The pandemic has had a significant impact on the retail stores located inside Toronto’s subway stations. Ahmed Abdella, who has been selling patties from his store inside Bathurst Subway Station for 25 years, has seen a drastic decrease in foot traffic and business since the pandemic began. Approximately 30 percent of the retail locations in the subway network are currently empty, with many tenants struggling to attract customers who are now working from home. Before the pandemic, plans were in place to increase non-fare revenue through the subway’s retail spaces, but these plans have been put on hold due to the decrease in ridership and closures caused by the pandemic.
The TTC had plans to increase revenue from the subway’s retail locations by investing in modernizing the retail spaces and attracting more customers. However, the pandemic disrupted these plans, with ridership levels still struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels. The closure of many retail stores and the financial troubles of main tenants Gateway and Tobmar have left the TTC questioning the future of subway retail. While there are successful models of subway retail around the world, Toronto has had a set retail strategy for years that may be difficult to change.
The TTC is considering the potential for increased retail opportunities with the massive subway expansion in Toronto. Future in-station stores will be determined through station planning and design processes led by Metrolinx. Despite the expensive rent, tenants like Ahmed Abdella have no plans to move their iconic locations out of the subway, hoping for a resurgence of foot traffic and business in the future. The TTC is looking to maximize occupancy in vacant locations and explore opportunities for growth and expansion of retail spaces throughout the subway network.
The current vacancy rate of one in three stores in the subway network was not what the TTC had imagined for 2024. Plans to revamp retail were put on hold due to the pandemic, with closures and reduced ridership impacting the revenue from subway retail. The TTC is reassessing its strategies for increasing non-fare revenue and taking into account the changing dynamics of subway retail post-pandemic. With examples of successful models around the world, there is hope for a revival of subway retail in Toronto and an opportunity for expansion and growth with the upcoming subway expansions in the city. Overall, despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, there is a sense of optimism for the future of subway retail in Toronto.
