Boundaries
Centred on Queen St. between Yonge St. and Bathurst Ave.
History:
According to the 1793 survey conducted by Sir Alexander Aitkin, Queen Street was called many names. For the first 60 years or so, many sections of it were referred as the Lot Street but in 1851, Queen Victoria renamed it to its present name.
Queen West refers to an assortment of neighborhoods that have developed around this main thoroughfare. Most of these were the original neighbuorhoods of Toronto. The earliest example is the mid 19th century Claretown, which is an Irish enclave located in the area of Bathurst Street and Queen Street West.
Between the 1890s and the 1930s, Queen Street served as the southern most boundary for the Jewish immigrants residing in the Ward neighbourhood. In the following years, the street also served as the heart of the Ukrainian and Polish communities in Toronto. The original Queen Street area of Toronto stretched between Spadina Avenue and University Avenue. At present, the whole area is lined with hair salons, upscale boutiques, chain stores, tattoo parlors, broadcasting stations, and restaurants.
Since the 19th century, Queen Street West has become one of the prime shopping destinations in Toronto. One of the historic stores; Eatons, still remain. Further west, the Queen Street includes a number of cultural and institutional buildings like the Four Seasons Center, Osgoode Hall, Toronto City hall and the Old City hall.
Neighbourhood Characteristics
Often portrayed as a diverse cultural Mecca, Queen Street West attracts creative minds of all ages. Queen West, is a main centre for Canadian music, fashion, visual arts, performance, music and much more. For over 25 years Queen Street West has been this international center for arts and thus attracts a lot of tourists to Toronto. As a dynamic neighborhood, Queen Street West accounts for bringing a significant amount of creative business to the city.
Being one of the popular shopping districts of Canada, Queen Street West provides a variety of boutiques and shops specializing in antique and modern furniture, food, gifts, vintage clothing, textiles and décor. This neighborhood also serves as the home of many well known faces of the Canadian fashion world. It offers shoppers a unique opportunity to experience the Canadian design and fashion.
When it comes to taste a range of finely cooked delicacies, Queen West will always be the best option to visit. With over 50 restaurants, this place is known to serve a unique gastronomical experience. You will get a variety of popular Thai, French, Brazilian, Japanese, Turkish, Italian, Persian and Ethiopian cuisines.
With a lot to offer, Queen Street West is often compared to Soho, New York. It is where you get everything cool and trendy.
