Iconic Toronto Pearson Airport restaurant is closing permanently
Toronto will soon bid farewell to the last physical location of a beloved deli that has long been an integral part of the community and culture at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
The reason behind its departure, however, remains unclear.
Caplansky's Deli's final holdout location at Terminal 3, after the CAN/INTL security, near gate B39, is set to close after 12 years of serving air travellers.
Owner and creator Zane Caplansky tells blogTO, "I never imagined, when I first conceived of opening what became the Deli, that I was beginning the journey that unfolded. The part that very few people know about is the chapter before the deli, where I was in my life when the idea came to me. The lesson I take from that is that anything in life truly is possible."
It all started back in 2007. Caplansky, who didn't know the first thing about smoked meat at the time, asked a friend to bring a smoked-meat sandwich back from Montreal. The friend made it back, but the sandwich never did.
Caplansky spent the next year teaching himself to cure, spice, and hand-slice his own smoked meat, and creating that ever-so-loved mustard.
The deli's first standalone location opened on College St. in 2007, but after a strong run in Little Italy, 2016 brought issues. The restaurant's landlord locked the doors on Caplansky. Lengthy legal battles and a triumphant return brought hope, but Caplansky's on College never found a way to recover, ultimately leading the restaurant to officially close its doors in 2018.
Before the commotion that took place on College Street, 2014 brought Caplansky's to Toronto Pearson Airport, the busiest airport in Canada, and only two years later the deli opened its doors in Yorkville. Expansion equals success, right? Unfortunately, only after a month of its College location closing, its Yorkville location met the same fate.
After many years of growth, success, a few bumps and the creation of a chosen family, it's time for the team at Caplansky to say its final goodbye to its very last physical store.
Caplansky announced the news on Instagram through a video sharing anecdotes, happy memories, and gratitude for the customers who have kept coming back and the staff who gave them a reason to.
Closing the airport location for Caplansky feels like the end of a chapter in his life, he tells blogTO, which is fair to say after 18 years, and many others feel that way too. Since posting the video, comments, emails and direct messages on social media have been flooding in, praising the service and quality that the deli offered to frequent flyers.
"It wasn't my decision," Caplansky tells blogTO, "I understand, from our franchise, that it wasn't their decision either."
The part of this equation that has not been answered is where the Greater Toronto Airport Authority fits in. Caplansky has sent emails but has received no response regarding who made this decision and why.
Caplansky says he finds it odd that they've made this decision and that they've made it now: "They've chosen November 15th to close the deli. That's the height of American Thanksgiving travel. Scores of people will be disappointed to find us closed."
Looking back, the deli has been home not only to its staff but to those who work throughout the airport, many of whom are its most frequent customers, leaving a solemn feeling in place of where many found rest, comfort, and good food during a long shift.
Unfortunately, without answer, rhyme, or reason, Caplansky and his team are in the dark, but there is one thing that's clear — the gratitude Caplansky has for this journey and his team.
"I'm enormously proud of the team that we have at the deli at the airport and the way that we care about and serve our customers there," says Caplansky. "My biggest hugs go to our staff for supporting our restaurant for over 12 years. It's completely remarkable that most of the staff who helped open the restaurant 12 years ago are still the core staff today."
Following the closure, Caplansky's will continue to make its small-batch mustards, and Zane Caplansky will be taking this as an opportunity to spend time with family.
Caplansky's Deli is located in Terminal 3 of the Toronto Pearson International Airport at 6301 Silver Dart Dr. and will close its doors permanently on November 15th.
