Toronto bar announces operating in the city 'isn't viable' anymore
A one-of-a-kind Toronto bar just announced that it'll be closing permanently next month.
Don't take this the wrong way, but I absolutely love a Toronto bar. Be they divey, daring, or downright opulent, I'm there, with a glass (or two) of something chilled and kicky in my hand.
And, while every single bar in the city has something unique to offer, I have to applaud those that step way out of the box with their concept, cocktails and delivery. Bloorcourt's Electric Bill Bar is, inarguably, one such establishment.
By all accounts Toronto's first and only Australian-themed bar, the watering hole presents its menu in the form of a dictionary, with pages devoted to defining the bits of Aussie slang after which the cocktails are named.
Concoctions going by the names of the Budgie Smuggler, Big Bogan and Good Egg have all made appearances on the menu, alongside Filipino bites from Slow Jams.
Though I'm inclined to fall in love with any bar that has friendly staff and a distinct personality, I'd say that Electric Bill is one spot that's got it figured out. Still, that doesn't make it immune to the operational woes that afflict businesses across the industry, and according to a recent Instagram post by owner Casey Ryan, it'll soon be time to say "Hoo-roo" to Electric Bill.
"We've been having a bit of a chat here with ourselves, and we've decided that, moving forward, the best thing for us is to shut up shop," Ryan explains in the video.
Ryan goes on to explain that rising operational costs, as well as "unexpected events" like the sudden loss of the bar's patio, have made staying open, as the team sees it, no longer a viable option.
"The hospitality industry is one of the greatest industries that anyone can be a part of, but it's also one of the least forgiving."
The end hasn't arrived quite yet, though. Electric Bill's last service will be on Sunday, Aug. 16, so you've still got over a month to swing by for a few last Big Koalas before the bar is gone for good.
Electric Bill is located at 866 Bloor St. W.
Fareen Karim
