Leslieville isn't hurting for quality cafes, but it's still disappointing to see that I Deal Coffee on Queen East has closed their doors. The Queen and Ashdale location was the most recent addition to the I Deal family and arguably its nicest spot. It was larger and brighter than the Kensington and Ossington outposts and was used to supply roasted beans and baked treats to the other cafes.

Most likely it was the location that killed it though. This side of Queen near Coxwell isn't really a retail or restaurant hot spot and walk by traffic is slim. It was also never able to lure many customers from the much more bustling Red Rocket a little further west.

It's time to catch up on a number of Deadpool sightings from the past few weeks. On Ossington, brunch and vegetarian fave Get Real Cafe has become the latest casualty on the block between Argyle and Foxley. Following in the footsteps of the recently closed Le Bar a Soupe, Get Real either couldn't cope with a 30% rent increase demanded by their landlord OR were behind in their rent. Either way, they'll be missed and the street is down a lunch option (although Pizzeria Libretto recently started offering lunch service so maybe everything evens out).

Thanksgiving weekend has brought with it a fresh round of Deadpool sightings. On Ossington, Le Bar A Soupe has closed after warming west-enders' stomachs with homemade goodness for the past few years. As far as I can recall, this is the first of the newer businesses on Lower Ossington that have closed since the street began to boom earlier this decade.

Although it's been reported in various Toronto media outlets (other coverage here and here) that Ho-Lee-Chow has closed all its GTA locations, it appears that this isn't entirely true -- at least for now.

After receiving a strange phone call from the location nearest to me on Monday that urged me to place future orders using a new phone number, I was suspicious of yesterday's news that each and every location was shutting down. So, just to make sure, I decided to make a trip up the road to have a look for myself. Sure enough, I found the St. Clair and Winona location operating as usual.

Mr. Movie, an independent video rental store near Ryerson University, closed for business at the end of September. It was a sad loss for loyal students and residents of the Merchandise Lofts in which it was based; but in this era of video on demand, Zip.ca and online streaming (legal or otherwise) the fact Mr. Movie was losing money and customers wasn't altogether surprising.

It's nice to see, though, that the owners have a sense of humour about the situation. In a note posted to their front door (see below), they take some time to poke fun at themselves and their customers.

After 13 years on Church St., Zelda's and its often packed street-side patio has now been shuttered. Owner Zelda Angelfire told NOW Magazine that their lease was up and just couldn't stomach the higher rent that their landlord was asking for. The good news for Zelda fans though is that they've found a new space at 692 Yonge St. (Yonge and Isabella) and hope to be open by the end of the month.