hogtown smoke toronto

BBQ restaurant permanently closes last Toronto location after landlord locks them out

Hogtown Smoke, the food truck turned restaurant that started what became a wave of Southern-style barbecue joints to open in the city has closed its last remaining Toronto location.

The restaurant has unfortunately faced several closures in the past.

First there was their Hogtown location on Colborn followed by The Yard  in the Beaches, then the Smoke Kitchen & Bar on Queen West, and more recently their restaurant in Kensington Market.

Now, the original Hogtown location in the Beaches is no more. For Lease signs are on the windows and a  Termination Notice to Tenant posted to their front door.

"The company has restructured management and we don't believe that Toronto is a place that you can make it in the restaurant business without a millionaire investing in you," Hogtown manager William Randolph told blogTO. 

"The company plans to grow outside of Toronto in places more friendly to small business."

Hogtown Smoke still has one location that's open in Stoney Creek and has been posting ads on Facebook in March calling for servers, bartenders and students looking for part-time work during the summer. They're open every day from 12 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Lead photo by

Jesse Milns


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Eat & Drink

Metro is axing Air Miles in Ontario for new rewards program

Even people from Loblaws' own team are joining the boycott of its stores

Trip to Iceland leaves traveller shocked at food prices compared to Canada

40 essential bubble tea in Toronto you need to try at least once

Someone created a guide to where to buy groceries in Toronto instead of No Frills

Here's what's opening in the old Brickworks Ciderhouse space in Toronto

Food prices are so high that many Canadians are eating stuff past best-before dates

Huge lineup of people looking to apply at restaurant shows reality of Toronto job market