Popular Toronto pizza joint locked out by landlord after 'abandoning' location
This past November, a popular Toronto pizza chain announced that it would be closing a prominent location to open an exciting new venture. A day later, its landlord issued a notice of termination on the basis of rent non-payment and abandonment of property.
How's that for a little mystery with your mozzarella?
You'd have to be seriously green to the Toronto pizza scene to have never heard of Maker Pizza. It could be the impressively chewy crust and lengthy cheese pulls, or it could be the involvement of celebrity chef Matty Matheson, but the pizza chain has become, inarguably, one of the city's most notable over the past decade.
That doesn't mean it's free from a little controversy from time to time, though, and the chain's now-shuttered Avenue and Lawrence location appears to have gotten itself into a dispute with its then-landlord, resulting in the sudden shuttering of the pizza shop.
It all seemed above board when, on Nov. 12, the pizza chain announced via Instagram post that the Avenue location had closed permanently. "Avenue Road – what an incredible journey," the caption of the post read.
Sad for the neighbourhood's residents, sure, but ultimately nothing out of the ordinary.
But the plot only thickened further when, the very next day, a notice from the location's landlord appeared in the window of Maker's now-vacant storefront, alleging that the business had breached its contract.
As a result, the lease was terminated, and the property was re-entered on Nov. 13.
A termination notice dated Nov. 13, 2025, is posted in the window of Maker Pizza's former Avenue Road location. Submitted to blogTO.
Stranger yet, a majority of the restaurant's furniture, equipment (including pizza ovens) and merchandise like pizza boxes seem to have been left behind. But, if Maker Pizza ostensibly knew about the lockout at least a day before it happened, why not move it out before it's too late?
There's also the fact that the entire address, which also houses the last standing Pusateri's location in the city, is slated to be demolished to make way for a condo development in the near future.
Pusateri's, as it happens, was Maker Pizza's landlord at the Avenue and Lawrence location before the lockout. While the premium Italian grocery store has confirmed it'll reopen on the ground level of the future condo development, the same seemingly can't be said for Maker.
So, did the pizza shop close down of its own volition? Was it kicked out by its landlord? Did the chain simply jump ship before demolition sunk the location?
Unfortunately, for the time being, this mystery remains unsolved.
blogTO contacted Maker Pizza to further elaborate on what transpired between the restaurant and its landlord, but did not receive a response by the given deadline.
Given the recent closures of other Matty Matheson-associated restaurants, Bar Clams and Ca Phe Rang, the closure of Maker Pizza Avenue brings with it a sense of foreboding that it may not have a few months prior.
Still, despite the differing narratives between Maker Pizza and the termination notice, Maker doesn't appear to be any worse for wear, business-wise.
According to Maker's Instagram post announcing the closure, a sleek new location of the pizzeria is on its way to the nearby intersection of Yonge and Eglinton in the summer of 2026.
Not only that, but Maker also recently relocated its Leslieville location to spacious new digs down the street on Carlaw Ave. So, with or without a rent dispute, it certainly looks like Maker Pizza is very much still on the move.
Even if "the move" is taking them out and away from Avenue and Lawrence.
Maker Pizza Avenue was formerly located at 1537 Avenue Rd.
Hector Vasquez
