Toronto Indian restaurant in 'cursed' location closes permanently after 7 months
A Toronto Indian restaurant in a location that some locals call "cursed" has closed its doors after just seven months, and its replacement is already on the way.
When Dhoom, a stylish new Indian restaurant that calls itself a "modern Indian journey," opened its doors in December 2025, hopeful locals thought it might mark the beginning of a new era at 417 Danforth Ave.
See, restaurants have had a bit of trouble getting a foothold at that location over the years. After several short-lived restaurant and nightlife concepts passed through in the early 2010s, the longest-running was Louis Cifer Brew Works, which managed to stay in business for a decade but wasn't without its controversies.
Upon Dhoom's opening, one Reddit user went so far as to remark that the location was "cursed," adding that the space is simply "too big to be viable."
Judging by recent events, they may have been on to something. Roughly seven months after opening, Dhoom has already closed its doors. In fact, it may even be a new record for turnaround speed.
Dhoom's closure was a quiet one, issuing no official statements or explanation, but deleting its Instagram and locking its doors for good.
In keeping with the quick turnaround theme, the space has already been scooped up by a new business, which opened on Saturday, Aug. 1.
Now, the address is home to the second location of Shaaz Indian Cuisine, a Hyderabadi spot that originated in Scarborough.
Will Shaaz have what it takes to break the curse? With one expansive, bustling location already under its belt, it just may, but only time — hopefully more than seven months — will tell.
Fareen Karim
