It’s not every day that customers love a bakery so much they ask for a franchise. However, that’s the case for Michael Simeone, owner of Artisano Bakery. “They had been to our store a number of times and loved the concept of it,” says Simeone, of the couple who will open up the first franchise location in Bayview this month (865 York Mills Rd., 647-352-1555).
For Toronto clothing designer Nada Shepherd, opening up her first store, Nada, in Bayview Village isn’t a reason to sell clothing. It’s a reason to get to know her customer. “I really want to understand who she is,” says Shepherd. “How old is she? What is her body type like? And what it is that she really loves?” (2901 Bayview Ave., 416-204-9982).
For the past 25 years as the owner of Swiss-Master Chocolatier, Ingrid Laederach has performed on a stage, just not the one she expected. Originally geared for a singing career, Laederach later found that chocolate was her calling. “It’s just like performing onstage, when the public comes in,” she says. “You have to love people” (2538 Bayview Ave., 416-444-8802).
For Lynn Phan, health is not just about what you eat, but how you view things. “You have to see the humour in everything, and you have to have fun while trying to be healthy,” says Phan, the owner of Juicy Babes, which opened last month. The healthy hangout offers a variety of juices, smoothies and frozen yogourts (5425 Yonge St., 647-352-5363).
For years, Pedram Rahbari just wanted a good pastry shop in the area — one where you could buy a cake as a gift but also sit down and have a coffee. Last month, Rahbari and his wife decided to take action — they opened café, gift shop and bakeshop Capriccio (5379 Yonge St., 647-351-5550).
