Shop hours and operations may be affected by COVID19 โ€“ Please continue to support small business and shop local
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ฐ ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ต ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ป ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡น ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฉ ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ซ

Experience What North America's Largest South Asian Mainstreet Marketplace has to Offer

This slice of the Indian subcontinent offers a wide selection of products and services exhibited in an exotic display of sights, sounds, tastes and aromas.

On this iconic Toronto food tour, you will be treated to twenty (20) tastings as you visit six (6) fine-food shops, restaurants and bakeries over a delicious afternoon.

We have a strong tie to the arts community in the East End with organizations like The Blue Crow Gallery, Clay Space Studio, Gerrard Art Space, and East End Arts. Not to mention our amazing local murals.โ  More info coming soon!

Learn more about the origins of our beloved BIA starting with the Historic Naaz Theater. ยฉ 2016 Village of Dreams Productions Inc

We are working on coordinating a number of local learning opportunities for small groups. More info coming soon!

Our BIA is a cultural hub, and home to a significant number of South Asian Owned businesses โ€“ Attracting visitors from not only within the GTA โ€“ But across the globe.

Looking for local women-owned businesses in the East End? Here are some that definitely deserve your love (and support!)

If an assortment of delicious curries, dosa, desi burger, indian sweets or freshly baked naan are your cup of chai, you've come to the right place!

A number of our local business owners have taken their shops online, making it easier to find and purchase whatever you need, from the comfort of your own home.

You donโ€™t need to be South Asian to enjoy the attractions of this lively enclave, located along Gerrard Street between Coxwell and Greenwood, a BIA since 1982. Here you'll find an abundance of exotic delights. Colourful saris, exquisite fabrics, mouth-watering regional delicacies and delightful dining, dazzling jewellery, traditional musical instruments, audio and video entertainment and so much more; all await you at the Gerrard India Bazaar.

Artwork by Rosena Fung via The โ€˜Main Street Art Challengeโ€™ One of 42 new artworks across the City of Toronto, brought to life in collaboration with BIA's, The STEPS Initiative and 25 local creatives; many of whom identify as emerging or BIPOC artists.

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Subscribe to our quarterly community email newsletter where we spotlight champions of local economic growth, celebrate community resilience, encourage neighbours to connect, and share valuable offers from our local shops.

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Shop local and support small business

We Have Everything You Need

Discover over 125 shops and restaurants which represent the many regional diversities of South Asian culture, food, music and products.

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The Gerrard India Bazaar Business Improvement Area (BIA) proudly represents over 100 business with over 500 employees. Our boundaries span Gerrard Street East from Glenside Ave to Coxwell Ave

Live Here

Gerrard India Bazaar is a highly desirable neighbourhood within the boundaries of Leslieville, Toronto, with a notably high public realm ranking. Described as a ``very bikable, walker's paradise with excellent transit options`` by officials.

Work Here

Gerrard East is home to over 125 South Asian shops importing specialty groceries and vibrant fabrics. The BIA helps to empower and promote local businesses through shared resources, insights and marketing efforts.

Play Here

Our Mainstreet Market is in the Greenwood-Coxwell neighborhood in Toronto. Nearby parks include Coxwell Avenue Playground, Greenwood Park and Fairmount Park. We have a number of great experiences, festivals and tours during the summer months.

Shop Here

The BIA encourages everyone to exert influence with your purchasing choices. Shopping local has a number of significant community benefits including a reduced environmental impact, job creation, supporting diversity, local prosperity, and increased face time with neighbours.

Please Continue to Shop Local and Support Small Business

Canadaโ€™s main streets are iconic symbols of urban life and belonging โ€” where we go to shop and do business, eat, play and participate in civic life. The harsh reality is that COVID-19 is having an unprecedented impact on our main streets. Many small businesses, for example, have already been lost, and more will continue to close permanently in the coming days, weeks, and months. We need bold action right now.

Please continue to shop local and support small business. Find everything you need in our BIA directory!

Ask your local MPPs to push for financial relief for the small businesses โ€“ Let's keep our mainstreets vibrant and thriving!

Like and share content posted by local businesses with your friends, family, and neighbors. Follow to support and stay informed.

Show Some #LocalLove

Consider leaving a positive online review of a local shop, or posting a recommendation on social media. (Be sure to tag @gerrardindiabaz)

Here in Gerrard India Bazaar, we have a number of small business owners stepping up to show a little

#LOCALLOVE in the Time of COVID19

Restaurants have closed their dining rooms, but have kept the kitchens open. Along with increased health and safety best practices, these business owners have embraced the use of online platforms to keep quick and easy meal options widely accessible throughout the neighbourhood. A number of other shops have stepped up to the challenge by coordinating local pick up and delivery for essential goods or virtual services. Itโ€™s a somewhat frightening and uncertain time for us all, but we continue to move forward together, offering kindness and support to neighbours as we practice physical distancing.

