A very personal look at what it takes to open a successful bar
Opening a bar in Toronto, where every corner of the city seems to be filled with vibrant and eclectic spots, can be as challenging, intimidating and thrilling. It poses even more challenges when you are a self-funded solo entrepreneur, especially when you are known not for your business acumen, your operational skills or your taste in food and wine, but for something as specific as cocktails. In a city celebrated for its diverse culinary and drinkscape, making a mark requires more than just good food and drinks. It demands a vision.
So when I decided to open a bar after the pandemic, I knew that it would have to be something exciting, new and out of the box. It would also have to be authentically me.
The inception of SIMPL THINGS was serendipitous. I was initially on the hunt for another event space to complement my existing venue, Ahma (named after my grandma, the most passionate and driven person I know), when I stumbled upon what would soon transform into a dynamic, all-day cocktail and snack bar.
SIMPL was previously a wine bar, sharing a wall with a burger joint. It came with a patio (which was very desirable at the time) and the rent wasn’t overly unaffordable. The wheels started turning. From all the pop-ups, incubations and collaborations I did at Ahma when all the restaurants and bars were shuttered, surely I could pull together a culinary team to do something quite unique. Besides, I had a solid cocktail concept—nostalgic, familiar ingredients, but put together in a “what the heck is this” way.
My vision was crystal clear: to forge a welcoming space where, no matter the time of day, people could enjoy excellent drinks, delicious food and even better company. Two rooms, a duo kitchen concept, one very very good bar. Italian during the day; neo Chinese at night. Spritzes and fizzes and quick bottled cocktails during the day; by night, well-thought-out cocktails that are incredibly complex in flavour, but simple in execution. A diverse, fun and approachable wine list and a good amount of zero proofs. We got this.
In late 2022, SIMPL THINGS opened its doors.
A happy space
Step inside and you’ll find a space that is intentionally warm and inviting, with rounded corners and a warm colour palette of orange, yellow and purples. You literally can’t not be happy here.
Located in the up-and-coming yet still rough-around-the-edges neighbourhood of Parkdale, SIMPL THINGS has an esthetic that is deeply personal, paying homage to the feel-good moments of my life. For instance, the back bar is stacked with brightly coloured shaker sets and vintage glassware I’ve collected through the years.
The open-kitchen concept is designed to make you feel like you’re in someone else’s home, cooking and conversing freely, while the bar area mimics a living room, fostering a sense of community. And the service plays a part in that, too.
In service training, the language welcoming guests to the bar was important. It wasn’t necessarily about the skill level anyone had for mixing a cocktail or picking the perfect wine. It was about their passion for hospitality and the desire to become better as a whole. I am blessed to have an all-female bar team who absolutely adore taking care of guests, and that makes SIMPL THINGS the special place it is for our guests.
The structure of the business is daring. Our resident chefs own their respective back-of-house kitchens as if they were renting a chair at a barbershop. I believe that this unique arrangement speaks to a modern-day partnership, where you allow each individual to do what they do best.
As an owner/operator I take care of front of house, while the chefs have the autonomy, responsibility and creative freedom to simply make delicious food.
In its first two years, SIMPL has weathered its fair share of challenges, including a massive flood, several kitchen revamps, power outages and all the complexities of establishing a new concept in a competitive market. Yet, despite these hurdles, the bar has garnered a handful of accolades such as making Canada’s 100 Best, North America’s 50 Best Bars One to Watch, Toronto Life’s Best Restaurants 2023 and the long list for Air Canada enRoute Best New Restaurants 2023.
Is it a bar? Is it a restaurant? In the end, does it really matter? SIMPL THINGS transcends these labels, offering a space that everyone can call home. It’s about creating an atmosphere that stands out not just for its food and drink, but for the memories and moments it creates for anyone, anytime.
—by Evelyn Chick
