The Retail Insider Podcast Network · 2025-07-31 · 20 min
Craig Patterson discusses the Toronto Waterfront BIA with Tim Kocur , Executive Director and Dorsa Alizadeh - Shabani , Manager of Operations. The conversation ranges from the revitalization and rising energy across Toronto’s Waterfront, focusing on the seasonal buzz, new retail openings, and exciting new restaurants like Queen’s Harbour. Alizadeh-Shabani notes the summer’s delayed start due to record rainfall but emphasizes a strong rebound with full crowds and booming cafes. Kocur shares that the eastern waterfront is evolving into a “development powerhouse,” with a wave of new businesses, patios, and community engagement shaping the area into a livelier destination. The addition of unique spaces like Ethos Climbing and new patios at Irene and Simona are just some signs of the district’s renaissance. They also discuss major infrastructure and placemaking efforts reshaping connectivity and public space. The long-awaited LRT project has gained traction, now in the city’s Transit Expansion Office, with interim bus lanes already installed. Wayfinding signage has been expanded to help visitors discover hidden eateries and attractions beyond the water’s edge.
