Blog

Riverside Businesses We Love #1: Testimonials From Riverside Local Love

And just like that, we are into week 2 of Riverside Local Love!

If the first week flew by, don’t worry – there is still lots of time to take part as it’s ON until Nov. 6!

As a campaign, Riverside Local Love aims to highlight and support the many amazing small businesses in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood.

The mechanics are super simple: Shop, dine, use services or leave a Google Review for a Riverside BIA business; enter our raffle up to once a day; and we’ll contact you by email if you’re a winner!

The prizes, you ask? $250 gift card for (3) weekly draw winners and $500 gift card for (2) grand draw winners — and the winner gets to pick a local independent business of choice from our list.

To view the full contest rules and important raffle information about Riverside Local Love (and the submission link for the raffle), click HERE!

BLOG: Riverside Local Love is back October 6th! Here’s How it Works

To our first batch of weekly draw winners, congratulations! If you entered the raffle and didn’t get lucky this week, don’t worry, we have three more Weekly Raffles to go and our Grand Prize Raffle as well!

In the meantime, here’s a few of the wonderful locals who’ve participated in Riverside Local Love and what they had to say about their favourite Riverside businesses:

“As an Irish person living in Canada, Irish Design House holds a special place in my heart. Walking in feels like stepping back home — the craftsmanship, textures and little details all reflect that true Irish creativity and charm. I love that they bring authentic Irish-made pieces to Toronto, supporting artisans while sharing our culture in such a beautiful way. It’s one of my favourite shops in Riverside and always makes me feel a little closer to home.” – Emma

“BlessedLove is a family-run business that not only prepares authentic Jamaican meals but is all about supporting the Caribbean community! Every meal is cooked to perfection!” – Marty

“I love the atmosphere of community coffee shops and local vintage shops, which the Riverside neighbourhood has plenty of.” – Honghao

Check @riverside_bia on Instagram and the Riverside Blog for regular updates on Riverside Local Love!

Thank you to the City of Toronto and Government of Canada’s Transit Construction Mitigation Fund for support of Riverside Local Love as part of the ‘Riverside Ramps It Up’ project.

Is Riverside’s The Vintage Hall the East End’s Hottest Shopping Destination?

In case you missed it, October 3rd was a double celebration. It wasn’t just the Riverside Vintage Crawl’s biggest installment yet — it was also the grand opening of the latest member of the Riverside community: The Vintage Hall!

Occupying a massive 2,700-square foot retail space at 754 Queen St E, The Vintage Hall is a treasure trove of vintage goods, from clothing and accessories to homeware and memorabilia. 

For owner Kyle Burton, The Vintage Hall is a physical manifestation of his creative vision. “Seeing the space inspired me to create The Vintage Hall. I saw the potential. I fell in love with the idea of what the space could be,” said Burton.

Enlisting the help of local artist Eric Fong and his distinct artistic flair, Burton transformed the space into the visual treat that it is now while retaining as much of the space’s original character as possible to pay homage to previous tenants.

On his hopes for The Vintage Hall: “I hope The Vintage Hall becomes a must-see for people visiting the East End. I feel like we fall under the radar when it comes to Westenders looking for something to do out this way. I hope our store can help attract more people from across the city.”

Burton also plans to make The Vintage Hall a place to host community events and workshops like denim repair, clothing swaps and poetry reading nights.

If you’re looking for a sign to head down to Riverside, this is it! Here are three reasons why you should make The Vintage Hall your new go-to for all things vintage: (Make sure to read until the end for a surprise!)

1. Second Voyage Vintage is still here!

If you passed by the old (and now vacant) Second Voyage Vintage location at 734 Queen St E, don’t worry! You will be relieved to know that they just moved to a new home. In fact, Second Voyage Vintage occupies the main floor of The Vintage Hall.

