Giannone Petricone Associates has introduced a culinary emporium born from a dialogue centered around the concept of delivering a unique journey with premium ingredients, prepared foods, and vibrant dining. It was this dialogue that inspired the name STOCK T.C, symbolizing well-stocked shelves, chicken stock, and stockyards, the essential elements necessary to craft a culinary spectacle, showcasing food’s evolution from its raw form to a refined dish.
Covering 21,500 square feet within a defunct heritage-grade Canada Postal Station in Toronto, STOCK T.C presents a ground-level open market, a 200-seat bistro on the second floor, and a third-floor garden room event space featuring a circular bar and rooftop terrace that capitalizes on its expansive views. To repurpose the 1936 limestone building, the design team lined the outer walls with a second skin spaced from the original shell. They then hung shelving, lighting fixtures, and acoustic dampening textures from it. The constant presence of food preparation, with a clear “backstage” treatment, harmoniously intertwines with the building materials to entertain the senses.
In much of the same way that abundant displays of raw ingredients and culinary offerings grace the shelves and counters, while the restaurant presents its ability to create crafted dishes, Giannone Petricone seamlessly introduced materials and architectural elements spanning the spectrum from unrefined to refined.
This evolution becomes evident as one moves from the ground-level market and self-serve “tavola calda” to the bistro, bar, and event spaces on the second and third floors. The arrangement of these spaces, along with the thresholds connecting them, is enriched by echoes of the historic building’s original purpose. Elements such as custom “coffer” lights, postage stamp-patterned mosaic flooring and felt ceiling baffles reminiscent of filing cabinet dividers contribute to the sensory experience.
Nestled on a public plaza that once held significance as a historical gathering spot, STOCK T.C continues to serve as a space for the public, breathing new life into this civic corner with a cultural experience.
