A Toronto noodle restaurant popular in its neighbourhood has closed down permanently, and what’s replacing it is so typical.
In Toronto, we’re lucky enough to have fantastic Chinese restaurants on seemingly every city block. Still, that doesn’t mean that people aren’t entitled to picking favourites.
For Annex residents and folks who frequent the Bloor and Bathurst area alike, one such favourite was Szechuan Noodle Bowl, the only Toronto location of a three-restaurant chain specializing in Szechuan cuisine and noodle-based dishes. Go figure.
Situated directly at the corner of Bloor and Bathurst, steps away from Bathurst subway station, the restaurant has been a hub for those searching for a steaming bowl of hand-pulled noodles priced at $15 or less.
Their Dan Dan Noodles, might we add, are out of this world.
Nowadays, though, Torontonians will have to travel to the chain’s other locations in Mississauga or, if you’re in the mood for a road trip, Hamilton, to get their fill, as the Bloor West location has officially closed down for good, and its usurper has already swooped in.
It’s not another Chinese restaurant, as one might hope, nor another independently owned eatery of any kind. As it happens, Szechuan Noodle Bowl is getting taken over by none other than quintessential Canadian chain, Tim Hortons.
The Szechuan Noodle Bowl location now bears Tim Hortons signage. Photo: Phoebe Knight.
It’s a tale as old as time: local restaurant closes down, just to make way for yet another location of a big-name chain that, as it stands, already operates no fewer than 20 locations within a 2 km. radius of it.
A similar thing happened with the Basil Box location at Queen and Spadina less than a year ago.
Upon the Tim Hortons signage going up at the location, a slew of locals took to Reddit to express their disappointment at the loss of yet another independent restaurant in the neighbourhood.
“That stretch along Bloor between Bathurst and Spadina is a death sentence for independently owned restaurants. Hope they’re relocating,” one person wrote, as another responded, “Let me take this opportunity to suggest everyone to please visit Nang Saigon in that stretch for amazing pho and other noodle soups.”
“I believe this is the definition of adding insult to injury,” one person simply said.
On the other hand, it’s great news for anyone brave enough to try that Ryan Reynolds Scrambled Egg Bowl and actually enjoy it, at least.
There are no details available quite yet on when the new Tim Hortons location will be open for business, but on the bright side, if you find yourself craving a double-double at the corner of Bloor and Bathurst, there are two locations (Bloor and Spadina and Bloor and Christie) just 600 metres away.
The Tim Hortons will be located at 526 Bloor St. W.
