Nine restaurant chains that haven’t made it in Toronto
Nine restaurant chains that haven’t made it in Toronto
By Karon Liu |
By Karon Liu |
Though critics often dismiss Toronto for never being able to stand alongside London, Tokyo or Paris (City TV likes to remind us by playing the “Toronto is just like New York, but without all the stuff” promo for 30 Rock every 10 minutes), one good thing about being a mid-sized city is that our downtown core hasn’t turned into a Vegas-style tourist trap like Times Square or Shibuya. The recent closure of the garish Florida import Miami Subs shows that in Toronto, independent cafés, bars that seat fewer than 20, and family-run restaurants tend to triumph over the flashy and faddish. Here are nine chain imports that failed to flourish in the city. We’re saving the 10th spot for Cold Stone Creamery.
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- <strong>Victim 9: </strong>Mövenpick (1980–2002, with possible resurrection) <br /> <strong>Description: </strong>In Toronto, Mövenpick was known for its open-air, fake European market setup (Marché), where diners go from station to station, cafeteria-style. Elsewhere, Zurich-based Mövenpick, which originated in 1948, is known as a conglomerate that operates hotels, cruise ships and restaurants. This is not to be confused with Richtree, the Toronto-based company that ran the Mövenpick restaurants in Canada but eventually gave up its brand control in 2004 and changed existing Marchés to Richtree outlets. <br /> <strong>Cause of death: </strong>A long and bitter legal battle with Jorg Reichert, who ran the Canadian Marché locations and later founded Richtree, drove the Swiss company out of the country in the early 2000s. Reports in March said that Mövenpick planned to open 10 locations in Toronto next year (in essence, making Mövenpick compete with its former self), but for now the market simulacrum lives on at Richtree locations like the Eaton Centre, College Park and Brookfield Place. <br /> <strong>In memoriam: </strong><a href="http://www.moevenpick.com">moevenpick.com</a>
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- <strong>Victim 8: </strong>St-Hubert (1986–2006) <br /> <strong>Description: </strong>Since 1951, this Montreal-based rotisserie chicken restaurant has opened 100 locations in Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick, and claims to be the first restaurant to deliver free (no longer the practice, by the way). In 1986, St-Hubert decided to take on Toronto-based Swiss Chalet, expanding into Ontario and the Maritimes with a total of 46 locations. <br /> <strong>Cause of death: </strong>The few locations couldn’t compete with the Chalet and eventually moved out of Toronto. The last local outlet was near Sherway Gardens before it became The Queensway Rotisserie and Grill, which still resembles the old joint in its logo and menu. The St-Hubert legacy lives on in the form of powdered gravy mixes found in supermarkets. <br /> <strong>In memoriam: </strong><a href="http://www.st-hubert.com">st-hubert.com</a>
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- <strong>Victim 7: </strong>Church’s Chicken (early 1990s–early 2000s) <br /> <strong>Description: </strong>Although south of the border it’s a fast food chain in its own right, Church’s Chicken operated inside Harvey’s when it tested the waters in Canada. The chicken that came with a plum dipping sauce was considered the middle ground between Popeyes and KFC: not too crunchy but still greasy enough to turn a napkin translucent. <br /> <strong>Cause of death: </strong>Just as no one went to McDonald’s for pizza, no one went to Harvey’s for fried chicken. <br /> <strong>In memoriam: </strong><a href="http://www.churchschicken.com">churchschicken.com</a>
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- <strong>Victim 6: </strong>Ben and Jerry’s (2004–2008) <br /> <strong>Description: </strong>Premium ice cream store ($3.50 a scoop, compared with $2.10 at Baskin Robbins) whose flavours are laced with pop culture references. Among the company’s more colourful creations: Neapolitan Dynamite, Half Baked and Phish Food. Three locations opened in the GTA (five in Ontario): The Beach, Vaughan Mills and downtown Toronto. <br /> <strong>Cause of death: </strong>Bad PR. The most high-profile store, located on Queen West, was only open during the summer months, though it has been “closed for the season” since 2008. Making matters worse (or funnier) was that when the Barenaked Ladies was promoting their own ice cream flavour in May, they had to do it at the CN Tower because there weren’t any outlets left in the city. Only the Vaughan Mills location remains open—and, of course, there is always a shelf of untouched Cherry Garcia at the supermarket. <br /> <strong>In memoriam: </strong><a href="http://www.benjerry.ca">benjerry.ca</a>
