Viral sandwich shop making a comeback at a Toronto nightlife spot

A wildly popular Toronto sandwich shop that was forced to close after less than a year in business is making a comeback this weekend with the help of an unexpected ally.

If there's one thing that can be said for sure about Toronto residents, it's that we're a sandwich-loving people. Be they served on focaccia, baguette or bagel, loaded with cold cuts, fried chicken or steak, if you slap "sandwich" on your sign, the people will show up in droves.

The team at Uncle Pete's, a fresh focaccia-based Italian sandwich shop that opened in Kensington Market in the summer of 2025, experienced this phenomenon firsthand when, almost immediately upon opening, it became a complete sensation.

But just because you've won over public opinion, that doesn't mean you're bulletproof, and the gold rush came to a harsh halt in the spring when the team "hit a snag when it comes to leases, renewals and finding a new home for the business." Uncle Pete's closed down indefinitely, less than 12 months after opening.

A good thing can't be kept down for long, though, and just a couple of months after closing, Uncle Pete's has officially found a new home, albeit an unexpected one.

Starting Sunday, July 12, Uncle Pete's will be calling Little Italy's Track & Field, a local nightlife staple and party bar, home.

The eponymous Pete tells blogTO that they'll be doling out sandwiches from 11 a.m. until they sell out every Wednesday through Sunday, but that the team is "already looking forward to expanding into earlier mornings or later evenings soon, with additional menu items to cater to those hours."

For the time being, a core menu of Pete's staples will be on offer, just in time for lunch, through the latter half of the week.

Track & Field — and now Uncle Pete's, too — is located at 582 College St.