Cibo Wine Bar Yonge Street closing after 10 years: Employee rights and next steps

What’s going on at Cibo?

Cibo Wine Bar, located at 2472 Yonge Street in Toronto’s Yonge and Eglinton area, is closing its doors on January 25, 2025. This marks the end of a decade-long operation at this location, with at least 30 employees affected by the closure.

Official statements and context

Lease ended: Nick Di Donato, President and CEO of Liberty Entertainment Group, the parent company of Cibo, confirmed the decision in a statement to blogTO.

• “Our lease has come to an end, and despite our best efforts, we were unable to reach a mutually agreeable renewal with the new landlord.”
• Di Donato added that the company is exploring options for a new location in the area and expressed appreciation to patrons and staff for their support over the past decade.

Ongoing operations

The closure of the Yonge and Eglinton location does not affect Cibo’s other Toronto locations, which will continue to operate at 133 Yorkville Avenue and 522 King West.

What’s next?

While the future use of the 2472 Yonge Street space remains uncertain, Liberty Entertainment Group has stated its intention to maintain a presence in the area by seeking a new location for Cibo Wine Bar.

5 steps to take when you lose your job

1️⃣ Don’t sign anything immediately: You have the right to carefully review all termination documents. Remember, the employer’s severance offer deadline isn’t legally binding. Speak with one of our lawyers before accepting anything to ensure you’re fully informed and protected.

2️⃣ Document everything: Save copies of termination letters, severance offers, and correspondence with your employer for future reference.

3️⃣ Use our Severance Pay Calculator: Estimate what you’re owed with our firm’s free Severance Pay Calculator. This quick step helps you understand your entitlements and plan your next move.

4️⃣ Get legal advice: Contact an employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP to ensure your severance package reflects your full rights.

5️⃣ Start exploring new opportunities: Update your resume and begin searching for new roles. Proactively seeking work not only boosts your career, but also demonstrates your effort to find a new job, which is crucial in severance claims.

WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru breaks down everything you need to know about severance pay on an episode of the Employment Law Show.

LEARN MORE
• Severance pay for provincially regulated employees
• Are severance packages different during mass layoffs?
• Severance entitlements in a recession

Why Samfiru Tumarkin LLP?

Unlike employment law firms that rely heavily on courtroom victories, our proven strategy focuses on maximizing severance packages early in the claim process—helping clients avoid the time, cost, and stress of litigation.

With extensive courtroom experience to fall back when necessary, we excel at securing generous outcomes quickly and efficiently for our clients.

In addition to severance package negotiations, our lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C. can help with a variety of employment matters, including:

If you’re a non-unionized employee who needs help with a workplace issue, contact us or call 1-855-821-5900.

Get the advice you need and the compensation you deserve.

Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of non-unionized employees in Canada. It is not specific to any one company and SHOULD NOT be read as suggesting any improper conduct on the part of any specific employer, or a relationship between Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and a specific employer.