on the weekends at least!-but as a commuter I just don't have the time, energy, or money!!!
Thanks for watching!
good morning everyone
The Cumberland Mall used to be thriving until prices got outrageously high, the other thing that killed it was the closer of the Famous Players Movie Theater.
There was talk and plans to build condos there even before the 08 financial crash.
That Dollarama used to be an underground performance venue for rock bands. If you walk around the Dollarma and you footfalls go from sounding like you are walking on concrete to wood, you are walking over the remnants of the mosh pit. Saw voivod there in 91 (I think). I worked in both the Bay and the Cantire at 839 Younge. Wild times.
Great video. Quite the difference between Cumberland and the Manulife center.
Good morning
I lived in Toronto for 36 years. Would love to accompany you on one of your walks.
Interesting video. Love the dead mall videos.
I had no idea the Cumberland terrace mall is basically empty! I remember the days when it was full of activity. This city is dying a painful slow death.
It’s so weird, I had no idea
@@claritadeluna6609 they need to get people back in the office to pick up the economy
Its us who are dying slowly Clarit, This city will live on, long after we're dust.
@@MikeM-ow8cb Nah, the buildings will live on. The city and us along with it will be dust. Go watch any dystopic movies and you'll see what I mean.
Don't take how empty Cumberland Terrace as a sign for how downtown is like. I've been living downtown since the late 2000s and the mall has always been empty. It hasn't been updated since it was built in the 70s, so it's no surprise it's losing tenants. I've always just used it as a go-between Manulife Centre and Bloor-Yonge station. The area surrounding it is very much alive.
Those were the days. In the early 1980s, the 2 Bloor West shopping mall had massive, clean, and spacious restroom facilities I had very oily skin then, and I used to wash my face and refresh my makeup comfortably inside. When I returned to Toronto in 1991, the area had been converted into shops selling handbags, luggage, flowers, etc. From a civilized shopping mall to hot commercial space shortages to a totally different scenario today!
Sadly, there are many areas in this city that have that odour permanently. Some of them are outdoors in public, some are indoors. Most of them shock you just how Johnny was shocked. What's worse is the shock of the scent is equal to the shock of the fact that it exists in that space in the first place. For example, last year I walked over the train tracks via a structure that was built for just that purpose that consisted of stairs, walkways, and elevators. It's fairly new and in a busy area near Liberty Village (fact check me, I don't know how old it is but Id bet it's less than 10 years old). I was kind of enthused to use the structure for the first time, having just stumbled upon it en route to my destination. However, the fact it smelled like it did in that area with that much foot traffic and that type of foot traffic left me with such a negative feeling thinking about what was and what is.
The Salon/Hairdresser outlived the Anti Aging Shop in that dead area of Cumberland.
I used to walk here often many years ago. My parents used to buy groceries at Mr Grocer which then changed Valu-Mart. It looks like it change again now to Loblaw City Market.
Johnny I've never been to Cumberland Terrace. I've only been to 2 malls this year Albion Mall and Sheridan Mall. Would love you to do a walk through The Shops at Don Mills again. I've never been there since they revamped it. I enjoyed your walk at Jane and Finch Mall and Yorkgate Mall.
Last time I was there was around 2005 I didn’t think it was very impressive then a lot of places closed
It would make a good indoor walking track
So sad to see so much closed. I liked some of the independant stores there. I worked at a Tibetan gift shop on the ground floor about 20 years ago. It was pretty busy back then and really safe.
Cumberland Terrace has a near-perfect location! They should be able to bring it back...
Rent is probably way too high for the stores and businesses.
...and probably not enough traffic for a business to make money.
It’s crazy how such a busy intersection can’t sustain shopping malls. I remember this area in the late 70s and early 80s, my dad would take me to see movies in the plaza at 2 Bloor east. There was a two screen movie theatre in the sub basement under the mall. I wonder what’s down there now? Is it just mothballed? We would shop at the Bay above the mall before the movie. In the mid 80s I would hang out in this mall as a teen. I remember it was still vibrant going into the 1990s at least. I don’t know when they closed the theatres. It’s sad to see the Bay gone now too. I still love the Manulife Centre, it has everything you need, movies, gym, groceries, shopping, dining. My brother and sister worked at a restaurant in the Manulife Centre in the early 80s also.
