The popular Island Café that was destroyed by fire last week on the Toronto Islands has plans to operate again this season.
The Island Café, located just south of the Ward’s Island Ferry Docks, burned to the ground after a fire broke out at the Ward’s Island Association Clubhouse and Island Café in the early hours of March 17.
But in an Instagram post on Thursday, the owners noted that things are looking up for the future.
“We are deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of support we’ve received in the past few days Your kindness, generosity, and the memories you’ve shared mean so much to us. We have two exciting updates to share:
- We are actively exploring options to potentially operate this season.
- We’re thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of The Island Cafe online store.”
The comments on Instagram have been more than encouraging, with people sharing ideas about what the café could sell in their online store and how they should move forward:
“You should do picnic baskets! That would be such a fun restaurant experience and people could reserve spots throughout the day so you’d know what to prep beforehand!” One user wrote.
Another stated, “Yay! Even if you just set up a basic snack shack, or food truck, it’ll help raise funds for rebuild. I’m sure we’re all happy to contribute!”
While others simply showed some love:
“That’s great to hear. We’re looking forward to enjoying whatever set-up you’re able to put together this year, and to supporting your recovery. Good luck”
The Clubhouse was a staple of the Toronto Islands and was home to the Ward’s Island Association and the Island Café. It was built in the late 1930s, and throughout the years, it has been host to everything from weddings, anniversaries, and birthday parties, to meetings, seminars, and picnics.