Neon images add a funky appeal to the cavernous interior. “The building,” says Baguley “is a proposed (not yet designated) heritage property and bears an immigrant polish family name, LeVack. The block of buildings is from 88-94 Ossington Avenue. We therefore, named the front bar/restaurant, LeVack’s and the venue space at back, ‘The Block.”

The menu selection will be an intelligently gentrified card, but yielding a few house signatures. The organic spring salad, for example, with baby greens has goat cheese, sliced strawberries and pecans while the grilled croque-monsieur is stuffed with Swiss cheese and ham. While the menu is in the works, the bar is stocked with eight tapped local microbrews along with the staple breakfast drink, Guinness. Another eight bottled brews are available, as well as an adequate selection of quality wines and liquors.

Baguley and Elson aren’t covering new ground here. Many DIY bars and eateries – some better, some worse - have popped up in these parts. But LeVack Block strives to do something different. It wants to impart a clear aesthetic core to the space, to make it all work. With additional room for expansion on the second and third levels, and total floor space around 2,000 square feet, the future is certainly looking bright on this block. I guess it’s testament to both the gonzo power of the overall area and the completeness of the owners’ vision that the bar will surely fit right in. - BD