Life in The East End
North America's Largest South Asian Mainstreet Marketplace
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.
Neighbourhood Overview
East Gerrard is a charming, laid-back neighbourhood with a friendly
small-town vibe, located 20 minutes east of downtown Toronto.
Surrounded by cultural attractions and home to a diverse population, the area is highly desirable place to live, work, and shop.
During the summer months, crowds flock to the area to explore, shop, and celebrate the festival of South Asia
The Gerrard India Bazaar Business Improvement Area (BIA) proudly represents over 125 business with over 500 employees.
from cute cafes, desi fashions, art galleries, salons, spas, cozy restaurants, boutique shopping, specialty stores, and more.
Our boundaries span Gerrard Street East between Glenside Ave to Coxwell Ave.
The BIA, a city agency, is managed by a volunteer board of directors consisting of local business and property owners, and staff, who work strategically to attract visitors, beautify the streetscape, and improve the business climate in the area.
Canada’s main streets are iconic symbols of urban life and belonging — where we go to shop and do business, eat, play and participate in civic life.
Public Realm Rankings
Our Mainstreet Market is in the Greenwood-Coxwell neighborhood in Toronto. Nearby parks include Coxwell Avenue Playground, Greenwood Park and Fairmount Park.
Walk Score
Gerrard Street East has a Walk Score of 90 out of 100. This location is a Walker’s Paradise so daily errands do not require a car.
Transit Score
Gerrard Street East has an excellent Transit score of 87, which means transit is convenient for most trips, with streetcar stops located within a 1-minute walk across the BIA.. Car sharing is available from Zipcar.
Bike Score
Gerrard East is considered to be ``very bikeable`` with a score of 75. Flat as a pancake, with some bike lanes. Bike Share is readily available nearby.
Shopping Score
Gerrard East is home to over 125 South Asian shops importing specialty groceries and vibrant fabrics.
Demographics
Statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it. examples include: age, race, ethnicity, gender, marital status, income, education, and employment.
Psychographics
Personality, values, opinions, attitudes, interests, and lifestyles.
Boutique + Luxury Fans
There are at least 93,000 individuals interested in luxury products and boutiques living within a 2-mile radius of Gerrard India Bazaar.
Urban Professionals
Leslieville has a well-established reputation as a hip village for Toronto’s creatives and professionals.
South Asian Visitors
Because the BIA is such a well known cultural hub, a significant number of South Asians frequently visit the area to shop at the Bazaar – Not only from within the GTA – But across the globe.
#LocalLove Advocates
A number of Leslieville residents are advocates for shopping local to support small businesses, thanks to the #locallove movement.
Sources for statistics, data and analytics have been collected from a number of open sources including: Facebook analytics, walk score, public surveys and more.
Available Storefronts
We are collaborating with local realtors, spacelist.ca, and local landlords to keep this listing up to date.
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
Our goal is to provide a digital platform to help recruit businesses to the area that are an ideal fit and truly serve the needs and interests of our local community.
What Our Community is Saying
The Bazaar is a fantastic destination to spend the day exploring with friends, family, or even solo!
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.
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.
When the weather starts to heat up I always long for the bazaar. I've been coming since I was a young teen.
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 town 🥰
Fostering Local Economic Development and Revitalization
Historically all BIA’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 benefit to all. Fostering community engagement can strengthen and build community interest, spirit, pride and networks well beyond the boundaries of a BIA.
Tools + Resources
Our BIA is committed to helping our community thrive and flourish. Not only do we activly promote our local businesses, we are also working to help connect business owners with the tools and resources they need to succeed.
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Let’s Get Back TO – June 15th 2021
View this email in your browser June 8, 2021 BusinessTO News is a weekly newsletter focused on resources to help Toronto businesses mitigate
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Provincial stay-at-home order
View this email in your browser April 13, 2021 BusinessTO News is a weekly newsletter focused on resources to help Toronto businesses mitigate
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Ontario’s Action Plan Doubles Ontario Small Business Support Grant
News Release Ontario's Action Plan Doubles Ontario Small Business Support Grant March 25, 2021 2021 Budget invests $1.7 billion in second round of
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. Naz’s wife Shobha worked the ticket counter and prepared snack food to sell. Their children—Tina, Sunila, Ken, and Sonny—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
Stay in the Loop
Meet our members and keep up to date with all the happenings in the East End.
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Vote: Best Patio in 2021
Summer has finally arrived. Here are 14 local patio options to help you keep your cool all season long in
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Post an Instagram Reel or Tiktok featuring your Favourite Gerrard East Patio or Local Shop for a Chance to Win $500
Get creative with music, voiceovers, and montages ⚡️ Show us your favourite products, places, and people in the Bazaar! Full rules
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Priority Access For Students 12+ and Immediate Family Members of Students
Gerrard India Bazaar BIA has organized a Pop-Up Covid-19 Vaccine Clinic on June 10 (starting at 2 pm) at the Roden
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Locally sourced gift ideas to impress your Valentine, or treat yourself to this February
What is a good Valentine's Day gift? Start by shopping locally! Not only will you be more likely to find something
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Not Amazon
This website called 'Not Amazon' is now offering free local business listings for those offering curbside pick up or delivery
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East Toronto Main Street #Virtual Market
FREE REGISTRATION Virtual shopping experience to explore the local businesses of East Toronto. About this Event Join us for a FREE virtual shopping
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Contact Us
Gerrard India Bazaar BIA Office
1426 Gerrard Street East,
Toronto, Canada
M4L 1Z6
416-465-8513
Neighbours
