Help Anne Sorrenti & The Oakwood Hardware Land On Their Feet

The Oakwood Hardware has been a neighbourhood institution for the last 8+ years. Owner Anne Sorrenti and her family have turned a neighbourhood restaurant into a real community hub. On May 1st, Anne was informed by her landlord that she had to close her business and vacate the building by the end of the month. This is all being done with very little time, and very unfairly to Anne, her family, her staff, and the community. (Anne's statement on the situation is below.)

To be clear, this is not a failure of the business by any means. The landlord is forcing Anne to close The Oakwood Hardware so they can dramatically increase the rent. We are all angry, shocked, disappointed, and incredibly saddened by the situation.

We are looking to raise funds to help Anne, her family, and the amazing crew of The Oakwood Hardware. We cannot stop the closure of the business, but what we can do is help Anne land on her feet. There is a very real cost to closing a business, and Anne needs time to figure out what to do next. This GoFundMe project is to help build Anne that bridge. We want to try to provide as much help as we can for the entire Sorrenti Family, and the entire staff at the Oakwood Hardware.

(There will be a big blowout block party on May 26th, so if you can attend, that would be amazing to give Anne one more big push of support!)

If Anne's love for community and family touched yours, please give. Every little bit helps!

She has done so much for us all here in Oakwood Village and Toronto. It's time we gave back.

The story on CP24.com: read it here!

Anne's online statement on the closure:

Eight years ago, with the support of friends and family that are too numerous to mention,a decades-long dream was realized when The Oakwood Hardware began to serve our community. Today, I am sad to share with you that our landlords have informed us that they will be pursuing alternative options for our space and that as of May 30th, that beautiful dream will be coming to a premature end.

I used to pass the building each day as I walked my children to school, dreaming of the day we could breathe new life into its beautiful bones. I am proud of not only the work we did in transforming the space, but about what Oakwood Hardware has meant to me, my family, to our staff and to our community. Because we have been part of a renaissance in our neighbourhood, paving the way for exciting new restaurants and businesses.

We endured a fire and floods and 18 months of closures; shortly afterwards, we were struck by a worldwide pandemic and the resulting closure and social restrictions. And I mean it when I use the phrase we, because The Oakwood Hardware was equal parts restaurant and gathering place and the support we have felt from our friends and neighbours has meant the world to us. It has meant the world to us to be welcomed into your lives and families, to be part of so many special events.

This is a place where bubbies and zaidies and their grandchildren would come for special once week treats. Couples celebrate engagements, weddings then showers, baptisms, first communions and bar and bat mitzvahs. Birthdays are joyous at any age and sadly the passing of loved ones has also been commemorated here. Through it all we have been blessed to share these moments in your lives.

While the decision to close was not ours, we are all working to digest this news and prepare for life afterwards. We hope that you will come and visit us before our doors are closed to say goodbye and hopefully make more memories. Because these past eight years have meant the world to us and we will always be grateful for all the love and trust you placed in us.

And for those looking for a memento, we’ll be launching a series of The Oakwood Hardware branded shirts and hats, available at the restaurant and online. We will be celebrating together before we close so stay tuned.

Thank you again for welcoming us into your lives for the past eight years. My family and I will always treasure the memories we've created together.

*****

This GoFundMe is built by friends and local businesses of Oakwood Village.