TORONTO — The new food court at Toronto’s Union Station has officially opened to the public, marking a significant milestone in the station’s revitalization.
The Union Food Court is the first area to open as part of the newly constructed lower retail level, boasting 10 new food retailers and seating for more than 600 people. The space features food-court stalwarts — such as McDonald’s, Pizza Pizza and Tim Hortons — as well as more unique offerings, including the first Toronto location of Crave It Restaurant Group’s Bangkok Buri and the first food-court location of Loaded Pierogi.
“The Union Food Court is the latest of multiple retail offerings we have brought to Union this year,” says Lawrence Zucker, president and CEO of Osmington, Union Station’s retail developer. “Together with our full-service restaurants, independent retailers and ongoing free programming throughout the station, we invite visitors and residents to experience the new Union.”
The 25,000-sq.-ft. space was designed by Toronto-based Partisans and features 210 cloud-like structures suspended above the seating area. These sculptural PODS (Pressurized Ocular Diffuser System) were created to combat the space’s low ceilings, while integrating ventilation, lighting and sprinklers.
The seating areas feature designs inspired by the functional geometries and industrial materials used to build railroads, featuring solid-cast-aluminum high tables and waste receptacles. Inspired by movement, the furniture also features softer curves and fluid, ribbon-like shapes.
The lower level that houses the new food court was created by digging several metres below Union Station’s existing floor level to create space for two new transit concourses and a new, lower-level retail concourse. Accessible through the GO York Concourse and the York West Teamway, the Union Food Court will also offer live streaming of major events, music and a Toronto Public Library kiosk.
