Convenience store moves out

Davisville residents recently said farewell to another variety store.

Davisville Mini Food Mart, which was located on Davisville Avenue and Cleveland Street, closed its doors at the end of May.

Its 20-year owners retired and moved to East York, said Al Dorkin, who has lived a few houses down from the store for 18 years.

He said he thinks the space is now being renovated to reopen as a yoga studio.

Dorkin said he’ll miss the store, since he often bought lottery tickets and milk from there.

“It was a real convenience,” he said. “But you’ve got to retire sometime.”

Dorkin added the storeowners were the kind of people who would let someone pay later if they happened to be short on money.

“I’m sorry to see them go,” he said. “(The store) was just a fixture around here.”

Located in a residential neighbourhood, with the closest plaza three blocks away at Davisville and Bayview Avenues, the store became more isolated after the neighbouring Bayview Express convenience store closed in August, 2009.

Almost a year later, that space is still empty, with the sign still up. On the doors, stickers advertising newspapers and lottery tickets remain.

No one has moved in because of the high lease price, said Avery Barker, manager of McSorley’s Saloon a few doors down from the store.

The previous owner, William, moved out after his lease ended, despite the petition initiated by the bar’s owner last year.

Property owner Marie Pyzyna lives above Bayview Express, and told the Town Crier last year that the store produced a lot of noise and the rent was low and unprofitable.

It was William’s choice to leave the store, since he was offered a fair rent, the owner’s daughter, Loraine Basset told Town Crier last year.

Since then, the space has been empty, and Barker said he hasn’t heard about anyone planning to move in.