King Street Restaurant Group

King Street Restaurant Group, a Toronto, Ontario-based hospitality group, obtained protection under the CCAA on November 6. Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Group operated eight restaurants under the following brands: Jacobs & Co, Buca, Bar Buca, La Banane, CXBO and Jamie’s Italian. Management has advised that the Companies’ financial difficulties and insolvency are attributable to two factors: (1) the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and government restrictions on the Group’s business, contributing to a 98% decrease in year over year sales for the period from April to September 2020; and (2) the Jamie’s Italian locations at Yorkdale Mall and Square One Shopping Centre had insufficient revenues to make the restaurants profitable given their high fixed operating and start-up costs. The primary purpose of the CCAA proceedings is threefold: (1) to allow the Companies to operate their takeout and delivery business in order to maintain the value of their brands and preserve their various liquor licenses; (2) to stabilize the business operations to enable the Group to develop a strategy for the reopening of locations when possible; and (3) to develop and oversee an orderly restructuring of the business, including through the development and implementation of a SISP. MNP was appointed monitor. Counsel is Miller Thomson for the monitor and Gowling WLG (Canada) for the companies.