(Image: Danielle Scott)
Not long ago, it seemed as though brew and gastropubs were on the rise in Toronto, but a couple of recent closures are giving us pause. While My Place’s failure might be attributed to its west end location and size, many are shocked to hear that downtown brew pub Duggan’s Brewery has also shut its doors.
Rumours of the closure started on Tuesday morning, when a lease-termination notice for “non-payment of rent” was found on the pub’s boarded-up front doors. Over on the forum at The Bar Towel, an Ontario craft beer website, news of a possible reopening was mentioned. The Toronto Star’s beer writer Josh Rubin confirmed over Twitter that owner Mike Duggan was hoping to reopen later in the week, and was forced to shut down “because [the] landlord made a mistake.” However, last night sommelier Ben Shillow (Oliver and Bonacini) let the news slip of Duggan’s permanent closure, followed shortly by Duggan’s official announcement this afternoon.
While the loss of the brew pub is sad news for the city’s beer scene, fans of Duggan’s popular No. 9 can rest assured that the award-winning India Pale Ale will still be brewed at Etobicoke’s Cool Brewing Co. and carried at bars, restaurants and the LCBO. One more note of hope comes from Graham Duncan, a sales rep with Duggan’s Brewery, who noted that some “very good news regarding a second beer” will be released in the very near future. Still, it feels like the end of a brief era.
• Duggan’s Brewery Closure Confirmed To Be Permanent [Canadian Beer News]
• Duggan’s Brewery – Downtown Location – Officially Closed [Great Canadian Beer Blog]
The food was usually not too bad and took a fair swing at being substantial & properly made.
The space did feel a bit cavernous, without much beer-hall charm to compensate.
The beer was usually pretty darn good, with some hiccups in quality and presentation. Many enjoyable new beers and many small-brewery quirks. Drinkers cried out that the shrimpy-looking glassware was smaller than standard sizes – especially with a foamy pour – but at least the 10oz/16oz (?) servings were cheap so I didn’t care. Later those same servings went up in price to ‘typical’ 12oz/20oz Toronto prices, and I began to worry the brewpub were getting desperate for cash to survive.
For all Victoria St. Duggan’s flaws, I will miss ‘em. Did I not mention: the workers were always very hospitable! I got to know some great people who deserve to do well in this city.
September 7, 2011 at 4:36 pm | by JonasOfTorontoSorry to hear about the closing. I am an out of towner and had planned on checking it out but too late now. Difficult to start a new business these days – good for Michael for trying.
September 29, 2011 at 7:49 pm | by MarySources tell me that the new Six Pints Specialty Brewing Co. division of Molson has taken over the spot. Building permits have been issued for renovations.
December 4, 2011 at 8:56 am | by Paul