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42 reviews for Loblaws
Review Highlights
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"WALL OF CHEESE." In 3 reviews -
"They have an LCBO, Joe Fresh, and a cooking school on the..." In 3 reviews
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"...dad would take me to watch Maple Leaf wrestling where I saw..." In 2 reviews
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42 reviews in English
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Review from Kent P.
2/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is the best grocery store I've ever been to.
In the city....free parking (if you spend 20$ at the lcbo, joe fresh, our Loblaws), and the best selection at reasonable prices.
This grocery store is beautiful. -
Review from Denise S.
I took one of the cooking classes here. The classroom/kitchen is upstairs, next to LCBO. It was Thai cooking with Florene Kwok and it was $30 for a 2 hour class. Now, they call it a 'class' but it is more of a demonstration. I.e. you aren't actually doing any of the cooking hands on. Some of the stuff has already been chopped, meat has already been marinated (otherwise, it would be impossible to prepare 4 courses AND eat them in 2 hours!). I was part of a large group and they let participants vote on the menu.
We ended up collectively deciding on:
- Grilled beef salad
- Thai spicy noodles
- Coconut lime chicken
- Coconut milk bread pudding a la mode
It was a fun evening! The food tasted delicious, I picked up some useful cooking tips, and the dishes weren't too tricky. They gave us copies of the recipes, and I feel like I will be able to reproduce them at home. Of course, it's Loblaws, so they use a lot of President's Choice products that you can buy after class. Florence has a somewhat abrupt and no non-sense style, but I liked her and she was happy to answer questions or to give us a closer look at any of the ingredients (e.g. I didn't know how to cook with lemongrass). She made 2 batches of the noodles - mild and spicy. She also made separate dishes for the one vegetarian in our group. The seating area is big and you usually have a good view of the stove, but there are also TV screens. They provided water and pop. $30 for a lesson, a great dinner, and someone to do the dishes for you -- not a bad deal!Listed in: The Sweet Escape
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/3/2012
Grocery shopping is fun again!
The spacious aisles and clean, organized displays are a nice change… Read more »
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Review from Janet S.
Toronto, ON
4/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Honestly, the first time I walked into this store, my first thought was, "where are the groceries?"
You have to talk past all the high-margin prepared foods to get to the food you actually want to buy. Even then, it's super expensive!
The layout of the store is different from the standard layout of most grocery stores, which makes finding things difficult.
The highlight of my trip: Seeing staff calling each other "Excuse Me," because they don't know each others' names yet. -
Review from Good T.
Toronto, ON
4/14/2012
It's a nice place to do groceries at. Humongous in both space and offerings. Well staffed which means easy access to directions and answers.Long hours of operation. Of course I am a fan!
I especially like their bakery where I've gotten me some great cake/cup cakes on more than a few occasions. I have enjoyed their hot foods like their pizza and pasta: good quality and pretty cheap. Wasn't too pleased with their sushi though, but oh well! Their tea emporium serves me well, since my family drinks plentiful tea.
Their staff is very commendable, everyone I've interacted with is very cheerful and helpful. Kudos! -
Review from Michelle O.
Toronto, ON
5/20/2012
I died and went to heaven in this store. TWO stories of the most amazing food. On the first floor, there is a bakery, cheese shop (all kinds of cheeses imaginable), sushi bar, butcher shop....AHHH! It's wonderful! The produce is on the expensive side but worth it. Everything is so fresh and aromatic (the tomatoes smell DIVINE).
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Review from Bob R.
5/13/2012
SIMPLY PUT...DO NOT GO TO THIS WALK IN CLINIC. I had some abdominal pain likely due to some minor trauma I had a few days prior. Being cautious though, I figured it best to be looked at. Dr. Stephanie Yap saw me. She didn't listen to my heart even though the pain was under my ribs. She did a short examination on the table, opined it was likely a bruise, but ordered an ultrasound. OK, that's fine.
I get the US and decide to call 3 days later to see if it came in. The receptionist says "oh yes just this morning and it's URGENT you see the doctor! ". I rush over there thinking oh my God I must have a tumor or something! When Dr. Yap comes in she says they're not sure whether it's a contusion or a "muscle mass". I need to get an MRI. Since this is Canada, that literally meant 6 months wait...I kid you not.
After I leave and read the actual report the radiologist asks in the report, did this patient sustain any trauma to the area? She was trying to understand why this so called mass was there. Turns out Yap didn't bother to mention that on her order. Why not? Isn't that sorta important for the radiologist to know?
Well, in a panic I travel to Buffalo where I get a CAT Scan in 1 day; yes, not an MRI...That radiologist said you don't do MRI for the abdomen as a CAT is much more diagnostic. Bottom line was a bruise.
Dr yap had zero empathy, didn't know the appropriate imaging to use, and failed to even explain to the radiologist the circumstances that likely led me to the pain; that radiologist only knew I had abdominal pain of 4 days duration.
So stock up on the good food at Loblaws but go to a doctor who has more compassion and medical acumen then Dr Yap. Find a doctor who at least tries to understand your fears at times like that and knows the meaning of reassurance.
