etobicoke bar loses liquor licence after buying stolen booze from homeless encampment
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forever let it be known that buying stolen booze causes nothing but headaches.
southside johnny’s bar and grill lost its liquor licence this month after employees at the popular watering hole allegedly purchased stolen booze from suspected drug addicts associated with a homeless encampment.
in a decision released july 16, the licence appeal tribunal dismissed an appeal by the etobicoke watering hole and ordered the alcohol and gaming commission of ontario (agco) to revoke the establishment’s liquor licence.
owner john theodorakakis said losing his liquor licence would be a “death sentence” for his business, adding that some of his employees could lose their jobs.
in a july 18 post on social media, the bar said that it was closing for the next few weeks to work on a new and exciting chapter in the history of the west-end establishment.
“thank you for your continued support, patience and loyalty,” the post said. “this community means everything to us, and we can’t wait to raise a glass with you again soon.”
the details
according to the ruling by adjudicator bruce stanton, the agco accused theodorakakis and manager yasmin gomes of purchasing stolen booze and selling it to their customers over the course of a year before they were caught in the spring of 2025.
gomes was the manager of southside on may 21 of last year when, according to a surveillance report commissioned by the organized retail crime and intelligence unit of the lcbo (orciu), a woman stole two, 1.75 litre bottles of appleton estate rum from an lcbo on lake shore blvd w.
halton regional police officer rob felske, who was a member of orciu, testified that he observed the woman from the lcbo theft hand off articles to a man, identified as k.m., who then proceeded to the rear door of the establishment. soon after, k.m. exited the back door of the establishment and rejoined the same woman who had handed off the articles, presumed to be the appleton rum.
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gomes testified that she paid k.m. $70.00 for the two bottles and “presumed they were stolen,” the ruling states. the lcbo website says a 1.75 litre bottle costs $71.90.
on may 22, the orciu continued its surveillance and found the same woman who had stolen the rum the day previous then swiped two “large bottles” of jägermeister from an lcbo outlet on the queensway.
the women joined k.m. back at their residence. later, k.m. was seen walking to southside johnny’s with two items “stuffed into his sleeves,” the report said. he was then seen leaving the bar showing no “indication of any articles being concealed within it.”
gomes says she purchased the jägermeister and “gave the two bottles to her sister,” the ruling noted.
the appeal
theodorakakis says he bought liquor several times a week leading up to the bust to “keep the peace,” to pacify the residents of the encampment “so they would not harass the establishment and his customers,” the report said.
the owner says that six months prior to may 2025, k.m. and other residents of the encampment had been wandering into his business, using the washrooms, and badgering customers in attempts to sell stolen goods inside and outside the premises.
theodorakakis claimed the gang members caused $5,000 to $6,000 worth of damage to his property, he said he feared for his safety and the safety of his employees, which led to the purchase of the loot. theodorakakis presented no evidence of the damage, but his oral testimony was accepted.
theodorakakis threw water on any notion that the stolen liquor was ever used to serve customers of southside johnny’s.
the ruling
stanton accepted theodorakakis’ rationale in keeping the peace, but noted the owner had other options available to him, such as calling the police.
the adjudicator says there was no evidence that theodorakakis either contacted the police or his insurer about the damage to his business that he claims happened. however, no evidence was found that the establishment served stolen liquor to its customers.
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“the misconduct of the appellant and its principals as a blatant contravention that strikes at the core of the province’s licensing regime which exists to ensure the safe and responsible sale and consumption of liquor,” said respondent stephanie balaban, manager of liquor eligibility.
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