Longo's used to have a nice salad bar. Dunno if they still have it. Would get my lunch there sometimes.
3:28 on the right, there used to be a good Italian-lady owned take-out food bar.
Her spaggetti and meat balls were awesome, and cheap.
Yes! Carmella was her name. She was so nice, and I liked her food.
I used to work in this area around 2010 and the foodcourt was always rammed, sad to see it so empty now.
Thanks!
Thank you!!!
@@JohnnyStrides You’re welcome Johnny!!
I remember going to that Indigo to line up for Jamie Oliver's book signing. The line stretched all inside and out through the underground complex to past where those escalators were. I wasn't even close enough to catch a peak. But one thing I did notice was that I was the only guy in line. Everyone in front were middle-aged women, everyone behind me was middle-aged women. I felt a little out of place.
😁👍🏻
Work from home is the no. 1 thing killing it. Bricks & Mortar being replaced by on-line shopping is a close 2nd.
Was Cumberland Terrace empty like this before the pandemic? It breaks my heart. When I first started working in Toronto I was at Bay and Bloor. It was our go-to at lunch, and hopping with life! Thanks for the walkthrough, Johnny.
I don’t remember that being the case before, I donno
I don’t think the mall was very healthy even before the pandemic. Some of that expensive, downtown retail space was being used by tenants for storage even then. And I didn’t know (or maybe I just forgot) that the mall had a second floor, and I used to go there regularly. What shops could survive up there? The main reason I would ever go to this mall would be for the food court, but there aren’t enough office workers to support a food court any more.
Yes it was kinda dead before the pandemic. Not as dead but lacking any direction and the shops were all like one offs. There was a cafe there also on the main level with chairs.
I moved downtown in the late 2000s and it's never been too busy, and it's gotten even less busy in recent years. I mostly use it to walk between Manulife Centre and Bloor-Yonge. The only other reason I went there was to eat at the Roasty Jacks in the food court but they closed down years ago. I'm surprised the sign is still up, tbh.
It looks like they did try to upgrade the colours at least, it used to be all pink and orange.
That was interesting. You do a great tour Johnny and thanks.
Sadly, that looks like just one great big shyte hole.
used to be busy years ago with traffic. and the Bay. perhaps work at home reduced workers in that area. also online shopping. sad in a way. used to enjoy the bustle walking thru. thanks.
You should visit Woodbine Mall next, it’s another partially dead mall with an amusement park. In fact, Tshods did a video exploring this mall along with other “failing” malls.
Memories Memories Memories...
I had just turned 21 (back in 1980),
and started my premier as a
resident DJ in one of the
Yorkville nightclubs back
when this area was
thriving. Alas, what
retailer (or business
of ANY sort could
or) would want pay
rent in this dead
area today. Tastes
and needs have
changed...
Wow. I haven’t been through these areas in about 10 years. My memory is that this was bustling. Wall-to-wall people, not an empty retailer insight. Now it’s a ghost town. What has happened to Yonge and Bloor??
It’s gone!
I was there at Cumberland Terrace last week, its dead, its been dead for a long time. I was there when it was newer in the 80’s and it was livelier. There is something planned for that space but its taking for ever to develop.
Pre Covid was much busier. Especially the lunch spots.
In the food court (downstairs at Cumberland Terrace), there are basically two take-out places that remain in operation. The others are closed. And, at 10:55, you will see a wall at the back behind the tables. That blocks off what used to be an underground tunnel to the former Village Arcade plaza (now demolished, with a new tower being built.) I wonder if they will re-open the tunnel once the new building there and the towers on the Cumberland site will be completed.
I used to work at the intersection where you were standing at the start of the video more than 20 years ago. So much has changed since then. So sad to see it has changed for the worse.
I wandered in here thanks to Google Maps looking for A&W and wound up in the abandoned food court and very confused and like I'd gone back in time, such a strange place to exist.
Can't believe some of those businesses sre still going.
Wow ... wasn't expecting that many vacant units. Almost feels like whoever is left is on month-to-month leases ... sad. 😢
I love Toronto. I'm 70 years old and I want to continue my retirement in this wonderful city. I hope I can find an affordable place to live and fulfill my dream.
I love Cumberland Mall.
Like a backroom level
The “mall” in general has been dying for years now. All over North America, it’s the same. Retail is circling the drain. Sign of the times…you want someone to blame? Internet.
