Family-owned Toronto business shuts down after 60 years serving locals

As a new year kicks off, owners of one Toronto business are facing a new chapter, and it is one that involves closing their doors for good. 

For generations, residents of The Junction Triangle have been filling their floral needs with the vibrant, aromatic blooms from Guy Young Flower Shop, a quaint corner flower shop on Dundas West easily recognizable by its bright turquoise exterior and sidewalk shelves overflowing with 

Founded in 1964, the flower shop held strong at the corner of Glenlake and Dundas, watching as the neighbourhood around it — much like the flowers inside — blossomed into what Time Out magazine has called one of the coolest neighbourhoods in Toronto, if not the world, cementing its status as a cornerstone of the community.

Not everything can last forever, though, which was sadly the case for Guy Young Flower Shop, who announced the end of an era on Dec. 31, confirming that the shop would henceforth be closed permanently.

In a city where beloved businesses closing can all too frequently be attributed to unrealistic rent hikes by landlords or untenable operation costs, there is a small bit of light to be found in Guy Young Flower Shop’s story, though; the closure was a voluntary one due to its owners’ retirement.

Owner Lisa Young’s post announcing the closure on Facebook.

Co-owner, Lisa Young did take to a local neighbourhood Facebook group on Jan. 1 to thank the community for its decades of support following the business’ last day on Dec. 31.

“After 60 wonderful years of serving our cherished community, we are announcing the closure of our store as we begin our retirement,” Lisa writes in the post.

“Thank you for your support and kindness throughout the years,” she continues. “We are incredibly honoured and grateful for the memories and relationships that were built with each of you.”

Lisa declined to provide additional comment when contacted by blogTO, as she and the team are busy working to close up shop, but reiterated her gratitude for the “outpour of love, support and memories from the community.”

“It has made our hearts full,” she tells blogTO.

While the question of what will replace the beloved business would typically loom large after such a closure, it’s actually one that’s already been answered, and, in an all-too-typical turn of events, it’s a condo development.

Taking over not only the Guy Young Flower Shop property, but the entire block it existed on, the proposed development would see a 29-storey mixed-use condo rise up on the block, featuring 288 units of rental, condo and retail units, usurping other businesses like Phancy’s Bodega.

Guy Young Flower Shop was formerly located at 2475 Dundas West.