Get ready for this, because it's a bit of a whirlwind: Vegandale Brewery, located at Queen and Brock, closed its doors and boarded up the space a couple of weeks ago. Not surprisingly for this city, the brewery cited rising Toronto rent prices as the cause of closure. But there's more!
The spot moved just across the street with a different name, an updated look and some menu changes. Where it gets a bit confusing is the fact that the new digs are taking over what was formerly Mythology, the vegan diner which closed down after a relatively short time in business. So, Bar Vegandale, as it's now called, opened up in that piece of real estate just over a week ago, and is welcoming vegan food lovers in for old favourites as well as indulgent new menu items by Doomie's (formerly its own spot, but now serving solely inside Bar Vegandale).
There has been quite a bit of controversy surrounding gentrification along this specific strip of Queen, with some believing that the "branding" of Parkdale as vegan represents privilege and exclusivity. Regardless of your opinion on the matter, there is no arguing that plant-based eating is only continuing to rise, so options that allow non-meat eaters to enjoy burgers, mac n' cheese and buckets of chicken -- without the animal products -- are positive additions to the city.
