McEwan Fine Foods will open a 9,326-square-foot gourmet grocery store at Bayview Village Shopping Centre in Toronto in 2027, taking over the former Pusateri’s Fine Foods space as the property advances a broader transformation under QuadReal Property Group.
The new location will bring one of the Greater Toronto Area’s best-known chef-led food retail concepts into a prominent grocery space at the centre. McEwan Fine Foods will offer restaurant-quality meals alongside produce, meats, seafood, bakery, deli and cheese, floral, gifting and other specialty departments.
Several new food experiences are also planned, including a made-to-order sandwich and salad counter, an expanded gourmet international hot table, rotating seasonal features and an enhanced Japanese offering with a dedicated Omakase-to-Go counter.
Mark McEwan, President and CEO of The McEwan Group, told Retail Insider that the location reflects where he sees the McEwan Fine Foods business heading.
“Bayview Village has always been a location we admired,” McEwan said. “Situated at one of Toronto’s most accessible intersections, just off Highway 401, it has evolved into one of the city’s premier shopping destinations, serving a community that appreciates exceptional food, quality, craftsmanship, and elevated service.”
“For us, this was about much more than opening another grocery store,” he added. “It was an opportunity to invest in a location that reflects the future of the McEwan Fine Foods brand.”
Replacing the Former Pusateri’s Space
The store will occupy space formerly home to Pusateri’s Fine Foods, which unexpectedly closed its Bayview Village location in August 2024. Retail Insider reported at the time that the abrupt closure caught shoppers off guard and that the store had previously been considered one of Pusateri’s leading locations by sales. Two days later, Retail Insider reported on bankruptcy proceedings involving parts of the business amid a broader wave of closures.
For Bayview Village, securing another premium food operator for the space was a deliberate leasing decision.
Carrie DeVries, Senior Vice President, Retail Leasing at QuadReal Property Group, told Retail Insider that the location is one of the centre’s most important high-frequency spaces.
“It was a very intentional decision,” DeVries said of replacing the former grocery store with another premium food concept. “This is one of the centre’s highest-performing, highest-frequency anchor spaces, and we know our grocery offering is something our community truly values.”
She said the combination of premium grocery and prepared meals also fits Bayview Village’s broader positioning.
“A premium grocer, coupled with an exceptional prepared gourmet meal offering, reinforces the idea that luxury at Bayview Village is part of everyday life, not something reserved solely for special occasions.”
DeVries said several high-quality operators expressed interest in the space, and McEwan’s proposition was exceptional.
“There was strong interest from several high-quality operators, which reflects the strength of the Bayview Village brand and the level of demand we continue to see for the centre,” she said. “However, McEwan stood out early in the process.”
She pointed to the brand’s reputation under Mark McEwan, its chef-driven model and its established following across the GTA as factors in the decision.
Brandon Gorman, Executive Vice President and Broker at JLL Canada, represented McEwan in the lease deal.
An Evolution of the McEwan Format
McEwan said the Bayview Village store is being designed as an evolution of the company’s existing grocery formats, drawing from both its flagship at Shops at Don Mills and its urban express concept at Toronto’s TD Centre.
“Bayview Village has been designed as a thoughtful evolution of our existing stores, bringing together the very best elements of our flagship location at Shops at Don Mills and our urban express concept at TD Centre, while introducing several exciting new experiences designed around today’s customer,” he said.
A major focus will be chef-driven prepared food made fresh throughout the day.
The new sandwich and salad counter will offer made-to-order meals using premium ingredients, while the expanded international hot table will draw on global flavours. Seasonal daily features are intended to create variety for repeat customers, and the dedicated Omakase-to-Go counter will expand the brand’s Japanese offering.
“Every detail has been designed around how people shop today, whether they’re picking up lunch, planning dinner, entertaining guests, or looking for restaurant-quality meals to enjoy at home,” McEwan said.
He said prepared foods have been central to McEwan Fine Foods from the beginning, reflecting his belief that customers should be able to enjoy restaurant-quality meals outside a restaurant without compromising on taste or quality.
