Just weeks after closing its remaining Toronto restaurants, Planta has revealed that its next chapter won’t include a return to Canada.
The vegan restaurant chain, founded in Toronto in 2016 by chef David Lee and restaurateur Steven Salm, shuttered its Yorkville flagship and Queen West location on May 19, ending the company’s Canadian operations. Now, in a recent interview with VegNews, company executives have made it clear that Planta is focused on rebuilding and expanding in the United States.
The news comes roughly a year after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. While the restaurant group once operated 17 locations across North America, it has since scaled back significantly as part of its restructuring efforts.
Despite its Toronto roots, Planta says its future growth will be centred south of the border.
“Toronto was an incredible testing ground for Planta and taught us the importance of understanding the unique characteristics of each market,” Planta COO Daniel Moody told VegNews.
According to Moody, the company is now seeing its biggest opportunities in American cities with strong food cultures and a growing appetite for plant-forward dining. He specifically identified San Francisco, Seattle and Portland as markets Planta is interested in pursuing.
The shift marks a dramatic change for a brand that helped popularize upscale vegan dining in Toronto. Since opening its first location in Yorkville a decade ago, Planta grew into one of the city’s best-known plant-based restaurant groups before expanding into major U.S. markets including New York, Los Angeles and Miami.
The company announced its exit from Canada in May, citing ongoing operational and financial challenges. While Toronto diners may have hoped the closures were temporary, the latest comments suggest Planta’s focus is firmly on its American business.
Moody also pushed back on the notion that interest in plant-based dining is fading.
“Demand for plant-based dining hasn’t disappeared — it’s simply matured,” he told VegNews, noting that consumers are increasingly seeking ingredient-driven dishes built around whole foods rather than heavily processed meat alternatives.
Looking ahead, Planta says its focus is on refining its menu and growing its presence in the U.S., where it sees its strongest opportunities for expansion. For the time being, that growth does not include a return to Canada.
