The Yonge North York Business Improvement Area has launched a new tourism-focused website and a six-week series of self-guided food tours as part of an effort to promote businesses and events along Toronto’s uptown Yonge Street corridor.
The organization unveiled DestinationYNY.com this month alongside its inaugural Self-Guided Foodie Tours, which began Jan. 12 and run through Feb. 15, according to the BIA.
Digital platform and tours launched together
The website is positioned as a central digital hub highlighting businesses, public art and events in the Yonge North York district, while the food tours are designed to encourage residents and visitors to explore local restaurants clustered around major transit stations.
“We are excited to launch our new tourism focused website and Self-Guided Foodie Tours,” said Laura Burnham, executive director of the Yonge North York BIA. “Both will feature the unique vibrancy the Yonge North York district has to offer.”
DestinationYNY.com includes information on local businesses and promotes events such as the Yonge North York Canada Day Celebration, Dance on Yonge and the Toronto Korean Festival, many of which take place at Mel Lastman Square, the release said.
Structure of the self-guided tours
The Self-Guided Foodie Tours are organized as four separate routes, each featuring four restaurants. The tours are centred around the TTC stations at Finch, North York Centre and Sheppard–Yonge.
Participants register online and visit participating restaurants at their own pace. At each stop, participants receive a limited-edition button pin. The pins were designed by Toronto-based artist Kelsea Chatburn, whose work explores themes of memory, migration and cultural identity through food and place, according to the release.
The four tour routes are described as follows:
- Taste of Yonge North York: An introductory route featuring Persian cuisine, fusion dishes, Thai boat noodles and gelato.
- North of Ordinary: A Finch Station–area route highlighting Korean-Japanese fusion, Asian stir-fry options and bubble tea.
- Munch in the Middle: A route around Mel Lastman Square and North York Centre Station featuring Mediterranean food, brunch with a Mexican influence, ice cream and a board game café.
- Savour the South: A Sheppard–Yonge–area route focused on casual dining, including a sports bar, a diner-style restaurant and a Taiwanese bubble tea chain.
To collect the pins, participants show their Eventbrite registration confirmation at each restaurant. Those who complete an entire route can upload a photograph of their collected pins to enter a prize draw.
Contest incentives and timelines
A contest is running in parallel with the tours, offering gift card incentives to participants who complete the requirements. Five winners will be randomly selected to receive a $100 gift card to a Yonge North York BIA restaurant of their choice. The first 20 valid submissions will receive a $25 Starbucks gift card.
The contest closes Feb. 15. Winners will be contacted following a draw scheduled for Feb. 18.
Additional details on registration, tour participation and district offerings are available through DestinationYNY.com.
About the business improvement area
The Yonge North York BIA represents businesses along the Yonge Street corridor between Highway 401 and Bishop/Hendon. The organization supports member businesses through marketing initiatives, events and community-based activities, according to the release.
The launch of the website and food tours marks the BIA’s latest initiative aimed at increasing visibility and engagement for businesses in the district during the winter period.
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