Comments on: How the mighty have fallen: 24 more restaurant closures

By: Leslie Cunnian

Leslie Cunnian — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:45:29 +0000

I was so saddened to hear that Carman’s Club restaurant in Toronto has closed. I remember standing in line in that small hallway where those waiting were served the most delicious Greek appetizers – phyllo pastry stuffed with spinach and cheese. I believe that initially you had to be a member to eat there. I booked a tv show for CBC and remember sending Telly Savalas over there for dinner. The place had an intense, sweet aroma of garlic that enveloped you and just plain made you feel good. And the food was to die for. I became a friend of Arthur Carman’s and took many people there including my parents.
So sorry to see it go.

By: MariLynne

MariLynne — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:01:38 +0000

I was amazed at the fact that Carman’s has closed. Time was when I spent many pleasant hours at Carman’s with a very special friend.
It makes me wonder what other Restaurants have closed that we used to patronize.
Thank goodness I have a daughter who has a home in Hamilton, On. She is employed with CBC in To, and commutes daily. She is at home with a torn Labrum, and she is trying to recover from Surgery. She sent this to me. I didn’t even know that there was such a product.
Thank you for keeping me up to date.
MariLynne

By: Sari

Sari — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:01:16 +0000

What about Shopseys that was a great place to grab a quick bite on the way to a hockey game? On Front Street. It is my understanding it was bought out by Michael Bonnacini [excuse my spelling}. That leaves no place along Front Street within walking distance to ACC to pop in and get a good in expensive bite to eat before seeing hockey. Shopseys has been around since I can remember it’s too bad to see it go only to be replaced with an up scale place.

By: Trevor Jones

Trevor Jones — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:41:12 +0000

I have to comment on this list indicating 24 restaurants are closing since August. I think the list is very deceptive in that a number of these locations like Bigliardis had a great run for many years, gave the owners an amazing lifestyle and it has been indicated that George Bigliardi may open another spot. He did not go bankrupt. This recession is no where near the depth of the recession of 1980-1982 when I opened my first licenced restaurant and morphed it into one of the most successfull fine dining catering operations in Toronto which recently celebrated its 25th yr in business under the owners I sold to in 1989 ( boom times). The recession of 1990-994 again was much worse than the blip we have experienced in 2008-2009 when people simply decided to stop paying exoberant prices for mediocre food. One of my sons goes out with his friends to places where they have VIP lounges and they charge $200 a bottle for alcohol just for the privilege of being in a VIP section. You dont have to be a genius to realize places like this will very soon fade into oblivion. I forecasted the demise of Circa soon after Peter Gatien took over. It was to big and the rent out of this world. Go to Yonge and Eglinton and visit Gratzis or Granos and you will see WHY certain places make it and certain places fail. They provide excellent service, they know you by name, they are not pretenious, and they treat everyone equally whether from the Galen Weston LOOP or the Trevor Jones LOOP.

By: Barb

Barb — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:54:24 +0000

You’re missing a lot of closures in the Village. I heard last week that property’s being accumulated on the west side of Church between Alexander and Maitland (Indian place recently defunct) in anticipation of a condo. Would be great if NOW could check out this rumour. And maybe tell me it’s not true!

By: Pedro

Pedro — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:07:31 +0000

Acqua to close in March 2010 and Richtree (Brookfield Place) will close in January 2010