I like Tony. I met him at his restaurant: De Sotos Eatery on St Clair. He’s easy going, despite the pressure he’s under. And right now, he’s going through a lot. Tony is in a life-and-death struggle with the City of Toronto. If something doesn’t change soon, the City will force Tony out of business.
Tony’s long story sounds a lot like Alice going down a bureaucratic rabbit hole.
“Off with this patio,” said the Queen, I mean the City. Tony’s offence is wooden posts and patio lights. It doesn’t matter that people love Tony’s patio and neighbours really like his warm, classy, decor. It doesn’t matter that Tony received a permit in 2016, before he built his patio. The City wants Tony to take down the posts and the lights and reapply for a new permit. Tony can’t afford to comply. He rents his space and lives upstairs. Now the City, like a White Rabbit, has told him he is running out of time: he has until June 16 to comply or lose his business license. “Off with his head.”
Along the way, Tony has met many characters. One inspector said “I don’t have a problem.” But a second, card soldier, inspector quipped “you do have a problem.” Tony heard the problem was with the transportation department. But when he called the transportation office they told him “we don’t have a problem with your patio.” Tony keeps looking for documents from the City showing violations but hasn’t gotten any. Councillor Bravo’s office keeps telling him they will work with him to resolve the issues but things seem to be getting worse.
“On Monday we had a fire inspection. Tuesday we had another fire inspection. Yesterday we had a building inspection. This is where we’re going now: we’re going to find something to shut you down,” says Tony. “ It’s not we’re going to try to keep you up, or we’re going to work with you. No. This is where we’re going now.”
This month marks De Sotos 20th anniversary.
“April 1st is when I got the keys to renovate this building, and this is my anniversary gift from the City of Toronto. That’s the thank you to someone that’s tried to revitalize the neighbourhood,” says Tony. “I grew up down the street. I came back to this neighbourhood to run a business to make a change for the neighbourhood, not for me.”
Tony is true to himself at De Sotos. At his restaurant, he found his wonderland for himself and for his patrons. Let’s hope he gets to wake up from this awful dream, avoid the execution order from the Queen, and focus on his summer menu.