“As customers increasingly look for exceptional food that fits seamlessly into their busy lifestyles, our chef-driven prepared foods have become one of the most important areas of our business,” he said.
McEwan said Bayview Village will also provide a platform to introduce and refine concepts that could later influence the company’s other locations.
“It gives us the opportunity to introduce new culinary concepts, refine our offerings, and create innovative products and experiences that can ultimately be shared across every McEwan Fine Foods location,” he said.
Part of a Broader Bayview Village Transformation
The McEwan opening comes during a significant period of change at Bayview Village.
QuadReal is advancing a multi-year transformation of the property as part of a broader 22-acre master-planned mixed-use community. The longer-term vision brings together retail, dining, residential uses and thoughtfully designed public spaces, while the shopping centre itself is nearing completion of a major interior renovation.
DeVries said gourmet grocery is a key part of the strategy because it gives customers another reason to incorporate Bayview Village into their regular routines.
“Gourmet grocery is a key pillar of our long-term strategy as it reinforces that Bayview Village is not only a destination for fashion, dining, and wellness, but also a place that our guests naturally incorporate into their everyday routines,” she said.
“As our broader masterplan continues to take shape, it reinforces our vision of a complete lifestyle destination where retail, dining, residential, and thoughtfully designed public spaces come together.”
McEwan Fine Foods, she said, is closely aligned with that direction.
“With the near completion of our interior transformation and the continued evolution of our 22-acre masterplan, we are creating a destination defined by curated luxury, exceptional design, and everyday livability,” DeVries said. “Bayview Village is evolving beyond a traditional shopping centre into a fully integrated lifestyle district.”
The McEwan announcement follows other leasing activity at the centre. Canadian outdoor and lifestyle brand Tilley has opened at Bayview Village, while HANK., a new multi-brand premium menswear concept, is also joining the tenant mix. The centre’s major interior renovation is expected to conclude later in 2026.
A Customer Base Aligned With the Brand
McEwan said the surrounding community was a major factor in the decision to open at Bayview Village.
“The Bayview Village customer shares many of the values that have defined McEwan Fine Foods,” he said. “They appreciate quality, authenticity, convenience, and memorable food experiences.”
He said the store is intended to serve a range of occasions, from everyday grocery shopping and prepared meals to specialty products and entertaining.
“For many, Bayview Village will become a neighbourhood destination for everyday shopping, while others will discover the McEwan brand for the first time,” McEwan said. “Our goal is the same for every guest to make outstanding food more enjoyable, more approachable and more accessible.”
That neighbourhood role is particularly relevant as Bayview Village’s broader mixed-use plan continues to take shape, adding a stronger residential dimension to a property already positioned around premium retail, dining and services.
McEwan Leaves Door Open to Further Growth
The Bayview Village store also offers a window into the future direction of McEwan Fine Foods.
McEwan said the immediate priority is delivering the new location, while the company continues to evaluate opportunities that align with its brand and long-term vision.
“Bayview Village represents an important milestone in the continued growth of McEwan Fine Foods, and we believe there are opportunities to bring the McEwan experience to other communities that share our appreciation for exceptional food, quality, and hospitality,” he said.
He stopped short of announcing additional stores, but said the company would consider opportunities across the GTA and beyond.
“Our philosophy has always been to grow with purpose rather than pace,” McEwan said. “Every new location must strengthen the brand, complement the community it serves, and deliver the same exceptional standards our customers have come to expect.”
The 2027 opening will give The McEwan Group a significant new platform to develop its chef-led grocery model, while providing QuadReal with a premium food anchor for one of the most important spaces in Bayview Village’s evolving retail mix.
I predict the upcoming closure of McEwan at Shops at Don Mills whenever the lease comes due, in favour of Bayview Village.
McEwan filed for bankruptcy protection in 2021. Was Covid a factor? Sure, but business decisions like opening a grocery store to compete with Eataly on Bloor Street was a big factor too.
The admittedly smaller Eataly at Shops at Don Mills has almost certainly eaten into McEwan’s thin profit margins there.