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- <strong>Victim 5:</strong> Planet Hollywood (1996–2006) <br /> <strong>Description:</strong> Part Hard Rock Café, part penny-ante Smithsonian, this global chain started with a bang in 1991, with backers like Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger (it was the early ’90s, after all). The Toronto location opened nearly 15 years ago, back when the Rogers Centre was still the SkyDome, and had memorabilia like Paul Gross’s <em>Due South </em>Mountie uniform and a life-sized statue of the Terminator. <br /> <strong>Cause of death:</strong> The restaurant chain filed for bankruptcy in 2000 and closed nine of its 35 American outlets, probably because the world ran out of gullible tourists. The Toronto location closed in 2006, with owners claiming that it never recovered from the SARS outbreak. <br /> <strong>In memoriam: </strong><a href="http://www.planethollywood.com">planethollywood.com</a>
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- <strong>Victim 4: </strong>The Olive Garden (late 1980s–early 2000s) <br /> <strong>Description: </strong>The pinnacle of inauthentic Italian cuisine—known for its unlimited bread, soup and salad lunch deal—had a handful of locations in Ontario, including one on Front Street and one at Bay and Dundas. Even though there is generally excitement over American culinary imports, the Olive Garden never got much attention. <br /> <strong>Cause of death: </strong>Terroni.<strong> </strong>Even before Buca, Pizzeria Libretto and Gio Rana’s opened, Torontonians knew where to get actual Italian food for Olive Garden prices, minus Olive Garden shame. Darden, the company responsible for Olive Garden, closed eight underperforming Toronto locations in 1997, leaving five standing. Spring Rolls eventually took over one of the last locations, at the Atrium on Bay, in 2006, and the nearest Garden is now in Ancaster, New York. Optimists can always join the “BRING BaCK 'The Olive Garden!!!' to Toronto!!!” <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=23706395208">Facebook group</a>, which is presently 40 fans strong. <br /> <strong>In memoriam: </strong><a href="http://www.olivegarden.com">olivegarden.com</a>
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- <strong>Victim 3: </strong>Outback Steakhouse (1996–2009) <br /> <strong>Description: </strong>Casual big-box chain restaurant with the obligatory phone book–sized menu that’s more diverse than a York University recruitment pamphlet. This chain was also dubiously <a href="http://www.menshealth.com/20worst/worstfood.html">honoured</a> by <em>Men’s Health</em> for having <em></em><br /> “The Worst Food in America” (its Aussie cheese fries with ranch dressing clock in at a scale-busting 2,900 calories, 182 grams of fat and 240 grams of carbohydrates). <br /> <strong>Cause of death: </strong>Surprisingly, not a heart attack. The American (not Aussie) company <a href="http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/607360">closed</a> all nine of its Ontario locations in March, with nothing more than a generic “thank you for your support” message on its Web site. The timing of the closures is either recession-related or a backlash against Baz Luhrmann’s two-and-a-half-hour snore fest, <em>Australia</em>.<br /> <strong>In memoriam: </strong><a href="http://www.outback.com">outback.com</a>
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- <strong>Victim 2:</strong> Krispy Kreme (2001–? Currently on life support) <br /> <strong>Description: </strong>The American doughnut chain received a lot of love for its first outlet in Mississauga in 2001, selling $70,000 worth of warm glazed doughnuts on opening day, and later setting up shop in larger Loblaws locations. The company hit a high of 18 franchises in the country, while kids wearing the Krispy Kreme employee paper hat became a staple at Halloween parties for several years. <br /> <strong>Cause of death: </strong>It’s a no-brainer that Tim Hortons gets Canada’s doughnut money, though North Carolina–based Krispy Kreme blames low-carb diets for its demise. Once the hype died down and people realized there were better things to do with an hour than line up for doughnuts, the chain slimmed down to its current five locations. The firm that looks after the company’s Canadian franchises was put into bankruptcy protection in 2005. Now, only the Mississauga location (5920 Mavis Rd.) is left standing in Ontario, though the Krispy Kreme outside of the Shinjuku metro station in Tokyo still has two-hour wait times from morning till night. Hardcore Kreme fans may still find boxes of the stuff at Petro Canada stations and Wal-Marts. <br /> <strong>In memoriam: </strong><a href="http://www.krispykreme.com">krispykreme.com</a>
