For Manuel Rozakis, finding a good plain burger joint in Toronto today is difficult. So he decided to open his own place, Retro Burger, a throwback to the fast-food joints of the 1970s. “Everybody’s getting too fancy,” says Rozakis. The menu offers several types of burgers, as well as poutine and Philly cheese-steaks (1450 Yonge St., 416-640-0309).

The new location was just too hot to give up, even for an ice cream shop. “We had to get it,” says Hansol Im, the owner of Forest Hill frozen yogourt and ice cream shop Village Chill. The latest location, opened at the end of August, corners Yonge Street and offers their same homemade cold treats, as well as “dippin’ dots” (3 Manor Rd. E., 647-352-5566).

Twenty years ago, Lady Sophisticate sold mainly clothing for the working, sophisticated woman. Today, owner Marika Vag says many of those women have retired and the boutique has aged gracefully with them. “They have had the good fortune of retiring early, and the fashion in the store reflects that,” says Vag (2023 Avenue Rd., 416-489-6506).

Red Mulberry is making history. The new health food and general store just happens to be in the building where the first general store of Leaside was housed. “We’re aiming to be the neighbourhood store that happens to offer natural products,” says co-owner Roya Izedian, of the store that opened last month (322 Sutherland Dr., 416-422-0004).

A Stroll in the Park, the North Toronto walking group that organizes ventures to spots such as Toronto Island and Algonquin Park, is celebrating 20 years. The company, run by Christa Kroboth, offers a safe and social form of exercise (120 Eglinton Ave. E., 416-484-9255).