Eat & Drink
The Battle for Ici Bistro and Why Joe Pantalone Dug His Own Grave in His Quest to Be Mayor
When chef Jean Pierre Challet applied for a liquor licence for his new restaurant Ici Bistro, he dreamed of a place where locals could meet over brioche. Little did he know he would instead bring the community together over a political battle that still lies smouldering.
After working for years in some of Toronto's most respected restaurants (The Fifth, Le Select Bistro, Windsor Arms Hotel, Auberge du Pommier) Challet turned his attention to opening a small bistro on the corner of Harbord and Manning. He was confident he had chosen the right location.
"Each time something opens in this neighbourhood people hope for a little bistro; something casual, a little bit creative. But instead it is always just another fast food restaurant. I think that we really have the right formula," said Challet.
The space he chose was small and bright, but had a dark past. In 1999, when arcade games littered the floor, an 18-year-old student was stabbed to death by a 15-year-old boy. This made local schools and business associations fearful of a repeated situation when Challet first applied for his liquor licence in 2009.
Fearing the worst, both principals of Harbord Collegiate and Clinton Street School wrote letters of opposition to the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). The Palmerston Area Residents Association (PARA) added their voice to those opposing the licence.
Then, Deputy Mayor and city councillor Joe Pantalone of Ward 19 (Trinity-Spadina) joined the crusade against Ici. He would turn out to be their biggest, most challenging enemy.
Though Pantalone never visited Ici, despite numerous invitations from Challet and his partners, he was quick to put his political weight against the licence. In an interview with the Toronto Star, Pantalone said he was convinced that the bistro would only spell trouble for the neighbourhood in the future. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," he said.
Challet would not be defeated. He found an ally in Sam James, owner of nearby Sam James Coffee Bar, who carried his croissants and his message. He attended community meetings and invited countless people into his small bistro.
"He kept an open door," said James. "He would walk people through there, show them what he was doing, what his plans were." These plans were to open a small, quality focused, fair priced establishment focused on bringing the community together.
He agreed to fifteen stipulations made by the PARA; some of these include specific business hours, no TV screens, teenagers are not allowed without guardians, smoking is allowed on Harbord Street but not on Manning, and more.
One by one his opponents became his allys.
"It created a new buzz;" said Challet, "there were neighbours who had lived a few doors from each other who had never met and suddenly they met here, they met at Sam [James Coffee Bar] for coffee. The neighbourhood came together."
When Ici finally won their license after a hearing with the AGCO, Pantalone called it "the beauty of democracy." Since then, Pantalone's secretary has approached the PARA to set up a meeting with Challet and his partners, which they have refused. As Ici finalizes licenses, construction and prepares to hire staff Challet has not warmed to the politician that "robbed" him of 6 months revenue.
"What he did here is unacceptable," said Challet. "And now we want him to be mayor? We should ask him to quit! He never supports the neighbourhood."
Sam James agrees.
"As a mayoral candidate he has left a negative impression on a lot of people as far his support of small business and community. It is something you do not expect from a politician of that tenure," said James. "But to each their own, everyone is welcome to dig their own grave."
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There are many more stories like this one. Good luck Joe, you're going to need it you clown
Whatever you think of Pantalone, whatever you think of Ici Bistro, the idea that one bistro license is going to change Panatalone's chances in the mayoral race is idiotic. Pantalone's main problem for mayor is that he doesn't have much name recognition, not that everyone has heard of him but hates him because of a bistro liquor license.
"teenagers are not allowed without guardians"
Yeah, teenagers are going to want to go hang out in a BISTRO.
They're going to go in there and sit at tables and order snow crab bisque.
PARA and Pantalone need to go fu*k themselves.
I can't wait for Pantalone to come up my street campaigning to his safe little old Portugeuse man with cigarette demographic. I'm gonna film his answers to my ICI questions.
Wow, what a douche move for Pantalone. A Bistro? Maybe he didn't know what a Bistro was.
Now that i know this my vote is a 100 percent not going to Joe. F*uk that guy, 6 months revenue is deep.
I blame the idiotic principals.
What were they thinking?
Well thank god that Joey Pants and the residents association stood up to that rowdy bistro crowd. Cause if you let the bistros get away with it, then come the cafes, then the full-on restaurants, and next thing you know the whole neighborhood's gone to shit.
