No more "Office" post Restaurant Makeover

[Zengarden]

Watched RM last night and it was a makeover on the first sports bar in TO known as The Office.

Coincidentally, I also noticed that there was a listing for a contents sale for this place on Craigslist.

In the end, it really is about location and the food. It's too bad that it didn't work out. I was shocked to see how much waste of materials went into this reno. Seems that the measurements were off and the tile that arrived for use was not the right type.

[MiniMom]

Rubicon Grill that was featured on RM is being sold off too. Guess it couldnt survive in the strip mall...hope the future owners keep it going though..excellent ribs & wings and a good cesar salad also (real bacon crumble) for those casual evenings.

[romanruin]

The Office had been struggling for years, relying on its old sports bar/team/regular clientele who were largely uninterested in buying any food beyond wings. But the place couldn't survive selling just trays of draught and the occasional grand marnier as other drinking and eating options on that strip exploded over the past few years.
The restaurant makeover was brutal. Essentially the same clientele was now perched on designer stools at pastel tables. The new food was pushed on the regulars and they simply pushed back - wings only. They attracted not one new customer because at the end of the day it was still seen as "The Office" - great sports bar, a real dive, a super-casual shuffle-board place, but not a place you would eat.
Apparently, a "family" restaurant will soon open on the site. What a shame. The Office was a truly great dive, a low-key gathering place that met the limited needs of its loyal clientele in its own peculiar way. It will be missed.

[fresh_clean]

I think it was also unsuccessful because of the lack of curb appeal. No matter how good the food was, the same old dingy Office signage was still there.

[OnDaGo]

Noticed Geremia Bullfrogs on Queen and University (which did a RM a while back) is no longer... And Young Thailand at Church & Adelaide is renovating into another Thai restaurant but will not be Young Thailand anymore. Also Living Well on Yonge & Bloor windows are papered up for renovations....

[gregclow]

I noticed last week that the Jeremiah Bullfrog's location had a liquor license suspension notice in the window, so perhaps they're just using the time off to fix up the front of the place? The inside might've gotten the RM treatment, but the front still looked like hell.

And I'd heard (& reported on Taste T.O.) that Living Well had completely shut down. Is there an indication there that it's just a reno?

[Googs]

Living Well isn't listed on DineSafe any more. I'd guess that means toast.

[roncie man]

innocenti on king also bit the dust post-RM. i guess all these places were in trouble to begin with, but it seems like RM is the kiss of death for more than a few...

[OnDaGo]

hard to believe that the government works that quick to remove a place off of Dinesafe as soon as they close..

[OnDaGo]

Living Well had paper on the windows so I just assumed a reno. but it could be opening as something totally new... Jeremiah sign is gone which made me think that it is closed and not just a reno...

[xtal]

A friend of mine heard from the staff that the Living Well is under renovations, and is not closed.

I guess I'll keep an eye on the space and see what transpires in the coming weeks.

[OnDaGo]

From MartiniBoys:

Living Well (Shuttered)Location: 692 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON

After 15 years of Yonge Street service, Living Well has ended the last stage of its ugly death. In the latter years, sub-standard dishes and service became the norm – not a healthy sign of resto success. Hence, Living Well’s existence has been terminated.

No longer will bachelor-party patrons from the Brass Rail stumble over to continue the good life with a late night nosh. No more munching on an order of sweet potato fries while scoping out the usual characters walking up and down the strip on a Saturday afternoon. And finally, the end of low budget casual weeknight dates for poor college kids that can’t afford Wish's menu.

[eller]

I walked by Jeremiah Bullfrog's this afternoon and it's sporting signage indicating that it's to become the next Original Motorcycle Cafe.

Yippee.

[Googs]

I understand Indian Motorcycle could have had their old space back. Seems Amp'd won't be needing it anymore.

[gregclow]

The whole "the measurements were off" thing happens in pretty much every episode of that show. Either that, or some expected materials don't show up, and the designer has to make frantic phone calls to get stuff there on time.

Just a bunch of artificially created "drama" to keep the show entertaining.

Funnily enough, if you happen to see a shorter version of one of the episodes (I've seen 30-minute and 60-minute versions of the show), most of that fake stuff isn't included.

[Zengarden]

What a waste of stuff. Igor basically scraping off the blue tile.

I wonder why this spot finally packed it in. The couple seemed intent on revitalizing. I will say that the spot had no curb appeal. It looked like a tired spot.