Bloor Street
Encyclopedia
Bloor Street is a major east–west residential and commercial thoroughfare in Toronto
, in the Canadian
province of Ontario
. Bloor Street runs from the Prince Edward Viaduct
westward into Mississauga, where it ends at Central Parkway. East of the viaduct, Danforth Avenue
continues along the same right-of-way. The street, approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) long, contains a significant cross-sample of Toronto's ethnic communities. It is also home to the most expensive retail space in Canada. Locally, Bloor Street is often conceptualized as a "dividing line" between downtown and midtown Toronto.
The street is named after Joseph Bloor
(or Bloore), a brewer and land speculator of this area in the 19th century who founded the Village of Yorkville
in 1830. He is buried at Necropolis Cemetery on Bayview Avenue
and Rosedale Valley Road.
The Bloor-Danforth subway line runs along the Toronto portion of the roadway east of Kipling Avenue
and continues east along Danforth Avenue.
Bloor street begins at the eastern edge of the Prince Edward Viaduct
, which passes over the ravine holding the Don River. The street continues through to the Rosedale Ravine, marking the southern border of the affluent community of Rosedale
. West of Parliament Street, the street passes just to the north of the large St. James Town housing project, which stretches west to Sherbourne Street. On the northern side of this section of Bloor are the forested slopes of the Rosedale Ravine. Between Sherbourne and Church Streets the street is lined by large office towers, mostly home to insurance companies. This area has long been the centre of the insurance industry in Canada.
West of Church the street becomes more commercial and is an important shopping district. In downtown, especially around the intersection with Bay Street
, Bloor is one of the most exclusive stretches of real estate in Canada. Rents on the upscale Bloor Street have doubled in 4 years, ranking as the 22nd most expensive retail location in the world in 2006, up two spots from 2005. Nationally, Vancouver's upscale Robson Street
tied with Bloor Street West as the most expensive street in Canada, with an annual average rental price of $208 per square foot.
At Yonge
and Bloor, the intersection of Toronto's two most prominent streets, are two of the city's tallest buildings: the Hudson's Bay Centre and 2 Bloor Street West
. Under this intersection is the Bloor-Yonge
subway station, the busiest in the city, serving approximately 368,800 people a day. At the southeast corner was a collection of inexpensive shops and restaurants, known as Roy's Square. It was demolished in 2008 to make way for a new condo tower, 1 Bloor East.
In the downtown, Bloor Street serves as the northern edge of the University of Toronto
campus, and is host to several historic sites, including the Bata Shoe Museum
, the Royal Conservatory of Music
, and the southern edge of Yorkville.
West of the university, which ends at Spadina Avenue
, Bloor Street runs through a diverse series of neighbourhoods such as The Annex
, Koreatown, Dufferin Grove
, Brockton
, Roncesvalles, High Park
and Runnymede
. It generally retains its commercial character, and serves as the main shopping area for most of these communities. Numerous sections of the street have named 'business improvement areas' such as Bloorcourt Village
, Bloordale Village
and Bloor West Village
.
In Toronto's west end, Bloor Street crisscrosses Dundas Street (Toronto)
twice, between Lansdowne Avenue
and Parkside Drive and again in the Six Points area (Kipling Avenue) as these streets follow the old trails. Markland Wood
is the westernmost residential community in the city of Toronto. Through Mississauga, Bloor Street links the residential communities of Applewood Hills and Applewood Heights, terminating at Central Parkway, about one kilometre east of Hurontario Street
.
Until 1998, Bloor Street was designated as Ontario Highway 5
from Kipling Avenue east to the Don River. Like many urban stretches of provincial roadway, it was formally decommissioned as a provincial route on January 1.
The stretch of Bloor between Yonge Street
and Avenue Road (often nicknamed "Mink Mile" or "Fashion Mile") and its neighbouring side streets are one of the most popular and trendy shopping areas in Toronto, housing several large, well-known fashion and jewelry companies.
Bloor Street/Yorkville has been recognized as one of the most luxurious shopping streets in North America, being compared to New York
's Fifth Avenue, Chicago
's Magnificent Mile
, and Los Angeles
's Rodeo Drive
.
Bloor Street commands an average rent of $300 per square foot, making it the third most expensive retail space in North America. Bloor was named in 2008 the seventh most expensive shopping street in the world by Fortune Magazine, claiming tenants can make $1,500 to $4,500 per square foot in sales.