2. The Vintage Hall is also home to many other vintage purveyors.

Not only is The Vintage Hall the new home of Second Voyage Vintage, they have friends now too in the Vendor Market on the second level of the store like LuveWantShop, Polyester Plus and Prime Rewind. Interested in becoming a vendor? Send The Vintage Hall a DM!

3. More vintage goodness awaits in the basement of The Vintage Hall.

Oh, did you think The Vintage Hall just had two floors? Make your way down to the Bargain Basement for more cool vintage finds. Aside from chic clothing and cool knick-knacks, you’ll also find larger pieces there like furniture and fixtures.

*The Vintage Hall, located at 754 Queen St E, is open daily 11am-7pm with shortened hours on Sunday and Monday. Store hours are subject to change. Follow @thevintagehallto on Instagram for updates!

Did some retail therapy at The Vintage Hall recently? If you made a purchase of at least $10, enter Riverside Local Love and get a chance to win a gift card ($250 for weekly draws, $500 for the grand draw) from a Riverside business of your choice. Read the full mechanics of the raffle HERE.

Follow @riverside_bia on Instagram and check out the Riverside Blog for regular updates on exciting updates from the amazing local businesses in the neighbourhood!

No Tricks, Just Treats: Halloween 2025 Community Events in Riverside

For the month of October, the Riverside BIA and our friends from several community organizations/groups have prepared a spooktacular lineup of activities for the whole family to enjoy. Mark your calendars and get your costumes ready — here’s what’s happening in Toronto’s Riverside this Halloween: 

RIVERSIDE HALLOWEEN FEST 

Date & Time: Sunday, October 26th | 11am-3pm 

Location: Joel Weeks Park (10 Thompson St)

Enjoy free pumpkin patch, treats, face painting, photo booth, dog costume party, a local vendors market and more surprises! Get your costumes ready for the spook-tacular annual Riverside Halloween Fest with tons of activities for the whole family (including pets). Hosted by the Riverside BIA and Toronto Dog Moms. More details and FREE tickets HERE.

HOWL’O’WEEN PARTY 

Date & Time: Tuesday, October 28th | 3:30pm-5:30 pm

Location: Ralph Thornton Community Centre (765 Queen St E)

Calling all little ghouls and goblins! Get ready for a fun-filled Halloween celebration that’s going to be a treat (free treat bags, while quantities last!). For children and their caregivers. Presented by the Ralph Thornton Community Centre, South Riverdale Child-Parent Centre and the Toronto Public Library Queen/Saulter Branch. Get your FREE tickets HERE.

DEGRASSI PUMPKIN PARADE

Date & Time: Saturday, November 1st | 6pm-8pm

Location: Degrassi Street Park (125 De Grassi St)

One last time to let your jack ‘o lantern shine! Bring your pumpkins out to Degrassi Street Park, take part in a community pumpkin parade, and leave your pumpkin for composting by the City of Toronto.

To stay updated on the latest events and programming in the neighbourhood, check out @riverside_bia on Instagram and the Riverside Blog!

Complete Your Thanksgiving Spread with These Specials from 5 Riverside Businesses

Planning for a big feast can be overwhelming, especially with Thanksgiving just around the corner. Whether you’re the host, the cook or just want to be a hospitable guest, it’s always nice to have a little something extra special to bring to the table (literally).

Luckily, these lovely businesses in the neighbourhood prepared special items to add some magic to your festivities. Check out these five businesses in Riverside and their seasonal promotions perfect for Thanksgiving:

Photo credit: Bonjour Brioche

Bonjour Brioche (@bonjourbrioche)

Address: 812 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H7

What’s a Thanksgiving spread without a delicious pumpkin pie? Bonjour Brioche’s take is classic and quintessential: creamy pumpkin filling made with fall spices over a perfectly crisp crust. You can stop by the cafe for a fresh slice or order a whole pie for your social gatherings!

Photo credit: Blackbird Baking Co.