Each time I went in there, there were only 1 or 2 people in the waiting room...I now know why.
Special shout out to Mercy Catholic Hospital in Buffalo and Physician Assistant Jim. Both compassion and medical expertise defined. -
Review from Luis H.
Toronto, ON
5/12/2012
The "Mother of all Supermarkets" in Toronto, this humongous store is conviently stocked with abundant groceries, as well as specialty food shops (bakery, cheese shop, bake shop, and sushi bar). Built on the former arena where the Toronto Maple Leafs played their home games pre-1980, the use of the former space (now a historic landmark) is impressive. With plenty of check-outs, reliable staff and a LCBO and Joe Fresh apparel shop (surprisingly owned by Loblaws), it's a great place to stock up on favorites for anyone residing or visiting the area. While prices are a bit high, the presence of the store has stolen a lot of business from the neighboring Metro supermarket located down the street in College Park. Unlike Metro, Loblaws lacks a loyalty program which is a bummer.
Trivia: The Maple Leaf Gardens (site of the supermarket) is the first venue Elvis Presley performed for the first time outside the United States. -
Review from Mariko M.
2/18/2012 1 photo
A colleague of mine lives up the street so he's the one who first told me about how amazing this place is. He and his husband apparently come here just to walk around on some nights.
I finally decided to check out this place w my friend this afternoon.
Wow.
This place is the Mecca for Foodies based in Toronto.
You want to see the real deal though? Go to a Japanese department's food emporium.
Anywho, moving on...
If you spend over $20, you get your parking pass validated. In case you don't know, the lot entrance is on Carlton, west of Church.
The price point is no different from other Loblaw locations; however, you have a wider selection of food items plus an LCBO and a JOE Fresh.
As Jennifer K mentioned, the cupcake area ... cupcakes are my kryptonite. I just stuffed my face w the red velvet cupcake infused w cream cheese icing. It was deeeeeelish.
A solid four star here. -
Review from Elvis A.
This place is humongous and rivals a Costco in terms of size.
Huge, wide aisle and aisles of goodies and lots of boutique stores like tea emporium, Sushi corner etc.
A very impressive selection of cheese that is neatly stacked in a sea through wall of glass.
The prices are somehow higher than the Jarvis location for some items which doesn't make sense as why would there be a disparity for something within a 5-10 min driving distance.
Other knock on this spot is its not 24 hours unlike the aforementioned Loblaws.
Intial impression is just an over sized Loblaws and I wish it was Real Canadian Super Store as it would make more sense.
I need to spend more time here and do a more thorough review.
3.5 stars. -
Review from Susan A.
Toronto, ON
2/5/2012
In the end, it's your weekly grocery shop. But what an extraordinary way to do the job. In no particular order of my delights:
1. In bad weather I don't have to go outside--I can drive from my condo garage to the Loblaws underground parking, and get free parking for 90 minutes with a $20 purchase, hardly a difficult task.
2. The red cart has its own cute escalator. If I were a kid i'd want to ride up in the cart, but I'm not and it's not permitted anyhow.
3. There's live music sometimes. I missed the opera singer, the check-out woman told me. Hope she'll be back.
4. The produce section has all kinds of beautiful stuff I haven't seen before, such as mini veggies, dried mushrooms by the pound, a section for Asian greens, at least 12 kinds of tomatoes, nuts. There's plenty of room for carts--you don't feel like you are bumping into people. And the display is so colourful and lovely and low enough so you can scan the entire section for what you want.
5. The fish sparkles.
6. They bake all their artisanal breads in house and you can smell the baking.
7. Meat is vacuum packed so you can pop it in the freezer.
8. Prices don't seem any higher than other Loblaws stores. I do spend more, but that might stop when I'm more used to the novelties.
9. On one of the aisle floors you can see the red circle that indicates "center ice." Kinda thrilling be standing there with a cartful of groceries.
10. Enough open cash registers so there's no wait to check out.
I'm not even mentioning the tables where you can eat fresh baked goods, gelato, sushi or sandwiches, the friendly employees who will run and find what you don't see, or the fact that heretofore I shopped regularly at a No Frills, so this place seems like heaven. But if heaven has grocery stores, they're probably just like this one. -
Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
3/11/2012
It's funny to read these reviews. I think people forget that it actually took about 6 to 8 years for the store to actually become a reality. So is it innovative? Of course not...but when they were planning it? YES.
VIBE
Wow to the wow. I won't reiterate everything that's being said here but there's live jazz playing near the entrance. I like the different odes to the Maple Leafs from the Maple Leaf display to the collages on the tables in the eating area.
It's hard not to be gawk-eyed: the grocery store is the size of an ARENA.
And the fonts and lay-out? Don't even get me started. They did a great job of marketing. (Because, that's what this is). If I was a tourist staying at the Holiday Inn right beside this Loblaws, I'd be very happy.
THE GOODS
Again, read below. Cheese walls, cooking classes, sushi bars, everything made fresh when you want it in addition to your groceries? Um...yeah!
I like the Joe Fresh here. It's very white, light and bright.
I didn't look at the prices: I'd be too scared to do that!
