As anchor tenant leaves, what does future hold for OEV's former food incubator space?

The future of a prominent building in London's Old East Village (OEV), once home to the London Food Incubator, is looking uncertain following the relocation of its anchor tenant and the planned departure of another.

Willie's Café moved to 630 Dundas St. from its longtime Wellington Street home in 2017, and on Friday, served its last meals there as it gears up for a move next month to One London Place.

Ian Kennard, who took over the eatery from founders Fred and Bonnie Williamson in 1996, said the decision was bittersweet but necessary for the business to survive.

"I never intended to leave this location. We have a beautiful space and a great community, great neighbours," Kennard told CBC News in an interview on Friday.

"When we first moved here, the community was vibrant. It was happening. There were lots of small, independent businesses, lots of people walking around."

Kennard says the building and the surrounding area were hit hard during COVID-19 and have never fully recovered. Existing challenges with homelessness and drug use were exacerbated by the pandemic, leading to a further drop-off in foot traffic that has continued.

"We knew the neighbourhood had challenges," he said. "But after COVID, it just became overwhelming and impossible to run a business.

"The last five years have been very challenging, and for the last three years, basically, my dining room business has disappeared."

The building is owned and managed by York Property Management, which did not respond to a request for comment before publication. Its upper floors contain residential units.

When the café moved to the historic Somerville Building, the main floor had already been transformed into the London Food Incubator.

The anchor tenant then, the Old East Village Grocer, occupied much of the main floor. Fire Roasted Coffee Co., whose owner launched the incubator, was at the front, while Willie's utilized space at the rear.

Over time, Kennard says businesses made it their permanent homes, and the incubator name was replaced with Somerville630, and then East Village Market.

With the pandemic came the closure of the Old East Village Grocer, and later, the departure of Fire Roasted, prompting Willie's to move up front. Business, however, has not been the same.

"Any business looking to come in here that relies on foot traffic doesn't stand a chance. Four businesses tried and failed," he said, including the Baker's Table and Pastry Co., which closed in mid-October. In the spring, Yaya's Kitchen, relocated permanently to Museum London.