(Image: Amber Dawn Pullin)
Leslieville’s Red Rocket Coffee has been forced to close up shop after its landlord doubled the rent to $49 per square foot. Co-owner Liako Dertilis says the response from his regulars has been immediate. “The TTC guys across the street are livid,” he told us, referring to the workers at the nearby streetcar yard. The news, however, isn’t all bad. Along with his business partners, Dertilis signed a lease late this afternoon for a new location at 1364 Danforth Avenue, near Coxwell. Although Red Rocket’s new home will be a similar size, Dertilis says it won’t be the same. “We have to leave our extended family—that is, our customers,” he said. “These are the people who come into the store, and we hug them… We feel like we’ve been robbed of that.” The Wellesley Street location is unaffected.
Not surprised in the slightest that Danforth East would be the go to spot. The stretch between Greenwood and Main is in dire need of a local coffee shop what with the young families and thirty somethings.
November 24, 2011 at 6:22 pm | by MarkAs someone that lives in the area, this seriously sucks.
My guess is that Queen Margerita Pizza will take over the space, operate it as a takeout & coffee shop. as well as use the patio that Red Rocket built for the summer months.
I hope that there is a change to the landlord’s decision, but I expect they will not back down and istead will create a ‘super-tenant’ in QMP, who will then face a massive increase in square footage once their lease is up for renewal.
November 30, 2011 at 9:50 am | by Erik LaRougeStill trying to figure out why buying two coffees is more than twice the price of one coffee..
January 11, 2012 at 11:06 am | by MattPlease let nothing happen to the Wellesley St location: it’s at the bottom of my building! Lol. Good coffee, good décor, great service — and great music! x
January 23, 2012 at 3:36 pm | by DtownerOn moving to our new East End neighbourhood, my wife and I have been to RR Queen and witnessed the personality and warmth first hand. There were regulars who walked in and the people working knew their order by heart and what was happening in their day! And they treated us newbies like old friends as well. Though I mourn the loss of your Queen location I welcome to the Danforth, which is more in my hood!
January 28, 2012 at 2:51 pm | by Robert