Saints Island Pies announced on Instagram yesterday evening that they've officially closed their storefront at 1665 Dundas West. They've made it clear that though they've decided to shutter their physical location, this won't be the last time you'll see them in the city.
Initially creating the concept of the 'island pie' years ago for a friend's art show, co-owner Sean Santos brought his idea back during the pandemic as a pop-up in late July of 2020, operating out of the Wallflower Restaurant. Originally named Pabalos, Santos was then joined by his longtime friend Chuck Ortiz, whom together took over the Wallflower's space on Nov. 1, 2020 to create a permanent spot for their new restaurant, renamed Saints Island Pies.
"We’ve been thinking about moving from this location for a while as it was never really suited to run a pizzeria, but a lot of factors, including the closures, pushed us to make that move sooner than later," says Ortiz. "One thing we realized was that although many people enjoyed our 'dine-in' experience, given the current state of things, a delivery and takeout model makes more sense moving forward."
"This space will always hold a special place in our hearts, and like with any ending, an exciting new beginning is just around the corner," writes the restaurant on Instagram.
Influenced by Detroit-Style pizza, this spot dished out their own unique version of the beloved thick crusted, flaky edged pie through incorporating their Filipino heritage in every bite. From the names on the menu, to the ingredients the pizzas are comprised of, they quickly gained popularity for putting a creative twist on a classic, that no one else was doing.
"Unfortunately, 1665 Dundas is now closed for good, so no more farewell pies," says Ortiz. "But we are quickly working on the next chapter so it won’t be long until people can order an Island Pie from us."
Loyal customers of the restaurant are bound to miss the creativity found on their pizzas. One of their signature pies is the breakfast inspired Bespren Longanizza. Topped with with Longanisa sausage made in house, tomato sauce, roasted onions, mozzarella cheese, crispy garlic, a drizzle of special sauce and a fried egg.
"We can’t say too much on what’s next, but just know we are constantly improving our food and making it the best possible Filipino-Canadian experience we can provide," says Ortiz.
For updates on when you'll be able to order from them again, you'll want to stay tuned to Saints Island Pies on Instagram.
