Restaurant owner Taiwo Ajala believes he's being unfairly condemned for the actions of another business."I feel I'm being punished for someone else's crime," said Ajala, who is facing opposition in his attempt to get a liquor licence for his African restaurant called Suya Spot at 3212 Weston Rd., north of Sheppard Avenue.
About 50 residents turned out to a meeting Monday, March 30 to debate whether the community supports the application.
The problem is Suya Spot wants to open in the same location as a former establishment called Suzy's Donuts, which sometimes found itself at odds with the community, York West Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti said.
"Suzy's Donuts has not had a very good feel in the community. It was the only doughnut shop in Toronto that had a liquor licence and didn't sell doughnuts," Mammoliti said.
"We're all concerned, including myself, that Suzy's Donuts is coming back."
The concern comes from the fact that information on Suya Spot's application, added by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, which grants liquor licences, includes a reference to Suzy's Donuts.
That has Mammoliti and others worried about a possible connection between the two.
But Ajala said he has no ties whatsoever.
"I have no dealings with Suzy's Donuts. I don't know who they are. I never met them. I have no dealings with them whatsoever," he said.
"Why am I being tagged as Suzy's Donuts? That is not who I am."
Ajala purchased his property from a pizza store that had been in business for a year. Another pizza store occupied the location for three or four years before that. So, it has been quite a while since Suzy's Donuts operated in the plaza, he said.
When Ajala called the commission to find out about the reference, he said he was told it is routine for the agency to include information about a previous owner at the same location.
Ajala said he relocated his restaurant, which has an established clientele, from the area of Keele Street and Lawrence Avenue to Weston Road two months ago because he saw an opportunity to expand his business.
He said he wants to continue running an upstanding African eatery, which also features Friday jazz evenings.
"We're very decent people. We've never committed any crimes. We're hard-working people," he said.
While Mammoliti said he can't support Suya Spot's liquor application until community concerns are addressed and city inspection agencies grant their approval, he said he may be willing to back the application if he's satisfied there won't be any problems.
"He (Ajala) seems like a nice gentleman who wants to run a good establishment," he said. "It seems that is what he wants, but he has work to do to convince the community."
About half the residents who attended Monday night's meeting at the Carmine Stefano Community Centre, hosted by Mammoliti, opposed granting Suya Spot a liquor licence while the other half were in favour as long as the restaurant doesn't cause a disruption to the community,
Some residents are concerned about granting Suya Spot a liquor licence because there are already two establishments licensed to serve alcohol in the same plaza, Mammoliti said.
There will be another meeting planned to further discuss the community's concerns.
Meanwhile, the commission has not yet set a date to hear Ajala's application.