Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: The Heart of Agincourt

Because of the Dragon Centre’s success, other malls serving the Chinese community opened up in different parts of Toronto. These malls were designed to feel like home and became important spots where the Chinese community could feel connected to their heritage and each other as they gathered over a dinner table.

These places were more than just malls—they were places where people felt they belonged and could interact with a living piece of their cultural heritage. They became the heart of Chinese communities Chinatowns across the city.

An exciting spread of dried herbs and seafood in Agincourt mall.

Many Chinese shopping malls in Scarborough and across the GTA feature supermarkets as their business anchors.  With the rise of modern chain supermarkets that attract customers, they have threatened the livelihood of many small independent grocers and food businesses. An example of this is the case of the popular T&T Supermarket downtown and its impact on small businesses in Chinatown.

In Agincourt, in addition to supermarkets, a large variety of small food businesses like herbal stores, bakeries, and restaurants offer unique food choices and services, keeping their important place in the community as familiar comfort zones and gathering places. Despite this strong sense of community and culture of perseverance, many businesses still experienced economic hardship or discrimination, often being forced to close or relocate. But, the power of community is still strong, and word of mouth and a culture of care often supports new and existing businesses.

I think that the power of – not just word of mouth – but social media where people started to post saying: “Hey! Check out this place in Agincourt! This is what the food looks like.” That sort of free advertising at that time really pushed people to go to these smaller places.

– Katrina from Core Sales Inc., a long-standing business in Agincourt