After 34 years operating from a three-level heritage building in Toronto’s Church-Wellesley Village, Out on the Street is preparing for its most significant transformation yet. The LGBTQ+ retailer, often described as “Canada’s gay department store” for its mix of apparel, Pride merchandise, and adult items, will relocate from its long-time home at 551 Church Street to a newly secured site at 504 Church Street near Alexander Street. The Out on the Street relocation marks a major shift for a business deeply rooted in the evolution of the Village itself.
Co-owner Michael Azzopardi says the move represents both a new beginning and a recommitment to the community the store has served since 1991. “This is something that I am really excited about and passionate about, carrying on the legacy for Ian with the store and hopefully taking it in a new direction,” he says. “We realized that we are needed in the community. It is something that cannot be captured online.”
The new store will occupy a single floor of approximately 1,600 square feet and will replace a space that has sat vacant for 13 years. While it is slightly smaller than the 1,800 square feet spread across three floors at the current address, Azzopardi says the shift to an accessible, street-level format is exactly what long-time customers have been asking for.
A Store Rooted in the Village Since 1991
Out on the Street was founded by Ian Kelly in 1991, at a time when the Church-Wellesley Village was firmly establishing itself as the heart of Toronto’s LGBTQ+ community. Kelly is still the co-owner today, now sharing the business with Azzopardi, who joined the company two and a half years ago.
The retailer has survived industry shifts, gentrification pressures, and the rise of online giants such as Amazon. Yet its relevance has endured through its strong emphasis on in-person community engagement. Customers regularly describe the store as welcoming, friendly, and essential, with its mix of clothing, accessories, novelty gifts, adult items, and Pride merchandise attracting shoppers far beyond the neighbourhood’s boundaries.
Azzopardi says the emotional reaction from patrons during Pride this year reinforced the store’s importance. “I heard so many people asking, you are not closing, are you. They said they would not know what to do without us, and that sealed the deal for me,” he explains. “That is when I told Ian that I would become his official business partner.”
Why the Move Was Necessary
The decision to relocate was driven by customer feedback, accessibility concerns, and the changing geography of Toronto’s Village. While 551 Church Street is a beloved heritage property, its multiple staircases have long been a challenge for older customers and those with mobility barriers.
“One thing I said when we looked for a new location is that it had to be accessible,” Azzopardi says. “Our customers have been with us for 34 years and we are all getting older. People were telling us that they would skip going upstairs because the stairs were a problem. Moving to a single-floor plan is going to be really great for everybody.”
He also notes that the current site has become geographically disconnected from the most active stretch of the Village. For years, Church Street activity has concentrated south of Wellesley, near various bars, restaurants, and various other businesses serving the area.
“For twenty-three years I have been going to the Village and I never found the store because I never went north of Wellesley,” Azzopardi says. “I honestly thought the Village ended there. That area north of Wellesley has been run down. If the northeast corner at Church and Wellesley is redeveloped as proposed, we would be completely isolated where we are now.”
The Out on the Street relocation therefore positions the retailer at the centre of daily foot traffic, a strategic shift that Azzopardi believes will enhance visibility and support continued longevity.
The Long-Vacant Space at 504 Church Street
The future home at 504 Church Street brings its own layered history. The building was once home to George’s Play, a bar that closed more than a decade ago, and before that an establishment called Gatsby’s. It has remained dark for 13 years.
The space was initially marketed toward restaurants and bars, but a residential tenant upstairs wanted a quieter use. “The occupant said it would be nice to have a quieter establishment so they could sleep,” Azzopardi says with a laugh. “Everything lined up at the right time for us.”
The building is privately owned and not part of the planned redevelopment that will eventually affect nearby properties, including areas once occupied by Boutique Bar and bar Crews & Tango. While future construction may occur around the site, the downturn in Toronto’s condominium market has slowed those timelines considerably, giving Out on the Street stability for the foreseeable future.
Design Vision and Store Experience
The new storefront will feature a striking LED rainbow panel that Azzopardi describes as “radiating light through the street.” The contracting team is currently working on exterior and interior designs, with the store aiming for a warm, homelike environment that still reflects the brand’s playful and eclectic product mix.
“We are escalating the look while keeping that homey feel,” he says. “It is going to be incredible to be right on street level. So many people walk by our current store and do not even realize we are there because they do not look up the stairs.”
The interior layout has been carefully planned to ensure most of the existing product assortment can be carried over. Some space will be freed up following the closure of major vendor Andrew Christian, though the store will continue to curate apparel, streetwear, fetish items, Pride merchandise, greeting cards, gifts, and adult products that reflect the community’s needs and preferences.
A customer survey will launch soon to help shape the product direction. “We really want customer voices to drive our business,” Azzopardi says. “What do you need, and we will try to make it happen if possible.”
He also points to challenges unique to LGBTQ+ retailers. Some mainstream brands decline to work with stores that sell adult products, even though Out on the Street has been a respected fixture for more than three decades. “There are brands that do not want to be associated with us because we sell novelty items. It is unfortunate, but it is something we navigate every year.”
Staying in the Heart of the Village
With the Church-Wellesley Village facing cycles of change, including business closures, nightlife shifts, and ongoing debates about redevelopment, the Out on the Street relocation is viewed internally as an investment in the area’s future. Community geography was a critical factor in the decision.
Azzopardi says he and Kelly have asked themselves whether a new LGBTQ+ retail hub is emerging elsewhere in the city, such as Queen West. They have not found an alternative district that holds the same cultural and commercial weight as Church Street. “As long as Pride continues to happen at Church and Wellesley, we are good,” he says. “The core of the Village is still the core.”
Out on the Street has committed to at least six years at the new location, with optimism that the revitalized corner of Church and Alexander will serve the business well for many more.
A positive move overall—Out on the Street has always been a standout, and the added accessibility is a real win. Still, it highlights an unmistakable trend: the Village keeps drifting south, leaving the stretch north of Wellesley feeling increasingly overlooked. Like it or not, the Village’s centre of gravity is now firmly at Church & Maitland.