Pizzeria Badiali and Book Bar Lead Mirvish Village's Revival in Toronto
Pizzeria Badiali and Book Bar have recently opened their doors in renovated Victorian buildings on Markham Street, signaling a vibrant revival for Toronto's Mirvish Village following a decade of redevelopment. This area, which began as an artists' enclave in the 1960s, was sold to Westbank in 2013, resulting in the demolition of Honest Ed's and the erection of new towers designed by Henriquez Partners Architects and Diamond Schmitt. Now under Peterson's ownership, the project received the AZ Award for Best Urban Design Vision in 2022. Pizzeria Badiali's second site features unique mosaic flooring designed by Ali McQuaid Mitchell of Futurestudio. Meanwhile, Book Bar, created by DesignAgency, showcases Canadian-made fixtures and art. Future developments include Blackbird Baking Co. and a park designed by PFS Studio.
Key facts
- Pizzeria Badiali and Book Bar are first two businesses in restored Victorians on Markham Street.
- Mirvish Village originated in 1960s from Honest Ed's failed parking lot.
- Developer Westbank bought the land in 2013; Honest Ed's demolished and replaced by towers by Henriquez Partners Architects and Diamond Schmitt.
- Project now fully owned by Peterson; won AZ Award for Best Urban Design Vision in 2022.
- Pizzeria Badiali designed by Futurestudio's Ali McQuaid Mitchell with Italian flag mosaic floor and green subway tiles.
- Pizzeria Badiali head chef Ryan Baddeley incorporated Pizza Hut nostalgia with stained glass lampshades and red cups.
- Book Bar founded by Tom Freeman and Robin Storfer; interior by DesignAgency's Michelle Arlotta.
- Book Bar has liquor license, Canadian-made fixtures from Huey, Hamster, Luminaire Authentik, and artworks by Storfer.
- Upcoming: Blackbird Baking Co., food hall by Batay-Csorba Architects, comedy theatre, park by PFS Studio, Honest Ed's Alley with 25 micro-retail units.
- Commercial leasing by The Behar Group Realty.
Entities
Artists
- Ed Mirvish
- Anne Mirvish
- David Mirvish
- Ryan Baddeley
- Ali McQuaid Mitchell
- Jeff Crews
- Tom Freeman
- Robin Storfer
- Michelle Arlotta
Institutions
- Honest Ed's
- Westbank
- Henriquez Partners Architects
- Diamond Schmitt
- Peterson
- Futurestudio
- DesignAgency
- StudioDA
- The Behar Group Realty
- PFS Studio
- Batay-Csorba Architects
- Blackbird Baking Co.
- Pizzeria Badiali
- Book Bar
- Victory Cafe
- The Beguiling
- David Mirvish Books
- Daltile
- Huey
- Hamster
- Luminaire Authentik
- Hush Acoustics
- Azure Magazine
- CBC
Locations
- Toronto
- Canada
- Mirvish Village
- Markham Street
- Bloor Street
- Bathurst Street
- Lennox Street
- Dovercourt
- New York