planta bankruptcy

All of Toronto's Planta locations could soon close as chain files for bankruptcy

It might just be the end for Planta, David Lee's made-in-Toronto plant-based restaurant empire, as the chain filed for bankruptcy.

The 2016 lovechild between Toronto culinary icon, David Lee (then of Nota Bene fame) and CEO Steven Salm, Planta all began with an original location in Yorkville, before taking on major cities across North America over the near-decade that would follow.

Locations in Florida, Atlanta, New York City, Los Angeles and D.C. all cropped up in short succession, on top of additional Toronto locations, including now-defunct experiments like Planta Cocina and Planta Burger and the still-bustling location on Queen.

It would be an understatement to say that Lee and Salm caught a current with Planta that carried them all the way to the bank. It seemed that way, at least.

According to a recent report from Reuters, it could quite possibly be the end of the Planta reign as we know it, as the Miami Beach-based company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as of Monday, May 12.

Planta's parent company, CHG US Holdings, and 17 other affiliated properties have also filed for creditor protection.

For now, Planta's future remains unclear, but if recent events for giants like Hudson's Bay are any indication, you might want to head over to the chain's Toronto locations sooner rather than later for one last carrot hot dog or watermelon sushi.

Planta currently operates 18 locations across North America.

Lead photo by

Jesse Milns


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