Iconic Flo’s Diner in Toronto’s Yorkville Forced to Close After 33 Years Amid Landlord Dispute 

After 33 years the iconic Flo’s family diner in Yorkville is being forced to shut its doors following a leasing dispute with the building’s landlord.

Co-owner Pierre Hamel said the decision to bid farewell on March 31 is “heart wrenching.”

It has been at its current location at 70 Yorkville Avenue for more than 33 years. Flo’s started in February 1991 at another location nearby.

Hamel said a legal dispute with the landlord reached its climax this month when Flo’s was denied the opportunity to extend its lease and not offered a new one. 

And Hamel and his co-owner Peter Lau continue to be perplexed by that.

“Unfortunately, this is a question that I don’t understand . . . Maybe he has plans for the building. I don’t know. But right now we’ve been successful. We’re a thriving business. We came out of COVID really, really strong and we would like to stay as long as we can.

“It’s heart wrenching. Flo’s for me and for a lot of my staff is way more than a restaurant. It’s a place where stories are told, people grow. Some of our employees have been here for 30 years with me. My business partner, we started together as two employees 31 years ago. It’s really been an emotional roller coaster. It’s also the home of my employees that have been here for a long time. We have really high retention because my staff is really well treated and they love the place.”

The business has 15 employees who will be looking for work.

“When COVID ended, all the employees came back here except a couple who were part-time. But they all came back because Flo’s is their home. They’re happy here.”

Retail Insider reached out to the landlord but did not receive a response.

Flo’s operates in 2,109 square feet with seating of 87 inside and 47 outside on a patio.

Hamel said the company is looking for new space but that is challenging. 

“Right now the area that we are in is in big transformation, meaning that there’s several buildings coming down and coming up. So there are few available places. We haven’t found anything so far,” he said. 

The name Flo came from the mother of the original founder of the business years ago.

Hamel said it’s been months since he has had any discussions with the landlord. 

“It’s a done deal but we’re hoping that maybe good media press will make him reconsider,” he said.

Flo’s legacy will be as a place where families, devoted locals, A-list celebrities, and political figures that included mayors, premiers, and even prime ministers, came for breakfast and brunch.

 “This legal challenge means we’re losing 15 valued staff members and hundreds of cherished patrons. We’re devastated and hopeful that the landlord will reconsider its decision not to renew our lease,” added Hamel.

Entering Flo’s was like stepping into a scene from a classic film – adorned with checkerboard floors, art deco counters and stools, plush leather-bound booths, and walls decorated with diner memorabilia.

Flo’s was anything but ordinary. With one of the highest staff retention rates in the city, “Once you worked at Flo’s, you stayed at Flo’s,” remarked veteran line cook Suresh, who has been crafting burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches for over a decade.

A perennial breakfast favourite among three generations of food enthusiasts was Flo’s Eggs Benedict, complete with a generous dollop of velvety hollandaise sauce and crispy home fries.

Young or old, everyone felt at home at Flo’s, where babies and young kids were never a bother. 

“Our patrons are like family to us, and we are endlessly grateful for the vibrant memories and shared experiences. Each person who dined here was – and still is – part of the Flo’s family,” said Hamel.

In 1988, Hamel made the journey from Quebec City to Toronto with the aim of mastering English. 

“I arrived with the goal of improving my English and found myself working as a busboy at 4’D Diner, which later evolved into Flo’s Diner in 1990 under the ownership of Bersani and Carlevale,” he said.

In 1994, Hamel became a partner in the renowned brunch spot at 10 Bellair Street. By 2000, Flo’s had relocated to its current location at 70 Yorkville Avenue, featuring a picturesque rooftop patio and lines stretching out the door. Lau became a partner in 2008.

Throughout the years, customers blossomed into friends, with many starting families and sharing life milestones with the owners. 

“Just recently, a couple who frequents our diner pointed to one of our patio tables where they had their first date. Now, five years later, they’re expecting their first child. These stories epitomize what Flo’s is all about. It wasn’t just a place of business; it was a sanctuary for gathering, sharing stories, and laughter. We take immense pride in our incredibly loyal patrons,” said Hamel.