Grocer Pusateri’s Fine Foods has closed its store in Toronto’s Bayview Village and scrapped a planned opening in the city’s Little Italy neighbourhood for financial reasons.

A Pusateri’s representative told Canadian Grocer that the moves are due to “ongoing financial pressure impacting business operations and higher, unsustainable operational costs.”

The moves came after Pusateri’s opted not to renew its lease on a store in Toronto’s Yorkville shopping centre in February, citing changes in the retail landscape. At that time, the grocer said it was preparing to unveil a new concept store at the Little Italy location.

A spokesperson for Pusateri’s confirmed the forthcoming closure in an email to the Toronto Star, adding that the store will shut its doors permanently by the end of March.

However, the company is preparing to unveil a new concept store in Little Italy at 899 College Street.

Pusateri’s told Canadian Grocer that the decision to close the Bayville store and discontinue the Little Italy opening effort will “preserve value, maintain premium service, and ensure the long-term success and sustainability of [the] brand.” 

“While these are very difficult decisions for our company, we are confident these restructurings are the necessary steps to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of our brand,” the representative told Canadian Grocer.

Pictured: Section of a Pusateri’s store

Photo: V2com Newswire/GH+A Design