63 h. ago Toronto bar that closed after 20 years being replaced by retro

A Toronto bar in a historic building is getting a new lease on life as it transforms into a new concept this October.The Gladstone House's Melody Bar had been a pillar of West Queen West, taking on various appearances and lives over the years, for over two decades, when it suddenly and quietly closed its doors at the end of 2022.Since then, the space at the historic property has sat dormant, collecting dust while the neighbourhood's frequenters grew impatient waiting to learn whether Melody Bar would rise from the ashes, or whether it really was gone for good.Alas, we finally have our answer, and it's the latter, but it's not all bad news.A new chapter is on the horizon for the former Melody Bar, as it prepares to transform into Cassette, a refined take on the classic, retro diner, opening at the end of October.If you're expecting a typical greasy spoon, think again. Cassette is going to pack a serious punch in the style department, while stil...

Other

3 d. ago Kelowna business pleads for action on social issues after being forced to temporarily shut down

Flashpoint Tattoo Company in Kelowna sustained significant smoke and water damage from a fire on Tuesday.

Economics

9 d. ago Toronto bar shuts down permanently after decades in business

A Toronto restaurant that's been a neighbourhood favourite for decades has officially closed permanently due to development.Death, taxes, and your favourite restaurant shutting down. These are truths we must all come to accept one day or another, and Toronto's had a particularly rough go in the "restaurants closing" department as of late.While over the past several months, the city has welcomed a number of exciting (and tasty) new concepts, we've also had to say goodbye to more than a few longstanding institutions.We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but we're about to add yet another closure to that list.As of Aug. 31, Davisville Village staple Kramer's Bar & Grill has officially entered the deadpool.Located at the intersection of Yonge and Davisville, the bar, on first glance, was nothing entirely special; just your typical neighbourhood sports bar, serving pints and wings on occasionally sticky tabletops.It was the community...

Economics

2 w. ago Independent Toronto grocery store could be torn down for new towers

An independent grocery store in Toronto, known for its local and organic goods, could be forced to close in the coming years to make way for a large redevelopment scheme.The Sweet Potato's Vine Avenue location in The Junction is the target of a proposed amendment to the City of Toronto's Official Plan, which seeks to redesignate properties at 108-162 Vine Avenue from their current "Core Employment Areas" to a "Mixed Use Areas and Parks" designation that would allow a range of residential, commercial, and public spaces.While no firm plans for specific buildings have been explored just yet — the application instead focuses purely on redesignating the land use for the site — a concept plan from architects Giannone Petricone Associates offers a glimpse into the potential for the location.The application from Vine Avenue Holdings Limited features renderings of these concept designs "in order to illustrate the development potential of the subje...

Other

3 w. ago New pub replaces Toronto bar that closed after 16 years in business

A Toronto bar with a cult following closed down last winter after 16 years, and it's finally been replaced.It's been eight months since cult-favourite Dundas West sports bar (and former home of Slammie Sammies), Opera Bob's, closed its doors after 16 years, much to the disappointment and dismay of its devoted regulars.The pub was a local staple for a casual drink, lively night out, and especially for Manchester City football match screenings, as the Manchester City Football Club Toronto has called the bar home for nearly as long as it's been around.Last year, during the Premier League championships, it even got a considerable shout-out from the New York Times.Alas, as Nelly Furtado once said, all good things come to an end, and, in the winter of 2024, the pub closed its doors for good, setting its devoted fanbase adrift, searching for somewhere new to take root.Now, at long last, the space has officially gotten a new lease on life, and Opera ...

Economics

3 w. ago Here's what replaced Toronto fine dining restaurant that closed in under a year

A fine dining restaurant in Toronto has closed its doors after less than a year, and it's already been replaced.Sigh. We know that not everything's built to last, but we had a good feeling about short-lived farm-to-table restaurant The Lost Land.A collaboration between Larry Feldmeier, chef de cuisine at Chicago's Oriole, a two-Michelin-star force, Pidapipo Gelato owner Edison Xue, and chef Cesar Karanapakorn of Judaline and Florette, the restaurant came with some serious promise.Still, it opened quietly to mixed reviews before, just months later, shuttering just as quietly as it arrived.It's not all bad news, though, because, just as swiftly as The Lost Land came and went, it's already been replaced, and its usurper looks just as promising.Now, the space at 146 Yonge St. is home to Bar Filo, a stylish Italian cocktail bar and restaurant, which opened its doors at the beginning of September.The name Filo, the Bar Filo team told ...

