Butcher shop owner grateful no serious injuries after car crashes into his east-end store

The owner of a butcher shop in the city’s east end is grateful no one was seriously injured after a vehicle crashed into his store Wednesday morning.

Emergency crews were called to a plaza on Kingston Road near Markham Road just after 10 a.m. for reports of a vehicle crashing into a store window.

“We were just doing an average morning of work, getting our agenda together and then a customer, I would think … drove right through our door, which is our complete window as well,” said Paul Cribben, owner of The Butcher Shop.

Paramedics said they assessed a person at the scene for minor injuries.

Cribben said he is thankful no serious injuries came to his staff and customers, adding, “God was involved, but that’s another story.”

“My reaction was probably like most, I was a little bit shocked that the car was actually inside the store.”

It is unclear if any customers were inside the shop at the time but according to its business hours posted online, the store was open when the crash occurred.

Toronto Fire officials say there is no indication that the building’s structure has been affected.

Cribben said the damage to his store has yet to be assessed but adds that the “foundation is gone.”

But he is not letting today’s incident and the upcoming repairs dampen his spirits and his customer service.

“The store is still open … because I believe that customer service is #1,” he said.

“We’re probably going to have to be reconstructed but we will stay open.”

It is not yet known what led to the crash.