Sprawled over 8,000 square feet in a historical brick building, Drake Commissary is a dynamic mashup of restaurant, bakery, take-out counter as well as cocktail bar. the latest venture from Drake hotel creator Jeff Stober, it promises to do for Toronto’s Junction triangle community what his hotels as well as shops did for Queen street West as well as prince Edward County, Ontario: transform an under-appreciated area into a bustling destination.
John Tong turned the building’s shortcomings to his advantage. “It had low ceilings as well as little windows, not qualities one fantasizes about,” he says. To play up the cozy factor, he covered the ceiling in plywood as well as furnished the area with refurbished vintage pieces, leather banquettes as well as patterned rugs in rich colors, all of which add warmth as well as a sense of fun.
Artwork curated by Mia Nielsen references the Junction Triangle’s history, with Mexican-American artist Adrian Esparza’s colorful thread art stretching across the windows in homage to the area’s past as a textile hub. An intricate 35-foot-long mural made by Toronto artist Alex Mcleod using 3D software application reveals plywood castles, clouds made of stones as well as more. “I see something new every time I look at it,” says Mia.