This Is Mimico

O ne Sunday morning in 2007, I was out for a leisurely drive. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. As I found myself at the intersection of Royal York and The Queensway, a little voice in the back of my head said, drive south to the lake. I decided to listen.

Traveling south along Royal York Road, I was surprised to see that I had entered a quaint, cottage-like community. It was filled with adorable homes that retained a rustic charm, which was refreshing from the downtown condo trends. After passing some churches, local shops and community centres, I noticed a bustling patch of sidewalk. Curiosity got the better of me and I pulled over. The commotion was all centred around an Italian sandwich shop. SANREMO, the sign read. With my interest peaked, I decided to go in.

As I entered the shop, I was delightfully overwhelmed with what I can only describe as a carnivalistic extravaganza of Italian cuisine. My head danced with an array of sights and smells from the deliciously overloaded deli counter. I ordered a coffee and cannoli and found a perch by the window. While I sat there and sipped, I was mesmerized by the flurry of customers, with smiles ear to ear, bustling in and out of the delicatessen.

Once I had descended from my sugar high, I went back to my car and continued driving south along Royal York. It was not long before I rolled to a stop at the intersection of Lake Shore Boulevard. There, before me, was the deep-blue majesty of Lake Ontario. It was only a stone’s throw away. Absolutely beautiful, I thought. For a moment, I watched in awe. Whether it was fate or the incessant honking of the angry driver behind me, I pulled a quick left and headed east on Lake Shore.

My jaw fell open as I saw the most incredible row of lake-side mansions and turn-of-the-century homes. Where am I, I wondered, and how have I never been here before? As I continued along Lake Shore, I let the scenery wash over me; the parks, the quaint businesses, the lakeside paths. When I arrived at Parklawn Road (at this time, still replete with vintage hotels) I just had to turn back. The neighbourhood felt like a dream and I didn’t want it to end.

A cute, little coffee shop popped into my memory; BIRDS & BEANS. I had seen it a few blocks back. It seemed like an excellent destination for this day of discovery. I pulled up to the shop and popped inside. Bounding up to the counter (perhaps a little too enthusiastically) I abruptly asked, “Where are we? What community is this?

“Ahhh… Mimico,” the startled barista replied.

The following week, I bought a house here. Within two months, I was moved in and settled.

This is a true story. Since then, I have lived in this community and sold many houses here. I’ve also had the honour of bringing many incredible people to the area.

As of 2018, I have made the decision to start focusing the majority of my attention on Mimico. Although there are many capable agents working here, I feel that they are missing something unique about the neighbourhood. This has spurred my desire to create a specific Mimico brand, taking my downtown marketing, negotiation, and presentation skills and combining them with an authentic and welcoming approach that truly befits this lakeside community.