Major streets in Mississauga which intersect with Bloor (east to west):
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, in the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Bloor Street runs from the Prince Edward Viaduct
Prince Edward Viaduct
The Prince Edward Viaduct System, commonly referred to as the Bloor Viaduct or the viaduct, is the name of a truss arch bridge system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that connects Bloor Street East, on the west side of the system, with Danforth Avenue on the east...
westward into Mississauga, where it ends at Central Parkway. East of the viaduct, Danforth Avenue
Danforth Avenue
Danforth Avenue is an east-west arterial road in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its western end begins in Old Toronto from the Prince Edward Viaduct as a continuation of Bloor Street and continues through East York until intersecting with Kingston Road in Scarborough...
continues along the same right-of-way. The street, approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) long, contains a significant cross-sample of Toronto's ethnic communities. It is also home to the most expensive retail space in Canada. Locally, Bloor Street is often conceptualized as a "dividing line" between downtown and midtown Toronto.
The street is named after Joseph Bloor
Joseph Bloor
Joseph Bloore was an inkeeper, a brewer, and a land speculator in the 19th century who founded the Village of Yorkville and is the namesake for Bloor Street. Originally from Staffordshire he immigrated to Canada in 1819 and eventually moved to Toronto, where he became a prominent early figure...
(or Bloore), a brewer and land speculator of this area in the 19th century who founded the Village of Yorkville
Yorkville, Toronto
Yorkville is a district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, well known for its shopping. It is a former village, annexed by the City of Toronto. It is roughly bounded by Bloor Street to the south, Davenport Road to the north, Yonge Street to the east and Avenue Road to the west, and is considered part of...
in 1830. He is buried at Necropolis Cemetery on Bayview Avenue
Bayview Avenue
Bayview Avenue is a major north-south route in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario. North of Toronto, in York Region, Bayview is also designated as York Regional Road 34.-History:...
and Rosedale Valley Road.
The Bloor-Danforth subway line runs along the Toronto portion of the roadway east of Kipling Avenue
Kipling Avenue
Kipling Avenue, originally named Mimico Avenue, is a street in the Etobicoke district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is a concession road, 6 concessions from Yonge Street, and is a major north–south arterial road that also extends beyond Toronto, into the Regional Municipality of York.The...
and continues east along Danforth Avenue.
Route description
Prince Edward Viaduct
The Prince Edward Viaduct System, commonly referred to as the Bloor Viaduct or the viaduct, is the name of a truss arch bridge system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that connects Bloor Street East, on the west side of the system, with Danforth Avenue on the east...
, which passes over the ravine holding the Don River. The street continues through to the Rosedale Ravine, marking the southern border of the affluent community of Rosedale
Rosedale
- Australia :* Rosedale, New South Wales* Rosedale, Queensland* Rosedale, Victoria* Rosedale, South Australia. The former Rosenthal.- Canada :* Rosedale, British Columbia* Rosedale, Calgary* Rosedale, Manitoba, rural municipality in the province of Manitoba....
. West of Parliament Street, the street passes just to the north of the large St. James Town housing project, which stretches west to Sherbourne Street. On the northern side of this section of Bloor are the forested slopes of the Rosedale Ravine. Between Sherbourne and Church Streets the street is lined by large office towers, mostly home to insurance companies. This area has long been the centre of the insurance industry in Canada.
West of Church the street becomes more commercial and is an important shopping district. In downtown, especially around the intersection with Bay Street
Bay Street
Bay Street, originally known as Bear Street, is a major thoroughfare in Downtown Toronto. It is the centre of Toronto's Financial District and is often used by metonymy to refer to Canada's financial industry since succeeding Montreal's St. James Street in that role in the 1970s...
, Bloor is one of the most exclusive stretches of real estate in Canada. Rents on the upscale Bloor Street have doubled in 4 years, ranking as the 22nd most expensive retail location in the world in 2006, up two spots from 2005. Nationally, Vancouver's upscale Robson Street
Robson Street
Robson Street is a major southeast-northwest thoroughfare in downtown and West End of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Its core commercial blocks from Burrard Street to Jervis are also known as Robsonstrasse. Its name honours John Robson, a major figure in British Columbia's entry into the...
tied with Bloor Street West as the most expensive street in Canada, with an annual average rental price of $208 per square foot.
At Yonge
Yonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
and Bloor, the intersection of Toronto's two most prominent streets, are two of the city's tallest buildings: the Hudson's Bay Centre and 2 Bloor Street West
2 Bloor Street West
Two Bloor West, is an office building at the intersection of Yonge Street and Bloor Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is sometimes referred to as Toronto's CIBC building, but that name can also refer to Commerce Court....
. Under this intersection is the Bloor-Yonge
Bloor-Yonge (TTC)
Bloor-Yonge is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina and the Bloor–Danforth subway lines operated by the Toronto Transit Commission in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 733 Yonge Street at Bloor Street West/East...
subway station, the busiest in the city, serving approximately 368,800 people a day. At the southeast corner was a collection of inexpensive shops and restaurants, known as Roy's Square. It was demolished in 2008 to make way for a new condo tower, 1 Bloor East.