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
A lot of blah blah around this Loblaws. Rightly so. Is it sad that one of our famed Toronto institutions got turned into a corporate marketing machine? Yes. But this is the times. Deal with it. It's a gorgeous grocery store and now you don't have to complain about there not being something decent in this area (and don't have to line up at that crowded Metro below College Station).Listed in: Unique Toronto
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Review from marija k.
Toronto, ON
3/12/2012
I was so happy to discover that Maple Gardens would no longer be languishing in developer hell. I've lived in the neighbourhood for 5+ years and that whole time this monument to hockey remained quiet, still, home to some very sketchy characters haunting the various nooks & crannies. Now it's a Loblaws, viola!
It's a decent grocery store, has everything and more. Lovely pastry section, the wall of cheese is something to behold. But it is seriously overpriced in some regards - charging restaurant prices for their pre-packaged sushi, there is no bargain bin for meats (like at the Metro at College Park) and sometimes you don't want to spend $7.00 on a small packet of ground beef.
It's great it has a medical clinic and pharmacy. For a grocery store pharmacy, again, it is overpriced. Most grocery stores who also have an in-house pharmacy do not charge dispensing fees nearly equal to that of Shopper's Drugmart or Rexall/PharmaPlus.
The true downside to this grocery store is the sheer number of suburbanites who show up cos they think it's cool to shop for their eggs/milk/yoghurt/tampons in the middle of centre-ice. During the week it isn't too bad. But if you live in the neighbourhood avoid this place on weekends, best do your shop in the middle of the week. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
2/6/2012 9 photos
Cupcake Heaven!
I just could not decide on which one as a snack...just one... orange chocolate? Winter Mint? Vanilla bubblegum? Chocolate Peanut? Oreo? Three of the friendly staffs voted for Red Velvet ($1.99)... so I ended up having one of those! (the cake itself is moist, frosting is light and not too sweet)
Sweet from Dufflet, Artisan Bread from ACE and those Store Baked Maple Bacon Donuts looks good... Loose Leaf Tea from Tea Emporium.... Freshly made espresso drinks...
Good Cheese and Deli Selections! And all these hot food choices: pizza, pasta, remind me of the food halls I been to!
The dry goods section though are a little boring, just like one of those standard Loblaws...
This location used to be Maple Leaf Gardens and I still remember I watch my first LIVE hockey game here: Leaf VS Red Wings... I am pleased that Loblaws able to preserve the facade and some of the artifacts and transferred that into a lovely space....a place full of memories....... -
Review from Daniel B.
1/16/2012
This isn't so much a grocery store as it is a meeting place.
People who never had the chance or the good-fortune to step into the Gardens were wandering around with a look of fascination at every turn. Strangers meeting in the aisle. Social commentary around every new discovery.
A cultural temple with a new congregation.
It's impossible to dislike what they've done to the place. Fields of surprisingly fresh produce breathes life into the concrete shell. A host of spaces to inspire creativity and promote learning. People smiling and sharing.
It's oh so Toronto. Diverse and multicultural, but familiarly corporate and safe.
Exactly what our beautiful city needed. -
Review from Sarah P.
Toronto, ON
2/5/2012
I'm so hot for this grocery store. I love Loblaws anywhere, but this one takes the cake in terms of design and selection (and price... yikes, it is on the pricey side, though no worse than a lot of the nicer grocery stores--Longos, etc--downtown). They have a sushi bar, an ACE bakery, a WALL of CHEESE. The fresh cut fruit and veg bar excites me in a way that makes me think I need to get out more.
The have fancy style cupcakes and all sorts of baked delights which anger me because I haven't eaten sugar since January 1st. The toiletries/vitamins, etc, section is weirdly classy, with everything on these wooden shelves that makes me feel like I'm at a place that would call itself an "apothecary".
It's the kind of grocery store that makes you buy weird stuff you don't really need, like fancy mushrooms, exotic oils, wheels of parmesan, and curl boosting hairspray that was 21.99, and god, you KNEW it wouldn't REALLY work, so why did you buy it, you fool? Anyway... be careful of that if you don't want a crazy surprise at the register. Otherwise, it's a nice, clean, aesthetically pleasing grocery store that offers all your basic necessities and beyond, if you're hosting a fancy little do. -
Review from Leslie W.
1/2/2012 21 Check-ins Here
BOTTOM LINE: This Loblaws has a WALK-IN CLINIC. 'Nuff said.
This ain't your regular Loblaws; it's Loblaws on 'ROIDS! A few things makes this location better than all the others:
HUGE volume means quick turnover and fresh products. Their fishery gets products shipped in daily because how fast it gets sold out (they seem to have an endless supply of black cod and if you buy a lot of seafood, their direct extension x111 will be your best friend!)
DENSE downtown populations means access to more selection. Wagyu beef in vacuum-sealed packages? I'll take two please! You can't decide which variety of shiitake mushrooms you want? Only at this Loblaws will you have that problem! The list goes on and on as noted by other reviewers (dessert/chocolate bar, salad bar, sushi bar, pasta bar, cheese wall, etc.).