You guys are missing the big picture! Now that Joe Pants is running for mayor (and will lose), he will not have a seat on Council at all.
And I'm so hyped for this new bistro!
I have been rooting for Ici since summer. The Principals and The Pants owe M. Challet a whopping apology. Shame on them for their ignorance and stupidity. Incredibly unfortunate that these dumbasses are in decision-making positions for the city and its youth. yikes!
ps: I think pretty much everyone in the neighbourhood has a little crush on Mr. Sam James...
Perhaps this is true, but do keep in mind that Pantalone's reputation as a misplaced moralist also extends to the idiotic moratorium on restaurants and bars on Ossignton. The drive to impede business in the city isn't exactly what a would-be mayor should want to be known for, but in the minds of many, this is Pantalone's calling card.
Pantalone is protecting his turf, the College strip.
Pantalone has also been a major roadblock in The Great Hall's reformation to become a centre for arts, culture and music. Until he dropped his name in the hat for mayor, that is. That he doesn't support his community and then does an about-face to exploit the benefits of entrepreneurial spirit, community-building, and neighbourhood rejuvenation is hardly surprising...I'm just glad that his disgraceful behaviour is being recognized - and circulated.
I knew I wouldn't be voting for Pantalone after several emails from him that were utter gibberish - I mean completely unintelligible - in response to basic foundational questions about his contribution to council. Hopefully his greatest contribution might be yet to come...being rightfully ousted.
Not being from the community, and only having watched this play out in a few blog posts on sites generally favourable to restaurateurs , all I feel I can take away from this account is that small businesses feel that they are entitled to licenses regardless of any opposition from the community, but are ultimately willing to make concessions when necessary to achieve compromise. Isn't that the whole point of the process? 6 months sounds like way longer than it ought to have taken, but I don't think it's appropriate to frame it as robbery. Again, I acknowledge that I don't have any experience with these matters but my impression was that people in this industry expect licensing to take time. Can someone provide perspective on what is "normal"?
The story as it is told here is one of the tenacious sticktoitiveness of entrepreneurship in overcoming political and NIMBY obstructionism, without any views from the mouths of the people who actually opposed the liquor license. If it is the case that Challet and James won people over with a concerted charm offensive, it would have been nice to hear about it from some of those people.
"...all I feel I can take away from this account is that small businesses feel that they are entitled to licenses regardless of any opposition from the community..."
Keep in mind, this isn't about a rowdy nightclub trying to open up in a quiet residential area, it's a little bistro... so in this case a liquor license means serving wine to diners, not Jager shots to frat boys. I fail to see how the opposition had any justification in the first place.
Pantalone didn't want the bistro because he couldn't figure out how to cram it full of unionized city workers.
agentsmith - Pants + local NIMBYz opposed the license based on the following breathtakingly stupid logic:
"If we give Ici a liquor license then we're going to have to give one to anybody who comes to that strip wanting a liquor license. And that could mean a jager-shots-to-frat-boys bar, so let's not give anyone a liquor license based on that hypothetical situation, even though each liquor application is evaluated individually and independently of any other licenses already in play in a neighbourhood."
You do know that liquor licences don't differentiate between restaurants and bars? So the fact it's a "little bistro" doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. That's the very problem with Ossington - a little place applies for a license and in a few weeks they're serving jager shots to frat boys.
This election's ICI Bistro is last election's Olive & Lemon.
The old City of Toronto, pre-amalgamation had on its books, a kind of right of first refusal to new liquor licenses within a certain distance from any public school.
The original intention may be rooted in a Toronto The Good that was Puritan in its thinking.
Fast forward to today, and though it took six months for mutual understanding to develop, it could have been much quicker.
And that's one among many reasons Why I want to be on City Council in Ward 19 Trinity-Spadina.
HiMY SYeD ~ Toronto City Council Candidate ~ http://ward19.ca
p.s. Tobogganing on Sundays is still a no-no, and technically illegal. One battle at a time though. The City has many grandfathers.
