The revitalization of the stretch of Augusta south of Baldwin won't include Little Tokyo. I noticed the For Rent sign this week as I passed by the now vacated Japanese grocery store and culture shop in Kensington Market.

Little Tokyo was always a bit of a mystery to me. I liked that they used to offer me free green tea as I cruised around the store, but I always found their selection and prices much inferior to Sanko on Queen Street.

There was no note or indication of what will become of Little Tokyo, and whether we might expect it to resurface elsewhere. It's too bad. While the store definitely had its shortcomings, I do long for the sort of Japanese food, cultural and manga destination in Toronto like Cafe Zaiya/Kinokuniya across from Bryant Park in Manhattan.