Albert, prop. The Orange Snail Pub

Albert Bain is a dear friend of mine. He and his wife Allison are the proprietors of The Orange Snail Pub - a landmark little restaurant at Stong College, York University. Although The Snail has been around for decades, it fell into decline and folded sometime in the early 2000's. In 2005, Al & Al, revived it and opened it up again and have been doing fine ever since. Originally from Grenada, they moved to Canada and have been food folk around Toronto for quite some time. I am glad they came to YorkU as have so many others.

There are few "mom & pop" providers any more. Two are closing this month: Blueberry Hill, a diner-style place with patio and chip-snatching sparrows that's been around for 20 years; and, The Grad Lounge, a pub-style place that is not very profitable, sadly. It's been around for decades as well. Both have patios and lots of folks like to have a beer and enjoy the air with lunch or snacks. Both are closing just as the good weather is coming. The Absinthe, a student-run Tudor-style pub is closing for the summer per usual so there goes another patio.

Albert has the only one left that will run all summer per usual. He'll enjoy the business boost I'm sure once the word gets out. The Underground restaurant is licensed but as the name suggests, it's below ground and has no patio. Bummer. Almost every other business on campus is some kind of corporate franchise and a few more are coming. Double bummer. Some are good, some not so much...

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