And to top it off, they have a walk-in clinic! Nothing like getting your [insert medical procedure here] done and then treating yourself to a cupcake (or the LCBO upstairs, depending on your disposition).
To avoid the mayhem of the sea of shoppers, arrive as an early bird or a night owl. It's pricey, but no more than other Loblaws - the time you save more than makes up for the extra $0.25 you'll have to pay for a head of lettuce. Finally, if you really want the good stuff, you'll still have to go to Cumbrae's, Sanagan's, About Cheese or Global Cheese. -
Review from Teena D.
2/19/2012 23 photos
Maple Leaf Gardens was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1931-1999. The Leafs won 11 Stanley Cups from 1932-1967 (alas, our last win was in 1967) while playing there. It also hosted the Beatles, The Who and Elvis Presley in concert, wrestling, boxing, basketball and more before laying dormant for about ten years.
Loblaws bought the Gardens in 2004. They converted the arena into a Loblaws grocery store and Ryerson University built an athletic centre upstairs. The new Loblaws store opened on November 30.
From blogTO ... The new Loblaws at Maple Leaf Gardens is, as one would expect, a pretty remarkable grocery store. Not only is it a huge retail space at 85,000 square feet, but its market-style features -- things like self-serve seafood, the grand wall of cheese, and loads of prepared food options -- are part of what the company calls its "theatre of food."
Gord and I have been wanting to check it out so we walked there this afternoon.
Happily they kept the integrity of the building.
It is indeed huge! As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the grill.
The end of aisle 25 is where centre ice was ... they've marked it with a red circle.
Love cheese? Then check out the wall of cheese!
The dessert section looked amazing! I couldn't resist a chocolate chocolate cupcake. It was denser than I expected and the big blob of icing in the middle was a fun surprise.
Love chocolate? Then check out the 1.5 foot chunk of chocolate!
There are some nice reminders of what the Gardens used to be ... like a giant blue maple leaf made from the old seats from the blue section. Tables in the second level have descriptions of past events. You are reminded of the Maple Leafs as you get your cart.
On the second level, there is a Joe Fresh, a liquor store and a cooking school.
Looks like an awesome shopping experience! Gord and I are going to head there for groceries one day soon. -
Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
1/16/2012 4 Check-ins Here
This not just a supermarket. This needs to be called an uber-market. It's ludicrously huge. Now that the initial hullaballoo over this place has died down a bit, this Loblaws is a pretty good place to shop. The specialty counters are part of the fun -- there's a patisserie, a bakery, the famed cheese wall, a (whatever you call the place with the hanging cured meat), a tea shop, a gelato stand... I could go on. If it's staples you're after, then grab a cart and wander the giganormo aisles. The produce is better than other Loblaws nearby (I'm looking at you, St Clair), but their organic selection/quality is lacking (what's up with the limp chard? always. ALWAYS!).
There's a dot where center ice used to be. It's directly next to the canned tuna. Someone on Foursquare remarked that it's because, like tuna, the Leafs stink. Ha ha.
Despite the little flaws, this Loblaw is definitely my new go-to grocery shop. There is ample validated parking. Prices are similar to other Loblaws, so I don't see too much of a premium price for the downtown digs. -
Review from Vivek S.
This Loblaws is located in Maple Leaf Gardens, the former home of Toronto's source of unanimous frustration: the Toronto Maple Leafs. Being housed in a hockey arena, you should know that his particular grocery store is huge. The high-ceilinged space holds 28 aisles of shopping madness. I learned this from one of the programmes (yeah, a programme) at the entrance. Grab a map too. You'll need it.
In addition to the modern conveniences we expect in large grocery stores (a bakery, deli, butcher, etc.) Loblaws has some nifty bonuses. There are quite a few places to snag fresh-made foods to eat in the store: the canteen, sushi bar, a T&T kiosk, a patisserie, a juice bar. There is also a wall of cheese, which is an 18' tall fridge. You can even have chocolate chiselled by the chunk. Oooh.
But I probably won't frequent this store. If I'm shopping at a big box grocery store, then I expect a cookie-cutter layout and this is anything but. I was lost in the aisles for ages and they occupy only half the gargantuan space. And while I can get used to the layout, I probably won't get used to the crowds. On my visit the store was packed to the gills. I actually traded in my large cart for a small one because it was otherwise impossible to move around. This may change as the novelty of this new grocery store wears off, but with their central location and parking lot. I can't imagine it will ever be dead in here.
Fun fact: f you take one of the small carts you can't take it down the escalator (only large carts work with their cart-moving machine. There is a person standing at the escalator dedicated to telling patrons this. Small carts need to take the elevator down to the parking lot. Parking is free if you spend $18 or $8/hour. Ask a cashier to validate your receipt.
Obligatory Title Pun: BLAH-BLAH-BLAW.
Menu Readability: This store is pretty, I'll give it that.
Need to mention: There is an LCBO in this location.
What this place teaches me about myself: I'm not about to go bonkers over a grocery store.Listed in: Let's Cook At Home
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Review from Emily H.
Grand opening! I have waited for this day for a whole year, ever since rumours started popping up that I may be rescued from my grocery-shopping misery. I never thought I would see this day during my lifetime, considering the slow construction of the place until just three weeks ago!