Toronto of the recent past was so much more vibrant -more money around-more bustling - as things became more expensive and then throw in the pandemic which ripped the heart out of many cities it was like one of the final blows/now ultra expensive to live in Toronto-not as much dispoable income average people have today 2 throw around!! So if your well healed well no problems! It feels horrible to say I don't think it's as safe as it once was and of course the developers just keep building and adding congestion so when Toronto has 8-10 million people and 10-12 buildings that are over 1000 feet tall it'll be more like Manhattan/Chicago-I'm not saying that's a bad thing but somehow I yearn for the times when Toronto was not such a victim of it's success!!!
I can't believe the cheap discount stores that are in that space 1974 The Bay opened at that location and I worked in The Bay in the scarf department. I had cosmetic experience but I applied too late to be hired in the cosmetic department. This mall was the place to be seen and shop.. There were always a lot of classy people with money walking around the mall, dining and buying clothes, cosmetics cosmetics, jewelry etc.. On the second floor was a huge disco. People would line up an hour to get inside. These were extremely fun times and prosperous times in that location! I'm so sad to see it get rundown with these cheap shops!😢
parts of the PATH remind me of Sparks St in Ottawa - after 5pm and office workers are gone it becomes a ghost town
The city and retail real estate developers will have to incorporate more residential into these vacant commercial spaces. Online shopping and big box stores have changed the retail landscape forever.
I used to shop there on my lunch hour when I worked for IBM in the TD Tower..back in the day that mall was Bustling...high end boutiques...SILK blouses were plentiful...we are in a completely different era....RETAIL cannot survive down there now...high earning office employees work from home so they shop in Yorkdale or the Eaton Center
I have a feeling that if that mall were in Japan, it wouldn't be as dead.
There's so many niche things in Japan that the outer stores of a mall would attract people and lure them inside. People would continue to venture deeper into the mall and wander around for hours because the inner stores of the mall offer something unique and interesting from each other.
The store spaces in this mall are hidden away from the public eye, so they would default wouldn't get much foot traffic unless by accident or people already know about it. There should be conscious planning on how to arrange the stores relative to each other so that people would be lured in from the outside more consistently.
Your subtle comments like the urnal cake mention, or the woman's cogh at the end of the video make my day.
I used to live in this area from 2010-2019.. Pretty much every single stall and unit in these malls were occupied.
Seems like change is-a-comin'.
Lots of for lease signs. Many of those businesses are closed because the rent is probably too high. The ones that are closed for the day, it’s because they close when the offices around them close after 5 or 6.
There isn't much traffic in this area once the offices are closed and the workers go home. They need to get more things for people to do in the area, to attract more people after office hours. Even the stores (and food court) close in the Hudson Bay center by 6pm because of this.
On the weekend it is dead. On the weekday it is more lively. Most of the places in the food court caters to workers.
Cumberland... fyi, this area (Yonge to Avenue) was an old cemetery 100 years ago.
Sad to see all the shops close down. But something better should come in the mall. I walk thrsough the mall to get to the subway every other day. Maybe some nice cafe's should come. Something interesting to hang around.
It is so sad to see this place is dead. It is part of my memory when I was in school.
I bet all those cars have only one person in each of them.
Someone could shoot a movie in those empty spaces.
the Starbucks in the basement of of Holt Renfrew Centre closed?
Struggling?
Yes, not enough traffic, and rents way too high.
Not a good combo for retailers.
Reminded me of Hamilton city center / Jackson square
great video , if you dont mind me asking what camera are you using for your videos
Welcome to Doug Ford's Ontario and Olivia Chow's Toronto!!!!
Is the PATH over by union and Scotia Tower still busy!?
It is!
Can you do another POV walk to SickKids Hospital from the Chelsea Hotel via Gerrard St. E. and Elizabeth St?
Internet and online shopping and increasingly less person to person interaction are the reasons for the many dead malls.
Any idea what is going to take the place/space of the Bay?
The entire space is being re-designed with retail at street level but I have no idea who the tenants will be.
Has Johnny been to dufferin and Lawrence area where Lady york grocery store is
It’s happening worldwide! Crime up, rent up, all costs up. So many stores can not operate with only 3 customers a day. Great tribulation has come we are in end times.