Other

3 w. ago Here's why a Toronto bar was forced to close after just over one year

A Toronto bar is closing permanently, a little over a year after opening, due to economic pressures and upcoming construction disruptions.Duke's Refresher, the arcade bar-lite chain by Service Inspired Restaurants (SIR), the hospitality team behind such hits as Scaddabush and Jack Astor's, has existed in Toronto, in various capacities, for over a decade.It once existed at the intersection of Yonge and Gerrard before moving to its popular St. Lawrence Market haunt and, in the spring of 2024, expanded eastward, taking over the Riverside location that, before Duke's, housed the Brickworks Ciderhouse.Before that, it was home to the original location of The Real Jerk. Some might call the space auspicious. Others could call it unlucky.For the case of Duke's, which opened for business in May of 2024, the location is, seemingly, the latter, as Service Inspired Restaurants confirms in a statement that Duke's Refresher Riverside is slated to shutter this month.&q...

Other

3 w. ago James McAvoy gets sucker punched at local Toronto bar during TIFF

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is all about glitzy red carpets, celebrity appearances and, of course, the latest and greatest in cinema.And while the most recent headline-worthy happening out of the annual 11-day fete does involve a famous person, it is not exactly in line with the glamour that the esteemed event usually brings to mind.James McAvoy, who is here for the world premiere of his new flick, California Schemin', decided, like many other big names who are in the city this week, to head out and enjoy some of the local nightlife.Unfortunately, what was intended to be a low-key Monday evening at divey King Street pool hall Charlotte's Room didn't go as planned — in fact, it went quite awry, although the actor-turned-director apparently handled it with grace.As People first reported, a thoroughly intoxicated patron who was not a part of McAvoy's group randomly attacked the Split st...

Other

3 w. ago Group that helps newcomers furnish their dwellings needs a new home of its own

House to Home Ottawa, which has been providing furniture and other basics to refugee families coming to Ottawa since 2020, may be forced to close.

Other

3 w. ago Actor James McAvoy reportedly assaulted in Toronto bar by a random person

The incident reported by multiple outlets took place two days after McAvoy's directorial debut premiered at TIFF

Events

3 w. ago Toronto cafe to open second location combined with new snack bar

A cafe in one of Toronto’s trendiest neighbourhoods is soon opening a second location, but it has something brand-new tacked on, too.Fall calls for a steamy latte (both of the pumpkin spice variety and not) inside of a cute cafe, the same way that summertime calls for margaritas on a patio, and, we hate to break it to you, but leaves are already changing colours.Fall’s approach isn’t an entirely bad thing, though, because it means that it’s time to dust off that list and add some new spots to check out this season.Lucky for us, William and Carlos Oliveira, the son-and-father duo behind Little Italy’s Café Belém and Mercado in the Castlefield Design District, have something extra special up their sleeves.Despite only opening their Portuguese cafe (Belém) around a year ago, it’s already an inarguable hit in the neighbourhood. Now, they’re gearing up to open a second location of the cafe in Cor...

Other

3 w. ago Downtown Eastside to get new police district as Task Force Barrage draws to a close

The creation of District 5 comes as Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim claimed the city had recorded a 23-year low in violent crime, seven months after the launch of "Task Force Barrage."

Events

3 w. ago Here are the Toronto hot spots celebrities have been spotted at during TIFF 2025

TIFF 2025 hit the streets of Toronto with a bang this weekend, and here are the restaurants that the stars have been flocking to.Parties, press junkets and fly-by spottings have been the name of the game for Toronto since the Toronto International Film Festival's 50th anniversary season officially kicked off on Thursday, Sept. 4.While most folks are more focused on what the stars are doing on the silver screen, we want to know where they're eating, and we're sure we're not the only ones.That's why we've compiled a list of the Toronto bars and restaurants that have proven most popular among this year's crop of A-listers so far this season, so that you, too, can eat and drink like you just walked the red carpet.VinnyThe TIFF Lightbox might be the official heart of the film festival, but if we could name a second runner-up, it would be Vinny, the recently opened vinyl bar at 480 King St. W.One of the latest in Toronto hospitality super group INK En...

Other