High profile Italian restaurant closing in Toronto

A Toronto restaurant that was a go-to in the neighbourhood is permanently closing after a decade in business.

I spent a good amount of time during my teenage years running amok through Midtown.

Although I, myself, was a Beaches kid, I attended a high school that was a stone's throw from Yonge and Eglinton, making it the perfect hunting ground for lunch-hour adventures to the Eglinton Station Cinnabon or after-school shopping trips to the now-shuttered Urban Outfitters at the Yonge and Eglinton Centre.

It also meant that the vast majority of my friends hailed from the likes of Leaside, Lawrence Park, Yonge and Eglinton and Rosedale, so Yonge and Eglinton was always, always the set rendezvous point for any and all shenanigans.

When it came to fancy dinners, Italian was king, and that meant that almost everyone I knew, at some point or another, hosted a birthday or celebration dinner at Cibo Wine Bar on Yonge.

Opening its doors in 2015, the restaurant made for a much-welcomed addition to that particular stretch of the street, providing a new, trendy spot for Italian classics (I have a vivid memory of diving into a particularly massive meatball at my friend's Sweet Sixteen) and even more impressive wine selection.

In the years that followed, Cibo's Midtown location (along with its sister locations in Yorkville and on King West) remained a go-to for members of the neighbourhood and surrounding areas — a legacy that's soon to change.

Cibo Wine Bar is set to close down its Yonge and Eglinton location as of Jan. 25.

“After an incredible decade of serving the Yonge and Eglinton community, we regret to announce that Cibo Wine Bar at this location will be closing," Nick Di Donato, the president and CEO of Liberty Entertainment Group, Cibo's parent company, says in a statement provided to blogTO.

"Our lease has come to an end, and despite our best efforts, we were unable to reach a mutually agreeable renewal with the new landlord."

In spite of the closure, Nick makes sure to express gratitude to both the restaurant's devoted patrons and its staff for "their unwavering support," which, he says, has made "the past ten years a remarkable journey."

"While this marks the end of an era, we are actively seeking a new location in the area and remain committed to continuing our tradition of excellence," he adds. "Stay tuned for what's next!”

Cibo fans across Toronto needn't worry too much, though, because the chain's remaining two locations at 133 Yorkville Avenue and 522 King West will remain business as usual for the foreseeable future.

Cibo Yonge is located at 2472 Yonge.