Michel’s Bakery Café relocates at Yorkdale after 40 years 

The popular Michel’s Bakery Café at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre has relocated after operating in the same location for 40 years. The new storefront opened Friday in the mall’s north wing next to a Crate & Barrel store. 

The new Yorkdale Michel’s Bakery Café spans more than 3,000 square feet in a space formerly occupied by retailer Tristan. The elevated design of Michel’s, created in partnership with branding consultancy Jump, reflects that of the original location, which was known for its sandwiches, coffee and fresh pastries baked daily on-site. 

Alexandra Grudkin, Franchise Development Director for parent company Groupe Le Duff, said that the overall concept for Michel’s is that of a small french neighbourhood café, where passers-by may be drawn in by the smell of the product. The restaurant’s baker comes in at 5am daily and items are also baked on-site throughout the day. 

The new space replaces Michel’s former location that was in what is now Yorkdale’s ‘centre’ run. Michel’s opened there on August 8, 1984, and became a popular destination for shoppers seeking food and/or drink during a visit to the mall. The former location became so busy that seating was placed in the hallway outside. Given the high foot traffic in the north wing, Grudkin noted that the new Michel’s lacks such ‘patio’ seating. 

The Yorkdale location is one of two for Michel’s, which earlier in the summer also opened a storefront in Toronto’s Financial District at the Exchange Tower. Grudkin said that even though Michel’s is a franchised business, there are no immediate plans for further expansion. 

Michel’s relocated after 40 years as Yorkdale creates a new luxury wing, which has seen several new tenants open. That includes Loewe that opened earlier in the summer, and Brunello Cucinelli which opened last week. Other new luxury brands confirmed to be opening in the new luxury wing include Loro Piana, Versace, Jimmy Choo and Rimowa, and others will also be announced. 

Yorkdale is Canada’s top shopping centre in terms of sales per square foot. In 2023, the mall saw sales exceeding $2,400 a square foot, made possible by high productivity in stores which include a mix of luxury brands and other big names with productive retailers such as Apple and Tesla. La Maison Simons will open in the mall’s former Nordstrom space next year. Yorkdale has been adding to its food and beverage options which includes several full-service restaurants and a recently renovated food court.  

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