August was a tough month for some well established Toronto businesses. Among the notable closures were restaurants with decades in business, highly regarded cocktail bars, and one of the city's most sex-positive retailers.

Here are the notable Toronto businesses that closed in August.

The Saint
The Ossington tavern shuttered at the onset of August to make room for a new collaboration between the King Street Food Company and chef Brandon Olsen. The new restaurant called La Banane is expected to debut this fall.

The Whippoorwill
The Bloordale restaurant quietly shut down this month as the owners turn their attentions to their young families. Rumour has it a new Playa Cabana-related restaurant is set to take its place.

Lucky Red
This snack bar in Chinatown posted farewell on their Instagram earlier this month. This was the second incarnation of the Banh Mi Boys spin-off.

Furlough
The European bistro and cocktail bar from the folks behind BarChef suddenly shuttered this month. The high turnover address was previously home to Ursa and Bar One before that.

Shala-mar
After over 25 years on Roncesvalles (+ a location on Donlands in the '80s and on Davenport the decade before that), this Indian restaurant has bid adieu to its loyal following of lamb vindaloo lovers.

Linwood Essentials
This cocktail bar at Queen West and Shaw right near Furlough held a final blowout before month's end following a two year run.

Come As You Are
The sex-positive shop said goodbye to Queen West following its final day of business on August 28. The co-op had established itself over two decades and while its retail outlet is closed for good, the inventory is still for sale online.

Castles Board Game Cafe
This board game cafe in Chinatown has called it quits and spent the final day in August papering up the windows for whatever comes next.

Lead photo of Come As You Are by Jesse Milns.