Underground Railroad Restaurant

Underground Railroad Restaurant. King Street. , The Underground Railroad restaurant was one of the first Black-owned and operated soul food establishments in Toronto. It opened on February 12, 1969, in the basement of 406 Bloor Street East and soon became a destination for locals as well as touring musicians, Hollywood stars, politicians, and athletes. The restaurant expanded and moved to 225 King Street East in 1973., The four original owners were jazz musician Archie Alleyne, Toronto Argonauts football players John Henry Jackson and Dave Mann, and restaurateur Howard Matthews. The restaurant was named after the system of secret routes and safe houses created to help enslaved people find freedom in Canada and the northern United States., The owners also served as leaders in the Black community through initiatives that included sponsoring essay contests for Black youth, providing food and shelter for those in need, and serving food and drink during the Caribana festival. Soul food - like black-eyed peas, candied yams, collard greens, cornbread, and Southern fried chicken - has a centuries-old history, originating in Africa, the Caribbean, and the US., The restaurant closed in 1988. It reopened briefly in 1989 on Church Street, but closed permanently after 11 months. During its 20 years in operation, the Underground Railroad restaurant became both one of the city's most popular eateries and a cultural landmark for Toronto's Black community.