Blackbird Baking Co. (@bbirdco)

Address: 635 Queen St E Unit 101, Toronto, ON M4M 1G4

An equally delectable dessert alternative for Thanksgiving is Blackbird’s Sticky Toffee Pudding, which features rich, dark sponge cake sweetened with molasses, muscovado sugar and pureed dates, topped with apple slices and soaked with salted whiskey caramel sauce. 

Photo credit: Butchers of Distinction

Butchers of Distinction (@butchersofdistinction)

Address: 738 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H6

This year, Butchers of Distinction’s Thanksgiving line-up includes Fresh Turkey, Farm-Smoked Boneless Ham, Farm-Smoked Bone-In Ham, Boneless Pork Swirl Roast with Cranberry Stuffing, and Chef-Style Prime Rib Roast. They also have an array of housemade sides, such as Roasted Garlic Mashed Potato and French Beans with Lemon and Pecan.

Photo credit: Dark Horse Espresso Bar

Dark Horse Espresso Bar (@darkhorsecafe)

Address: 630 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1G3

Dark Horse Espresso’s latest pastry drop features autumn-inspired treats: the Sourdough Apple Crisp Scone and Ginger Chai Cookie, both baked fresh in house every day. While you’re at the cafe, why not try their seasonal drinks as well? On the menu this fall are the Pistachio Latte and the Banana Bread Matcha.

Photo credit: Amber Kitchen and Coffee

Amber Kitchen and Coffee (@amberkitchento)

Address: 4 Boulton Ave, Toronto, ON M4M 2J3

When you want to take a load off for a relaxing Thanksgiving, Amber Kitchen has got your catering needs covered. They’ve got quite the selection, from cheese platters to beef tenderloin roast + some kid-friendly options, too! Head over to their Instagram to see the full catering menu.

When you do find yourself at any of these businesses and making a purchase, keep that receipt! That might just win you a $250/$500 gift card from a Riverside business of your choice with the Riverside Local Love raffle! Interested to know more? Read the full mechanics of the campaign HERE.

Follow @riverside_bia on Instagram and check out the Riverside Blog for regular updates on exciting promos and updates from the amazing local businesses in the neighbourhood!

Entering The New Season in Style: Riverside Vintage Crawl – Fall 2025 Edition Highlights

On October 3rd, the Riverside Vintage Crawl returned for a special fall edition — its biggest installment yet with seven participating BIA members, returning and new!

To our vintage-loving guests, thank you for spending your Friday evening shopping with us. We hope you enjoy your vintage pieces and rock them this fall!

We’re excited to see the looks you put together with your Riverside Vintage Crawl finds, so if you post them on social, feel free to tag us @riverside_bia and the stores you got them from!

Check out some of many highlights from the special fall edition of this year’s Riverside Vintage Crawl:

You can always count on Arts Market’s vendors to have their shelves fully stocked with cool vintage goods

Looking for funky chunky knits for fall? Good Juice Box Vintage has got you covered!

A jumpsuit for every day of the week, courtesy of Common Sort

Shoppers at Common Sort were treated to refreshing beers by Eastbound Brewing Co.

October 3rd was also the grand opening of The Vintage Hall. Congratulations!

Don’t forget to check out the basement of The Vintage Hall for more chic vintage fashion

Aside from affordable fashion, St. John’s Eco Market also gave customers a free taste of their signature baked goods 

Check out these delicious denim pieces at Fevers Vintage

Fly Lady Di brought the beats to the party at Ran’s Closet

Take your pick from Ran’s Closet’s selection of vintage designer bags

Check out @riverside_bia on Instagram and the Riverside Blog for regular updates on exciting programming in the neighbourhood. ‘Til the next Riverside Vintage Crawl!

We acknowledge and thank the City of Toronto, Government of Canada and FedDev Ontario for support of this event as part of the ‘Riverside Ramps it Up’ project through the Transit Expansion Construction Mitigation Fund 2025.