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- <strong>Victim 1:</strong> Miami Subs (2009)<br /> <strong>Description:</strong> A Florida-based 24-hour pizza place with random items like cheese steak and gyros thrown in. Basically, anything in the deep-fried, light brown food group is on the menu.<br /> <strong>Cause of death:</strong> For one thing, no one knew this place existed, or dared to venture inside the building that looked like a giant airbrushed souvenir T-shirt from 1992. Even though it was located at Queen and Spadina, not enough hipsters bought into the hideous neon <em>Miami Vice </em>aesthetic—plus we all know that Pizza Pizza<strong> </strong>reigns supreme in the cheap delivery pizza category. <br /> <strong>In Memoriam: </strong><a href="http://www.miamisubs.com">miamisubs.com</a>
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There are others that you could research:
Wolfgang Puck: a Puck Express exists in Terminal 1 at YYZ, but a Puck resto closed after a short run by the AMC cinemas in Oakville. In Toronto, signs have been posted in windows at the Colonnade, on Eglinton west of Avenue Road, and up by Yonge & Sheppard, and there were even plans at one point for Puck to go into Metropolis, a complex which eventually opened with a local magazine’s name on it, but without a Puck.
Chi-Chi’s: was here in force in the 80s, with locations at Dufferin and Steeles, Market Square on Front, Markham and Ellesmere, and across from Sherway Gardens. They then opened a pile more suburban locations before closing all Canadian operations a couple of years later. Ten years after that, all Chi-Chi’s were closed for good following a Hepatitis outbreak at a Chi-Chi’s Pittsburgh PA location led to 4 deaths.
Kenny Rogers’ Roasters: Apparently they live on in the Philippines and Malaysia, but I am not sure if a US Bankruptcy took down the T.O. locations of Kenny’s, or if they came and went before that. When the Islington Avenue and Advance Road location opened in the 90s, the food was pretty decent.
KooKooRoo: Like Kenny Rogers’ Roasters, Koo Koo Roo was here for a short while emphasizing healthy non-fried food. Koo Koo Roo still flourishes around LA where it started.
Fuddrucker’s: A Texas based burger chain that I remember for the self-serve toppings bar where (as a kid), being able to drown fries in as much melted cheese as I wanted was a dream come true. I don’t really remember when the location across from Sherway Gardens opened then closed, but I remember that cheese.
There must be other failures beyond those…
Also Arbys…
But what I wanted to mention was the complete failure of Outback.
I stopped in there a year os so back – the one on Dundas St west of Toronto. Was the worst meal, the worst (actually snarky) service – so I complained.
I paid my meal and left a small tip explaining that I usually tip 15 – 20% but it is not automatic.
A week or so after the fact a GM called and I told him the story. All his response was – please come back we will make it up to you. Ummm Ok? And how do you plan on doing that?
Well just come back!
Sorry I do not live near ya and after the experience will never go back. But I was happy to Blog it
You know like something tell a couple of folks. Hate something TELL EVERYBODY.
One of the things I see in these franchise messes is captured by that Old Chinese saying
Fish rot from the head down.
I miss KK, too. I refuse to support Dead Hockey Player Donutz and its ubiquitous hospital food and hot brown sludge!
There is also Boston Market, which had opened at least 1 location in the GTA for a short (very) short period of time.
No mention of Denny’s. Damn shame.
If spot number 10 is for Coldstone, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let spot number 11 be for the vile temple of industrially produced nostalgia that is Johnny Rocket’s. PLEASE.
Restaurant chains not making it…a feel good story if there ever was one.
I just moved to Toronto from Tokyo and found this article spot on. I’m originally from the USA and am so excited about Toronto’s hip and international variety of restaurants. Glad to be here.
Next: the dreaded Rainforest Cafe?
