St Lawrence Market

[DSCToronto]

The FlatIron had masonry problems a few years ago on the Wellington side - they now seem to be fixing the problems on the Front side. They probably do not need a building permit for this 'repair' - they may need a sidewalk occupancy permit ( I do not think these are publicly available online) - depending on exactly where the property line is on that side. There is one very obvious area.

View attachment 627357

They are now moving the scaffolding erection to the Wellington side so both sides and the bull-nose are getting repaired. I suppose the repairs on the Wellington face a few years ago were only emergency ones.

 

[CityPainter]

The Metro grocery store at 80 Front St East was closed earlier today with a red DineSafe sign on the door and another printed sign beside it that says "store is closed due to maintenance".

There's nothing on the DinesSafe site yet, but I assume the inspection details will appear eventually. Does anyone know what happened? I don't want to speculate.

 

[christiesplits]

The Metro grocery store at 80 Front St East was closed earlier today with a red DineSafe sign on the door and another printed sign beside it that says "store is closed due to maintenance".

There's nothing on the DinesSafe site yet, but I assume the inspection details will appear eventually. Does anyone know what happened? I don't want to speculate.

Interesting. I used to frequent the Metro when I worked down there and never noticed anything suspect. It could be a boon for St. Lawrence Market South + North if regulars need to find another local grocery option.

 

[DSCToronto]

Interesting. I used to frequent the Metro when I worked down there and never noticed anything suspect. It could be a boon for St. Lawrence Market South + North if regulars need to find another local grocery option.

Strange, I do some shopping there and its a good store so it may be something to do with the building services (sewage/water etc)

This is most recent on website

 

[matrix]

There's nothing on the DinesSafe site yet, but I assume the inspection details will appear eventually. Does anyone know what happened? I don't want to speculate.

1 Crucial Infraction(s)​

• Food premise maintained in manner permitting health hazard (Rodents) - Sec. 7(1)(a)(i) Action: Summons and Health Hazard Order, Pending on March 13, 2025

1 Significant Infraction(s)​

• Fail to protect against harbouring of pests - Sec. 13(1) Action: Notice to Comply

1 Minor Infraction(s)​

• FOOD PREMISE NOT MAINTAINED WITH FOOD HANDLING ROOM IN SANITARY CONDITION - SEC. 7(1)(E) Action: Notice to Comply

Rodents all over the place

Source: https://www.toronto.ca/community-pe...safety/dinesafe/#infraction_details/9005761/0

 

[CityPainter]

1 Crucial Infraction(s)​

• Food premise maintained in manner permitting health hazard (Rodents) - Sec. 7(1)(a)(i) Action: Summons and Health Hazard Order, Pending on March 13, 2025

1 Significant Infraction(s)​

• Fail to protect against harbouring of pests - Sec. 13(1) Action: Notice to Comply

1 Minor Infraction(s)​

• FOOD PREMISE NOT MAINTAINED WITH FOOD HANDLING ROOM IN SANITARY CONDITION - SEC. 7(1)(E) Action: Notice to Comply

Rodents all over the place

Source: https://www.toronto.ca/community-pe...safety/dinesafe/#infraction_details/9005761/0

Thank you, I see they've updated DineSafe now. I guess the data doesn't get entered until end of day.

Unfortunately, this is what I feared. Last summer I passed through the sculpture garden just behind Metro at night, and it was absolutely teeming with rats. So many I thought the ground was moving. They even closed that garden briefly last fall for pest control. So it seems the surrounding area has some infestation problems, and maybe this spread into the grocery store and they dropped the ball on their preventions. It's a shame, but I will still probably return when (if?) they reopen because it is a very good store otherwise, and I assume they will learn from this.

 

[matrix]

Thank you, I see they've updated DineSafe now. I guess the data doesn't get entered until end of day.

Unfortunately, this is what I feared. Last summer I passed through the sculpture garden just behind Metro at night, and it was absolutely teeming with rats. So many I thought the ground was moving. They even closed that garden briefly last fall for pest control. So it seems the surrounding area has some infestation problems, and maybe this spread into the grocery store and they dropped the ball on their preventions. It's a shame, but I will still probably return when (if?) they reopen because it is a very good store otherwise, and I assume they will learn from this.

They'll be fine. This is Metro we're talking about. When they get the situation under control I assume they'd be allowed to reopen. And you can bet your bottom dollar those folks at head office are teeming about this...

 

[Richard White]

They'll be fine. This is Metro we're talking about. When they get the situation under control I assume they'd be allowed to reopen. And you can bet your bottom dollar those folks at head office are teeming about this...

Don't forget that location is on every baked good they sell as well. It is after all the "front street bakery"

 

[matrix]

Don't forget that location is on every baked good they sell as well. It is after all the "front street bakery"

Yikes, even worse. Sucks because I think Metro's got the most consistent bakery out of all mainline supermarket chains. Hope they do better

 

[AlbertC]

Having worked at the Pusateri's Avenue Road flagship store during my high school days, I'd say that rodent issues are a common situation among grocery stores. I worked in the deli department and every staff member knew about it. And this was years before they had the high profile exposure and the issue made the news. It really comes down to how well a store is able to mask the issue or try to get it under control.

 

[evandyk]

There are always going to be rodents around grocery stores because of the garbage with good food pickings. This is a well-run store, so obviously they failed in their controls, but I wouldn't doubt that they will have it all under control and cleaner than ever in short order.

 

[PinkLucy]

Having worked at the Pusateri's Avenue Road flagship store during my high school days, I'd say that rodent issues are a common situation among grocery stores. I worked in the deli department and every staff member knew about it. And this was years before they had the high profile exposure and the issue made the news. It really comes down to how well a store is able to mask the issue or try to get it under control.

Former grocery store owner here. Rodents are an issue. Loading doors and customer entry doors are always opening, and hey, that's a big warm place full of food! Ongoing, stringent controls are important. Fortunately, we were in northern Ontario where rats weren't an issue, but we did have to watch out for bears. We even had a marten or weasel (one of those types of critters) in our store once.

 

[Mihairokov]

Former grocery store owner here. Rodents are an issue. Loading doors and customer entry doors are always opening, and hey, that's a big warm place full of food! Ongoing, stringent controls are important. Fortunately, we were in northern Ontario where rats weren't an issue, but we did have to watch out for bears. We even had a marten or weasel (one of those types of critters) in our store once.

I mentioned this in the downtown grocery thread but Oak Hall Lane near this Metro is full of rats - it's not surprising this Metro has this problem!

 

[DSCToronto]

I mentioned this in the downtown grocery thread but Oak Hall Lane near this Metro is full of rats - it's not surprising this Metro has this problem!

Store is now re-opened - no visible rats!

 

[christiesplits]

Rodents all over the place

Source: https://www.toronto.ca/community-pe...safety/dinesafe/#infraction_details/9005761/0

From my understanding of the restaurant business, it's not a matter of whether or not an establishment has a history of pests, but whether they are taking proactive steps to limit the issue. This likely means it's a very big pest issue.