Pantalone placed the same i year moratorium ( spelling english is not my first language)
on College St. as on Ossington and slowed new business interest to a crawl on College St. sure there are l GREAT places on College but what Pantalone did not realize is that maybe 20 residents most with too much time on their hands who do not support College or Ossington with their business were upset with College St. & Ossington but Thousands loved them and still do and MANY live in his Riding. Dont get me started on the PARA people i went to one meeting and was shocked at the ignorance and NIMBY
attitude of most of the people there.
Pantalone is also the guy to has halted progress on Ossington and Dundas, including daytime businesses like cafes, flower shops and bakeries. He is against progress of any kind right now and that is hurting our city.
As an Ici neighbor and supporter with some familiarity with this story, I would just like to point out that PARA (the residents' association) actually became an Ici supporter after a few meetings with the restaurant owners, and its chair spoke in support at the license hearing. Also, the school officials were unable to review their initial opposition during the summer when school was out. But at the first Harbord CI parent council meeting after school resumed, they voted to withdraw their opposition. Also, most of the neighbours who filed opposition letters with the AGCO eventually withdrew these after meeting with JP and the other Ici owners, and several attended the license hearing as supporters.
In short, it was Joe Pantalone alone who remained the key opponent of the license by the time of the license hearing. This was despite the emails of support written to Pantalone by several Ici neighbours. Even the lawyer appointed by the City to oppose the license basically admitted at the hearing that the City had no case and that there was no evidence of widespread community opposition.
Pantalone called this "the beauty of democracy," but he used his bully pulpit and City power to impose his own will, while refusing to even meet with his constituents, who overwhelmingly supported this new business in their neighbourhood.
While the fate of one little bistro is not likely to affect the lives of most Torontonians, voters should consider Pantalone's behavior during this episode, and ask whether his dictatorial style has any place in the mayor's chair.
Can't really fault Joe for initially following the lead of the local ratepayer's group. Many ratepayer's groups are unelected, unaccountable and, in many cases, unidentifiable groups of self-selecting NIMBYs -- who actually take the time to get involved in their community and who do vote municipally. If some better structure were put around the establishment and running of ratepayer's groups, councillors wouldn't be quite so beholden to their often reactionary positions.
Yes, Joe Pantalone has a responsibilty to gather his own information and to lead his residents, and he may have missed the moment when the wind changed on this issue. However, the close link between ratepayers' groups and the local councillor is the kind of relationship that many would complain about if it were between a councillor and a developer, but one that we seem to overlook.
Exactly-- I love the victimy photo--PLEASE its a business-- placed badly in my view (hmmm that Beaujolais as I watch the 14 yr olds 4 feet away at Harbord Collegiate)
My god this is worth a blog???
Instead of grandstanding "wannabe" councillor-- learn the details of the issue first--
Oh please-- it is a BUSINESS- not witholding help with a life threatening illness. Get serious-- owes him an apology? Try learning something about the issue.
Speak for yourself, this neighbour DOESNT have a crush on the coffee bar or its owner. There is a better coffee place just near the park, a real organically established place with a real not"faux" vibe.
Lets figure this out-- hmmm he has been open at this spot for months now. Could he be looking for some free advertising by fooling some guy who needs a topic for his blog?
I go by his place several times a day and 5 out of 7 days it is empty/not open. I realize it is not the prime time for restaurants, but heh when you open where the rents are MUCH MUCH less than either Bloor or College (both less than 5 mins away) I guess you want free advertising
Think people
I agree with Carol. The facts of this tiny, tiny thing are far from black & white. I guess it all went down on a very slow news day.
No John it wasnt just Pantalone-- there were LOTS of non-PARA types who had problems with the place. I live in the PARA area and frankly I had no big problems with the place. Heh it will be gone in a year or so-- VERY bad location.
Your slamming of Joe is below the belt. Let me guess, you have another beef with him and are using this venue to vent, like it seems lots are (you Ossington people) Sorry Joe doesnt rule the Alcohol and Gaming Commission, it is a PROVINCIAL body-- please learn the details
Looks Like PARA found this blog " You Ossington People"
Pantalone, just another despicable politician. Why do you people keep voting for these morons.
Carol,
What is your criteria for someone establishing an "organic" business? Cut the bullshit buzz words. And what is fake about Sam's shop? He is quite possibly the most legit barista in the city, and the only vibes coming out of the shop are good ones, along with great coffee and espresso. If I were you, I'd double check before posting something inflammatory about a shop that you obviously know nothing about. In the end it will be alright - your lack of taste is demonstrated by saying that the Linux Cafe has better coffee.