In the downtown, Bloor Street serves as the northern edge of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
campus, and is host to several historic sites, including the Bata Shoe Museum
Bata Shoe Museum
The Bata Shoe Museum is a museum in downtown Toronto, Canada that collects, researches, preserves, and exhibits footwear from around the world. It offers four exhibitions, three of which are time-limited, as well as lectures, performances and family events....
, the Royal Conservatory of Music
Royal Conservatory of Music
The Royal Conservatory of Music is a music school and performance venue in Toronto, Canada. Other uses of the term include:*The Madrid Royal Conservatory, Spain*The Royal Academy of Music, London, United Kingdom...
, and the southern edge of Yorkville.
West of the university, which ends at Spadina Avenue
Spadina Avenue
Spadina Avenue is one of the most prominent streets in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Running through the western section of downtown, the road has a very different character in different neighbourhoods....
, Bloor Street runs through a diverse series of neighbourhoods such as The Annex
The Annex
The Annex is a neighbourhood in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The traditional boundaries of the neighbourhood are north to Dupont Street, south to Bloor Street, west to Bathurst Street and east to Avenue Road...
, Koreatown, Dufferin Grove
Dufferin Grove
Dufferin Grove is a neighbourhood located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, west of downtown. The neighbourhood is bordered by Bloor Street West to the north, Ossington Ave to the east, College Street to the south, and Dufferin Street to the west.-Character:...
, Brockton
Brockton Village
Brockton Village is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It comprises a section of the old Town of Brockton which was annexed by the City of Toronto in 1884. The town encompassed the area from Bloor Street on the north, Dufferin Street on the east, High Park on the west and ranged from...
, Roncesvalles, High Park
High Park North
High Park North, or often, simply 'High Park', after the park, is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is bounded on the south by Bloor Street, on the west by Runnymede Road, on the north by Annette Street, Quebec Avenue and Humberside Avenue, and on the east by the CNR/CPR railway...
and Runnymede
Runnymede, Toronto
Runnymede is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada located north of Bloor Street West between Jane Street and Runnymede Road north to Dundas Street West. It is located directly north of the former village of Swansea and west of the High Park North neighbourhood...
. It generally retains its commercial character, and serves as the main shopping area for most of these communities. Numerous sections of the street have named 'business improvement areas' such as Bloorcourt Village
Bloorcourt Village
Dovercourt Park is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada situated north of Bloor Street between Christie Street to the east, the CPR railway lines to the north, Dufferin Street to the west.-History:The Village of Dovercourt was founded in the 1870s...
, Bloordale Village
Bloordale Village
Bloordale Village is a shopping and arts district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located along Bloor Street from Lansdowne Avenue to Dufferin Street, west of downtown Toronto...
and Bloor West Village
Bloor West Village
Bloor West Village is a shopping district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located along Bloor Street, it encompasses all businesses along Bloor Street between Jane Street and Ellis Park Road, consisting of more than 400 shops, restaurants and services. The mix of stores include specialty clothing...
.
In Toronto's west end, Bloor Street crisscrosses Dundas Street (Toronto)
Dundas Street (Toronto)
Dundas Street, also known as Highway 5 west of Toronto, is a major arterial road connecting the centre of that city with its western suburbs and southwestern Ontario beyond...
twice, between Lansdowne Avenue
Lansdowne Avenue
Lansdowne Avenue is an arterial road in Toronto, Ontario. It runs north-south and starts at Queen Street West and proceeds north to St. Clair Avenue West. Lansdowne Avenue is primarily a four-lane arterial road, with two lanes regularly used for motor vehicle parking.-Character:Lansdowne Avenue...
and Parkside Drive and again in the Six Points area (Kipling Avenue) as these streets follow the old trails. Markland Wood
Markland Wood
Markland Wood is a residential neighbourhood located in Etobicoke, in the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is bounded by Etobicoke Creek to the west, Elmcrest Creek to the east and surrounded by the Markland Wood Country Club...
is the westernmost residential community in the city of Toronto. Through Mississauga, Bloor Street links the residential communities of Applewood Hills and Applewood Heights, terminating at Central Parkway, about one kilometre east of Hurontario Street
Hurontario Street
Hurontario Street is a roadway running in Ontario, Canada between Lake Ontario at Mississauga and Lake Huron's Georgian Bay at Collingwood.Within the cities of Mississauga and Brampton, it is a major urban thoroughfare. Between Caledon and Orangeville, it is part of busy Highway 10, which leaves...
.
