Underground Railroad Restaurant

Underground Railroad Restaurant. Bloor Street. , The Underground Railroad restaurant was one of the first Black-owned and -operated soul food establishments in Toronto. Opened February 12, 1969, at 406 Bloor Street East, it soon became a destination for locals as well as touring musicians, Hollywood stars, politicians, and athletes., The four original owners were jazz musician Archie Alleyne, Toronto Argonauts football players John Henry Jackson and Dave Mann, and restaurateur Howard Matthews. The interior was decorated with reclaimed barnwood and stucco walls, echoing spaces inhabited by descendants of African peoples during colonial times. 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 Underground Railroad was an immediate sensation. It was known for its fusion of Cajun, Creole, Black Southern, and Caribbean cuisines, featuring dishes like black-eyed peas, candied yams, collard greens, cornbread, hush puppies, fish gumbo, and Southern fried chicken., The restaurant's continued success reflected the growing prominence of Toronto's Black community. In 1973, the business expanded and moved to a larger building at 225 King Street East.