Fire in Yorkville... Sassafraz is burning.

Here's a link:
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1166007711362&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home

and here's a picture:
http://www.citynews.ca/images/2006-12/dec1306-sassafraz-12.jpg

omg sassafraz? wow!

That's definitely not a good thing.

I hope it's okay. :ohno:

No oh!! Now where will all the celebrities eat??

How is a fire in a building ever a good thing? But, in all seriousness, what is so important about Sassafraz- the food is subpar and it lives solely from its reputation of being some quasi-hot spot for celebs..

p5

begs the question, why do celebs go there when the food is garbage.

just to be seen in the scene

It is a handsomely proportioned old house and added to the charm of Yorkville. I don't care about the food, I care about the building. If this comes down, you can bet your boots that whatever replaces it is not going to be more attractive:

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/1002/xaug0606yorkvillenl2.jpg

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/2995/xaug0606yorkvilleimv0.jpg

http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/9343/xaug0606yorkvilleiiiwh2.jpg

...^^ I will give you that- at least to the most part..and it does add streetlife in the spring/summer..

p5

The article said the structure hadn't collapsed so it may be saved. Reminds me of the fire on my street where the roof collapsed from a molotov cocktail, yet the house is being fixed now.

Hopefully the building can be saved, why Sassafraz? Why not Toronto Star!

I hope they build a replica in its place, or something. That would be a smart move on sooo many levels.

breaking news... Fire!

Wouldn't this be hot news or something? Breaking news would be a car driving through the restaurant :)

Ok I'm sad.. That's such a great building. It gives that part of Yorkville such a Mediterranean flavour.

Wouldn't this be hot news or something? Breaking news would be a car driving through the restaurant :)

:lol:

TB, I have exactly the same fear. That building is a gem in the area, something I wish Yorkville had more of. Let's hope the place can be saved.

They better not plop a condo there.

^^ ermm... I'm pretty sure that although the building may be mostly gone, the restaurant itself will make a return. And soon, hopefully!

I guess the silver lining is that when they reopen, refurbished or with a new building, or whatever, it will be a really special occasion. :)

I couldn't get home from work today because of it, they shut down Bay and Bloor, traffic was backed up all the way down Yonge almost to the lake shore. Complete madness. I went out around 6pm and it was still backed up around the downtown core. Apparently it was a 5 alarm blaze that caused pretty severe damage.

I have lived around Yorkville and Sassafraz most of my life and I can say that without a doubt, that building added a lot of character to the neighbourhood. All around Yorkville, they're all post 70s fashion stores and this building was completely different. It really shaped the neighbourhood and was a must see when you're in Yorkville. I hope it survives.

I always hated that place...too much pretention. But what really tainted me about this place, is it's former incarnation...The Bellair Cafe. It was such a phoney pretentious place, they used to park Lambos and Ferraris out front just fro effect.





KGB

Was at the reference library when my friend texted me to tell me it's on fire. didn't go check it out but did notice a lot of fire trucks. concomitant to spotting celebs, it's a hot spot for spotting hot cars, which is why I like it hahah.

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/3245/sassaxw0.th.jpg (http://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sassaxw0.jpg)

Confirmed that this is a secret plot to get another condo into Yorkville.

Confirmed that this is a secret plot to get another condo into Yorkville.

I heard it was 80 stories.

No, that isn't a typo.

I never liked Sasafraz... but I hope they don't build a condo on top of the ruin :)

Wouldn't this be hot news or something? Breaking news would be a car driving through the restaurant :)

True... Breaking News was that time when I saw all the bricks fall off the corner of that building on Yonge Street! This was more Hot News...

inside scoop: Source was kitchen hoods. Poof!

I always hated that place...too much pretention. But what really tainted me about this place, is it's former incarnation...The Bellair Cafe. It was such a phoney pretentious place, they used to park Lambos and Ferraris out front just fro effect

KGB

... I agree.

In the media it's reported as if movie stars only have 3 options - 1 - go to their movie premiere, 2 - go to Sassafraz or 3 - get spotted on Bloor street leaving the Starbucks.