They really hyped up the opening and were greeted by a line up of store-goers, spectacle-watchers, and gift card-snatchers running from Church St all the way past Yonge & College. The inside is GINORMOUS, like so big that if you lose your toddler there... Yikes, you are in hell of a lot of trouble.
I really approve of their extremely accessible wide wide aisles. You could probably fit 4 shopping carts/scooters/wheelchairs or 15 little babies sitting side by side. Prices seemed decent. I saw a lot of yellow sale tags. But for those in the area who are actually trying to go here for some groceries, you may have to wait a little while longer. Right now it is just a zoo for people trying to get in on the exciting action. I really sincerely hope that they'll have downtime soon because otherwise it is just a small-grocery-store-nightmare repeated x 5 billion and really high ceilings.
One thing I unfortunately have realized: I really might have to start going to the gym if I intend to have my regular grocery needs met here. My stamina can't handle this right now.Listed in: 30 Day November Challenge!, Git me my gaybourhood!
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Review from Anne B.
1/30/2012
HOLY CRAP!
I had read the reviews upon the opening of this massive Loblaws at Maple Leaf Gardens but nothing can really prepare you for how vast and impressive it truly is! They really have every item that you could ever want - the selection is fantastic. I initially just meandered into the store to take a look around but I inevitably started shopping. It was all just too appealing (plus I went on an empty stomach after work...not wise...).
I was worried when I'd read other reviews that this place was super busy, but I suppose all the hype has died down a bit because I didn't find it any busier than any other grocery store. It was a little bit difficult locating things at first, but that's to be expected at any store you're not used to shopping at. I love the feeling of a farmers market that they've created in the produce, bakery and deli section of the store. Is it as good as the St. Lawrence Market? No, but it's pretty darn fantastic for a grocery store! -
Review from Tony F.
12/2/2011
I'm jealous I didn't get the FTR.
If there was a building I needed to make a pilgrimage to and that represented my youth the most, it was and is MLG.
I grew up not far, went to high school a few blocks away and spent many days there getting free tickets to watch the Marlies on Sundays, or when a buddy's dad would take me to watch Maple Leaf wrestling where I saw Hulk Hogan vs Volkoff, or the Bulldogs vs Studd and Bundy, or Harts vs Rougeaus and always, Iron Mike Sharp.
But there was also the many times I'd go and hang around outside the back doors hoping to see my hero Mike Palmateer, instead only to get autographs by Miroslav Frycer and Peter Inachek on my binder.
Or when Michelle Oates (sister of Adam) for whatever reason, took me to go watch her brother play against the Leafs because I helped her in English class. I rarely got to see the actual Maple Leafs play. Maybe a total of 4 times including twice in the final year, and my last time ever in there as an arena, seeing a playoff game loss by the Leafs.
Or just the times we got to go for a free skate or hockey tournaments. Or just going through the shops of Doug Ault knowing I'd never be able to buy a jersey of either Palmateer or Bunny Laroque. And god knows I never wanted to be Trees (Mark Laforest) or Ken Wregget or worse, Peter Ing.
I also got to see Team USA's women volleyball squad right after the Seoul Olympic games with my biggest crush Lianne Sato there, who autographed my Asic Tigers. I proceeded to have a great club season... on the bench with the Cabbagetown cabbages. I didn't want to ruin the shoes!
And then there was the time I almost saw the greatest upset of all times with Team Canada with Steve Nash and Rick Fox almost beating team USA, with Fox slipping sprawled on the floor with 3 seconds left down by 3 and turning over the ball.
Or when my dad took me to my first ever visit inside MLG when I was 8 or 9 and it'd be the only sporting event he'd ever join me at, the Harlem Globetrotters. I remember, being in the greys. It was high up. Really high up. Or that same first time I'd ever been in the bathrooms and getting scared of troughs.
Or even the time an aunt took me to see Disney on ice, in which I wasn't all that interested, but I knew my aunt had gone out of her way to take me. And I did grow up loving Mickey.
It is why when this building reopened yesterday, newly decorated, sophisticated like no other grocery store I've ever been offering a wide variety of freshly baked goods and butchered meats, I HAD to go inside... Not to shop, or sample the cheese, but just to help me remember a little. -
Review from bold c.
Toronto, ON
1/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Another review of mine has gone missing.
I thought I was the first to review this....anyway...
30 Sec Summary
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1.Bread section is outstanding - fresh, with samples
2.Cheese wall is smaller than one would expect
3.Chocolate brick is nice but nothing special
4. Tea store is awesome - try the almond / apple tea - outstanding
5. Pharmacy is the real gem here! --- no one knows about it and it is never busy..in an out within 10 minutes or less
6. -1 star for the parking headaches, and higher than average prices
7. Look for the marker on the floor indicating the old center ice in Maple Leaf Gardens
Recommendation: Good buy -
Review from A.J. S.
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is the king of Grocery stores.
I've glanced over the reviews, i don't need to re-state what everyone has stated before about the location. Let's just cut to the review. I liked this location a lot. I found the price point of the food that was here to be surprisingly good. The sheer selection of different things that you can get here is amazing, and it seems to house everything that you could possibly need in it.the service was good, and it was really fun to shop here. -
Review from Maheen M.
