Family-owned restaurant Jacques Bistro du Parc was a Yorkville staple for over four decades, offering guests the opportunity to step into a “corner of France in Toronto.”
Located at 129A Cumberland St., the second-floor restaurant served up traditional French cuisine courtesy of Chef Jacques Sorin for 43 years. But, with big changes coming in Yorkville, the restaurant is bidding the area adieu.
“Our lease has come to an end, and the new (non-financial) terms make it impossible for us to sign a new lease,” reads Jacques Bistro du Parc’s website. “Our landlord has made it very clear that he no longer wants us to use his space.”
“We are proud to have been part of a cohort of French restaurateurs that helped introduce refined French cuisine to the city, which at the time (1978) was mainly dominated by British cuisine,” it continues. “We introduced new dishes, delicate sauces to enhance the fish or the meat, a glass of wine with the meal, and of course, in true French style, butter took center (sic) stage.”
Jacques Bistro du Parc offered its guests an escape to France, with dishes like chicken supreme, soups, salads and dinner omelettes, all served by authentic, francophone servers. Of course, an extensive French wine list accompanies all of the food items.
“Bloor-Yorkville is home to very unique small and independent businesses, with many of these businesses operating in the neighbourhood for decades,” says Briar de Lange, the executive director of the Bloor-Yorkville BIA. “We are very sad to see Jacques Bistro du Parc close their doors after 43 years and we wish them all the best.”
With new developments abound in one of Toronto’s most prestigious neighbourhood, there is still pressure on small businesses to stay afloat with massive changes in the area and skyrocketing prices threatening many. But, despite that, the area is still one of the most popular places to open a business. “Despite new developments in the area and the difficult times brought on by the pandemic, the vast majority are continuing to successfully operate and we’ve even seen new small businesses, including wine bars and jewelry shops, open their doors within the last two years,” de Lange says.
126 Cumberland is also home to S’cream Ice Cream + Coffee, which also hosts a small speakeasy but, at the time of writing, there are no announcements about the ice cream spot and speakeasy closing.