RIP list: 107 Toronto restaurants that closed in 2019

It’s was end of a decade, but the start of an age, and these Toronto restaurants weren’t destined to be a part of it.

This year-end recap rounds up all the Toronto restaurants that have closed in 2019.

From beloved spots that’ll we’ll mourn forever, to flashes in the pan we almost missed entirely, here are 107 Toronto restaurants that shuttered over the last year.

Parts & Labour

This iconic hangout technically made it through 2018… but they were officially done on January 1. Breaking hearts and taking names.

Omaw

Shuttered its doors without much word. Officially closed up shop end of January.

The Station

This beloved uptown spot hosted its last service on March 6.

Sweet a la Mode

This Stockyards staple has served up their last batch of pastries.

Home of the Brave

This King West hub closed its doors for good this winter.

Atlas

This Moroccan spot on Dupont Street closed its doors on March 16.

Hiro Sushi

Chef Hiro Yoshida announced that his restaurant would close in February due to his retirement.

See also:

Rosen’s Cinnamon Buns

This spot closed up their College Street shop to work on developing frozen buns, which can be bought and baked at home from The Night Baker.

Jodie’s Joint

This Kensington spot closed “due to a variety of factors and circumstances.”

Narami

This hand-rolled sushi spot wasn’t on Ossington for long, but it was loved by those who got the chance to try it.

Sweet Addictions Candy Co.

This sweet spot closed their doors on Dundas and relocated to Mississauga.

Arvo Coffee

This caffeine hub in Liberty Village didn’t open its doors due to an obstacle encountered
with the structural compliance of the building.

Rush Lane

This booming Queen West cocktail bar announced its closing in January, finishing their Instagram caption with “until we meet again!”

Bar Begonia

This French spot at Dupont and Spadina closed up shop amid the frigid days.

Bar Lisa Marie

This beloved Queen West spot shuttered in the spring.

Bootleg Smokehouse

This Spadina Avenue spot has been replaced by Lazy Bones Snack Bar.

Statlers

The closed doors at this Church Street piano bar mean you’ll need to enjoy music and booze elsewhere.

Pour Boy

This College Street spot has been converted into a Beerocracy location, serving ample brews and Tuesday night comedy.

Yeah Yeahs Pizza

This Summerhill spot closed to make room for additional Boxcar Social seating.

Pacific Park Social

Paninis, salads, espresso, gelato and pastries are no longer at this cozy Junction hangout.

Potbelly Yonge Street

This retro-style sandwich spot has been replaced by a new Basil Box location.

Animal Liberation Kitchen

This vegan spot shuttered its Queen East location, but has since re-opened in new digs at 100 Broadview Avenue.

Hy’s Steakhouse and Cocktail Bar

New York steaks, a lengthy wine list and high ceilings are no longer found on Adelaide, but this spot has re-opened close to it’s original home.

Doma

Little Italy’s Doma has shuttered to make way for “something exciting.”

Aft Kitchen and Bar

This east-side spot closed after five years, with the promise that something new is to come that’ll feature cocktails and BBQ.

Billy’s Diner

This Leslieville spot is permanently closed, but Spring 2020 will see something new from the folks behind it.

Campagnolo

After nearly 10 years serving the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood, beloved Italian restaurant at 832 Dundas Street West plated its final pasta.

The Thirsty Duck

The beloved establishment at 972 Queen Street East closed up shop, citing a rent increase as the reason.

Rosie’s

This gluten-free and vegan spot, previously located at 1726 Avenue Road, is no longer.

Schnitzel Queen

The end of December will see the end of days for this Moss Park staple.

Souvlaki Kalamaki

This Greek eatery closed up their 1405 Queen West shop to make way for Clove Apple Cafe.

Myato Gastropub

This Bloor West eatery has officially shuttered.

Kaboom Chicken

This east-end fried chicken hub announced and executed its closure at 722 Queen Street East in the spring.

Dumbo

Only a little over a year after opening, this phone-free snack bar in Parkdale closed its doors at 1704 Queen Street West.

Arepa Café

After 10 years on Queen West, Arepa Café closed its doors. “A success coming to an end, and we are celebrating a great project,” it’s written on the eatery’s website.