12/19/2011
I checked out the infamous Maple Leaf Gardens Loblaws location earlier this week. Upon arrival, I was impressed by the parking garage, I was excited to see what else they had in store (no pun intended!)
Walking in the grocery store, it felt like an upscale Loblaws. I was impressed by the prepared food area, bakery and CHEESE WALL!! The aisles were very spacious and made the shopping experience pleasant.
Parking is free if you spend more than $18! I will be back for future shopping trips. I hope you are able to check this place out.Listed in: Grocery Stores
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Review from Kiran S.
Toronto, ON
12/2/2011
This place is hilarious.
Its a very beautiful display of food, but so busy its hard to actually buy anything. I would come here for 'the experience', not so much to do actual grocery shopping.
Its an amazing layout, no doubt. High ceilings with glass displays of giant cheeses and meats, rows of cupcakes, I was dumbfounded! There is even a tea emporium, and being a loose leaf tea fan, I thought I had found heaven.
Too bad heaven is so inaccessible. What ended up happening is I wandered from station to station, being told what I wanted was sold out (ie. a walnut and proscuitto panini, no luck). I went over to the sushi counter, which was a confusing experience. There was no sushi on display, only dumplings. Ok. The sign read 'go to cash to put in your order'. I did this. The 3 people working at the sushi counter...continued working and didnt approach me. Finally one of them came over asking politely if I needed help 'well yes Id like to order some sushi'. I was told they were closed? for the evening. It was 7pm. Very confusing...
There were lineups everywhere, and even though there were alot of people working behind the counters, it was disorganized. There would be one worker, a crowd surrounding them, and then other workers wandering around in the back. It was chaotic.
I think this place will be better with time, when the initial crowds die back a bit and you can actually enjoy the experience of ordering and buying fresh food quickly. Right now, its not quick, its not convenient, and alot of the 'good stuff' is sold out.
PS. parking is $4/30min! But if you spend over $18 its free :) -
Review from Jon O.
1/19/2012 9 Check-ins Here
I've shopped here a few times now and feel like I can write an honest review. As far as large grocery stores go, I give Loblaws 5 stars for pure aesthetics. It's a beautiful place to shop with enough throwback for a fan of the Maple Leaf Gardens of old without being too kitschy.
The one thing I was surprised about is that, even though the space is massive compared to other downtown core grocery stores, the selection isn't significantly better. There are a few speciality items (especially new PC Brand stuff) that you may not be able to find in other locations, but most of the aisles are filled with repeat items.
What this Loblaws has that other local grocery stores don't is a packet of luxuries all in one place. They have a big cheese selection, a big bread selection, a butcher, a fishmonger, ready-to-eat sushi, a cupcake booth, chocolate by the chunk, and all sorts of other gimmicks.
But if all you want to do get the items on your list and get home, I much prefer the No Frills we frequent on Sherbourne.
In addition, I haven't confirmed it yet, but it seems like this Loblaws increases their prices on exactly the same items that you could get a few minutes away at No Frills.
Overall a cool place to shop and a great addition to the neighbourhood. I'll be in there for a few things now and again but I don't see it as a great place to do your bulk shopping unless you have lots of time and lots of money. -
Review from Reynold P.
Toronto, ON
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Metro, watch yo back!
Loblaws is in town and it's merciless. This place is pretty big. It's actually huge.
After stepping through the doors, I was Wow'ed (More wow'ed than my visit to Wow sushi). What first caught my eye was how clean it was and how open the space was. This was built for shopping comfort.
What I saw next was the epic wall of cheese. It's a glass fridge which holds hundreds of different cheeses. Pretty cool to just look through the different kinds.
The Deli section was nice too. The meats were laid on tiered wooden cutting boards which gave it the "artisan" look. Just an improvement from stacks of disorganized meats and already shaven choices.
The layout was the nicest I've seen downtown. It's spacious and well lit. The people there seem friendly and the shopping carts are mini, as though the regular ones crashed into walls and compacted into themselves. Soooooo urban.
I had a great time here. I know that sounds like I just came out of an amusement park, but it's true. I really did like my experience at Loblaws. I hope they keep it clean. -
Review from August L.
12/1/2011
WOAH...I don't think i've seen so much cheese in my entire life!
WALL OF CHEESE
Such a cute idea. I think it's more of a display item then anything else. It's a neat idea. Apparently there are cheese experts there that will help you match your cheese selection with whatever you're eating.
SUSHI BAR
Order, sit down and watch the chefs make your sushi in front of you. It's funny b/c the chefs are all asian.
VEGETABLES
I was disappointed with their bitter melons. I had a manager go up to me and say "we have the most fresh produce from our competitors!" and then I point to him the bitter melon. They were old, damaged and turning brown. He said he would look into it. An hour later, none of them had moved. I would expect to see these old bitter melons in the "reduced price" section but they weren't. I guess this is what they consider fresh?
