By Daiem Mohammad
Daiem is a journalist with the Focus Media Arts Centre

In the newest episode of 4GetAboutIt TV, a show from Focus Media Arts, our hosts; Daiem Mohammad, Saima Islam, Jamelia Parnell and Samir Abdella begin the episode in classic 4GetAboutIt fashion, with an introduction from Daiem. We are then treated to a change in the formula, as Samir introduces the topic!

Samir introduces us to Randy’s, a restaurant renowned in Toronto for their delectable Jamaican patties. We are suddenly told by Samir that the restaurant has unfortunately shut down, and will be demolished in favor of the land being developed as part of a project spearheaded by Metrolinx.

The group then goes on to discuss their childhood memories eating Jamaican patties, as host Daiem Mohammad discusses his experiences regularly eating them from his local corner store.

The group then ponders the ramifications and the implications of the closing of Randy’s. Being young people from Regent Park, the hosts clearly aren’t unaware of the economic difficulties that small businesses face in the downtown core. Restaurants announcing their grand opening to the community only for them to be suddenly shut down with no fanfare.

The group focused on the intersection on Dundas Street East and Parliament Street, which over the last few years has seen Jays Pizza rebranded to Pure Pizza and is currently East Coast Donair. It’s not lost on the young hosts that with the exponential growth of the housing market, combined with the financial difficulties from the COVID-19 Pandemic have only made it more difficult for small business owners to continue to do business in their community.