Electric Bill, Australia-themed Ossington bar, closing August 16 after two years
Rising operating costs, the cost-of-living crisis, and an inability to open its 50-seat patio have made the business financially unsustainable, co-owner Casey Ryan says.
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Electric Bill, a popular Australia-themed cocktail bar at the corner of Ossington Avenue and Bloor Street West, will permanently close on August 16 after two years in business.
Co-owner Casey Ryan cited rising operating costs, the cost-of-living crisis, and the bar's inability to open its 50-seat patio as the main factors behind the closure. The loss of the patio—which would have been a major summer revenue source—combined with increasing costs for food, alcohol, and licensing squeezed already thin margins.
Ryan explained that patio licensing itself costs about $7,000 annually, making it difficult to justify keeping the space closed. "Summertime in Toronto, it's a patio city, right? So patios are very much a main source of revenue for us. So that was a big thing as well," he said.
Ryan, who has worked in Toronto bars since coming from Australia in 2010, emphasized that the broader cost-of-living crisis affects both operators and customers. "I feel like it's very hard for people in general right now to go out, just with how expensive things are." He noted that bar owners across Ontario are struggling with similar pressures.
Ryan said he doesn't think cocktails should be "an elitist thing" or "something that only the very rich can afford." Since the closure announcement, customers have flooded the bar with messages of support, thanking the team for its welcoming atmosphere and community-focused hospitality.
