Toys “R” Us files for bankruptcy protection in US, Canada

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Toys “R” Us has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. and will seek similar protection in Canada under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act. Toys “R” Us  has a $5 billion debt incurred in unstated operations.  It is saying it will continue its normal business operations. Toys “R” Us said court-supervised proceedings would permit it to set the stage for long-term growth. “The company’s approximately 1,600 Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores around the world — the vast majority of which are profitable — are continuing to operate as usual,” the company statement added. “Customers can also continue to shop for the toy and baby products they are looking for online.”

Couple opens restaurant then closes it within a few days

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The salad bar restaurant at 1581 Bayview Ave has opened and closed within a few days with no explanation at the location of this unlikely sequence. The sign of agent Andrew Lin hangs in the window of Untold indicating the business (some say the building) is for sale. Strange as can be. These pictures are from the story on the imminent opening just two weeks ago.

Restaurateur Alex Orban and wife now departed
They previously ran place in Romania

Roll out the barrel cause there’s tons at new Barrel House

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Barrel wall will greet visitors
Barrel fountain
Interesting wood and rock fence

They were talking two weeks to opening as The Bulldog sniffed impatiently around the Amsterdam Brewery Barrel House at 87 Laird Drive in the Leaside Village Monday. There are some nice features like the newly cloistered patio, hemmed in by friendly wood and rock fences, with the rocks held in sturdy metal gabions. Inside, through a window, we see a wall of barrels. Also striking the barrel note, a fountain of (ahem) barrels. Looks like fun.

BIA could stretch from Sutherland Dr. to EY Town Centre

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SmartCentre
Shoeless Joe’s on Eglinton
East York Town Centre
Grilltime on Laird

Businessmen and women in the Leaside Business Park are proposing a large Business Improvement Area which would include small shops on Eglinton east of Sutherland Drive to industries such as Del Equipment truck fabrication on Laird Dr., to the East York Town Centre in Thorncliffe Park. The BIA, as proposed, would also include the SmartCentre and all its tenants like Winners as well as the unbuilt Costco. A meeting has been held and pending matters were identified as follows: final boundaries, proposed budget, agreement of the many merchants and businesses in the proposed space and the need to spread the word.  Mail from organizer Ian Morton to more than three dozen businesses and individuals speaks of the BIA as a “seat at the table” with the City on issues such as infrastructure investment, research studies, beautification, safety/security and marketing the area “as an excellent place” to do business.

ZONING TO BE RATIONALIZED?

For many, the size and sheer spread of this concept will be alien to known BIAs. They normally bring together merchants on a single street or adjoining streets. But as Morton noted, there are two or three other such giant BIAs in operation. The proposal may well raise the matter of consistent zoning which on the surface does not exist within the proposed area. That and the status of businesses now operating outside the industrial status of the land east of Laird may now be rationalized. A second meeting is set for Wednesday, September 27, with other details to come.

Cross-Ice rule for 6-year-olds leaves them sitting on bench

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Hockey moms and dads will be familiar with the Hockey Canada rule requiring 6-year-olds to play on a small rink — so-called Cross-Ice or Half-Ice pads. In North York there is a lot of resentment as reported by Cristina Howorun of City News.

3 or 4 car collision closes Lawrence West at Grey Rd.

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Five people were injured in an accident involving four vehicles at Lawrence Ave. West and Grey Rd. Monday morning. It appears the driver of a car trying to enter westbound traffic failed to yield. The car landed on the lawn of a home on the corner of Lawrence and Grey. Two occupants were taken to hospital with serious injuries but non-life-threatening injuries. Two children and one adult, were treated for minor injuries.

 

 

Five-alarm fire in Scarborough delays school buses briefly

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A five-alarm fire in a catering business on Crockford Blvd. in Scarborough caused a next-door school bus operation to delay some routes Monday morning. The Toronto Student Transportation Group said in a tweet that the fire at 40 Crockford delayed some vehicles by a few minutes. The blaze is said have caused $500,000 damage.

North Rosedale at war with itself over Glen Rd. stop sign

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The unusual spectacle of a residents association reversing itself on the need for a stop sign is playing out in North Rosedale. The association had lobbied for a four-way stop at Glen Rd. and Bin-Scarth Rd. but now it says please take down the signs. The linked story makes it clear that the community is deeply divided, a condition not unknown. CBC

Tuition $35,000 but are they getting free food from City?

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The improbable world of human rights may yet see enormously-endowed private schools like Branksome Hall and Upper Canada College eligible to apply for free food from the City’s School Nutrition Program. That’s the plan that makes sure children in poor areas are getting breakfast. It is said to be possible that some private schools would apply and be approved. Starving children at the Mt. Pleasant Rd. campus of Branksome, where tuition is about $35,000 a year, may seem too detached from reality to bother most people, but the City Solicitor made the decision under pressure from those who find value in such concerns. In fact, some private schools based on religion may well apply and be approved. Here’s what the ever-equitable Joe Mihevc (Ward 21) had to say: “If you have a social equity program, you cannot distinguish on the basis of religion, or geography, or whether they are a publicly-funded or not publicly-funded school.” CBC

NDP leadership vote goes on to Thanksgiving and beyond

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Voting for the federal NDP leadership is an extended affair that will go on in stages between now and October 15. Next, Four college woman from Boston are out of hospital in Marseilles after a deranged person threw acid in their faces at the railway station. One may need eye surgery. Below that, several British men have built this 20-foot Star Wars vehicle on a front lawn for fun. And you were worried about your neighbor. Lastly, a must-see as a woman in Texas gets out of handcuffs in a police car and takes off in the vehicle. There appears to be cameras everywhere as she speeds away and then crashes. Illuminating.

Denis Shapovalov secures Davis Cup tie victory for Canada

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CBC — Denis Shapovalov made the most of an opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing for his country this weekend at the Davis Cup. The 18-year-old put Canada through to the World Group for 2018 after a dominating 6-3, 7-6 (1), 6-3 victory over Ramkumar Ramanathan of India in its best-of-five Davis Cup tie on Sunday on the indoor hard court at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton. CBC

Hot dogs and corn draw families to Leaside Rotary event

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Back on the job
Corn is ready
Rotary reach

The 24th Annual Toronto-Leaside Rotary Club Corn Roast was held in perfect weather Sunday at Trace Manes Park. Bouncy castles, slides and numerous other activities entertained children. Premier Wynne visited (as she usually does) and Councillor Jon Burnside’s cotton candy concession was busy.