Another hot new destination microhood is taking shape along Yonge Street anchored by the iconic Sporting Life store, and you’ll spot several of the same brands popping up alongside a new wave of lifestyle shops, turning the Midtown strip into one of the city’s most noticeable retail pockets.
The stretch has been aptly dubbed the “Sporting Life block,” with the sports retailer at the centre of the cluster. The company was founded in Toronto in 1979, and has its longtime flagship nestled at 2665 Yonge St. Sporting Life underwent a major refresh in 2022, reopening that October with a new 3,500-square-foot ski and snowboard shop, an expanded tennis section and a premium sneaker shop.
Since then, the area surrounding the store has filled up with everything from salad spots and smoothie bars to massage studios, specialty food shops and curated retailers.
The wave began picking up in fall 2024, when the area welcomed The Hut Smoothie & Juice Bar (2528 Yonge St.), a Muskoka-born smoothie and juice business expanding into Toronto. Impact Kitchen Midtown (2555 Yonge St.) moved in shortly after in October, serving up wholesome, nutrient-dense meals.
The momentum continued into 2025, with Nutbar Midtown (2592 Yonge St.) and Touch Massage Bar Midtown (2555 Yonge St.) both opening in February. Coco Market Midtown (2549 Yonge St.), whose original location is in Rosedale, opened a month later, stocking in-house baked goods and products from female-led brands.
The big news is the impending arrival of a new, purpose-built multi-storey Good Neighbour at 2664 Yonge St. Good Neighbour has become one of the city’s favourite destinations for thoughtfully curated style and lifestyle finds. The shop blends fashion, design and everyday essentials under one roof and features brands such as Clare V., Ganni, Jenny Bird, Malin + Goetz and Salt & Stone.
In addition, Bananas (2582 Yonge St.), a 1,100 square foot general store with “bougie bazaar vibes,” opened in May 2025, with inventory ranging from giant fidget toys to traditional novelty items and joke boxes. Andrea’s Cookies (2614 Yonge St.) launched its latest location in July with a weekly rotating menu of handcrafted artisanal baked goods, followed by Mandy’s (2670 Yonge St.) in the fall, directly opposite from Sporting Life.
And more changes are coming! Healthy Planet is preparing to open a major new store at 2529 Yonge St., taking over a two-level, 12,817-square-foot space. When it opens, it will become one of the largest health and wellness additions to the strip.
