Leslieville trades a dive bar for ice cream and cookies

It's been almost ten years since the New York Times labeled Leslieville "Toronto's hippest place to dine, drink, shop and live" and while the neighbourhood had long ago gentrified, the closing of a local dive bar this week almost literally puts the icing on the cake.

Queen's Bar & Grill, a rough around the edges watering hole we called out back in 2011 as one of Queen Street's notable dive bars, had persevered as third wave espresso bars and high-end baby stores grew up around it. No more. The windows are currently papered over and signs announce the impending arrival of Milky Way Ice Cream Parlour, Coffee and Bake Shop.

The closure leaves nearby Tasty Chicken as one of the few remnants of the Leslieville of the past. Current home owners will no doubt welcome the change amid soaring real estate prices, and somewhere someone is likely pointing out that the view from Te Aro's patio just got less interesting.

by Staff via blogTO