Popular east-end brewery pushed out of Toronto due to high price of real estate
If you’ve ever found yourself in Toronto’s Parkview Hills neighbourhood, just north of Woodbine Avenue and O’Connor Drive, you may have stumbled across – or into – Muddy York Brewing Co.
The humble-looking brewery has become a mainstay in that pocket of the city’s east end for the better part of a decade, serving up a wide variety of craft beer to patrons thirsty for a pint and racking up impressive customer reviews along the way.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Business had become so successful, in fact, that married owners, Susan Michalek and Jeff Manol, planned to expand north of the city, hoping to break into the otherwise untapped market of Stouffville.
But, after their Toronto landlord recently announced his intention to sell the building, the pair realized their expansion plans had been cut short and were now forced to relocate altogether after being unable to find an affordable alternative elsewhere.
“We definitely didn't want to leave. And we definitely wanted to stay and extend our lease there,” Michalek told CTV News Toronto in an interview.
“It’s just a shame because we've spent many years really working on our current location and doing our best to attract people, and it's just become a really lovely community hub, and we're going really miss a lot of our customers and we're going to miss the vibes there.”
A group of Muddy York Brewing Co. glasses is seen in this undated image. (Supplied)
Michalek said she wasn’t surprised by the landlord’s plan to sell and that he even asked the couple if they wanted to buy it. However, Michalek explained, the listed price is just out of their “financial reach.”
“The building is for sale for far more than we would be willing to pay. For what you’re getting, that space is very overpriced,” she said.
According to Realtor.ca, the property at 22 Cranfield Road is priced at $2,745,000.
“What has become of Toronto, and how can we keep interesting and vibrant businesses, and small business owners, going if it’s such a hostile environment for them?” Michalek asked.
Muddy York Brewing Co. co-owner Jeff Manol is seen in this undated image. (Supplied)
NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT: CFIB ONTARIO
In an interview with CTV News Toronto, Julie Kwiecinski, the director of provincial affairs for Ontario at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), said Muddy York’s situation may not be unique.
“I wouldn't put this as an isolated incident. I think the problem is bigger than just this one business,” Kwiecinski said, adding that the CFIB is hearing from many businesses struggling with rising costs in Toronto, across the province, and beyond.
According to Kwiecinski, the last time the CFIB surveyed its members, 52 per cent said they were operating at or less than normal revenue levels and 61 per cent said they still carry COVID-19-related debt, averaging over $134,000.
“We measure small business confidence levels every month across the country, and in Ontario, they are the lowest. Right in the basement for short and long-term confidence,” Kwiecinski said.
Operating a craft brewery in Ontario can be especially difficult, according to Kwiecinski, who pointed to a high tax rate on beer and a nine cent per beer can tax as some of the stressors, and called on the province to do more.
Muddy York Brewing Co. taps are seen in this undated image. (Supplied)
“The province can be doing things to lower taxes for all businesses so things like this don't happen and businesses have more money in their pocket,” she said.
Meanwhile, Michalek said she and Manol are still excited by the prospects ahead and don’t want the news of their impending departure to be “a complete bummer.”
“We're still really excited by our brand… we're going to keep our heads down, work on this new space, and we'll keep going.”
Muddy York will continue to occupy the space until the end of February, Michalek said. The date of the Stouffville location’s opening has yet to be determined.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
At least 4 buildings burned at Jasper Park Lodge, others damaged: Fairmont memo
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge said Thursday afternoon most of its structures are 'standing and intact,' including its iconic main lodge.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.
'He was just gone': Police ramp up search for vulnerable 3-year-old boy in Mississauga, Ont.
Police in Mississauga are conducting a full-scale search of the city’s biggest park for a non-verbal toddler who went missing Thursday evening. Sgt. Jennifer Trimble told reporters Friday morning that there has been no trace of three-year-old Zaid Abdullah since 6:20 p.m., when he was last seen with his parents in Erindale Park, near Dundas Street West and Mississauga Road.
Sask. appeal court says anti-trans group cannot join constitutional dispute over pronoun law
Saskatchewan’s Court of Appeal has denied a political group that opposes so-called “gender ideology” intervener status in a legal dispute over the province’s controversial pronoun law.
Justin Timberlake's attorney disputes he was intoxicated when arrested for DWI
A hearing in the case of Justin Timberlake being accused of driving while intoxicated was held Friday, where an attorney for the singer disputed his arrest in June.
Elon Musk's estranged daughter calls out his 'entirely fake' claims about her childhood
Vivian Jenna Wilson, Elon Musk's estranged daughter, publicly refuted several recent anti-trans statements her Tesla CEO and X owner father has made about her.
What we know about 'malicious' attack on French train network ahead of Olympics opening
French transport was thrust into chaos Friday just hours ahead of the Olympics 2024 opening ceremony after a series of co-ordinated 'malicious acts' upended high-speed train lines.Here's what happened and what we know so far.
Reported rate of child pornography increased 52% in 2023, total crime up 3%: Statistics Canada
Last year, reported child pornography cases increased by more than 50 per cent in Canada, in part due to more cases being sent to police by specialized internet child exploitation units, according to a Statistics Canada report.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.