SALAD BAR
I like making my own salads but I'm not too crazy about other people touching the tongs and then putting the whole tong back into the salad toppings. EWW. They should have a separate place to put the tongs!
FLOORS
The floors were really slippery. I wouldn't be surprised if they had people falling.
EXTRAS
They have an LCBO, Joe Fresh, and a cooking school on the 2nd floor. It's pretty neat. -
Review from Chris P.
I came her yesterday (second day open) to check this place out and see the new store which they're calling "Food's Greatest Stage".
The place is a zoo. I'm not sure at this point if you'd want to do any actual grocery shopping. Everyone is just there to gawk and is so wide-eyed an bewildered that's its difficult to navigate the store.
As others have said, there is a wall of cheese, huge bakery, tea emporium, blah blah blah etc. I'm over it. There isn't anything new here in terms of a grocery store, except that the concept is new in Toronto. You want sushi fresh made in store? Safeway has been doing it for years. You want a meal made in front of you? Almost everyone has been doing this for a long time, it's just that this store is so huge, they can have a bigger menu.
Don't get me wrong, LCL did a great job here. It's just that all they've really done is dropped trow and shoved it in everybody's face that they're the biggest player in Canada. We get it, you have a 60% share of the market.
What would have impressed me is if they were actually innovative when they built this store. Underneath the new paint, flash, and sparkles is just your regular Loblaws.Listed in: December 2011, Talk to the hand
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Review from Lisa K.
Toronto, ON
12/14/2011
This Loblaws is so different than the rest, especially the other down town location at Queens Quay, that I used to shop at.
What I noticed right away was that the staff at this new location have been trained in customer service! Such a novelty these days!
Sure, the sushi is T&T Sushi, because Loblaws owns T&T. And of course the fresh baked bread is Ace, because again, Loblaws owns the brand. But the store is more than just a novelty, it is an asset to the neighbourhood!
Instead of going to one of the very bad convenience stores, up until 11 pm, you can go to the ultimate convenience store with a huge range of ready made foods.
The reason I felt compelled to write a review today is based on my experience with their pharmacy. If you don't have a drug plan, the dispensing fee is less than Shoppers. I was once a customer of the pharmacy at the Queens Quay location and after too many errors, hassles, and non existent customer service, I moved my prescriptions to Shoppers Drug Mart.
Based on the customer service in the store, I decided to give Loblaws pharmacy a try and I am so glad I did. The pharmacist was polite, helpful, and much faster than the crazy busy Shoppers Drug Mart at Yonge and College... where it takes 10 minutes to line up to drop off your prescription, and they roll their eyes at you if you want to wait to have it filled. 30 minutes later, you MIGHT receive it.
At this Loblaws I was in and out within 10 minutes. Nice! -
Review from Heather B.
Scarborough, ON
12/4/2011
OMG!! Totally worth reviewing!
This place is packed at the moment because it's new and everyone is curious as to what they have done to the place - but my God I wish I worked in this area because I'd be there everyday for lunch.
They have a sushi bar, don't even get my started on the cupcakes and bakery section and the Cheese counter is impressive!
The salad bar has everything you would crave and the fresh fruit to take away in containers is great as well.
I thought it would be insane to check out but they have A LOT of cashiers open to make it as quick as possible.
I nearly had a heart attack getting out of the parking lot when they said I owed $8 but it's free on weeekends, and I believe as long as you buy over $18 worth it's free regfardless.
Check out the new place - there is no way anyone could make a bad review :P -
Review from Cynthia G.
Toronto, ON
WOW - LOBLAWS did a great job !
As you walk in from the street you can choose to take the escalator up to the Cooking School, JOE FRESH or the LCBO. All great spaces in themselves.
On the main floor is the food store. The store itself flows very well.
LOVE the orange floor
LOVE the details on the columns (nice history tour), shame there was no reference as to when you were on centre ice.
LOVE THE CHAIR wall. Took a photo and I like that they kept that wall raw. Don't know if that was planned and hoping they leave it that way.
Pastries looked amazing.
The wall / coolers of cheese is great !
The ACE Bakery is wonderful.
Fruit & Vegetable department well planned and nice wide isles.
Fish Department....nice but was surprised at how much of the fish was previously frozen
The area where you can self serve salads and prepared foods looked wonderful. Ample seating throughout that area so you can have a coffee or a bite to eat. The grocery isles were very wide so when the store is crowded, ample room for everyone to go by.
Nice that this is just down the street from me. I'm sure I will be back.Listed in: YELP Shops Locally
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Review from Tamar F.
12/29/2011
The US urban planner in me has no real feelings about Maple Leaf Gardens, and instead thinks "cool adaptive reuse in an urban space." The Canadian die-hard Leafs fan in my husband, is heartbroken that this monumental space now houses a grocery store, yet is someone relieved that they didn't tear the whole thing down.
The layout is intuitive - prepared foods on one side; grocery items on another. We weren't there to shop, just browse, though it seemed like they had a large selection. There's a ton of cheese, a deli-prepared foods area, sushi area, patisserie, bakery - you can easily eat a large lunch here. Upstairs is the Joe Fresh and LCBO as well as a giant maple leaf crafted out of old seats from Maple Leaf Gardens.