Arby’s is actually still in Toronto – right downtown in the Eaton Centre:
http://web.sa.mapquest.com/arbys/advantage.adp?transaction=search&searchQuantifier=AND&mapStyle=european&maxSearchResults=10&radius=999&country=CA&county=&proxIconId=400&search1=&search2=&search3=&search4=&search5=&search6=&search7=&search8=&search9=&search10=&address=&city=Toronto&stateProvince=ON&postalCode=&recordId=&x=0&y=0
And there is a Denny’s in Mississauga. (Actually, was there ever one in Toronto? Did we actively reject it, or was it just generally assumed that we would?)
http://best-of-foodpages.ca/dennysmississauga
I won’t miss any of these places… Maybe we could be like Iceland, and let McD’s slip quietly into the night?
G.
Coldstone Creamery Ice Cream is fantastic….but harder to find than a needle in a haystack in Toronto. The only ‘easy access’ location is the Coldstone ‘hidden’ in the Tim Hortons’ on Bay, South of Bloor Street. Love it!
Movenpick WAS incredible when it was run by Jorg and Marianne Reichert – I can still remember their personal touch – they made Movenpick great in the good ‘ole days. Now the Richtree ‘marchés’ are crappy.
Oddly, I kinda liked Olive Garden – I’m sure they would have success again if they opened strategically placed restaurants on a smaller scale.
CANADIANS ARE HAPPY WITH THE CANADIAN FOOD CHAINS ,,DO NOT NEED IMPORTED JUNK FOOD CHAINS …YES ..WE NEED MORE HARVEYS AND SWISS CHALLETS AND MR SUBS AND PIZZA PIZZAS ACROSS CANADA ,,THERE IS A GOOD RESTURANT CHAIN IN WINNIPEG,, BUT ONLY LIMITED TO WINNIPEG CALLED SALSBURY HOUSE ,,NOW THIS CHAIN SHOULD EXPAND ACROSS CANADA, THEY MAKE A GOOD SCOTCH BROTH SOUP AS EXAMPLE …LIKE A BEEF BARLEY SOUP ..
Anyone up on the ice cream scoop knows that Ed has the best ice cream in town. How could Ben and Jerry even think they could compete?
(My thoughts when Ben & Jerry’s opened in 2004)
They make good soup so they Brian? Well hell ya, why wouldn’t they go nationwide? No one is doing good soup these days!
Re: Olive Garden-the closest one to Toronto/Southern Ontario is in Amherst, NY, not Ancaster, NY. I almost thought you meant Ancaster,ON but all that recently came here was Texas Border Grill, in the former Outback site in the Meadowlands. Dundas, ON used to have the closest Olive Garden but it became an East Side Mario’s shortly after the local one closed up.
Re: Krispy Kreme-just go and buy those donut in Mississauga (land of Heartland Centre and no 5 cent/bag fee except in grocery stores). I once bought a box of them in the local Wal-mart in Ancaster and they were stale. Not making a second mistake with that item.
I would love it if they would open a “Cheesecake Factory” in Toronto. There were rumours a few years ago, but nothing came of it. The lineups at the locations south of the border seem to indicate a passion for the place, especially in malls, and Torontonians make pilgrimages when in Buffalo or Miami, so why not give it a shot? (The choice of mall restos is dismal in TO…food courts…feh!)
where in gods name do you people get your facts from???
the olive garden closed in ontario & quebec in 1997 due to
a one time tax write down of foreign assets by darden restaurants. all of them were doing over 3 million a year in sales which was double that of most chain restaurants at the time and people lined up for over an hour to get a table. was the food authentic italian…absolutely…created for the american pallet in the olive garden culinary institute in italy near rocca della macie who is there wine partner. come on … do your research before you print crap…..we still eat at the olive garden in amherst ny… and the other 4 in the buffalo area…the food and service is still amazing!!!!
Let’s go wayyy back: There used to be a Ponderosa in the northeast end of the city (Scarberia?) and there was a Roy Rogers on the southeast corner of Yonge & Dundas…I’m talking when I was a kid in the early 70s. There was a Red Lobster on Dufferin north of Eglinton in the late 80s.