Shuttered No Frills store causes worry in Parkdale

Some Parkdale residents are concerned thattheir neighbourhood grocery store could fall victim to gentrification and be redevelopedinto condos, which would create food insecurity in the low income area.

Vi's No Frills, the only large grocery store in the area of King Streetand Jameson Avenue in South Parkdale,closed on Dec.8, due tothe need for immediate roof repairs.

Richard Krasnewych, a residentwho has been shopping at the No Frills location for years, saidthe repairs were a long time coming.

"The stores had leaksall the time.They would have canopies set up on the ceiling," he said.

Signs on the padlocked doors sayLoblaws, the parent company to the No Frills brand, was told by itslandlord that the storehad to closebecause of the urgent need for roof repairs.

Complimentary shuttle buses have been running every 15 minutes to take customersin SouthParkdaleto another location 10 minutes away atDundasStreetandLansdowneAvenue.

Kevin Groh, vice-president ofcorporate affairs of Loblaws, said in a statement to CBC Toronto that the company was not pleased at having to close.

"We were as disappointed as our customers when the landlord advised us of the need to temporarily close Vi's No Frills for immediate repairs to the roof," Groh said.

'We're puzzled. Like why did it really close?'

Some peopleare suspicious, however. DeannaMiron, another resident, has questions.

"We're all puzzled.Like why did it really close?"

Conversations amongneighbours who ride theshuttle bus is apparently dominated by their suspicions that the space could end up in the hands of a condo developerbefore it ever reopens.

"Literally, I was in there one day shopping and the next day it was closed," Miron said, adding shefound the sudden closure abrupt.

Victor Willis, the executivedirector of the Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre(PARC), a local agency, said its common areas arefilled with the same suspicious chatter.

"It's all around Parkdale," Willis said.

He said he believesthe concerns are valid. "Parkdale is under huge pressure from a development lens."

No No Frills creates food insecurity for residents

Willis said he doesn't consider Parkdale a "food desert"without the grocery store because there are many fruit and vegetable stands not far away along Queen Street Westto the north.But while the stores are physically accessible for residents, Willis said they are priced out.

"Those stores are fineif you have the money throughout the month to get good deals on produce, but if you only have your money at the beginning of the month and you don't get those good deals, it's irrelevant to you."

Willis saidarea residentswho rely on government assistance chequesusually need to buy frozen food and canned goodsin bulk so that it lasts through the month.

"Those thingsaren't going to be offered at a competitive price at a local green grocer. They're really going to be at a place like No Frills. That's the gap that's now been presented to the community."

He saidcustomers will turn to food banksmore often if the store ends up beingclosed for a long time.

Residents pleased with shuttle service

Kathryn Thomas, another resident,appreciates the service provided by Loblaws but saidshe doesn't know how much longer she can tolerate the ride.

"There's not really anything else within walking distance and the shuttles just turn what would be a twominute trip into an hour trip."

Miron agrees, saying shefeels for the elderly and people with disabilities who have long enjoyed the short walking distancefrom their apartments to the store.

"The shuttle isn't easy for them."

Peter Tomlin, a visually impaired resident, said hefinds himself buying a lot of groceries every tripto avoid having to take the sometimescrowded shuttle more often than is necessary.

"I'll shop for two weeks at a time when I'm up there," he said.

But not everyone is complaining.

"I think it's nice," RichardKrasnewych, another resident, told CBC Toronto.

"The No Frills at Dundas and Lansdowne is much nicer!"

Groh, meanwhile, saidthe company ishopeful that the repairs will be completed in the spring.