A long-running Chinatown art supplies store in Toronto is set to vacate its Spadina Avenue location by Oct. 31, after the building was sold to new owners who plan to renovate the space, though the store’s owner may eventually be able to return.
Daniel Chi has run Daniel’s Art Supplies out of a basement unit at 414-B Spadina Ave. since 1984, continuing a business that existed before he took it over. The Toronto Chinatown Land Trust announced the closure on Instagram, prompting reaction from residents who described the shop as a neighbourhood fixture.
The building was purchased in June by Then What 3 Holdings Corporation. Denis Mishtii, a Royal LePage real estate agent acting as the new property manager, said Chi’s departure is meant to be temporary rather than permanent. He said the unit needs repairs, including mould remediation and new flooring, with work that began in June expected to be completed by January.
Plans for an ‘Artist’s Haven’
According to Mishtii, the new owners intend to invite Chi back to occupy a corner of a renovated space that would be shared with textile artists, painters and a vinyl record business. The building’s upper unit, currently a vape shop, is planned to become a pottery studio. Mishtii said Chi has not been charged rent since June and has no lease agreement with the new owners, and that his rent going forward would be “significantly less” than what he previously paid if he chooses to remain.
Chi, however, raised concerns about the arrangement. He said he was told he would need to replace his current inventory with new products, which he said he cannot afford to do, and that a corner of the unit would not provide enough space for services such as custom framing and canvas stretching.
Mishtii disputed that any conditions had been placed on Chi, saying he can continue selling his existing inventory and that the owners are willing to negotiate additional floor space. Mishtii said the appeal of Chi’s shop lies in the quality of his items, and that new shelving and lighting would be provided to help organize the inventory. He added that the owners have offered to cover moving costs and a stipend for temporary storage during the renovation. Following these clarifications, Chi said that if the terms hold, he could continue operating at the Spadina Avenue address.
A Neighbourhood Institution
Chi, who did not originally have an arts background, said he gained knowledge of art supplies over decades of serving customers, eventually making his own custom canvases and frames. He said a regular customer was the late Canadian Saulteaux and Cree artist Brian Marion, who gifted him a painting still displayed in the store.
Chi, who is in his 80s, said he intends to keep selling his remaining stock, including 50 to 60 custom wooden frames currently in storage, and would consider retiring only once all of his inventory is sold.
Concerns Over Small Business Leases
Chiyi Tam, co-founder and managing director of the Toronto Chinatown Land Trust, said the situation illustrates the precariousness of commercial leases for small businesses in the neighbourhood. She noted that Chi’s rent had not increased — rather, he was not given a choice in the matter of leaving.
Tam said many Chinatown businesses, including Chi’s, are run by “worker owners” who operate full-time in their own shops rather than relying on outside labour. She said losing long-standing businesses like Chi’s represents a setback for the neighbourhood, given his standing among generations of art students and artists.
This article references reporting from:
