Etobicoke's Southside Johnny's closed after liquor licence revoked
Southside Johnny’s Bar and Grill in Etobicoke has had its liquor licence revoked by the Ontario Licence Appeal Tribunal. The decision follows an investigation revealing the bar purchased stolen liquor and violated provincial storage and dispensing regulations.
Why it matters
The case serves as a significant enforcement action against organized retail crime and regulatory non-compliance in the hospitality industry.
Southside Johnny’s Bar and Grill — a long‑running Etobicoke establishment — is preparing for “a new chapter,” days after Ontario’s Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT) ordered its liquor licence revoked following a sweeping investigation into the bar’s operations .
The ruling, issued July 16 , follows the AGCO’s Notice of Proposal in December 2025, when regulators alleged the bar had been purchasing stolen liquor from shoplifters and storing unauthorized alcohol on‑site.
At the time, the AGCO said the bar’s conduct “strikes at the core of the province’s licensing regime.” The tribunal found the west-end bar’s past conduct provided “reasonable grounds for belief” that it would not operate “in accordance with the law and with integrity and honesty,” and that revocation was justified.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in