In Toronto’s east end, the Riverside area and surrounding neighborhood of Leslieville has long been defined by its independent shops and historic main streets. At the corner of Queen Street East and Broadview Avenue, the gateway to the east end, this local character faces pressure from a changing landscape.

Queen and Broadview is a Historic Gateway. 
This intersection is anchored by the landmark Broadview Hotel, a Romanesque Revival building that signals entry into Riverside and Leslieville . But it has also been a flashpoint for change. When the independent burger joint Dangerous Dan's closed in 2017 after 18 years, it was seen as a symbol of the corner’s transformation, a local institution replaced when a corporate chain bought the building . As one local business owner noted, small independents are often “just nibbling on the edges” while larger players dominate .  And now here we are again, but this time across the street.  709 Queen St. E. is not just another storefront. It is a corner with a legacy.

It was the home of The Real Jerk for 22 years, a Jamaican restaurant that drew celebrities and Jack Layton through its doors and whose sunburst mural became a neighbourhood landmark. When the building sold in 2011, 3,000 people signed a petition to save it.

Now, building applications confirm this space will become a McDonald's with seating for 30+ people. This is about more than one restaurant.

When chains move into main streets, commercial rents rise. When rents rise, independent businesses are squeezed out. And when independents leave, the neighbourhood loses what made it worth coming to in the first place.

The Riverside BIA's own vision statement speaks to "unified planning, advocacy, and programming to ensure a cohesive, thriving, and connected commercial district" . A McDonald's at this historic gateway does not align with that vision. This neighborhood has deep roots. Leslieville grew from George Leslie’s 1850s nurseries and brick-making industries into a working-class village, later annexed by Toronto . Today, it remains a “15-minute neighborhood” where residents live, work, and shop locally .

Independent businesses are central to that livability. Arts Market, founded in Leslieville before expanding to Riverside, provides space for local artists and vintage vendors a model that supports creators directly . These are the businesses and landmarks that give the area its distinct flavor.

Now our beloved neighbourhood is facing a threat from conglomerates like McDonald's and similar large fast-food chains eager to set up shop on a prominent historical corner and the gateway into our community. This decision not only jeopardizes the unique identity and charm that our area is known for but also undermines the painstaking efforts of small business owners who have devoted their lives to offering valuable services tailored to local needs.

Evidence from various studies indicates that the presence of large fast-food chains in historical neighborhoods leads to a decline in local business revenues and can dramatically alter the landscape of the area. According to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a community's economic capacity can be profoundly affected by the influx of such multinational companies, which often drive local businesses to closure due to their competitive pricing strategies and extensive marketing reach.

Besides economic implications, our neighborhood's liveability is at stake. Fast-food outlets are typically associated with increased traffic, noise pollution, and often, littering, all of which can tarnish the peaceful environment we cherish. Moreover, the uniformity they bring diminishes the historical architecture and cultural heritage, turning unique precincts into faceless urban zones.

We have the collective power to shape the future of our neighborhood by advocating for sustainable growth that prioritizes the survival of local businesses and preserves our community's historical and cultural essence. Let's urge our city council to reconsider granting permission for these large chains to establish here, protecting our neighborhood's unique flavor and supporting the very businesses that define our community fabric. We are not against business. We are for our businesses.

Sign this petition to show your support for our local businesses and to help preserve the historical integrity and unique character of our beloved neighborhood. Let us stand together to keep our community thriving with the charm and warmth it is celebrated for. 
Thank you, 
Riverside Community Group, 

About Us:

We are neighbours who've lived in Riverside and Leslieville for decades and remember when this corner felt like a small town in the big city. We want meaningful development with more missing middle housing, more affordable homes, and community engagement in how developers build in our backyards, while maintaining the character, liveability, and well-being of everyone who lives, works, and plays here. We are for our businesses, the ones that built this neighbourhood. Organized. Growing. Paying attention. Contact us for more information & to  get involved: RiversideCommunityGroupToronto@gmail.comFollow us: @RiversideCommunityGroup