As a proud member of the U.S Green Building Council, we take pride in achieving a green standard, and so it was without hesitation that we jumped at the opportunity to work with this ‘fresh’ new client.

Starting off in 1990 as the passion project “Juice for Life”, Fresh Restaurants are now found in four different locations across downtown Toronto. Serving fresh, in-house vegetarian and vegan ingredients, Fresh Restaurants has become a Toronto mainstay.

Of the four locations, the Fresh on Crawford, (just around the corner from Bellwoods Brewery) in the eclectic Queen Street West neighborhood, was the first to bear the new name and style.

Opened in 2002, the space was designed by Ralph and Pina Giannone at Giannone Petricone Associates. Their work, described as modern organic design, has won several accolades and rewards for its innovation and inspiration.

However, local demand for the freshest ingredients and a proximity to Trinity Bellwood’s Park and hundreds of daily park-goers created a need for more comfortable seating.

Located on a corner lot, Fresh on Crawford had the opportunity to take full advantage of the wide streetscape and length of the building. At 900 square feet, the sidewalk patio can accommodate fifty guests or more. However, to provide patrons with a luxury not afforded to park goers across the street, Fresh reached out to ShadeFX to provide coverage for the outdoor space.

This project required ten retractable canopies, five of which are motorized and five of which are manual. In order to ensure a smooth transition, we provided full service to the project, which includes measurement, delivery and installation.

We are really proud of our work at Fresh on Crawford. Not simply due to the scope and execution of this project, but rather the principles and values we share with our clients. We are happy that we can be a part of their green movement, as we continue to pursue our own.