Fukuoka-founded Japanese cheesecake quick service dessert brand Uncle Tetsu has shuttered its original Toronto storefront, and has relocated across the street to a new retail space at The Atrium complex on Bay Street.
The new 3,216 square foot location at The Atrium is similar to the former location, offering take-out exclusive items including its famous spongy cheese cake. The production kitchen in the new location is viewable on three-sides, including the street and inside The Atrium ground level.
This retail space where Uncle Tetsu is now located at The Atrium was the former home of a MUJI pop-up and most recently MUJI wholesale, a furniture and discount section of the 18,389 SF MUJI flagship that’s located on the Dundas side of the Triovest-owned property.
Previously located at 598 Bay Street, next door to the former Greyhound Bus Terminal and steps from the Bay & Dundas intersection, Uncle Tetsu made its debut in the Canadian market with a takeout-style storefront. It then expanded to take over the storefront next door and gradually started to test out various concepts in the downtown core.
In 2016, the brand opened the Uncle Tetsu Angel Cafe at 191 Dundas Street West, which had a street-level pick-up window and a second-floor cafe. This restaurant had a maid theme, with stage shows and a full menu including desserts and drinks. On August 1st, 2018, the brand announced on Facebook that it was closing the location for “renovations and rebranding” with plans to reopen with a “new concept after a few months.” The location has yet to reopen.
The Uncle Tetsu brand has opened several small-format locations, growing to 15 locations in Ontario, BC and Quebec, including opening at Yorkdale Mall (in the Restoration Hardware wing) in Toronto, Vaughan Mills near Toronto and Metrotown in Vancouver.
Retail Insider has reached out to the brand for comment on the new location and will circle back.
Current Canadian Store locations for Uncle Tetsu
- 598 Bay St.
- Union Station
- Dufferin Mall
- Pacific Mall
- 39 Orfus Rd. Unit C
- Yorkdale Mall
- Hillcrest Mall
- Square One
- Vaughan Mills
- Ottawa
- Vancouver Metrotown
- Vancouver Robson
- Montreal
- Montreal Express
- Montreal Plaza Côtes-des-Neiges
