Captain John’s Restaurant succumbs to the stormy seas of unpaid back taxes
The ongoing debt and legal issues at Captain John’s Harbour Boat Restaurant, the iconic marine eatery docked at the foot of Yonge Street since 1975, have finally shut it down. Owner “Captain” John Letnik owes $568,000 in back taxes, utilities and outstanding lease payments. Normally, the city would just seize the property and sell it after three years of nonpayment, but the fact that Captain John’s is a boat—with no engine, stuck fast in the muck—makes things a little bit tricky. The vessel will stay put for now, but Letnick has to remove the sign, gangplank and everything inside by July 27. And it looks like Chef Grant Soto (also known as Taylor Clarke) is already trolling for a new site for his gluttonous charity pop-up dinner. [Toronto Star]
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The ongoing debt and legal issues at Captain John’s Harbour Boat Restaurant, the iconic marine eatery docked at the foot of Yonge Street since 1975, have finally shut it down. Owner “Captain” John Letnik owes $568,000 in back taxes, utilities and outstanding lease payments. Normally, the city would just seize the property and sell it after three years of nonpayment, but the fact that Captain John’s is a boat—with no engine, stuck fast in the muck—makes things a little bit tricky. The vessel will stay put for now, but Letnick has to remove the sign, gangplank and everything inside by July 27. And it looks like Chef Grant Soto (also known as Taylor Clarke) is already trolling for a new site for his gluttonous charity pop-up dinner. [Toronto Star]){kind=link}
What a shame and an eye sore. If they would have cleaned up the boat, inside and out, maybe they would have made some money. Otherwise, this is still and has always been the laughing stock of Toronto.
Shame.
Who would want to eat in there. The boat is disgusting
I once went there with out of towners thinking it would be a fun kitschy place. It was dank, musty, reeked of fish (I know, but seriously good fish don’t stink!). We turned on our heels and left.
Sink it!
The Port Authority is so transparent. They just want to collect money to pay themselves off (Maritime Law states they get paid in full before the City gets a dime). Since they’re not extending the lease, or considering lease alternatives, I can’t see how any business is going to be interested in buying the boat. Know what that means? It means taxpayers like us, and the City are probably going to get NOTHING. Two thumbs down, Port Authority, for not only sinking a man’s business and home, but also sinking any chance we’d have to benefit from the sale of the ship.
I’ve eaten at John’s for years now, and rest assured that the ship isn’t “stuck” at all! It actually has to be tied down or it could float away! Anyone who ate there on a windy day would probably agree it’s very much free of aforementioned “muck!”