Welcome to Our

Village of Dreams

From a village in Punjab to the first dedicated Bollywood theatre in North America. The Naaz Theatre, was not an immediate success. But owner Gian Naz refused to give up.

The whole family pitched in. Nazโ€™s wife Shobha worked the ticket counter and prepared snack food to sell. Their childrenโ€”Tina, Sunila, Ken, and Sonnyโ€”distributed flyers at gurdwaras and Hindu temples to advertise upcoming films. Business picked up within months.

South Asian entrepreneurs soon identified the large theatre-going crowds as an emerging market and businesses proliferated in the immediate vicinity of the theatre in the 1970s and 1980s. The majority of businesses were (and remain) mom-and-pop enterprises.

By 1982, the South Asian character of the business strip was formalized with the creation of the Gerrard India Bazaar Business Improvement Area. Over the years, the BIA would fund additional parking spaces, and improvements to the sidewalks and streetlights, and host annual street festivals that continue today.

Watch Village of Dreams to Learn more about how Little India Toronto began

ยฉ 2016 Village of Dreams Productions Inc

By Design Our BIA Is

Fostering Local Economic Development and Revitalization

Historically all BIAโ€™s have helped to promote the area as a desirable place to live, work, and shop. This is often achieved through developing a strong brand, content and marketing practices, coordinating special events and sponsorships, keeping open communication with local community groups, and even recruiting businesses to occupy vacant properties.

Fostering local economic development and revitalization in an area can stimulate new impetus for tourism and investment in the wider community. Increased business activity can improve both the municipal and sales tax base and support public services of bene๏ฌt to all. Fostering community engagement can strengthen and build community interest, spirit, pride and networks well beyond the boundaries of a BIA.

Support for Our Members

The BIA team works hard to bring together tools and resources to empower small business owners and maintain our vibrant mainstreet marketplace.

Open A Business on Gerrard East

Are you looking for a new location to open your business? Curious about the many benefits the Bazaar has to offer? We are collaborating with local realtors, spacelist.ca, and local landlords to keep an up to date listing of available storefronts and bring you valuable marketing insights.

Stay in the Loop

Follow our blog to learn more about placemaking efforts, great deals, community projects, neighborhood spotlights, and other notable stories.

Let's Get Social

Meet our members and keep up to date with all the happenings in the East End.

Community Events

Thereโ€™s always something happening...

What Our Visitors Are Saying

The Bazaar is a fantastic local destination to spend the day exploring with friends, family, or even solo!

Paula Fletcher

The Gerrard India Bazaar is an exciting neighbourhood with so much going on. The annual Festival of South Asia is a great summer celebration for all, and I encourage everyone to make it out.

Councillor โ€“ Ward 14 Toronto Danforth
Sandeep Kaur Saluja

Amazing place for great Indian food, shopping and feel the vibrance of India right here in Toronto. We get all Indian clothing and accessories at Gerrard street at great prices. So, no need to travel all the way to India for shopping.

East End Toronto Resident
Maggie Joh

When the weather starts to heat up I always long for the bazaar. I've been coming since I was a young teen.

London, Ontario Resident
Mary Dawna

This is my favorite spot to stock up on fresh spices whenever I am in Toronto. Please support local... Business owners here will never let you down, best curry in townย ๐Ÿฅฐ

East End Toronto Resident

We Love to Connect with Our Neighbours

Interested in learning more about our mainstreet marketplace or becoming part of our community? member of the press looking to connect with local business owners? Just want to say hello? We would love to hear from you!

How to Reach Us

Some street parking available on Gerrard East and surrounding areas. Municipal Parking available Between Craven Road and Rhodes Ave.

We are less than a 30-minute ride from Downtown Toronto via the 506, 22A, and 32B. Skip the traffic and hassle of parking.

Thanks to Toronto's growing cycling infrastructure you will find nearby bike lanes on Danforth Ave, Dundas Street, and Greenwood Ave, which can lead you directly to the Bazaar. Although Gerrard East doesn't have designated bike lanes, many locals still active cycle here.

Explore On Foot

Gerrard Street East has a Walk Score of 90 out of 100. This location is a Walkerโ€™s Paradise so daily errands do not require a car.

Contact Us

Gerrard India Bazaar BIA Office

1426 Gerrard Street East,

Toronto, Canada

M4L 1Z6

 

416-465-8513

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