The Junction is named as such because of the many railway lines that converge here. In the early part of the last century this lent the neighbourhood a not-too-subtle "wild west" atmosphere, leading to a prohibition on the sale of alcohol that lasted until just a decade ago. Since then the neighbourhood has slowly been changing: new restaurants and cafes have opened as well as locally own shops and services. Whereas some Toronto areas have gentrified at such a rapid rate that residents become worried about the future of their neighbourhood, The Junction's slow and easy transformation may just be the right speed for urban development.