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Commercial Real Estate Databases

The Toronto Cafe Leasing Master List: 30 Essential Sources

Finding a cafe space in Toronto requires navigating five distinct layers of the market. This list provides 30 distinct sources across those layers.

1. Major Aggregators (The “Big 5”)

  • [[LoopNet.ca]]: Standard commercial-only portal.
  • [[Spacelist.ca]]: Massive Canadian retail/office aggregator.
  • [[REALTOR.ca (Commercial)]]: The primary MLS database.
  • [[Zolo.ca]]: Tech-driven portal with extensive GTA commercial data.
  • [[Point2 Homes]]: Global aggregator with deep Toronto listings.

2. Specialized Hospitality Brokers

  • [[OMG Real Estate]]: Specialized in cafe/restaurant leasing.
  • [[CHI Real Estate]]: Urban retail and lease takeover experts.
  • [[Northern Hospitality]]: Focused on “cool” independent cafes.
  • [[Metropolitan Commercial]]: Downtown street-front specialists.
  • [[Restosales]]: Specialist for bakeries and commercial kitchens.

3. Direct Landlord & Developer Portals

  • [[Allied REIT]]: Brick & Beam spaces (King/Spadina).
  • [[Hullmark]]: Design-led retail (Ossington, Riverside).
  • [[RioCan]]: Large-scale urban portfolios (The Well).
  • [[First Capital]]: Super-urban hubs (Yorkville).
  • [[Choice Properties]]: Neighborhood, grocery-anchored retail.
  • [[TAS Impact]]: Developing nodes (Junction Triangle).
  • [[Streetcar]]: East End specialists (Leslieville).
  • [[Dream Unlimited]]: Distillery & Canary Districts.

4. The “Invisible” & Ethnic Market Portals

  • [[RealMaster]]: The leading Chinese-market portal (GTA focus).
  • [[Home Indexer]]: English/Persian portal for niche business hubs.
  • [[Kijiji & Facebook Marketplace]]: Best for “mom-and-pop” landlords.
  • [[Craigslist Toronto]]: Still used by small independent owners.

5. Institutional & Property Management

  • [[U of T Real Estate]]: Campus-adjacent retail.
  • [[Metrolinx / TTC]]: Transit hub retail (Union Station).
  • [[Buttonwood]]: Boutique commercial property manager.
  • [[Royal York Property Management]]: Tech-driven GTA manager.
  • [[Greenwin]]: Large-scale retail-at-base management.
  • [[DASH Property Management]]: High-end neighborhood retail.
  • [[Storefront]]: Pop-up and temporary cafe spaces.

Sources

  • [[sources/toronto_30_leasing_sources_master_2026.md]]
  • [[sources/toronto_cafe_leasing_master_list_2026.md]]