Sam's shop is about as organic as it gets - dude has lived in the neighborhood, decided to open up shop and contribute to the neighborhood, it was a big risk. He's utilized nothing more than his talent and hard work to get where he is, but you people need to stop inciting a feud between Sam's shop and Linux Cafe - they are two different beasts and whether you like Linux or SJCB doesn't really matter, you're supporting a local shop run by people who care enough to contribute something to their neighborhood.
On the topic of ICI - Anyone getting into business of ANY kind in this city knows to expect delays, bureaucracy and an inordinate amount of red tape from our local government. Their track record on this stuff isn't good, and I suppose unless you're a small business owner (especially restauranteurs) you would have no idea of how frustrating it can be. But aside from all that, I'm sure ICI knew there was potential for delays like this, and the added weight of a past killing in the space can't help, but again we can't help but feel for the families affected by this. Contrastingly though, these new businesses are breathing new life into a street that's often been neglected, and from what I've seen in the neighborhood there's been nothing but improvement. Moving forward isn't always a bad thing, and it's sad that someone like Pantalone is too reactionary to even make a visit to ICI to see what they were trying to do. A city councillor OWES his constituents this much, and if you disagree with that then you are a complete idiot. - Looking directly at you Carol.
There is a lot of ignorance in many of these comments. First of all, there is no mention in the article that the corner of Manning and Harbord has been the scene of three separate and unsuccessful liquor licence applications starting in 1992. The most recent one was about 3 years ago. The location is directly across the street from Harbord Collegiate and the concern in the past was that the earlier applicants would attract a young crowd, lead to more underage drinking, and would quite frankly hurt the neighbourhood. The next door neighbours were especially concnered about this (it's easy to be in favour of a liquor licence when you live several streets, or several miles away). Joe Pantalone listened to what the neighbourhood said, and especially to what the immediate neighbours said. I was involved in all three of these applications and Joe was responsive to and supportive of the neighbourhood. We won those three applications when the Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) decided that it would not have been in the public interest to allow those businesses to have liquor licence in that location. This was a big deal.
Joe's concern about the Ici application was two-fold, as I understood it. Obviously, a bistro is different than a video game place that appeals to a young crowd. However, once one place gets a licence, it makes it more likely that other, nearby places will get licences too. Even places that appeal to a young crowd of the type that was ruled against the public interest before. Now, the place across the street (kitty-corner to the high school) which caters to a young crowd will apply. This corner has not previously had liquor licences. Second, if Ici goes under, the licence can follow the sale of the business. Three times the AGCO ruled that it was against the public interest for youth-oriented establishments, directly across from the high school, to have a liquor licence. Joe's concern was that Ici's application might do indirectly what the other earlier applications had tried to do that directly.
So much for the total absence of context in this bush-league article. How people can make meaningful comments about Joe Pantalone's motives and vision on this issue is beyond me, unless they know something about the underlying issues. Meanwhile, I live right down the street from Ici, and I was not aware of any outreach.
Joe Pantalone has stood up for the neighbourhood, and actually has a vision for the neighbourhood which he has consistently maintained in the 19 years I have lived here. We'll see how long Ici lasts.
If Pantalone was so concerned about this application why did he not ever meet with the owners of ICI or any of the over 200 supporters who wanted to meet with him? i live 50 feet away and i am so happy that ici is here as well as the new 3 stores across the street - Now we have adult eyes in the area and it feels so much more alive. A friend of mine owns a bar on College St and Mr Pantalone supported his patio and my friend received a patio permit with the City of Toronto but a few years later when my friend wanted to Re- license the patio with the AGCO( the patio is on College St not a side patio and the patio was a bit smaller but had been there for 14 years with no complaints or charges) a few residents were against it so Mr Pantalone wrote to the AGCO trying to get them to make the patio much smaller ( even though he approved the size in the first place) and to have it closed down at 10 pm! there are 60 patios in the same area with no conditions like this . When my friend wanted to meet with Mr. Pantalone to discuss the situation he was told he had to register as a Lobbyist at city hall
before he would even speak to him my friend is a resident who actually lives close to Mr. Pantalone
none of the residents who opposed the patio had to register as Lobbyists and the AGCO found
in favour of the patio and called Mr. Pantalone's actions Irresponsible considering all the patios close by and the fact that he approved of the patio in the first place. My friend is one of the best operators on College St. and is respected in the community and works very hard 7 days a week for the last 14 years on College St. He might even be not too happy with me for writing this as he still has a good relationship with Mr. Pantalone but was shocked that Mr Pantalone took the stance he did.
