Popular Annex Supermarket Closes Doors After 30 Years

For the past three decades, anyone looking for some late night supplies in Toronto’s popular Annex neighbourhood knew there was always one place they could go.

The Bloor Supersave Supermarket was known to residents in the Bloor St. and Spadina area as a place where service and selection still had meaning, and as the city’s first 24-hour grocery store, the door hadn’t been locked since 1977.

That is of course, until Sunday.

“After 30 year, I’ve packed it in,” said storeowner Leo Taddeo during a small ceremony to commemorate the closing.

“I think my retirement is due and I’m going to take it early.”

That retirement marks the end of a long and colourful career, and an even more entertaining story.

When the Supersave first opened, it closed each day at 6pm. It wasn’t until Leo heard people knocking on the glass after hours that he decided maybe staying open all the time wouldn’t be the world’s worst idea.

In fact it proved to be a stroke of brilliance, evidenced by the reactions of customers that have come to rely on the establishment.

“It’s sad, it’s really sad,” said longtime customer Linda Rauch.

“I love all these people that work here … they’re just great.”

And much like the store will be missed by those that have made it a success, those that worked there will miss certain people too.

“When I was young I worked here as a cashier, helped bag groceries, you name it I was here,” said Melanie Cooper, Taddeo’s daughter.

But now those are officially memories, attached to a storefront that will never be the same.

And as for Taddeo, he says his retirement plan involves spending a lot of time in Jamaica, helping to build affordable homes.

It turns out maybe his best is yet to come.

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