A neighbourhood bar in Toronto was unexpectedly forced to make changes to its sidewalk patio after a local resident submitted a complaint to city officials.
99 Bottles, located at 925 Kingston Rd., is a licenced cafe and boutique shop selling an assortment of beer, wine, spirits, non-alcoholic beverages, and a variety of appetizers, snacks, and easy-to-prepare meals.
Last week, one of the shop’s owners, Gabriela Holland, posted a message on a community Facebook page and notified patrons that the shop’s outdoor patio had to be altered thanks to a complaint that was made to the City.
Dozens of local residents and loyal customers poured into the comments section in defence of the business, and questioned why anyone would try to get rid of the shop’s outdoor patio, especially when it doesn’t disrupt pedestrian traffic.
Holland took to a community Facebook page to announce changes to the shop’s outdoor patio.
“I’m done with miserable people trying to spread their misery! You guys are great and are offering our community a wonderful place to meet. Keep doing what you’re doing,” one comment under the post reads.
“I have never heard of your place before but sorry this happened. It’s so hard to run a business these days then you get people doing this crap… So sorry some people suck,” another person wrote.
“So disappointing. Love your business and don’t understand why this is a priority concern for anyone,” said another resident, while others called the outdoor patio a “highlight” along this particular stretch of Kingston Road.
Holland told blogTO that the complaint specifically involved two tables that were located close to the street outside the business. While the shop does have a licence for a sidewalk patio, the two tables in question were not part of the licence.
Still, Holland says that the business has never had an issue with this before, as the sidewalk is wide enough to accommodate both the tables and pedestrian traffic.
“It feels like the City is never on our side,” Holland said.
blogTO has reached out to the City for more information on the complaint.
Although the two tables have since been removed, Holland said that the business has closed its sidewalk patio anyway since temperatures are quickly declining.
