Covid-19, urban economic resilience and the pandemic pivot: Toronto’s restaurant scene

Abstract

Restaurants, fundamental to Toronto’s urban and cultural economy, experienced significant disruption because of extended closures during the Covid-19 pandemic. We examine data harvested from Yelp Business Search Endpoint on restaurant openings and closures in Toronto between May 2020 and May 2021. Our analysis shows that, despite expectations to the contrary, more restaurants opened than closed during this time. Geographically, similar numbers of restaurants both opened and closed in the city’s downtown core, demonstrating that early pandemic predictions suggesting the end of concentration are exaggerated. Overall, restaurants and restaurateurs exhibited resilience during the pandemic. We attribute this resilience, in part, to an ability to pivot to takeout-friendly foods, digital ordering and delivery and because of government funding supports.