Crafty idea for plan to replace Hard Rock with Shoppers

Re Hard Rock Cafe to close at Yonge-Dundas Square, March 14

Toronto needs to prepare for the hordes of tourists who, once word gets out that Shoppers Drug Mart will replace the Hard Rock Cafe at the Yonge-Dundas Square, will flood the area to buy their cosmetics, bread, dry cereal and feminine products.

A scourge on Loblaws/Shoppers and the land owner for even contemplating a drugstore in that location. Is another dollar of profit worth destroying the street life of this public area?

For city hall, I have two recommendations: First, change the licensing to save the square from further such abominations. Second, during the summer, close the Dundas Square laneway to traffic and reconfigure it as a large patio serviced by a rotating schedule of our local craft brewers. But wait. Shoppers is lobbying to become the king of pot dispensaries. Maybe an outlet at the square won’t be such a bad thing. An entire store of boutique stalls of craft pot. Now that would draw the tourists.

Regardless, let’s still go ahead with the craft beer idea. Peter Pinch, Toronto