Inside a Toronto neighbourhood’s new luxury grocery store

A new boutique grocery store is opening in Toronto, and we got the inside scoop.

McEwan Fine Foods is a high-end grocer from the mind of Chef Mark McEwan, the culinary maestro behind such restaurants as the former North 44 and the current Bymark and Fabbrica in the heart of downtown Toronto.

While the fine foods extension of McEwan’s prowess has long only had two locations, one in the shopping blitz of Don Mills and the other in the hustle and bustle of Toronto’s TD Centre, a new location is set to open next year in the Bayview Village Shopping Centre.

The grocer, known for its as-fresh-as-it-gets produce, premium meats and seafood, imported goods, and chef-prepared meals, is, according to the minds behind the luxury merchant, a shoo-in for the neighbourhood shopping complex.

“It’s one of Toronto’s most established neighbourhoods, centrally located with exceptional accessibility from across the GTA, and home to customers who genuinely appreciate quality food, thoughtful service and premium shopping experiences,” Eric McEwan, COO of the McEwan Group, told INsauga.com via email.

McEwan went on to highlight that while each Fine Foods location has its own distinct vibe, the up-and-coming Bayview location will focus on made-to-order food service, an international hot table, and an elevated Japanese offering featuring a sweeping Omakase selection to make it stand out from other grocery stores,

“McEwan Fine Foods is really an extension of everything we’ve learned through decades in the restaurant industry. Our philosophy has always been simple: great food starts with great ingredients, experienced people and an uncompromising commitment to quality,” says McEwan.

While these in-house features are likely to be the stand-out at this new spot, McEwan further highlights that, at the end of the day, the premium shopping experience is still the focus, as these locations try to echo ‘global food halls.’

These halls, according to McEwan, are not strictly indoor markets but are found in neighbourhoods, streets, and alleys around the world, where shopping is done on the fly and local ingredients are at their best.

“Cities like London, New York, Tokyo and Paris have long embraced these marketplaces, where shoppers can browse artisan products, watch chefs preparing meals, enjoy food made to order and discover cuisines from around the world in a single visit,” says McEwan. “It’s a more immersive way to shop, and it’s something we’ve continued to refine with every new location.”

As for how this new location is going to tick, McEwan states that it will essentially combine what makes the previous two locations such notable go-to destinations.

Primarily, by combining the speed and convenience of the TD Centre, as it’s anchored in a massive corporate complex, and the scale of the flagship store at Don Mills.

As a result, once completed, McEwan hopes those who swing by will feel immersed, leave with a little bit more than they bargained for, and gain more confidence in themselves rather than in routine.

“We want customers to feel inspired when they walk through our stores. It’s not simply about completing a grocery list—it’s about discovering new ingredients.”

While no exact date has been set, McEwan Fine Foods will open in the Bayview Village Shopping Centre next year.