We TTC'd it (get off at College station then walk about a block east) but the underground parking is free for up to 90 minutes with validation. -
Review from Tina H.
12/22/2011
My new favourite grocery store! I find pretty much everything I need there at a reasonable price... And I'm kinda high-maintenance when it comes to groceries, so that's amazing. Organic fruits & veggies, awesome mixed greens, the deli counter has Beretta meat (natural, no nitrites), freshly baked (sometimes still warm) Ace bakery bread, Mighty Leaf tea, sales on all kinds of random things I need...
Produce is fresh, lots of variety, and so many aisles with lots of great stuff.
They have a good amount of organics. Produce was fully stocked, fresh, not bruised. The quality of produce beats out Metro and Sobey's 100 times.
Fish and seafood guy was knowledgeable and friendly.
I always get carried away and spend more money than planned here. One of my favourite things is walking around, needing something, and then seeing it on sale. Loblaws rarely disappoints me in that respect.
Free parking--don't forget to validate at the cash.
Most stuff is properly marked but getting a price check will take forever because the staff have to walk to the cashiers and the store is huge so let's hope they properly label their stuff for the next time. You're better off putting it in your cart, taking it to the cash and deciding there.
Oh and my favourite part: I've never waited in line to cash out! So many friendly cashiers ready for you, which is much more than I can say at any Metro I've ever visited.
My new favourite grocery store! I will drive out of the way in 20 minutes of rush hour to get to and from it. So worth it. -
Review from She S.
Toronto, ON
12/2/2011 1 photo
I went there yesterday and it is HUGE!!! Imagine a grocery store that gives out a map!
I only bought a few items but just wanted to check it out and am happy there is a Joe Fresh in the neighbourhood although I will likely check back after Christmas for the sales
they have a stack of the old rink chairs as a decoration on the wall
I will be curious what Ryerson does with the skating rink and definitely want to check out the cooking classes
I was really hoping it would be a Loblaws Superstore .... oh well -
Review from Missy K.
Toronto, ON
12/28/2011
As other reviewers have noted, this is a massive beautiful store with gorgeously displayed food. Yes, it does seem to be more of a tourist attraction than grocery store, but anything less would be inappropriate for the former temple of hockey. I think the employees are currently as bewildered as the patrons for now, but when the growing pains are over in a couple weeks this store has the potential to be a hub for the area.
Having a Joe Fresh downtown doesn't hurt either! -
Review from Jenny H.
Toronto, ON
2/6/2012
I really really enjoy going to this grocery store. It's so well-organized that even with the sheer volume of groceries, it doesn't feel cramped or too busy. There is plenty of organic produce, interesting samples of foods and recipes (from their PC cooking classes), and a wide variety of prepared foods (such as desserts, hot foods, sushi.... you name it).
Pretty much, it's such a large grocery store that it has everything you want to find. Some may consider the prices to be a little high, but consider it a convenient one-stop-shop for all of your needs: vitamins, aprons, cleaning supplies, gelato... need I say more? They have so many varieties that there will always be SOMEthing on sale.
Also, there is never a long line to check out! If you park underground, you can your ticket validated as well.
Unfortunately for me, I always leave spending a LOT more than what I plan to (mostly because I can't help but feel like I should buy everything in front of me). In addition, one tiny complaint I have is that their music is always loud and distracting opera. I'm not sure why they have it on... -
Review from Let It B.
12/1/2011
Meh. It's all hype right now, maybe I'll update my review once I've spent a few times in this particular location.
Then again, maybe I'm saying meh, since while I was walking through here, I couldn't help but think that I was walking somewhere near center ice.
Or maybe I'm saying meh, because what a ZOO. Way too many people in there gawking, so if you're going into this particular location, don't really plan on getting groceries done.
The superstore Walmarts have more open cashiers than this location, I can only imagine how busy this location may be closer to the Christmas rush.
On the other hand, this grocery store is huge - I wonder how much money it will lose as the hype wears off? How much produce will go to waste?
Right now, it's meh.
I find it weird that there are police/security at the door. Word to the wise, don't steal a bananna!
Oh ya, parking is not free, you have to spend $18.00, who came up with that strange total? So don't plan on driving and stopping in to grab something on the way to a party!
3 stars for creating jobs in the area. Minus 2 stars for putting a big grocery store in a building so full of heritage - let's make the company even richer! -
Review from Annie L.
Toronto, ON
1/28/2012
Before this place opened, I kept saying to my partner, "there's no way we can afford to shop here every week."
Once the place opened, we kept saying to each other, "We've gotta stop hanging out here."
Fantastic re-invention of take-out foods, with make-your-own salad bar, make-your-own cold / hot plate bar, Ace bakery, affordable sushi, tea and colorful cake store, delicious deli meat section that we can't stop staring at...
If you shop smart, some of their prices are fantastic! The quality of produce is 5-star every isle. And their employees are all courteous AND helpful, as in they know what everything is!! How is this possible? I can't think of any "box store" or "grocery store" equivalent in service quality.
We really should stop aimlessly wandering in there. If this place is 24-hr I'll never leave...
