The Real Jerk served with eviction notice
Posted January 10, 2012 5:40 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
With its bright tropical colours and smiling sun facade, The Real Jerk Caribbean restaurant has illuminated the southeast corner of Queen and Broadview for the past 22 years.
But employees at the restaurant, not to mention its many loyal customers, are projecting darker days ahead for their South Riverdale community after learning the building’s new owner has ordered them to vacate the premises by Jan. 31.
“Most of the workers here they are like family to me. I’m sure on the last day when we are packing up there are going to be tears in here,” said longtime manager, Natalie Williams.
The Real Jerk’s future remains uncertain. Owners Ed and Lilly Pottinger learned of the eviction notice while on vacation in Jamaica. They return to Toronto on Thursday and are expected to start looking for a new location on Friday.
“While we fight the unfair order we sadly must prepare for the real possibility that our days are numbered at the corner of Queen and Broadview,” Ed Pottinger posted on The Real Jerk’s Facebook page.
“It has been our distinct pleasure to be part of the Riverside neighbourhood and business community. We are committed to building our restaurant again and hope you will visit us as soon as we open our new doors.”
For Williams, the news is still sinking in.
“We are out of jobs until we find a new location,” she said. “We have a really big customer base of regular customers. We have a relationship with our customers.”
“We are looking forward to being part of a new community, but with the memories we have here
it’s going to be very sad.”
The Real Jerk has been serving authentic Caribbean food for 28 years, first opening at a Queen and Greenwood location before moving to its current one in 1989.
“I’m going to miss it,” said area resident, Malcolm. “I’ve eaten my way through this menu about 10 times over since moving down here 10 years ago. There’s change, but sometimes change doesn’t improve a neighbourhood.”
Despite the imminent closure, The Real Jerk said it will continue to run its catering business while it searches for a new location.
