More changes on Church Street

Yogen Früz may have closed up shop on Church Street, but the previous owner says a new frozen yogurt chain will soon open in the same space.

Fuzie Kim, who recently moved her business to Yonge and Eglinton, says she closed the Church Street location because the building required too many renovations.

“We closed it,” she says. “It needed renovation. That’s too much money. The space has been leased to Yogurty’s.”

Yogurty’s is a self-serve frozen yogurt bar with more than 10 locations in the Toronto area. Kim does not know when the new yogurt franchise will open.

Karen Sterling, Yogurty’s vice-president of marketing, refused to comment or confirm the new location.

Medical centre

In other neighbourhood news, a new Church Street medical centre is set to open its doors in early October.

Workers are busy completing renovations to the York Medical Health Centre, which will open in Xtra’s former digs.

“It’s a full medical suite, which includes family physicians, urgent care, pharmacy, dentistry, optometry, medicine and wellness,” says Stewart Watson, medical professional liaison for the centre.

Watson says he is in the process of hiring staff.

“We’ve almost got all the physicians hired,” he says. “There’s still a few openings. We have some starting in October and some starting later because some have contracts where they are.”

Watson first saw the space from the balcony of his apartment across the street.

“Having been in the Xtra office, the space seemed ideal,” he says.

The York Medical Health Centre, which has other clinics north of Toronto, already has a roster of about 400 patients pre-registered.

For more information or to inquire about jobs or become a new patient, call 416-463-1500.

Reither’s becomes two spaces

Across the street, a wall is being erected through the middle of the empty space formerly occupied by Reither’s Fine Foods.

Reither’s closed abruptly in March after 23 years at its Church Street location under Steamworks. But construction seems to be moving slowly and workers are rarely on site.

A couple doors down, Café California owner Vince Moneva notes that the space is likely being divided because of high rent prices on the strip. That way the landlord will be able to lease it faster, he says.

Moneva, whose has operated his business on Church Street for more than 20 years, says the current economic downturn is hitting small businesses especially hard. Reither’s closed soon after Loblaws opened at Church and Carlton streets.

“People are eating out less. They are saving their money. It’s tough. But this street is still good. It will survive,” he says.