Electric Bill Closure Highlights Growing Struggle for Toronto Bars

Electric Bill, an Australian-themed cocktail bar on Bloor Street W. near Ossington Avenue, closed its doors this past August. As CBC Toronto first reported, owner Casey Ryan told the outlet that despite having dedicated local customers, cascading expenses made the business impossible to sustain.

Ryan cited a variety of financial pressures, including increases to hydro, gas, and rent, as well as Ontario's minimum wage hikes. He estimated that food costs rose by about 20 percent in total while the bar was open. Ryan also noted that a standard 10 percent discount on LCBO alcohol purchases provided little relief, and a change to the LCBO's wholesale pricing system in April failed to lower his costs.

Further straining the business were city fees for patio operations, which Ryan described as "crazy high" at roughly $7,000, leading the bar to forgo a patio this year. Pat Tobin, Toronto's manager of economic development and culture, told CBC Toronto that patio costs remain significantly lower than indoor commercial space. Both the province and city pointed to corporate income tax cuts and small business property tax reductions as evidence of their support.

Electric Bill's closure mirrors a broader industry trend. A February 2026 report from Restaurants Canada found over 40 percent of members were barely breaking even or operating at a loss. Restaurants Canada CEO Kelly Higginson told CBC Toronto that operators are often losing money and funding businesses from their own pockets. Statistics Canada data cited by CBC Toronto shows that between 2024 and 2026, Toronto saw 98.5 closures for every 100 openings, an increase from the 96 closures per 100 openings recorded between 2018 and 2020.