Until 1998, Bloor Street was designated as Ontario Highway 5
Highway 5 (Ontario)
King's Highway 5, also known as Highway 5 and historically as the Dundas Highway, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. The east–west highway travels a distance of between Highway 8 at Peter's Corners, north of Hamilton and Highway 6 at Clappison's Corners...
from Kipling Avenue east to the Don River. Like many urban stretches of provincial roadway, it was formally decommissioned as a provincial route on January 1.
Shopping
YorkvilleYorkville, Toronto
Yorkville is a district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, well known for its shopping. It is a former village, annexed by the City of Toronto. It is roughly bounded by Bloor Street to the south, Davenport Road to the north, Yonge Street to the east and Avenue Road to the west, and is considered part of...
- Cumberland TerraceCumberland TerraceCumberland Terrace is a neoclassical terrace on the eastern side of Regent's Park in the London Borough of Camden, completed in 1826. It was one of several terraces and crescents around Regent's Park designed by the British architect John Nash , under the patronage of the Prince Regent...
- Manulife CentreManulife CentreThe Manulife Centre is located on the southeast corner of Bay and Bloor streets, adjacent to the southern edge of the Yorkville district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
- Hudson's Bay Centre
- Holt Renfrew CentreHolt RenfrewHolt Renfrew is a chain of high-end Canadian department stores. It is comparable to Barneys New York and Saks Fifth Avenue in the United States, and to two other upmarket chains owned by the same family, Britain's Selfridges and Ireland's Brown Thomas...
The stretch of Bloor between Yonge Street
Yonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
and Avenue Road (often nicknamed "Mink Mile" or "Fashion Mile") and its neighbouring side streets are one of the most popular and trendy shopping areas in Toronto, housing several large, well-known fashion and jewelry companies.
Bloor Street/Yorkville has been recognized as one of the most luxurious shopping streets in North America, being compared to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Fifth Avenue, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's Magnificent Mile
Magnificent Mile
The Magnificent Mile, sometimes referred to as The Mag Mile, is a neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, that runs along a portion of Michigan Avenue extending from the Chicago River to Oak Street in the Near North Side community area. The district is located adjacent to downtown; it is also one block...
, and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
's Rodeo Drive
Rodeo Drive
Rodeo Drive of Beverly Hills, California is a shopping district known for designer label and haute couture fashion. The name generally refers to a three-block long stretch of boutiques and shops but the street stretches further north and south....
.
Bloor Street commands an average rent of $300 per square foot, making it the third most expensive retail space in North America. Bloor was named in 2008 the seventh most expensive shopping street in the world by Fortune Magazine, claiming tenants can make $1,500 to $4,500 per square foot in sales.
Major intersections
- Parliament Street
- Sherbourne Street
- Church StreetChurch Street-Streets:* Church Street, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom* Church Street , New York City, New York, United States* Church Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia* Church Street , England, United Kingdom...
- Yonge StreetYonge StreetYonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
- Bay StreetBay StreetBay Street, originally known as Bear Street, is a major thoroughfare in Downtown Toronto. It is the centre of Toronto's Financial District and is often used by metonymy to refer to Canada's financial industry since succeeding Montreal's St. James Street in that role in the 1970s...
- Avenue Road/Queen's Park
- Spadina AvenueSpadina AvenueSpadina Avenue is one of the most prominent streets in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Running through the western section of downtown, the road has a very different character in different neighbourhoods....
- Bathurst Street
- Dufferin StreetDufferin StreetDufferin Street is a major north-south street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is a concession road, two concessions west of Yonge Street. The street starts at the foot of Lake Ontario, continues north to Toronto's northern boundary with some discontinuities and continues into York Region where it...
- Lansdowne AvenueLansdowne AvenueLansdowne Avenue is an arterial road in Toronto, Ontario. It runs north-south and starts at Queen Street West and proceeds north to St. Clair Avenue West. Lansdowne Avenue is primarily a four-lane arterial road, with two lanes regularly used for motor vehicle parking.-Character:Lansdowne Avenue...
- Dundas Street West
- Keele StreetKeele StreetKeele Street is a north-south road in Toronto and York Region in Ontario, Canada. It stretches 47km, running from Bloor Street in Toronto to the Holland Marsh. South of Bloor Street, the roadway is today known as Parkside Drive, but was originally part of Keele Street...
- Runnymede Road
- Jane Street
- Islington Avenue
- Kipling AvenueKipling AvenueKipling Avenue, originally named Mimico Avenue, is a street in the Etobicoke district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is a concession road, 6 concessions from Yonge Street, and is a major north–south arterial road that also extends beyond Toronto, into the Regional Municipality of York.The...
/Dundas Street West - The East Mall
- The West Mall
- Markland Drive
Major streets in Mississauga which intersect with Bloor (east to west):
- Dixie Road
- Cawthra Road
- Central Parkway