I do wonder if it's not connected with some condo plan. Nobody would have accepted it be torn down - but it it's destroyed...

^^ No, it was entirely accidental, and happened during lunch service. The hoods in the kitchen went up in flames and it could not be extinguished with the fire extinguisher. You cannot fake that sort of thing. I know people who worked there and now are job hunting. From all I have heard the food was ghastly, and the service appalling, but I am very, very saddened if the building is lost.

In the media it's reported as if movie stars only have 3 options - 1 - go to their movie premiere, 2 - go to Sassafraz or 3 - get spotted on Bloor street leaving the Starbucks.


That's because there is a bit of a momopoly involved in the festival. Stars generally have no clue where to go, and are wisked around by their PR people anyway (or more likely, the PR attached to the film they are in). There are pre-determined "hot spots"...not because they are "the" place to be normally, but just because they are picked by the festival PR people. That's why it's all about Sotto Sotto and Bistro 990...and a few other places like Sassafraz. It's too bad, cause the "stars" generally don't realize they are in a "star pimping" venue, rather than an actual cool or quality venue. But then again, they are "stars", so that's a lifestyle they have generally already gotten used to.





KGB

That's because there is a bit of a momopoly involved in the festival. Stars generally have no clue where to go, and are wisked around by their PR people anyway (or more likely, the PR attached to the film they are in). There are pre-determined "hot spots"...not because they are "the" place to be normally, but just because they are picked by the festival PR people. That's why it's all about Sotto Sotto and Bistro 990...and a few other places like Sassafraz. It's too bad, cause the "stars" generally don't realize they are in a "star pimping" venue, rather than an actual cool or quality venue. But then again, they are "stars", so that's a lifestyle they have generally already gotten used to.

KGB


... I wish my PR people would wisk me away to any restaurant of their choice. I'm not picky.

How many people here have actually eaten at Sassafraz?

The food is actually pretty decent. Prices are/were high and I don't care much for the atmosphere and the 'eurotrash' scene of 905-ers that typically frequent it on the weekends.

Apparently this establishment is mob controlled. That could easily explain the reason for the fire.

The MOB? *gasp*... Interesting... Where did you hear this?

That's the word on the street amongst the area residents my friend.

My sympathies go out to the staff and management of this restaurant who are now displaced from their jobs during the holiday season.

I know of a few places widely reputed to be Mob, but I had not heard of Sassafraz in that context. Nothing surprises me when it comes to restaurants
as a lot of them are run by pretty shady characters. Sassafraz had a bit of a reputation of having a heavy turnover of staff, which is never a good sign.

Sassafraz Restaurant - Toronto
Released April 10, 2007

EllisDon has been awarded a $3.0 million Project Management / Design Build contract to restore Sassafraz Restaurant, a well-known Yorkville destination frequented by celebrities.

EllisDon was initially engaged to assist Aviva Canada in managing their insurance claim following a fire in the restaurant in December 2006. After working closely with key stakeholders for two months, the owners requested authorization from Aviva to retain EllisDon to manage the reconstruction effort. “We are committed to reviving this Toronto landmark” says Zoran Kocovski “choosing EllisDon as the builder ensures that we meet this commitment.”

Work includes excavating and underpinning the basement level to accommodate a new state-of-the-art kitchen area; introducing features to enable a new roof top patio; creating barrier-free access to the building; and removing and replacing the existing roof structure that was severely damaged by the fire. Several additional structural alterations will be incorporated into the building to meet and exceed current building code requirements.

The exterior façade of this Toronto landmark was not compromised by the fire and will remain intact while the extensive interior renovation occurs. Working around the existing building shell proposes a unique set of challenges in addition to a very aggressive schedule.

Work will commence on April 2, 2007. EllisDon will complete this unique project in time for the Toronto Film Festival this September.

Source (http://www.ellisdon.com/ed/press/project_awards/?id=145)

Good to know :)

Thank the lord... Sassy rocked!

that sounds really exciting! not that the food was great, but the roof-top patio should be awesome!

i'm glad they're rebuilding,

huzzah.

They've been working on the building for a couple of months now.