How Convenient
In her 2007 music video for “Don’t Stop the Music”, the original bad gal, Rihanna, entered a convenient only to be taken to a nightclub through a secret passage way. In 2019, I took inspiration from the good girl gone bad and visited Convenience, a fully-functioning convenient store upon entry that transitioned to a restobar. Located on Queen Street West’s Parkdale Neighbourhood, I dragged my best friend, JP, across oblivion to finally experience all the hype.
Being a die-hard patio junkie, obviously I chose to sit outside. I felt a sense of nostalgia as we headed to our table. The Neon lights, vintage decor, and pixelated video game caricatures painted on the walls were some common motifs that encapsulated the feeling of a child going to a convenient store to purchase sweets or in my case J-14 Magazine. The patio’s spacious set up was prime! The seat to space ratio was perfect: the furniture was not packed tight which allowed room for movement and unobstructed instagram photos (duh). Furthermore, the sunset hit the patio perfectly during golden hour, which made my visit even more enjoyable.
In the mood to feast, I ordered the macaroni and cheese topped with fried chicken (probably the best tasting fried chicken I’ve eaten at a restobar), while JP opted for the Burger Queen with sweet potato fries. We accompanied our meal with the Psyche Sangria, which includes extracts of hibiscus giving it a spicier, warmer taste compared to the classic rendition of the drink. Overall, we enjoyed our meals, but we enjoyed the ambiance even more.
How can I talk about Convenience without mentioning their iconic, neon-pink Party Line? I was immediately transported to Amsterdam’s Red Light District as the pink neon illuminated the dark stairwell. Seeming larger on instagram and smaller in reality, I was surprised to see why people were hyped! I mean, don’t get me wrong, I was LIVING, but I thought it would be more grand. After a couple of pics, we headed up past the vintage televisions that lined the stair case, back through the convenient store and out of the restaurant.
Convenience Toronto can now be checked off my bucket list. Will I be back? Most likely! From the youthful patrons to the quirky architecture, I would love to spend another dinner (maybe brunch) there. It is a fabulous concept that captured the essence of “business in the front, party in the back”.
Candidly,
Jonah
