Popular Toronto Diner Closes Its Doors For The Last Time

It’s a small slice of Toronto diner history, and on Sunday night the doors were closed for good.

After thirty years of serving the St. Clair and Dufferin area with some of the finest food a greasy spoon can hold, the New Tivoli Restaurant ended its run, much to the dismay of owners and patrons alike.

The owners, a trio of brothers that have operated the business since the start, are closing up because the building’s new owners are raising rent to a level they can’t afford.

“I’m not sad, I’m mad and emotional,” said co-owner Gus Gardanis.

Indeed there’s a lot of history in there. Neighbourhood history, and family history.

“I met my husband here, he was a customer,” said waitress Maria Kourebis, the daughter of one of the owners, who along with every other member of the 75-person extended family has worked there at one time.

The funny thing is very little’s changed in the three decades the establishment was open – in fact they’ve used the same milkshake maker the entire time. But that milkshake maker may have shaken for the last time.

“It would have been nice to have a bit of a choice in the way it’s ending, but on the good side it’s really time for them to retire,” said Athena Alissandratos, another co-owner’s daughter.

But that may not be the plan after all. Word around the griddle says the family isn’t tired of the diner business just yet, and may look to set up shop at another location.

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