It's Deadpool (Or Moving Time) for Zelda's, KOMA Designs, Oro Caffe and Flow
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.
In Parkdale, Koma Designs is vacating their two floor space at Queen and Gwynne. Owner Jamie Cheveldeyoff suggest that it's more of a move than a closing; but as of right now he's yet to secure a new space for his collection of sci-fi inspired designs and artifacts.
In Liberty Village, I'm a bit late to the party to report that Oro Caffe has closed. The owners actually packed up at the end of the last month after a dispute with their landlord over rent. Oro was one of the original cafes and lunch options in the area (at least if we're defining original as the time pre-dating the construction of the Toy Factory lofts) but in recent years they likely suffered from increased competition.
And, finally, Flow in Yorkville is no more. The Liberty Group has a sign in the window suggesting they'll be re-inventing the space soon.
Comments (17)
Good for Zelda's! Although they will be sorely missed on Church St. (which is starting to lack any flavour, other than that of Big Business) it looks good on the landlord for Zelda's refusing to pay extoritionist rents. Church St. landlords have to either charge less (what the market will bare, obviously) or get used to the revolving door of shuttered businesses like we continue to see.
I have to wonder what kind of rent Zelda's was getting fucked with since that place was packed every night.
Seems to me lately that there are a lot of Toronto landlords who don't understand what a recession is, and have an inflated idea of the value of what they're renting. We're going to see a lot of empty storefronts while landlords are spiteful enough to charge over market value, so have no tenants paying them at all.
Given the bad influence 'missing-teeth' (empty storefronts) and untenanted buildings have on a neighbourhood, there should be squatters rights after six months' vacancy. Not likely to happen in this petit-bourgeois town...
I'm a little nervous about what will move in to replace Zelda's. Ideally it would be another restaurant. It's a perfect patio location.
the food at Zelda's is terrible.. so nothing to miss there.. i wonder if steamworks will take over
Heard that Liberty Group plan to transform Flow into an italian resto called 'Ciao'.
Now that's innovation.
I don't think anyone went to Zelda's for the food. It's not a restaurant per se, so you can't expect more from them than decent bar food, and they had it. People went more for the fun atmosphere, the excellent patio, and huge drink list. I loved The Living Well and miss it a lot so I'm glad something fun is moving there again. But yeah, good point, Zelda's must have raked in the cash, and they couldn't afford their new rent? I really hope something of the same nature moves into that space though on Church though. Church St. needs more F-U-N! And yes, PINTS! I loved it there too. I might be remembering incorrectly, but I think there was a Toby's there a long a time ago? That was pretty good too.
I'm actually curious as to the overall demographic profiles of Toronto retail landlords. While purely anecdotal, it seems to me that rents often go through the roof when you get a generational shift from the people who've owned the building for 30 years to their children, who've spent the last 20 years thinking about the $$$ their gonna get when pops finally has to go into a home. Pent-up demand, as the economic witch doctors might say.
Would sopmeone pelase explain to me why one lousy damn 'neighbiourhood establishment' can't take one lousy day and explain to their loyal patrons that 1)they're closing up shop, 2)the reason why, and 3)where they're going. Why is this so har if it really is because of a new rent? What, the landlord gave them the new cost and they split (at 2am mind you) just hours later? Bullshit.
Oh and i think it would make a great 2 floor Taco Bell. The one on Yonge is too small.
One of the owners actually said via Toronto Life that they were paying $28,000/month but landlords wanted to raise to $34,000/month.
Still I agree with others when they say that many kids are inheriting these buildings and thus don't really care how long the buildings/storefronts stay empty because to them it's better to wait for the big $$$ payout, than be tied into a long term lease with a tennant you gave a deal to.
That's a good picture, a missing">http://www.kimberlysmiles.com/kimberly-smiles-services/general-services/">missing teeth. Landlords are unrealistic in raising their rent at this troubled times.
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