Maker Pizza locked out of Avenue and Lawrence location after landlord cites abandonment and unpaid rent
Maker Pizza announced the Avenue and Lawrence location had closed on Nov. 12. The landlord posted a termination notice the next day and re-entered the premises, leaving equipment behind.
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By Torontoer Staff
Maker Pizza's Avenue and Lawrence location was locked out by its landlord after a termination notice posted in the storefront alleged rent non-payment and abandonment. The chain had announced the site was closed a day earlier, then the landlord re-entered the property on Nov. 13.
The closure has left equipment, furniture and merchandise in the vacant space and prompted questions about whether the move was voluntary or the result of a lease dispute. The building is slated for demolition to make way for a condominium development, a separate factor in the location's future.
Timeline and what was posted
On Nov. 12 Maker Pizza posted on Instagram that the Avenue Road location had closed, writing, "Avenue Road – what an incredible journey." The following day, a termination notice appeared in the storefront window, alleging a breach of contract related to unpaid rent and abandonment of the premises.
Avenue Road – what an incredible journey.
Maker Pizza Instagram
The termination notice stated the lease was terminated and the property was re-entered on Nov. 13. The notice and the presence of remaining ovens, furniture and boxes have left observers and neighbours uncertain about whether Maker vacated voluntarily or was compelled out by the landlord.
The lease was terminated, and the property was re-entered on Nov. 13.
Termination notice posted at the location
Who owns the building and what comes next
The Avenue and Lawrence address is owned by Pusateri's, the premium grocery that operated at the same site. Pusateri's has confirmed it will reopen on the ground level of the future condo development, but the company's statement did not indicate whether Maker Pizza would have a role in the new project.
With demolition planned, the site was already destined to change. That does not resolve the immediate dispute over equipment left behind or the landlord's claim of abandonment, both of which could have legal and financial implications for the parties involved.
Maker's wider operations and expansion plans
Maker Pizza remains active elsewhere in the city. The chain recently moved its Leslieville location to a larger space on Carlaw Avenue, and it plans to open a new Yonge and Eglinton location in summer 2026. Those moves suggest the company is continuing to expand despite the dispute at Avenue and Lawrence.
Toronto media outlets sought comment from Maker Pizza about the termination notice and the items left in the store. Maker did not respond by the given deadline, and the landlord has not published further public statements beyond the posted notice.
Context and implications
The closure comes amid recent shutdowns of other restaurants associated with chef Matty Matheson, including Bar Clams and Ca Phe Rang. Those closures have added a degree of concern among local diners and industry watchers, but Maker's announced openings point to ongoing business activity rather than a chain-wide retrenchment.
Without additional public comment from either Maker or the landlord, the precise sequence of events and any legal remedies remain unclear. The remaining equipment and merchandise could be subject to recovery, sale or disposal depending on the outcome of any dispute.
- Nov. 12: Maker Pizza posts on Instagram that the Avenue Road location is closed.
- Nov. 13: Landlord posts a termination notice alleging unpaid rent and abandonment, and re-enters the property.
- After Nov. 13: Furniture, ovens and other equipment remain in the storefront as demolition plans for a condo development proceed.
For now, the Avenue and Lawrence location is closed and the reason for the abrupt lockout remains unresolved. Maker Pizza is still operating elsewhere and has plans for at least one new Toronto location in 2026.
Maker Pizzarestaurant closuresToronto businessAvenue and LawrencePusateri's
