Castle Board Game Cafe (454 Spadina Ave.)

This store at the northern edge of Chinatown had a brightly lit Vietnamese restaurant before Castle brought in smoothies, artisanal coffee, Belgian waffles and board games for rent ($2.50 per hour) in mid-summer of 2013.

Sai Gon Palace was open since 1979 previous to Castle Board Game Cafe, which capitalizes on the board games and beverages trend in Toronto in recent years.

WWW: castleboardgames.com

TWITTER: @CastleCafeInc

Photo: David Donnelly

Stay Cafeteria (388 Spadina Ave.)

A discount apparel store once stood where Stay recently opened. Called Fashion & Novelty, the store had t-shirt displays and wholesale clothing on display outside the store on the sidewalk. Stay serves Asian fusion in one of the more upscale dining rooms along the strip.

Photo: David Donnelly

People's Eatery (307 Spadina Ave.)

People's Eatery, a Hong Kong-style Chinese restaurant in the heart of the Chinatown stretch, was an abandoned store front earlier this winter before it was announced People's will reopen later this year. Only it will not be the same restaurant that once claimed to have the best Peking Duck in Toronto.

The owners of the trendy late night spot 416 Snack Bar have bought the space and will reopen with the same name but cater to a different crowd, with plans for a downstairs lounge and smoked meat, an apparent nod to the Jewish community that once populated that area of the city.

Photo: Google

Dark Horse Espresso Bar (215 Spadina Ave.)

Office space occupied by digital companies, small marketing firms and other start ups at 215 Spadina were the first signs Chinatown was beginning to change.

Gourmet coffee soon followed. Dark Horse, a small Toronto chain which originated on Queen East, has fuelled the caffeine cravings in the area since 2009.

WWW: darkhorseespresso.com

TWITTER: @darkhorsecafe

Photo: David Donnelly

Hotel Ocho (195 Spadina Ave.)

Taking over early-1900s building that once housed a textile factory on Spadina north of Queen, Hotel Ocho is a stylish 12-room boutique hotel, restaurant and bar.

The building had been long abandoned when Ocho moved in - it was covered in graffiti, including Banksy - and renovations included interior design in each room. It is a stark contrast to the budget Super 8 Hotel across the street, and the closest place to Chinatown Centre to get a bone-dry martini.

WWW: hotelocho.com

TWITTER: @HotelOchoTO

Photo: David Donnelly

Strada 241 (241 Spadina Ave.)

This upscale southern Italian cafe and eatery was opened in late 2012 by Michael and Guy Rubino, restaurateurs who previously served high-end Japanese in the business district.

The newly renovated Strada 241 joins a row of Chinese homeware supplies stores at the southern edge of Chinatown.

WWW: strada241.com

TWITTER: @Strada241

Photo: David Donnelly

Lucky Red (318 Spadina Ave.)

At Cali Banh Mi & Che, a sandwich on a French baguette with cilantro, pickled carrot and daikon, cold cuts and hot pepper sauce - a traditional Vietnamese bahn mi - sold for $2. It was part Viet sub shop and part grocer, stacked with steam buns, salad rolls and Vietnamese sausage.

The space will soon serve similar fare, but at much different price points. The sons of the bahn mi shop next door, Nguyen Huong, bought the place and plan to build upon their Vietnamese fusion cuisine at popular Bahn Mi Boys restaurants.

Photo: David Donnelly