To smooth over any bad feelings about reefer resto Hot Box Cafe being forced to vacate their long-time Baldwin Street home, the new owners of the building – the crew behind Jimmy’s Coffee – have issued an apology on their Facebook page.
The post reads: “We are sorry [Hot Box owner Abi Roach] was not notified by the current owner that a new lease would not be extended to her by the new owner when the building changed hands. This is not an aggressive take over. It is an unfortunate situation of miscommunication on a lot of levels. I’m sure there is lots of room for everyone in the Market.”
Nonetheless, as of September 15, the sweet smell of burning cannabis sativa will no longer emanate from the Café (191A Baldwin, 416-203-6990, hotboxcafe.ca) as it has for the last 11 years.
“My lease ran out in May and I’ve been on a month-to-month basis since,” says Roach. “The building’s been for sale since we opened but the landlord assured me that any new owners would give me six months to re-locate. He lied.”
Luckily, Roach will be able to fold the Café into her existing Roach-O-Rama (204 Augusta, 647-308-7845, hotboxcafe.ca/RoachHome.htm), her head shop around the corner. Till then, she’ll have to lay-off a good chunk of her staff.
Roach’s response to Jimmy’s apology?
“Good luck to them but I don’t think Kensington really needs another coffeehouse selling capuccinos.”
Some will recall that Akram’s falafel shop next door collapsed when its owners attempted a renovation a couple of years back.
“The building’s a wreck. It’s 105 years old and falling apart. When I complained that there wasn’t any heat, the landlord got me a couple of electric space heaters from Canadian Tire.”
Still, Roach will miss the drafty old place and plans to send it off in typical Hot Box style.
“I’m sure we’ll have some kind of party. We usually do!”