Gloria Espresso Bar & Cafe

This Roncesvalles coffee shop is no longer.

Katz’s Deli

Katz’s Deli shuttered its doors at 3300 Dufferin Street, after 49 years of serving delicious food to the neighbourhood. Yeesh.

Ciao Europa

This pasta-slingin’ eatery is no longer at 80 Western Battery Road in Liberty Village, but they’re seeking a new location. Watch this space.

Ku-kum Kitchen

This restaurant, serving up Indigenous fare, is no longer at 581 Mt. Pleasant Road. But they’re planning to open a new location that’s more central.

The Wild Pigeon

This Etobicoke spot is no longer wildin’.

Mr. Chu

This eatery, previously in North York, has closed up shop. It may be converting into something called Sweet Bites, by the looks of Instagram.

Chopstick on Bloor

Chopstick is no longer on Bloor. Or anywhere else, for that matter.

Call a Chicken

You can no longer call a chicken on Queen West – the spot closed up shop after less than a year.

Chimac

This cozy, bare-brick hangout, serving in saucy Korean-style fried chicken beer and cocktails, closed up its 500 Queen Street West shop.

Jack Astor’s – St. Lawrence Market

The popular eatery has been replaced by Duke’s Refresher.

Starbucks – Cabbagetown

The neighbourhood’s only Starbucks, at the corner of Parliament and Aberdeen, served up its final cappuccino this spring.

Cookie Martinez at Market 707

The Market 707 location of this eatery has shuttered, but you can still get your fill of yum eats and insects on Dupont Street.

Through Being Cool Vegan Baking Co.

Another vegan spot that survived spring but didn’t get to know summer: a post shared to Instagram says that while it was “an extremely difficult decision,” the bakery would shutter on June 30.

Prohibition Gastrohouse

Citing ongoing construction on Eglinton as the cause, this gastropub’s midtown location is no more.

“As I’m writing this post, tears are flowing and there are a lot of them,” the closing-announcement reads, before citing the need for some self-care as the reason behind the closure of this 1115 Castlefield Avenue spot.

Woodfire Sandwich Co.

This Etobicoke sandwich shop at 3797 Lakeshore Boulevard has morphed into an ice cream shop, now called The Loop Creamery.

Yitz’s

This iconic delicatessen shuttered on December 1, after 47 years in business.

CutiePie Cupcakes

This cute little sweet spot, previously located at 235 Spadina Avenue, is now extinct. Which means the same fate for its unicorn lattes.

TIO’s Urban Mexican

“All good things come to an end” — including this spicy midtown spot.

Coq of the Walk

No longer in the middle of Little Italy, this spot walked away from its original 488 College Street location. But it’s headed somewhere new! Watch this space.

Away Kitchen + Cafe

This vegan spot’s College Street location is longer.

Brooklynn

Brooklynn Bar announced its impending shut-down on Instagram, reminiscing about 10 years of memories before sharing that its last day of service would be June 22, right after the summer solstice.

Awai

This vegan eatery closed up shop on June 23. By the same folks, Avelo is now open downtown.

Island Foods

This King and Dufferin staple shuttered over the summer, leaving Parkdale missing their roti.

Superpoint Express

This pizza-slingin’ eatery has shuttered its doors at 269 Dunn Avenue.

Dogs & Coffee

The pup-friendly cafe Dogs & Coffee, located at 616 Queen Street West, closed almost a year to the day after celebrating its grand opening.

Cava

This uptown eatery is no longer, as of early September.

Camarra’s Pizza

This eatery shuttered after serving Toronto for nearly 62 years.

Olympic 76 Pizza

This Gloucester Street institution closed in July as a construction project was set to take over its space.

Golden Gecko Café

This eatery shuttered its Gladstone Avenue location, but the one on Lansdowne lives on.

Fred’s Not Here and The Red Tomato

These King West establishments shuttered in late August, after more than 31 years.

The Good Fork

This spot has moved out of its Bloor West home, but has settled into a new spot on the corner of Dundas West and Sheraton.

Steambox Dumplings

Steambox Dumplings officially closed its Dundas West doors, due to a health crisis.

Julie’s Cuban Restaurant

This adorable eatery shuttered on the last day of August, escaping the chill of September.

