A judge has ordered that Caplansky’s -- a popular downtown deli -- be allowed to reopen following the abrupt closure of the business by the building’s landlord.
The judge said in court Friday that Zane Caplansky’s lease is valid and the restaurant is allowed to return to business. The costs will reportedly be settled at a later date.
Caplansky told CP24 that the judge granted him adjournment.
Zane Caplansky received the keys to the deli later in the day and the location is expected to reopen on Saturday.
"I feel relieved. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted and I'm really happy to get back to business," Caplansky said on Friday.
Around midnight Monday, Caplanky received a call from his alarm company who reported suspicious activity at his shop. When Caplansky arrived, he found the locks at his College Street deli were changed and a notice posted on his door advising him that his lease was terminated immediately.
The notice stated that he had failed to “effect repairs not authorized by the landlord.”
"It was a nightmare on College Street. It was Monday night at midnight, my phone rang with the alarm company telling me that the alarm was going off. I arrived to find a locksmith working on the door," Caplansky said on Friday.
He said he still is still unclear on what sort of repairs the notice referred to.
When CTV Toronto reached out to the landlord -- Walter Kung -- he said the reason he issued the notice was due to a "very serious matter" but did not explain any further.
Speaking with CP24 Tuesday afternoon, Caplansky said the move took him by surprise and promised to fight it with “everything I’ve got.”
“If I’d been given any kind of notice of what that meant I could explain it to you. What does that even mean?” Caplansky said of the reason provided for the termination of his lease.
Caplansky’s also has a location in Yorkville and two additional locations at Pearson International Airport, all of which were unaffected by the incident and remain open.
With files from Janice Golding.
We're back in business. Lease is valid. Complete vindication.
— Caplansky (@Caplansky) June 10, 2016
Thanks for all the support.