Adult eyes??? what???? there have always been adult eyes in that area-- there are other businesses in the area and lots of residents. If you live 50 feet away you either live at the High School, in the bike shop or the laundramat!!?? How did you feel when the local drug dealer owned the "coffee shop" (one of the previous incarnations of that spot?)-- feel good? Or how about when the student got stabbed just down from ICI a few years back-- didn't bother you?
Once again, another post not addressing the issuing a license to an establishment on that corner. Another post giving us some one sided tale of some other issue. Do you honestly think anyone would take your story on face value given College Street "bars/restaurants" are well known to be money laundering vehicles that routinely turn over every year or two? Who knows what your friends story is--do you think we should judge Pantalone badly because of your friends situation? really get a grip-- stick to the posted issue.
Wow dude--like really looking back at you
Read Reid's post-- maybe you will get the drift
peace out
Begone troll
Read Monday janes post if you truly want buzz words-- wow organic a buzz word?? RTM if you really care to understand the issue RTM-- read Reids post--
Exactly-- now I know as a small business person (with no grips unlike others on this post) HOW to get free advertising!!
Carol, I read Reid's post, did you read mine? I understand the neighbors' opposition to a liquor license (for a number of reasons) and I clearly stated it. I also think people like yourself and RTM are ridiculous for trying to create drama between two coffee shops, again clearly stated. Reid also clearly stated his points quite clearly. You on the other hand, alluded to everyone else not knowing the "details" yet you never formed one post where you explained your side of this even half as well as Reid did (thank god he proved your points for you). Your posts also of trolling as well, leveling smug insults at businesses you don't seem to personally like in place of making any coherent point.
I feel equally for the people who've been directly affected in the past by irresponsible business owners, self righteous do-gooders, and just sheer circumstance - but I don't fully understand condemning businesses on the street because of the past, nor do I think that it's reasonable to expect your neighborhood will remain a sleepy hollow in the middle of a major metropolitan centre. But whatever, none of this will change your mind at all, I'm personally glad that ICI got their license and I plan on at least trying what they have to offer like I would any new business on the street. Your insinuation that ICI will "heh, be gone in a year or so..." is the kind of vile thing said by lonely, sad people who annoy all the neighborhood business' captive audiences (read: employees and owners) with their proselyzations.
Carol- i own a victorian on Clinton St. Maybe a bit more than 50 feet i admit but not much more. This article is about Mr. Pantalone and dealing with business in the area so i am on point.
as for business turning over and money laundering my friend as i stated has had his place on College St. for 14 years and its busier than ever and I did work there for 2 years, so i am aware of all sides of his story as i was there and still go there.
The Stabbing was in 1999 not " A few years ago" i don't buy drugs from cafes so i would not know of a cafe owner selling drugs. Adult eyes- as in the adults that own ICI as well as customers and the new shops where Sam James is which used to be home to a very old man that lived in one of the papered up stores but was recently moved to a care facility. The only business' that were there are the two convienance stores and laundramat & a bike repair. The convienance store's have been robbed many times in recent years at night once just 10 minutes after i was just there, and Events cafe which is not an Adult place. The Only places i have seen Turn over every few years were ones that were not thought out and did not fit in the area, as well if they were money laundering they would not go out of business quickly. This is BLOGTO and this is a Toronto Story not "Free Advertising" like JP needs it anyway being one of the most accomplished Chefs in the
City.
you foreget that there were others that invested time and quite a bit of money,and also tried to get a lic. at the same location and were turned away. you f.cks come into this awesome neighbourhood and in a couple of years want to change the hole structure of were many of us have lived for over 50 plus years. J.P has been our councilor for over 20 years and has given this neighbour what we need. none of u f.ucks can't even tie his shoes. cheers.
Wow, so now Pantalone's mom is commenting. Hey, Mama Pantalone, ease up on the double negatives and poor orthography.