Events in toronto: Toronto soul food joint known for its epic Caesars is closing after 10 years

A little piece of Harlem in Toronto has decided to cap off their 10 years in business by shutting down the restaurant for good.

An extension of Harlem, which closed in 2017, Harlem Underground will be serving their last plate of chicken and waffles next month. The soul food restaurant was also known for their mac n' cheese and Caesars.

"Over the last decade Harlem Underground has been an epicentre of black food and culture within the downtown core. The decision to close comes not from the restaurant itself, as we continue to be supported by the community at large, but from a personal need to see other creative endeavours grow," says owner Carl Cassell.

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On November 9th, 2019, Harlem Underground turns 10 years old. To celebrate this auspicious occasion, we have decided to close the restaurant. “Over the last decade Harlem Underground has been an epicentre of black food and culture within the downtown core. The decision to close comes not from the restaurant itself, as we continue to be supported by the community at large, but from a personal need to see other creative endeavours grow.” —Carl Cassell Cassell has owned three successful restaurants in the past 18 years. Now he is transitioning from the restaurant industry into the world of art, his other passion. Art has been an integral part of Harlem Underground’s mandate. Cassell intends to focus on his recently completed project, the first-ever shipping container home in downtown Toronto, which he will be using as a Gallery/Living Space. Cassell is also breaking ground on a new project. He will be building a shipping container Retreat Centre, one hour outside of Toronto. Join in our Celebrations ... Until its official closing date of November 11, 2019, Harlem Underground will be offering a Harlem Favourites Menu. As well, we welcome all of our patrons to share their favourite memories, photos, and videos by tagging Harlem Underground on Social Media: #HarlemUnderground. We will be having special events throughout the months of October and November with key Harlem promoters and party throwers. Everything will culminate on the final weekend of November 8-11th, with four nights of debauchery and nostalgia in the form of music, art, food and cocktails. We would like to thank all of our supporters, staff, patrons, party goers, promoters, DJs, musicians, performers, artists, and most of all our family and friends for all the love that has kept us going for the last 10 years. Although Harlem will be no more, we look forward to new adventures together. Peace and Love, Carl Cassell & Team

A post shared by Harlem Restaurant (@harlemrestaurant) on Oct 2, 2019 at 5:49am PDT

Those endeavours include a Toronto shipping container gallery/living space Cassell designed, as well as a shipping container retreat an hour outside the city.

Until Harlem Underground closes, they'll be serving a "Harlem Favourites" menu and throwing special events. They promise "four nights of debauchery and nostalgia in the form of music, art, food and cocktails" for their final weekend from November 8 - 11.

"We would like to thank all of our supporters, staff, patrons, party goes, promoters, DJs, musicians, performers, and artists, and most of all our family and friends for all the love that has kept us going for the last 10 years," reads the caption of an Instagram post announcing the closure.

"Although Harlem will be no more, we look forward to new adventures together."