Mint Bar, a local establishment that has been the subject of numerous noise complaints, has a Dec. 13 court date.
Coun. Josh Matlow was approached by more than a dozen residents and a few local condo boards about the issue. Since bylaw enforcement officers have gone to Mint six or seven times already, the area councillor would like to see the bar either come into compliance or close.
“They’re completely breaking the rules.… They were told very clearly what they were doing was wrong, and they did absolutely nothing to respond to it,” he said.
Bylaw enforcement has laid three charges against Mint, two for operating a night club without a licence and one for a noise violation. The business, located at 173 Eglinton Ave. E., is licensed as an eating establishment.
Gus Michaels, manager of investigation services at municipal licensing and standards, said the city’s legal counsel does not seek closure orders unless there’s a good prospect of success, which usually requires multiple convictions. Depending on the case, the city may seek fines of anywhere from $185 to $5,000.
What complicates the matter is that Menkes Developments Ltd. recently purchased the property from the owner of the Unicorn Pub, located below Mint. The Unicorn is now leasing the space from Menkes and subletting to Mint.
Menkes has since submitted a planning application to redevelop the site. As a condition of scheduling a community consultation meeting, Matlow requested that the developer intervene in the matter.
Mark Karam, vice-president and general counsel at Menkes, said his company has notified the Unicorn that it will take action if Mint is convicted of operating a nightclub without a licence. Karam added that the owner’s position is that it is not.
Reached by phone, the owner of Mint said he had a meeting scheduled with Matlow, but he declined to comment further.
Lisa, the co-owner of the Unicorn Pub, questioned why Mint was being singled out with other establishments that generate noise and have people coming and going, such as Philthy McNasty’s and Scruffy Murphy’s, in the area.
“I don’t know why they’re making a mountain out of a molehill,” she said. “They’re trying to operate a business, they’re employing people, they’re not really bothering anybody.”
If Mint is breaking any laws, Lisa said she believes it’s up to the authorities to close the bar down.
None of the allegations against Mint have been proven in court.