A bar and cafe in Toronto that became a local institution over the course of just a few short years has officially closed its doors this week — but its comeback is already on the horizon.

First opening in late 2020, Parkdale's Larry's Folly was the realization of founder Stephen Schweighardt's long-running dream to open up a place of his own.

Starting off working at various spots around the city, from Glory Hole Doughnuts to Volta Espresso, which later became Mallo where he became part-owner and manager, Stephen tells blogTO that his goal was always to start something entirely his own.

"I was trying to just work at as many small businesses as possible, just to kind of be a sponge and learn that way," he tells blogTO. 

As he did that, he was also waiting for the pieces — the name, theme, story, and space — to fall into place as he worked towards coming up with his own venture, and eventually came Larry's Folly, an ode to his grandfather.

"Once I kind of cracked it open in my head, it was there and wouldn't go away," he says.

Then, in October of 2020, Larry's Folly was born; an eclectic cafe-by-day, bar-by-night in Parkdale that gained a fast reputation for lively live music nights, crafty cocktails and an ever-evolving rotation of local and craft brews, to say nothing of the downright great company it offered to scores of regulars in the area.

In 2023, the Larry's universe expanded, welcoming Larry's Back Pocket, a sister cafe, to the family and shacking up on Dundas West.

Today, though, Larry's Back Pocket is Stephen's only shop, as Larry's Folly closed its doors on Saturday, Nov. 30 following what he describes as a "complicated" relationship with the building's landlord and upstairs tenant.

"We didn't really talk too much or make it too public about why we closed, just because we didn't want the overarching narrative of all the good things that happened there," he tells blogTO.

Ultimately, it boils down to consistent "harrassment" from the landlord and other tenant which affected Stephen's ability to operate the space in the way he wanted to, while also making his staff members — a largely female team — feel unsafe.

"We kind of had to change the whole trajectory of the business," he tells blogTO, "we were doing events and music and stuff for a while, and, you know, that all stopped because it became too stressful and anxiety-inducing."

On top of that, when lease renewal came around, Stephen found himself saddled with an approximately 25 per cent rent increase, and he knew it was time to throw in the towel, decifing to bow out from the quirky space he had spent ten months renovating just five years prior.

Sharing a heartfelt video to the cafe's Instagram on Nov. 30, Stephen thanks not only his regulars and staff, but the entire community of Parkdale for the years of support.

"Without Parkdale, I don't think Larry's would still be here," Stephen says in the video.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Larry’s Place • Larry’s Back Pocket • Larry’s Coffee Co. (@larrys_world)

The video garnered a huge outpouring supportive comments from Folly fans near and far, expressing their gratitude for Stephen and the establishment.

"This is really beautiful you guys," one person comments. "Thank you for being my home away from home." 

This isn't the end for Larry's Folly, though, just the end of an era.

Larry's is set to be reborn in a brand-new location just up the street, at 1390 Queen West, and Stephen tells blogTO that it'll be coming sooner rather than later.

"We've had the shop since September," he says, "my dad and I have been renovating it, so it's been this dance between roasting [beans] and having two shops and trying to do this right."

"We're hoping to open on Saturday," he adds, citing Saturday, Dec. 7 as the aspirational opening date of Larry's Folly, volume two.

Larry's Folly was formerly located at 1462 Queen West.