Santa was one of the many protestors outside Adamson last month. He was rallying for his freedom. Photo by Tom Godfrey.
The fencing has been removed by Toronto Police from around Adamson Barbeque in Mimico and the controversial owner is being allowed to reopen.
Owner Adam Skelly has been allowed by the City to reopen the Queen Elizabeth Blvd. eatery, but only after he obtains a proper business licence.
Officers from 22 Division were dispatched on December 14 to remove the fencing from around the restaurant.
“We returned the premises to the landlord,” one Toronto Police officer said.
Skelly was charged last month after opening to customers for indoor dining, despite a provincial order banning the service.
Indoor dining has been prohibited in Toronto since Oct. 10 and in-person service on outdoor patios was banned when the city went into lockdown on Nov. 20.
A day after Toronto officials closed the restaurant, a crowd of supporters allegedly broke through a cordoned-off section of the building in an effort to reopen the establishment. Skelly and another person were arrested by police.
Skelly, 33, is now charged with multiple offences, including one count of attempting to obstruct police, one count of mischief under, one count of failing to comply with a continued order under the Reopening Ontario Act, and one count of failing to leave when directed under the Trespass to Property Act.
He was released under numerous conditions, including that he stay away from the restaurant.
Toronto officials this week said that the medical officer of health has lifted the requirement under the Health Protection and Promotion Act that ordered the closure of Adamson Barbecue.
“Should that location defy the restraining order and the lockdown regulation and open for indoor and/or outdoor dining, the owner, the business, or its employees and agents could face contempt of court findings.”
The city said that operating without a business licence can result in a maximum penalty of $25,000 for an individual and $50,000 for a corporation.
Toronto Mayor John Tory said he supports the action taken against the restaurant by the city and that if future rules are broken, there could be severe consequences.
There were hundreds of people outside the restaurant for days last month protesting the closure.