The Wheat Sheaf

With an intention to eventually re-open, this spot closed over the summer for major renovations.

Urban Herbivore

This Eaton Centre eatery served up their last meal this summer. The vegan hotspot is no more, but you’ll find their other location in Kensington Market.

Mean Bao Leslieville

This eatery has left their Leslieville home, but aimed to relocate only a stone’s throw away at 753A Queen Street East.

Dundas West KFC

The Kentucky Fried Chicken that previously occupied the corner of Dundas West and Grove Avenue has been demolished.

Vegetarian Haven

This Baldwin Village gem served up its final un-seafood dish this summer, to many a vegan’s disappointment.

Cosmic Treats

And this vegan treasure, beloved in Kensington Market, also shuttered.

Track & Field

The popular hangout shared on Instagram early in the summer that they would be out of their basement spot at 860 College on August 3. ‘Twas a sad goodbye.

Pixels and Pints

This Broadview Avenue hangout shuttered less than a year after opening.

Jugemu

This cozy Carlton street spot is no longer, but it was fully booked up for days until close.

Kitson & Co.

This Queen West sandwich joint shuttered recently, much to the neighbourhood’s dismay.

Kanga

This little eatery slingin’ Aussie meat pies has closed their Duncan Street location. No more flaky pies in the Entertainment District.

Gerrard Pizza

This Danforth Avenue pizza and spaghetti house closed in August, after 53 years.

The Gabardine

The announcement came in the summertime; The Gabardine only got to know the first inkling of fall before shuttering after nearly nine years in the financial district.

Grand Electric Trinity Bellwoods

This spot shuttered only to have a new all-vegan taco spot, by the same owners, open in its place mere months later. The reason? Sustainability.

L’Unità

Technically surviving 2019, this spot’s last hurrah will be New Year’s Eve.

Sorelle and Co. Yorkville

This gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, sesame-free, and vegan café and bakeshop is no longer.

Portland Variety

Ruby Soho Bar, described as a “relaxed neighbourhood bar and eatery,” will soon take over the space at 587 King Street West.

Schmaltz Appetizing Ossington

This Dundas and Ossington bagel joint shuttered to be replaced by a taco spot called Gordy Smiles, also by Chef Anthony Rose.

Rose & Sons, Big Crow

Chef Anthony Rose was busy this year, also swapping out Rose & Sons and Big Crow for a new project called The Grand Elvis.

Harry’s Charbroiled

Speaking of swap-outs: Grant van Gameren’s Harry’s Charbroiled shuttered in the fall, but staff of the original Harry’s re-opened the spot under the name Originals Dining Lounge. Meta.

Chantecler

This Parkdale spot is temporarily closed following a three alarm fire that ripped through the restaurant’s address.

Pick 6ix Sports

This Drake-affiliated restaurant closed due to flooding — or unpaid rent — or perhaps a combination of both.

The Spoke Club

After more than 14 years serving members in Toronto’s downtown core, this spot will close — albeit temporarily — after New Year’s Eve for a full venue renovation.

ANIQ

This Roncesvalles spot has shuttered.

Yogurty’s

This refreshing spot’s 652 Queen Street West location is now closed.

Rag Doll Eatery

“You gotta live like you’re on vacation,” – KISS, and, apparently, this spot… which is on a permanent vacay.

La Société

Those who love restaurants with a little je ne sais quoi are going to need to find a new spot to brunch, because this spot will celebrate its final night of service this New Year’s Eve.

3 Brewers

On New Year’s Eve, 3 Brewers will close four locations across the GTA, leaving only the Yonge Street and Oakville restaurants in operation.

Earlscourt BBQ

A fire has forced this restaurant to close until further notice, but they’re working towards reopening.

Bier Markt King West

The space at 600 King West hasn’t been empty long, but a new Mexican joint has already popped up. The neighbourhood awaits the opening of Añejo.

Grinder Coffee

Known across the city for attracting both Tom Hanks and Ryan Gosling during consecutive TIFF runs, this spot closed its doors on October 27.

Bean and Baker Malt Shop

This old-fashioned eatery’s last day of service will be December 24, Christmas Eve.