Everything We Know About Eataly Opening in Toronto

Wondering what the heck Eataly is and why everyone is so excited? Scroll down for everything to know about the Italian grocery store/eatery, plus some major food porn. 

Early last year, it was announced that the famed Italian food emporium Eataly would be coming to Toronto. And with all of the excitement swirling around the opening, especially now since it has officially been confirmed, you might be wondering what it is and why there’s so much hype revolving around the launch.

Well, we’re here to make thinks simple for you – because we’re cool like that. Here’s everything we know about Eataly in Toronto:

Eataly was founded by Italian Native, Oscar Farinetti. He opened the first location in Torino, Italy in 2007 after selling a successful electronic retail business. The idea behind the premier store was to create a lively open-concept European market where visitors could shop, taste and learn about high-quality Italian food, at fair prices. Today there are Eataly outposts across the globe, including Japan, China, and America, with locations opening in Australia, England, and more.

Mario Batali is often mentioned in conjunction with Eataly because his hospitality group B&B, which includes partners Joe Bastianich and Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, helped bring the concept to North America.

Terroni Restaurants and Selfridges Group are helping Eataly enter the Canadian market. However, 52% of the Canadian operations are owned by the famed billionaire Weston family, who also own Holt Renfrew.

The plans to open Eataly in Toronto were almost derailed after the Bloor Street Diner, which currently operates inside the Manulife Centre, won an injunction prohibiting Eataly to enter the complex. The dispute has since been resolved.  

Eataly locations are big. Toronto’s location is set to be 50,000 square feet, spanning over 3-floors in the Manulife Centre. Construction on the site will begin in 2017 and the anticipated completion date is early 2019.

The Italian food emporium promises to deliver all things edible and Italian. Eataly has been described as an “Italian grocery market-cum-restaurant emporium-cum-enoteca slash bakery slash cheese shop”. The American outposts offer everything from everyday groceries, cured meats, chilled oysters and homemade mozzarella to cooking workshops and in-shop eateries. We expect the concept in Canada to be very much the same.

The Eataly outposts are meant to embody the feel of old style markets and bazaars. As Nicola Farinetti, son of Oscar Farinetti and CEO of Eataly USA, describes it, “there is no distinction between restaurant and retail: You can eat and buy, or buy and eat.”

Below are some images of Eataly Chicago, Eataly’s largest location to date. We’re drooling.

RELATED LINK: New Toronto Restaurants: September 2016

Now that you know what Eataly is all about, are you excited for the concept to open in Toronto? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below or tweet us at @ViewtheVibe.