Business

Longest Yard shuts its doors after 30 years

Restaurants are community assets.

That’s the sentiment of Davisville tavern owner, Debra DeMonte, and the description she shared of The Longest Yard’s role in the neighbourhood.

Which explains why shutting the doors to the establishment, opened by DeMonte when she was 24, is such tough business decision.

“It’s where people congregate,” she said, adding the Longest Yard’s last day was April 30. “They come and they find comfort, celebrate from milestone birthdays, christenings, stags, ball teams winning the big trophy, kids’ little league teams.”

She rattled off several big moments in history where Davisvillers and Leasiders alike set foot across the threshold, including 9-11, the Blue Jays’ back-to-back World Series titles, Canada’s hockey gold at the Vancouver-Whistler Olympic games, and Barack Obama’s first inauguration as president of the United States of America.

Though DeMonte will keep her other Longest Yard open — at 3313 Bloor Street West in the Kingsway — she’s been told the Mount Pleasant address should be the one staying open.

The reason behind the pub’s end is purely a lifestyle change.

“It is a really tough business. You’re open seven days a week, 15 hours a day,” she said. “I want to slow down a bit…. I have not had a day off or a vacation in years.”

After making the announcement on Facebook, DeMonte received calls, emails and protests from around the globe.

“I’ve had people really protest with me, ‘You’re selling the wrong restaurant’,” she said. “A lot of people are sad, but happy. They’re thankful.”

Gone will be the bi-annual tradition of Lobster Fest, where the Yard — as it’s more affectionately known by patrons — and the all-day breakfasts on weekends and holidays.

But DeMonte assured the new restaurateur, John Oakes of the Harbord House, will put his own stamp on the property.

“He’s going to shut it down for a couple of weeks and put his own little footprint on it, his own little style, and re-open,” she said.

The new name will be the Belsize Public House, a far cry from the sporty origins that conjure up images of Burt Reynolds and his moustache.

When asked if she was a fan of Burt Reynolds she admitted now she is.

“He’s so gracious,” she said, while sharing anecdotes about the Burt’s multiple visits.

“Back in the early ’90s there was a high-end restaurant on the street called Pronto, and it was the place where the who’s who would go,” she recalled. “The staff would come in here after for drinks, and they said, ‘Deb, Burt and Lonnie are coming in here, why don’t you come in and see him.’

“I said, ‘I can’t do that but why don’t you tell him we’re here and he can come on by. And he did.'”

The end result was the signed headshot of the ’70s A-lister who starred in the film where the bar got its name.