Construction and Reconstruction of Ethnicity in Retail Landscapes: Case Studies in the Toronto Area

The ethnic retail phenomenon is a highly recognizable symbol of Canada’s multiculturalism. However, very little research has examined how ‘ethnicity’ is reflected through physical retail spaces or how a neighbourhood’s ethnic identity is constructed and reconstructed through ethnic retail spaces. Interviews and surveys with key informants in four ethnic retail neighbourhoods in Toronto, Canada revealed the dynamics of changing ethnic retail landscapes, how ethnicity may be physically manifested, and the complex meanings behind architectural or structural changes. The results can inform municipalities about the importance of appropriate public policies in the areas of urban design, neighbourhood identity, and economic development to help enhance the flourishing ethnic landscapes