It takes a village to raise up a restaurant

In partnership with theCity of TorontoandCafTO, CBC Toronto'sServing Up Changeseries is profiling business owners in five neighbourhoods across the city who, on top of innovating and working overtime, are bolstered by incredible community support.

The CBC Toronto community partnership with theCity of TorontoandCafTOstarts in Toronto'sWest End with Bloor West Village. This tight-knit, walkable community runs along Bloor, spanning from South Kingsway to Ellis Park Road. Its Business Improvement Area group (BIA) is one of the oldest in Canada and features more than 400 restaurants and shops, many of which are independently owned.

Meet Irem Sacakli and Serhat Sacildi.The couple came to Canada in 2017 from Istanbul, Turkey with the dream of opening a restaurant with an in-house design store. After viewing hundreds of potential GTA spaces, they found their "home", which is how they refer to their restaurant, Flame Food+Design.

Securing this location wasn't purely a business decision, as there were busier neighbourhoods,and areas with a larger Turkish population. It was the community that really sealed the deal.

"When we came to Bloor West Village it was very much like the place we were living in when we were in Istanbul," Sacaklisaid."The people are so nice, and Toronto is so multicultural. The diversity is our richness."

Despite Sacildi's advertising and design background, they eschewed traditional promotion in favour of word of mouth.

Aspirational? Yes! It worked; after opening in late 2018, they had gained a healthy local following and were packed every night.

"Everybody likes and wants something sincere," Sacildi explained.

"We wanted to connect sincerely. And to surprise [our guests]," Sacakliadded."Itis our pleasure to surprise our guests."

Flame Food+Design's concept was based on the idea that food is an experience that engages all of the senses, and that experience is meant to be shared. So, when you sitdown for a meal, you will enjoymusic, dancing, art, and collective stories. And you can also expect a hug,Sacildi's traditional greeting to patrons at the restaurant.

Then COVID-19 hit. After less than a year and a half in business,Sacakliand Sacildi's whole concept of authentic connection, and a shared experience, was upended.

Like most restaurant owners,they were forced to make changes virtually overnight.

"It was psychologically challenging," Sacakliadmitted, "but in these COVID times, we have to find solutions."

Although takeout was against their original restaurant concept, thecouple adapted and developed a takeout option. They also createddifferent dishes, like putting a Turkish spin on a hamburger, which was more take-out friendly.

Despite the turmoil caused by the pandemic,people responded. Not only was takeout a success, but the community ralliedin other ways.

"They would buy our design objects as a way of supporting us," saidSacildi.

"Some of our older customerswould call and say, I'm not coming, I can't come, but I love and support you. One call is enough," added Sacakli.

It's an unbelievable neighbourhood and we are trying to pay back the kindness. If a person comes and says they can't pay, we say pay us next time. Of course they don't pay us next time, but that is how we do our part.- Irem Sacakli

Now, as we slowly inch towardnormalcy, Flame Food+Design offers a patio extension on Bloor, as part of the City of Toronto's CafTO program, in addition to their rooftop patio.

SacakliandSacildiare optimistic, even allowing themselves to dream about their next restaurant innovation.

"We are hopeful to repair the destruction of COVID," saidSacakli. "My dream is to have a restaurant where customers who can't afford it, can pay what they can. We need to create a system like that."

And for Sacildi, who's used to greeting his customers with a warm embrace:

"In our culture, we love hugging. Maybe we can't hug right now, but we can connect with our eyes, with our words. We can look forward as a community."

CBC Toronto's Serving Up Change series will run all summer. Stay tuned for more restaurantfeatures from the West End and other neighbourhoods in Toronto. Next week, see how the Corso Italia neighbourhood is faring.