Legendary Ontario pizza shop is closing down after over 50 years

An iconic Ontario pizza shop just announced it'll be closing this year after over 50 years in business.

While the GTA is certainly far from lacking when it comes to great pizza shops, there's something uniquely special about a good, old-fashioned mom-and-pop shop.

Sure, they may not carry the same street cred as trendy spots like Badiali, nor come with a celebrity chef cosign like Maker Pizza, but the history, which is all too often painted across their walls in the form of framed newspaper clippings, awards, and photographs, adds something that buzz just can't.

While Toronto proper boasts such stalwarts as Oakwood Pizza and Danforth Pizza House, Thornhill has Dante's, which has been slinging traditional-style pies and Italian cuisine since 1976.

Founded by Dante Paoletti, the pizza shop has been a local phenomenon for decades as it keeps the community supplied with gourmet pies and a full suite of Italian staples. If there was ever a time to throw the term institution around, it would be when discussing Dante's.

That's not to say that the past 52 years have been without their fair share of challenges, though. Back in 2014, Dante's found itself at the centre of an equally legendary feud when new management ousted Dante overnight, which he responded to by opening a new restaurant right across the street.

For all the ups and downs of the past five decades, it appears to be the end of an era for Dante's as Dante recently took to the business' Facebook account to announce that 2025 will be its last year in operation.

Dante's post on the Dante's Pizzeria Facebook page.

"With much consideration, we make this announcement," the post reads. "All good things must come to an end."

"With nearly 53 years in business, almost 11 years in this location [,] we have made the hard decision [...] this will be our final year in operation," the post reads.

At the time of publication, Dante's has not responded to our inquiries about the reasons behind the closure or the pizzeria's official closing date.

Dante's Pizzeria is located at 8700 Dufferin Street in Thornhill.